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Originally Posted by pwalker8
I don't think it had anything to do with the desire for agency pricing. If I recall correctly, the embargo for the Wheel of Time books was driven by the author's widow's desire that all the books make the NY Time's best seller list.
Back in the early days of the Kindle store, not every book was available as an ebook. Many authors were worried about piracy. There was quite a bit of experimentation during those first few years. Sony's ebook device and store predated the Amazon kindle by a year and there were other ebook stores as well that started well before the Kindle store. Fictionwise and Peanut Press had been around since 2000 or so if I remember correctly. It was a long time before books were released as ebooks as a matter of course.
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Yes the wheel of time finale being delayed was Harriets decision. I’m not sure if the publisher could have done anything else. However it was a universal embargo on the release until some time had passed. And you’re right about the reasoning from her, at least the publicly stated one, that she felt it being available as an ebook would restrict it from being the number one NYT best seller. As to if this argument held any water at that time or now is of course a different discussion.
Yes the early days of ebooks were weird and slow. Though I’d argue as technology made them more approach by the masses opinions of the authors changed. To the point that WoTs delay in ebook was remarked upon as an odd move.