Triaxiansilk.com

This is the first time I've seen a major professional author promote a fan fiction spin-off from one of their works.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/David-Brin/22358129265

This for a fan fiction sequel to Brin's "Thor Meets Captain America" short story. Here's the link to the fan fiction story as well http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6970684/1/

Will this become the norm for authors/publishers in the future?

I doubt it will become the norm, because they don't make any direct money off it. But a savvy and secure author could build an engaged community of readers this way.