Stephen King Says Dead Tree Books Are Here to Stay

You've got to watch this!

Panzer is a big admirer of Stephen King and his writing.

So, when he found a post by Maryann Yin at GalleyCAT about Mr. King, he did the happy cat dance. Then my big bad boy jumped in the Panzermobile and rushed back from the Catosphere.

Although the post is about Mr. King's views on the future of dead tree books, there's another link near the end of the post to a long video interview at The Huffington Post site that contains much more.

To read the post and watch the video, tootle over to Stephen King Predicts That Physical Books Are Here to Stay - GalleyCat

A New Panzerism

Panzer's thoughts on Autumn:


Mom's asters are blooming today. She said they bring another Summer to a beautiful conclusion.

Hey ...

Wait a minute ...

That means Autumn is coming.

Cold weather.

Rain.

Sleet.

Snow.

She better appreciate my work.

COLD!

I have to get outside now!

I have to dig out all those asters.

NOW!

It's up to ME to stop Autumn from coming!

Free Ebook for Kindle for a Limited Time

Panzer was out in the Catosphere today and stopped in at Bill Crider's Pop Culture Magazine.

Hurry before it's gone!

You all know how much Panzer loves FREE ebooks, right? Well, my bad kitty boy found an announcement at Mr. Crider's site about a FREE copy of Heath Lowrance's Hawthorne: Tales of a Weirder West. This is the west like you've never known it.

To get the link to the ebook, tootle over to  Bill Crider's Pop Culture Magazine: Free for Kindle for a Limited Time:

*A tip of the cat fedora to Kevin Tipple's Corner for the link to Pop Culture Magazine.

Amazon and Perseus Books Reach Ebook Sales Agreement

What does Perseus know that we don't?

Panzer found an interesting post by Jim Milliot at the Publishers Weekly site today.

According to Mr. Milliot, Amazon and the Perseus Books Group have settled the terms of a new ebook sales agreement.

Wait.

What?

The rumor is Perseus Books Group has reached an agreement with Amazon.

Inquiring cats want to know: Why has Perseus accepted the new ebook sales agreement and Hachette won't?

Panzer says, "I want to see those ebook sales terms please."

To read the full post, tootle over to Amazon and Perseus

Collaborate with R.L. Stine on Wattpad

Collaborate? Really?

Panzer stopped in at GalleyCAT today. My bad boy found a post by Maryann Yin about an interesting Wattpad contest.

Do you want to collaborate with thriller/chiller writer R.L. Stine on a short story? Well, here's your chance. The beginning is already written and posted at Stine's Wattpad profile page. You write the middle, then Stine will write the end. According to the rules, Wattpad and Stine will pick the winning "middle" entry.

You must be a Wattpad user, but joining is free. You have to post your entry to your Wattpad account. The entire short story will be only 1,000 words long, so keep that in mind when writing your entry. You need to hurry because the contest ends October 9.

Panzer says, "It's important you read the entire rules! There may be some things you don't want to agree to do."

To read the entire post, tootle over to Wattpad contest

Douglas Preston-Authors United vs Amazon Continues

You guys are washing the Panzermobile.

Panzer headed out into the Catosphere, but his radar wasn't working because he immediately ran into a Douglas Preston-Hachette-Authors United vs Amazon cloud.

My poor little kitty could barely see out to keep control of the Panzermobile while he was dodging all the flying fertilizer and guano.

My intrepid captain finally landed the ship at the Publisher's Weekly site first. There he found a post by Paige Crutcher. The post was about the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance's luncheon for bestselling author James Patterson. Also present was Michael Pietsch representing Mr. Patterson's publisher Hachette.

As one of Panzer's friends, you'll remember that Mr. Patterson is one of the signers of Douglas Preston's letter/ad in the New York Times and the letter to the Amazon Board of Directors.

While neither Mr. Patterson or Mr. Pietsch made any direct comments about their dispute with Amazon, Mr. Patterson did make a disparaging joke about Amazon. All in all, the post makes interesting reading.

