Quote:
Originally Posted by BearMountainBooks
Here's a real life author scenario. I'll use me, because it turns out, that is who I know most about. I wrote two short stories and offered them as a "package" in one purchase for 99 cents. Well, one of the stories had a lot of requests for a full novel. I never intended to write a full novel at the time I "sold" the short story. It was meant as a little short into one of my series and nothing more. Probably a year later, the current novel I was working on happened to fit that short story. That short story became the prologue.
When the Full Novel came out, I deleted the "short story" from the two-pack, made the remaining short free on outlets that allowed it and pulled it from the outlet that does not easily allow free stories. There was no nefarious deed intended. I have no idea if some feel it is unethical. As far as I'm concerned the "market" changed for that short story and there was no point in leaving what became the "prologue" up for sale.
Those who purchased it on Amazon can still access it, so far as I know. I have no idea what happens with B&N buyers. Those who purchased it on Kobo can still access their "old" copy. They probably can't buy the new copy since it's the same listing (It's free, but I'm guessing they can't download it as it probably shows as already purchased."
I did the best I could with a given situation when I finished writing a novel that happened to incorporate the short. I'm sure some will find it beyond the pale, but the technology today makes some things possible and I took advantage of that.
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Why did you not make it a new book? Why re-release it with the same name as the short?
I never understand when authors do this. If I had read the short then missed the novel for quite a while I would be P.O.ed. A new title with the info that the short story is part of this new novel would be much better.
If I had read the short it would not preclude the desire to read the novel even though the short is now incorporated in it.