NaNoWriMo Is Big for Writers - and It Helps Publishers, Too - Publishers Weekly (PW)

Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere enjoying his Halloween travels when he heard strange noises. Following them took our little kitty boy to the Publishers Weekly site. With no digging at all he found a post about National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo).

NaNoWriMo starts tomorrow.

According to the post by Jason Boog, November's National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) is set to be the largest ever. It's projected 350,000 writers will participate in this year's NaNoWriMo. By the end of November participants must write a 50,000 word novel (or first draft). Those who finish their novels will receive a badge for their website or blog. The post includes interviews with previous NaNoWriMo finishers who've had their novels published. Also included are agents whose clients participate as a starter for their novels.

Panzer says, "I'm all ready. Are you?"

Note: This is a long post. Bring a thermos of tea and a dozen muffins for today's reading selection.

To read the post, tootle over to National Novel Writing Month

Happy Halloween!

Every Day Is Halloween for Me

A New Panzerism

Yuk!

Panzer on butterflies:

Mom likes butterflies and so do I.
She likes their bright colors and so do I.
She likes the way they flutter around and so do I.

But it sure seems something that pretty should taste better.

Happy National Black Cat Day!

October 27 Is National Black Cat Day

It's Not Easy Being An Adored National Idol

'What could I do? I was a monster': Meet Shelley, the AI horror writer that collaborates with humans to create hair-raising tales - DailyMail.com

Five days to Halloween.

Today, Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere when he heard crying and moaning coming from ahead of the Panzermobile. Following all the noise took our brave kitty boy to the DailyMail.com site. There he found a post about an AI (Artificial Intelligence) horror writer named Shelley.

Don't worry. She's no Stephen King.

According to Cheyenne MacDonald's post, Shelley, the AI horror writer, is a product of the MIT Media Lab. Shelley was given a steady reading diet of horror stories. In this way she learned to write horror stories. Shelley now has her own Twitter account where she tweets a horror story each hour. Anyone with a Twitter account can follow her and collaborate on horror stories with her.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... The post includes what the MIT workers consider a mistake by Shelley in one of her stories.  But this little kitty knows humor when he reads it. Humans ... She did it on purpose to test you."

Note: This is a h-u-g-e post. Bring a thermos of tea and a dozen muffins for today's reading selection. Also, the DailyMail.com site has some ads you'll want to close as you read the post.

To read the post, tootle over to Shelley

Amazon's Hall of Spinning Knives - David Gaughran

Six days to Halloween.

Panzer's trip into the Catosphere today took him to David Gaughran's blog. With a little digging he discovered a post about Amazon's fraud detection system.

According to David Gaughran's post, Amazon's fraud detection system has been catching some innocent authors. The system is designed to identify authors who use clickfarms/bots to increase the sales numbers of their books. Most of the authors' books mentioned in the post were in free promotions, so the "sales" were free downloads. As a result of the fraud detection system, the authors' books were rank-stripped. The authors were also warned their accounts were eligible for shut down if another infraction was detected. The post describes two possible reasons for the authors' books being flagged.  One is there's a problem with Amazon's fraud detection system itself or the second is the authors may have been targeted by scammers.The authors targeted even included New York Times bestselling authors.

Panzer says, "Umm ... It appears Amazon uses bots to answer authors emails, so you can't even ask what's happening."

Note: This is a v-e-r-y l-o-n-g post. Bring a thermos of tea and a half dozen muffins and three chocolate chip cookies (biscuits) for today's reading selection.

To read the post, tootle over to Amazon

Amazon Announces All-New Kindle App - Easier Than Ever to Read and Connect with Friends - Press Release

You know Halloween is coming, right?

Today, as Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere he heard strange sounds outside the Panzermobile. Following the whispering took our adventuresome kitty to the Amazon press site. With no digging at allow he found a press release about a new Amazon Kindle app.

According to the press release Amazon has a new Kindle app for your iOS and Android phone or tablet. With both versions of the app you'll be able to read a book or visit the bookstore to look for another book. The iOS app gives you access to Goodreads. That feature will be added to the Android version later. The press release goes into more details about each of the features. It also includes links to download the apps.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... This little kitty wonders if he can text to Goodreads on his phone screen with his long claws."

Note: This is a short-long press release. Bring two cups of tea and a muffin for today's reading selection.

To read the press release tootle over to Amazon app

A New Panzerism

Panzer on the Zen of teaching cats:

When you tell a dog to sit,
it means he can relax and get off
his feet for a minute.

Listen to me ... It's not going to happen.*

But ...
if you tell a cat to sit,
that cat has to wake up, stretch,
and ...
then get up to sit.