However, what was really splatting the Panzermobile was the post Panzer found when he stopped at The Passive Voice site next. It seems bestselling author Douglas Preston and his Authors United group have come up with another letter. This one is to the U.S. Department of Justice.

For what?

They want the DoJ to start an antitrust investigation of Amazon because they don't like the way the company does business.

Panzer says, "Let me get this straight ... Hachette still hasn't signed a new contract with Amazon to sell their books, but you guys want the DoJ and the US government to spend money to force Amazon to sell Hachette's books as if there was a contract."

To read the post about the letter to the DoJ, tootle over to Douglas Preston and Company

Amazon Customer Billing Changes Coming To Germany

Where is my phone?

Panzer was over at the Slate site today. In a post by Alison Griswold he learned about Amazon's new plans for payments in Germany.

Plans are in the works to allow Amazon buyers to pay through Bango for their digital items (like ebooks) on their Telefonica Deutschland phone bills. The roll out of the new payment system is scheduled for next year.

Panzer says, "Don't be fooled. The beginning of the post is a review of Amazon's new ereaders and tablets. Just keep reading."

To read the whole post, tootle over to Amazon billing

A New Panzerism

Puppy-love? Who would read that?

Panzer on Book Reviews:

I read a book review today that said

the storyline was about ...

puppy-love.

Dumbest plot I've ever heard of.

Learn Short Story Deep Structure

Panzer took the Panzermobile deep into the Catosphere today.

What kind of fadeout?

My bad black kitty found a post by Dr. John Yeoman at the Write To Done site. In his post Dr. Yeoman explains about using deep structure when writing your short stories.

You're probably familiar with some of the tips included in this post. One is weaving a subplot into your story. Another is repeating a question asked at the beginning of your story at the end.

But have you ever thought about including an emblem in your story? Or how about an elegiac fadeout?

Panzer says, "What?"

To read the full post and find out what an elegiac fadeout is, tootle over to deep structure

Kindle Unlimited Authors to Get $2.7 M More

How much can I fit in here?

Panzer was over at Publishers Weekly's site today.

My bad boy kitty reporter found some good news for writers in the Kindle Unlimited program. According to the site, Amazon has added $2.7 million to the base $2 million fund. This bonus cash will be split among the most popular Kindle Direct Publishing authors and books in the program. After this initial cash distribution, these authors and books will receive special badges on their appropriate pages.

Panzer says, "You know, Amazon really is an indie author's best friend."

To read the full post and how the money will be distributed, tootle over to Kindle Unlimited authors

Hugh Howey On Saving Barnes and Noble

I looked and I looked. Finally, I found.

Today, Panzer got a late start in the Catosphere.

After searching and searching, my bad boy was able to find a great post for you over at bestselling author Hugh Howey's blog. Panzer enjoys going to Mr. Howey's blog because he always has informative posts for authors and readers.

In this post Mr. Howey is giving us his ideas about Barnes & Noble's slow demise. He brings up points that have lost the company buying customers. These include the loss of places to sit and peruse a selection of books before a buyer makes a choice, the introduction of loyalty cards, and the fact there are no longer author events. Mr. Howey has several more suggestions to help turn around Barnes and Noble.

Panzer says, "At least the company isn't on life support yet."

Bring a large cup of tea because this is a l-o-n-g post.

To read the full post, tootle over to Barnes and Noble

Douglas Preston-Authors United-Hachette vs. Amazon

Are we FOR us or AGAINST us?

Panzer is doing a little clean-up work in the Catosphere today. Last week he told you about bestselling author, Douglas Preston's email to all his Authors United friends. Mr. Preston was alerting all of them to be ready for his next foray into Hachette's contract dispute with Amazon.

Well, my bad boy has the latest for you.

Mr. Preston and his cadre of knights on their white steeds are ready to do battle. They have sent a letter to each of the ten members of the Amazon Board of Directors telling them to pick sides in the dispute. According to these gallant knights, surely the Board of Directors will agree with them and pick the right side. Either the Board of Directors agree with Amazon's right to not carry certain merchandise during the contract dispute or the Board of Directors disagrees with Amazon's right to not carry merchandise and orders them to carry the merchandise during the contract dispute.

