"Publishing is a business. Writing may be art, but publishing, when all is said and done, comes down to dollars"

In this quote, author Nicholas Sparks is highlighting the fact that while writing might be considered an art type, publishing is ultimately a company. While the act of writing might be driven by imagination and passion, the end objective of publishing is to earn a profit. This implies that choices made by publishers are typically based upon monetary considerations rather than creative benefit. Triggers is acknowledging the reality of the publishing market and the value of stabilizing artistic expression with industrial success. Ultimately, he is advising authors that while their craft might be a kind of art, it is likewise a service that must be approached with an useful mindset.