No, I think you can take sit off the list of things to teach a cat to do.


* From Cat Wisdom for Humans

Introducing the Smart Author Podcast - Smashwords

Today's trip in the Catosphere took Panzer to the Smashwords blog site. There our intrepid traveling kitty found a post about Smashwords new podcast.

Finally ... Nap time.

According to the post by Smashwords founder Mark Coker, the ebook distributor is introducing a new podcast called the Smart Author. The podcast will launch on October 27 with four episodes. After the launch it will become a one episode a week podcast. The post includes a schedule with episode titles and signup information.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... Four episodes all at once. That's two and a half hours. This little kitty better make sure he doesn't make any plans for October 27."

Note: This is a long post. Bring half a thermos of tea and three muffins for today's reading selection.

To read the post, tootle over to Smashwords: Introducing the Smart Author Podcast

Surprising Suitor for Amazon Headquarters II - Publishers Weekly

Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere when he heard chortling and snickering coming from ahead of the Panzermobile. Following all the frivolity took our inquisitive kitty to the Publishers Weekly site. There he found a post about Amazon's Headquarters II.

According to the post by Kenny Brechner, the planet Saturn has entered the competition for the location of Amazon's Headquarters II (HQ2). The post is an interview with Saturn's representative Don Smilk. He uses Alexa to communicate with Mr. Brechner for the interview. Apparently, Saturn has big plans for HQ2 and is offering Amazon real estate, no taxes, free labor, Alexans and more.

The Amazon silliness ends tonight.

Panzer says, "There was the city that wanted to send Amazon a cactus. And the city that offered to change their name. And just last night the city that lit up in Amazon orange. So why shouldn't Saturn get into the competition?"

Note: This is a shortish-long post.  Don't bring any tea or muffins for today's reading selection. You'll just make a mess when you spit it all over from your laughing.

To read the post, tootle over to Amazon HQ2

KDP Jumpstart Guides Authors Through the Steps of Publishing a Book - The Digial Reader

I'm fine. Back to normal. Nap time.

We didn't post yesterday because Panzer had to go to the veterinarian for a follow-up visit for his surgery. The vet said our kitty boy is totally recovered.

So Panzer hit the fuel pedal in the Panzermobile today and went exploring in the Catosphere. Our traveling bad boy stopped in at The Digital Reader site. With a little digging, he found a post about Amazon's new KDP Jumpstart program.

According to the post by The Digital Reader site owner Nate Hoffelder, Amazon sent an email out on October 16 about their new training for authors called KDP Jumpstart. In the training authors learn all the steps to publish on the Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) platform. The post includes a link to the KDP Jumpstart program page.

Panzer says, "This little kitty got the same email. It looks like good training for authors so we don't have to search all over to get help."

Note: This is a short post. Bring a cup of tea for today's reading selection. If you plan to follow the link to the training sessions, bring a thermos of tea and a dozen muffins.

To read the post, tootle over to KDP Jumpstart

A New Panzerism

Panzer on plausible deniability:

Here's an exercise for my cat friends to try.

You know that key fob Mom has for her new car?

Well, if you pounce on it just right, the car'e horn goes off in the driveway.

Me? I was asleep. *

Pounce again and the same thing happens.

For the best results, it needs to be done at 3 a.m.

Just be sure to be curled up in a ball on the chair far away from the key fob, when Mom comes running downstairs at the noise.



* From Cat Wisdom for Humans

CreateSpace Is Closing Its Online Bookstore - GoodEreader

Today, Panzer's trip in the Catosphere was interrupted by the Panzermobile being buffeted by crying and moaning coming from outside. Following all the noise took our kitty boy to the GoodEreader site. It only took a little digging to find the post causing all the angst was about the CreateSpace online bookstore.

I am not a happy kitty.

According to the post by Mercy Pilkington, Amazon's CreateSpace has announced the closure of their popular online bookstore on October 31. Indie authors and publishers who used the CreateSpace platform to publish their paperback books had the option to sell through the CreateSpace online bookstore. The main reason for authors and publishers to use the bookstore was the royalties. CreateSpace bookstore paid 80 percent royalty on sales compared to the Amazon bookstore's 60 percent. There's a link at the end of the post to the CreateSpace announcement about the closure.

Panzer says, "It's enough to make a grown kitty yowl. Cat Wisdom for Humans is available at the CreateSpace bookstore with the 80 percent royalty and, now, it's not even worth the time to put up the buy link here."

Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and a muffin for today's reading selection. If you plan to follow the link to the CreateSpace announcement bring another cup of tea and a muffin.