Panzer say, "Pick a sides? Okay, Amazon Board of Directors. Are you on the side for yourself? Or are you on the side against yourself? You are the Board of Directors. Come on. Pick a side."

To read the full letter, tootle over to Authors United letter

A New Panzerism

She had me fooled.

Panzer on Romance:

Note to self:

Don't worry about wearing the tuna perfume,

when ...

the only cat in heat ...

is a ...

pole cat.

Peter Carey: No To Assange, No To Amazon, And No To Man Booker Prize

No! No! No!

Panzer made a quick trip to The Bookseller site today. He found a post there by Sarah Shaffi documenting her interview with Peter Carey. During the interview Mr. Carey strayed from talk about his new novel Amnesia to talk about Julian Assange, Amazon's dominance in the book market world, and the Man Booker Prize.

Mr Carey revealed in the interview he turned down an offer to co-author a book with Julian Assange. He also spoke of his belief that Amazon gained its dominance in the retail book market because publishers allowed it. Finally, Mr. Carey stressed he is unimpressed with the Man Booker Prize since they have allowed American authors to be added and thus diminished the Prize.

To read the whole post, tootle over to Peter Carey

Amazon Files To Build Two More Office Towers In Seattle

Let's go to Seattle and check this out.

Yesterday my kitty cat reporter told you Amazon's plans to expand its London headquarters. Today he has news about Amazon's plans for office expansion at the Seattle, Washington (U.S.A.) headquarters.

According to Jay Greene at The Seattle Times newspaper site, Amazon wants to add one city block with two more office towers to its plans for its downtown Seattle headquarters. This will be in addition to the three blocks Amazon has plans to construct six buildings on. That's a total of eight high rise buildings!

Panzer says, "Where will all the employees for those buildings come from?"

To read the full post, tootle over to Amazon files plans to build two more office towers downtown | Business & Technology | The Seattle Times

Amazon To Expand London Office Workforce To 5,000

I'm available for a London trip.

Panzer stopped in at The Bookseller site today. Our bad boy Catosphere reporter found a post by Lisa Campbell about Amazon's future plans for it's UK head office workforce.

According to Ms. Campbell, Amazon is building 431,000 sq. feet of new office space in London. Amazon plans to be finished building in 2016 and will move into the new space in 2017. The office space expansion is to accommodate the anticipated increase of the office workforce from 1,700 to 5,000 persons.

Panzer says, "That's a lot of people Amazon is adding to the office workforce, but no mention of cats. Who's going to handle mouse control?"

To read the full post, tootle over to Amazon London

Apple's Price-Fixing Settlement Closer to Approval

Yes or No?

Panzer visited Publishers Weekly today. He was following up on some news he heard about Apple. No it's not news about the new phones or watch. This is news about Apple's price-fixing case.

The post at PW concerns Apple's proposed terms of the settlement of the case. Judge Denise Cote has issued preliminary approval of the settlement terms. My bad boy found out this is not her final judgement, however, and the case still continues.

There's a link to a website for information included in the post. The post is long enough it requires a small cup of tea while you're reading it.

Panzer says, "If you're one of the customers involved in this case and plan to 'opt out' of the settlement, you only have until October 31 to make that choice known."

To read the latest information on Apple's continuing price-fixing saga, tootle over to Apple settlement

10 Things You Need To Know Before Self-Publishing

10 Total Tips

Panzer was out in the Catosphere today and stopped in at the Blurb Stories blog. This was his first visit and he didn't know what he'd find. It turned out to be an interesting stop.

My bad black cat boy found a post about the ten things an author needs to know before they self-publish. The ten things include picking a platform, ebook and/or print, picking a typeface, designing a cover, the competition, and more. There are even links in the tips.

Panzer says, "If you're thinking of jumping into the self-publishing pond, you need to read this."

To read the full post, tootle over to self-publishing industry

A New Panzerism

He won't make that mistake again.

