alexanderwales
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Worth the Candle Update
🕑 Added 2024-10-14 06:09:00 +0000 UTCWorth the Candle is getting stubbed: largely removed from all online platforms to comply with Kindle Unlimited terms. This is for money reasons, and to ensure that the audio books will get made. This means you have a few days to do any archival efforts, such as downloading comments (I have not read many of the comments on AO3 or RR and have no idea if there's anything of value there) or making a copy of the text for personal use.
To comply with Kindle Unlimited terms, it'll be removed from all other stores, though you'll be able to keep a copy if you were one of the half dozen people who bought it on Kobo or somewhere else. If you want the full text, the easiest way is to go to AO3 full view then click the "Download" button in the top right corner, though in the past it's been large enough that it breaks some of their automated tools, so I can't guarantee that works. Approximately 10% of each book of the eight books will remain (though since books 4-8 aren't out, those will stay up until they're available in ebook).
Everything on Patreon will stay up here, which I believe is allowed by KU terms, and in any case is what's being done by bigger names than me. All supplemental material will stay where it is. The AO3 version will be made private, because there's not a great way to engage in stubbing there, and this at least preserves comments.
It's my hope that this move opens the work up to new readers (KU readers), especially since the number of people reading WtC has dropped to pretty much nothing on RoyalRoad and AO3, at least from the metrics I've tracked (which is understandable, given that it's finished). Probably I should have done this shortly after WtC ended.
There's a chance that this might make you angry or disappointed, so ... sorry, I guess. Please don't yell at me. I would love to not have to stress out about money. I would love to keep it online so that a handful of people can trickle through and read it or reread it, and the links could stay unrotted. It would be great to do a vanity print run that didn't have a hope of making its money back. We unfortunately don't live in that world, and as much as I love to make things and have them be freely available, this is where I'm at.
Book 4 is fully edited and should be out in ebook soon, and I'm really going to try my best not to have any delay with books 5-8.
After the end of chapter 4 on RoyalRoad there will be "Stub Continuity 1", which you can read here.
Comments
PointlessOne
Does this mean that Book 4 (an the rest) won't be available on Kobo? Does Amazon sell DRM-free ebooks?
Alexander Wales
Yes, it does, though changes are pretty minimal and mostly continuity fixes and typo corrections rather than extra scenes, changed dialogue, etc.
Max Alexander Michalik
When you say fully edited, does that include changes that never made it into the AO3 version?
Aidan
If the Book 4 ebook is coming out soon, does that mean the Book 4 audiobook is too?
Vladislavs Kugelevics
I support you in any decision that leads to your happiness. Btw, I dunno if you do some online marketing (guerilla or not), but it wouldn't hurt. From my (based on very limited knowledge) feeling you should do a bit more stuff with social networks.
patreonizing
For some reason it never occurred to me that WtC is here on Patreon too...that blunts the tiny edge. Three read-throughs were probably enough for me anyway. As long as Cowboy Grak stays up! (...gotta go reread that...)
Tristan A
Honestly there is no way I could be mad! Higher chances for more people to read your work?? I'll take that any day. Your stories, worlds and writing have continually given me joy and I know the same applies to others. Thank you for being you!