To read the post, tootle over to Createspace

Ingram Expands Into Spain - Publishers Weekly

I'm definitely looking into this.

On Panzer's trip into the Catosphere today, he found some interesting news at the Publishers Weekly site. With just a little digging our inquisitive kitty discovered Ingram's Lightning Source has made an agreement with Spain's PodiPrint.

According to the Publishers Weekly news brief, Ingram's Lightning Source has entered into an agreement with Spain's PodiPrint to add it to Lightning Source's Global Connect program. Authors using Ingram will now have foreign distribution in Spain. Also included in the post are the other countries participating in the Global Connect program.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... Maybe this little kitty needs to use Ingram for his paperback books distribution."

Note: This is a short press release. Bring a cup of tea for today's reading selection.

To read the post, tootle over to Ingram

Meet the All-New Kindle Oasis: Featuring a 7-inch, 300 ppi Display, Waterproof Design, and Audible - Amazon Press Release

Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere when the Panzermobile was buffeted by cheering and clapping. Following all the hullabaloo took our intrepid kitty traveler to the Amazon Press Site. With no digging at all Panzer found a press release about the new Kindle Oasis.

According to the post, the Amazon Kindle Oasis has several new features. First is that the Oasis is waterproof for up to 60 minutes in freshwater. Second is its battery lasts for weeks on a single charge. Third is its 7-inch Paperwhite display. Fourth is it comes with Audible. Fifth is the Oasis has two memory options: 8 GB for your ebook storage or 32 GB for your ebooks and for large audiobook and other files. Other features are described in the press release as well. The press release also includes a link to place an order for the Oasis, which will ship on Halloween (October 31).

I deserve a nap after all this.

Panzer says, "MeWow! Waterproof! ... Now I won't get in trouble for my magic right paw pitch and the toilet bowl."

Note: This is an exceptionally l-o-n-g press release. Bring two thermoses of tea and a dozen pumpkin muffins and a dozen chocolate chip cookies.

To read the press release, tootle over to Kindle Oasis

Canada's Entertainment One Is Wattpad's Newest Content Partner - Publishing Perspectives

I'm feeling much better today.

Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere today just enjoying the quiet. Our nearly totally recovered kitty boy decided to make a stop at the Publishing Perspectives site. There he found a post about Wattpad.

According to the post by Porter Anderson, Wattpad has announced a new content partnership with Canada's Entertainment One. (Wattpad is also a Canadian company.) Entertainment One distributes TV series and movies for other companies and produces and distributes its own TV series and movies, as well as licensing other materials. Wattpad began as a reading and writing platform, but has expanded into other areas through partnerships like this one. The post includes several links to other posts and announcements about Entertainment One and Wattpad.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... This little kitty isn't sure if posting your writing to Wattpad is worth the effort anymore. Wattpad used to be a fun place to discover new writers. Now, it seems like it's turning into just another business."

Note: This is a h-u-m-u-n-g-o-u-s post with all the links. Bring a thermos of tea, a dozen muffins, half a dozen chocolate chip cookies and your sleeping bag for a nap in the middle.

To read the post, tootle over to Canada's Entertainment One and Wattpad

A New Panzerism

Panzer on going to the veterinarian's:

A riddle for you:

What does Panzer call a trip to the vet's office?

Answer:
Singing practice.
Mee-yohw! ... Mee-yohw! ... Mee-yohw!

You can sing along if you want. *

And a second riddle for you:

How does Panzer know when he's hit the right high note?

Answer:
The cars in front of Mom's car pull over and look for the red and blue flashing lights on the police car.



* Panzer is still recovering from last week's surgery at the vet's office, so here's a Panzerism from his book Cat Wisdom for Humans.

IBPA's Fall 2017 Update on the Amazon Buy Button Policy Change - IBPA

I'm feel better, Mom. Really I do.

Panzer's trip into the Catosphere today took him to the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) site. There our nearly recovered kitty found a post about Amazon's Buy Button policy.

The post is an email letter from the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) about Amazon's Buy Button policy. The policy allows third party vendors to sell an author or a publishers' book at a reduced price and "win" the buy button for the book at Amazon. Specifically, the book is supposed to be "new." The IBPA, however, reports they and some member authors and publishers have discovered "used" books on sale as "new." According to the post, although Amazon has been contacted by authors and publishers with complaints, the company has chosen not to address them. Also included in the post are ways to document third party vendor violations and where to report them to Amazon.

Panzer says, "It's interesting how the post says these third party vendors are getting the books they're selling."

