After 20 years of success, the "Wheel of Time" series finally come to an end with the last book "A Memory of Light" releasing January 8.

Robert Jordan first began the first of the fourteen-book series "The Eye of the World" in 1984 and it was published in January 1990. The book initially was to have only six books in the series. However, the popularity of the book made the author increase this number. Sadly, Jordan was not fortunate enough to finish what he started.

In 2007, while writing what was supposed to be the last volume of the book, Jordan felt seriously ill and died, leaving the book half done. Fans worried that their favorite series would be left incomplete. However, knowing of this illness Jordan had already made other plans. Jordan's widow and editor, Harriet McDougal had author Brandon Sanderson to finish the last book. The book spun into three volumes, the last of which will be released today by Tor Books.

"Now this is a major best-selling series, I'm a newbie author with a couple of books out," Sanderson says. "It was like getting hit with a freight train. There was all this continuity and all these characters; it was a massive undertaking."

Sanderson reveals that he had to rely heavily on The Wheel of Time fan community to get the characters right in the book. "The fans have gotten together and created these detailed outlines and chronologies, which have just been wonderful."

The last chapter, however, has been compiled from notes that Jordan gave his wife on his deathbed.

"I picked him up at the airport," says McDougal, "and brought him back to my house, and said, 'Well, I have some soup for your supper.' And he said, 'What I'd really like is the end of the series.' "

McDougal reveals that she has mixed emotions running through her as the end nears. While she is happy that the book enjoyed a successful stint she is sad that it has come to an end because the characters in the book have been her friends for 20 years.

The digital book will be released April 9.