Having Gotten Over Big Book Guilt

I read on a site for writers and readers recently - although sorry to say I'm not sure which one - that often when readers learn that an author has divided their book into three and call it a trilogy it is a ploy to make more money.
Three charges instead of one. 
I have published two books in paperback, available on Amazon - ebooks to come - and now working on the publication of the third book, and yes, FROM DARKNESS was written as one book. The reason I divided it into three was because it added up to over 800 pages or so. I thought it would be easier for my readers to carry and hold smaller books  to read on the way to work or even at home in a comfortable chair or couch or in bed.  Also some readers told me they preferred installments like a trilogy
So I did it for good motives. Now I think I was suffering from Big Book Guilt. Year before last at a conference for readers and writers I attend each year - ThrillerFest - I decided to take part in AgentFest sort of like speed dating where you could meet with any of the agents attending and see if they were interested and if you thought you would want to work with them.
I spoke with four agents. All said they were interested but demanded, and I mean DEMANDED,  that I cut the book down to a word count that would have amounted to about 300 pages. I liked three of them, two in particular, but one was rude in her tone of voice in her demand regarding cutting the book.
Of course publishing is a business and I know why they preferred representing shorter books. Those are easier to sell to a publishing house because they are taking a chance on an unknown author and have to consider cost of production, mainly paper I suppose.
As I've mentioned in an earlier post I did then create a shorter version but  sat back and realized I had cut the heart out of my book and everything that made it uniquely mine.
When I learned more about self publishing the more I read about it the more I liked the idea. My story would decide how long it would be. And readers have loved long books if they are ones that really engage them and that they enjoy.
I no longer am influenced by Big Book Guilt. Which doesn't mean that the author doesn't edit quite a bit. I know I did. My book was originally 1,245 pages long. Anne Rice's Witching Hour is over 1000 pages and I've read it several times. Just one example.
So, my book will be available as three books in paper and for eRaders but later I will publish it as one volume too. Some readers have already requested that and in hard bound. I'll do paper and explore hardbound when the time comes.
Actually two famous writers who attend ThrillerFest had suggested that I break the book into three. But at the time I couldn't imagine doing that. When I became open to the idea and explored where I would end each book I found I could do it easily.
So now you know why FROM DARKNESS is now in three books and will later on be available in one volume.  - Jacqueline