Note: This is a h-u-m-o-n-g-o-u-s post. Bring a thermos of tea and a half dozen muffins and three chocolate chip cookes.

To read the post, tootle over to Amazon buy button

E-book Sales Up in May, for First Time in in (suc) Two Years - Publishers Weekly

I'm feeling better.

Panzer is feeling a little better today. He decided to do some cleaning in the Panzermobile. Our recovering kitty boy found a wadded up post under the passenger seat. Smoothing out the post he discovered it was from last week's trip to the Publishers Weekly site and is about ebook sales in May.

According to the post by Jim Milliot, the trade publishers group Association of American Publishers (AAP) announced in a press release that for the first time in two years ebook sales showed an increase. The 2.4 increase was for the sales in May 2017 over May 2016. The AAP based the increased sales figures on information provided by the 1,204 reporting publisher members for the Statshot program.

Panzer says, "Umm ... It's only one month. Let's wait for June before you start celebrating."

Note: This is a shortish post. Bring a cup of tea for today's reading selection.

To read the post, tootle over to e-book sales

EU orders Amazon to pay $295 million in Luxembourg back taxes - Robert-Jan Bartunek

Panzer is feeling a little better today, so he took a short trip into the Catosphere. Our sick little kitty boy made a quick stop at the Yahoo! Finance site. There he found a post from the Reuters news service about Amazon.

With antibiotics and pain pills I feel better.

According to the post by Robert-Jan Bartunek, the European Union (EU) is cracking down on what they consider special tax deals within certain member countries of which Luxembourg is one. Therefore, the EU has ordered Amazon to pay $295 million in back taxes to Luxembourg. Amazon contends the company already paid all of their required taxes to Luxembourg. Luxembourg also says the EU is wrong in their computations and judgement. There is a video at the top of the post about the European Union's tax assessments.

Panzer says, "This little kitty is confused. The EU gets to decide how much taxes a member country can charge and who they can charge?"

Note: This is a long post and a video. Bring a thermos of tea and six muffins for today's reading selection.

To read the post, tootle over to Amazon taxes

Kindle Unlimited Is Not Here To Make Friends - Gene Doucette

Ugh! The vet said four more days.

Panzer will be recovering for the rest of the week, so he'll be catching up by reporting on some of the posts he gathered before he got sick.

One of the places Panzer visited was Gene Doucette's site. He found a post there about Amazon's Kindle Unlimited (KU) service.

Gene Doucette begins his post with a description of the Kindle Unlimited (KU) subscription service from the reader's perspective and from the author's perspective. He then moves into Amazon's page counting system and how the reader's page reads are computed. Also included in this section is the funding pool from which authors are paid for the page reads. Finally, he discusses the merits of the Amazon exclusivity clause for authors.

Panzer says, "This little kitty has never used Kindle Unlimited, because he has a lot of Kobo and Barnes and Noble Nook readers."

Note: This is a h-u-g-e post. Bring a thermos of tea and a dozen muffins for today's reading selection.

To read the post, tootle over to Kindle Unlimited

A New Panzerism

Panzer on the Kitty Toy Hall of Fame:

Save your money, Mom. Read the list.*

1. Wadded up ball of paper
2. Paper bag (Tied for 2nd Place)
2. Cardboard box (Tied for 2nd Place)
3. Shadows on the wall
4. Grape
5. Fly




*Panzer is at the vet. Today's Panzerism is from his book Cat Wisdom for Humans.

EU is voting on 'dysfunctional' copyright proposal October 10 - TNW

Mom says I'll be better soon.

Panzer thought you might like to read some interesting news he discovered earlier this week before he got too sick to travel.

On a trip into the Catosphere our kitty boy stopped in at The Next Web (TNW) site. There he found a post about the European Union's (EU) proposal to make changes to the copyright law.

The post by Mar Masson Maack extensively quotes and uses information provided by Mozilla executive Raegan MacDonald. According to the post the copyright proposal would make open platforms responsible for what users post. This means platforms would have to filter and monitor every user's posts and uploads, or run the risk of being sued. Another portion of the copyright proposal would prohibit the use of a headline and quotes from a news site without a license from the publisher. Included at the end of the post is a link to Mozilla's "Call Tool" to contact the European Parliament.

Panzer says, "If this proposal passes, this little kitty wouldn't have as much information and news from EU countries for you."

Note: This is a h-u-m-o-n-g-o-u-s post. There are several links to other posts and sites included in the post. Bring a thermos of tea, a dozen cookies, half dozen muffins and a sleeping bag for a nap in the middle for today's reading selection.

To read the post, tootle over to EU's copyright reform