Panzer on Return Policies:

Mom ...

the Pirate* bought the cheap cat food again.

Can we take him back to the pet store and get a better one?


* How the Pirate became the Pirate.

Scribd Turns One Year Old

We've been together since the beginning.

The Panzermobile hit the Catosphere at high speed today. Panzer headed over to the Digital Book World blog.

My bad boy super pilot found a post about his favorite ebook subscription service.

And ...

guess what.

Surprise. It's not Kindle Unlimited!

It's Scribd.

Scribd is celebrating being one year old in October. That's nearly one year before Kindle Unlimited entered the subscription service market. That's nearly one year of building its ebook library up to 500,000 ebooks.

Panzer says, "You do know Cats and Crime is at Scribd, right?"

To read the full post, tootle over to Scribd's birthday

Douglas Preston-Hachette vs. Amazon

Guess what? You aren't the biggest tomcat.

Panzer heard yowling and CATerwauling from the Catosphere this morning so he headed out in the Panzermobile. He followed all the noise over to the Publishers Weekly site.

My bad boy discovered bestselling author Douglas Preston is continuing his foray into the Amazon-Hachette contract dispute. Mr. Preston sent an email to the authors who signed his New York Times advertisement aimed at Amazon last month to be ready to start another initiative (claws unsheathed cat fight) against Amazon. Until Mr. Preston decides what his tactic will be this time, he wants his anti-Amazon 900 authors strong army to start a writing campaign of blog posts, social media posts and newspaper opinion pieces against Amazon

Panzer says, "Hey guys, did you every hear the phrase, 'Don't shoot  yourself in the foot?' I'm sorry to tell you, but in case you didn't know, nobody can tell a retailer they have to carry a product (book or ebook or whatever) if they don't want to."

If you want to read the whole post, tootle over to Douglas Preston

Amazon Introduces Tool to Self-Publish Children’s Books on Kindle - GalleyCat

Pop-ups?

Panzer made a quick trip over to GalleyCAT today. He's been hearing about Amazon's new Kid's Book Creator and he wanted to check it out. He found a post by Dianna Dilworth about just that.

Now, you can build your children's book with illustrations, text and pop-ups on your computer and upload it when you're finished. Then you can see how your book will look on all the Kindle products. If you're satisfied, you can publish it to the Kindle Store.

Panzer says, "This makes me want to publish a Panzer, The Cat, children's book."

To read about this new publishing tool, tootle over to Amazon Introduces Tool to Self-Publish Children’s Books on Kindle - GalleyCat

One Author In Defense Of Amazon

Who's a kitty to believe?

Panzer headed over to the Salon site today. He found an interesting post by author Neal Pollack about his experiences with Amazon. The post is strictly from the point of view of an author dealing with Amazon.

Mr. Pollack says he's published traditional (with the Big Five) novels and indie novels. He has now moved to Amazon's Thomas & Mercer publishers to do novels, novellas and novelettes.

Mr. Pollack doesn't understand all of the anti-Amazon rhetoric. He says as an author, all of his experiences with Amazon have been "fantastic." While he is not a bestselling author, they have supported his literary career by continuing to publish his work.

Panzer says, "Be warned: Like all the recent posts about Amazon, this is a very long post."

To read Neal Pollack's full post, tootle over to in defense of amazon

3 Espresso Book Machines To Open AT B&N Stores

Interesting development.

Panzer headed out into the Catosphere in the Panzermobile. My bad boy stopped in at GalleyCAT and found a post there about Barnes and Noble's experiment with Espresso Book Machines. One machine each will be installed in three B&N stores on the east coast.

According to Barnes and Noble, customers can use the machines to print public domain books or their own books.

Panzer says, "Hmmm. Print On Demand at the neighborhood book store."

If you want to read the whole post, tootle over to book machines

A New Panzerism

I'll start right now.

Panzer on Sobriety:

The thing about catnip is,

well ...

 I think maybe I should go on the wagon for a little while.

Exactly how much catnip is in the wagon anyway?