Field Trip: Barnes & Noble at One Loudoun - The Digital Reader

Today's trip into the Catosphere took Panzer to The Digital Reader site. With a little digging our traveling kitty found a post about a new Barnes and Noble store.

Mmm. Tuna. Almost as good as turkey.

According to the post by site owner Nate Hoffelder, he made a visit to the new Barnes and Noble store in Ashburn, Virginia. The store boasts a 17,000 foot size. It contains a cafe/restaurant, a books section and a general merchandise section that includes a small Nook section. In the books section the tables can be moved to create space for an event.

Panzer says, "Inquiring kitties want to know if tuna sandwiches are on the restaurant menu?"

Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and a muffin for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Barnes and Noble

Amazon Publishing Launches New imprint - Publishers Weekly

Panzer's trip into the Catosphere today took him to the Publishers Weekly site. With a little digging in the posts there our industrious kitty boy found a post about Amazon's newest publishing imprint.

According to the post by Jim Maher, Amazon has started a new publishing imprint. The Amazon Original Stories imprint will publish short stories, essays and reporting pieces. The material will be between 5,000 and 20,000 words, so "it can be read in a single sitting." The post lists the announced authors scheduled for publication in 2017 and 2018. However, the post doesn't list any submission guidelines or even if Amazon is open to submissions for the new imprint.

It's a simple question.

Panzer says, "This little kitty wants to know exactly what is Amazon's definition of reporting pieces?"

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

To read the post, tootle over to Amazon new imprint

A New Panzerism

Panzer on ownership:

Finders Keepers. It's yours. *

Why are you telling me there's a mouse in the kitchen?

You saw it first.

Seriously ...

It's okay. You can have it.



*From Cat Wisdom for humans

Freda ebook app now out for Android devices: Attn. public domain lovers - TeleRead

Mmm ... Good ... I love turkey day.

Today, Panzer waddled his way into the Panzermobile for his trip into the Catosphere. He's still recuperating from Thanksgiving turkey so his trip was a short one. Our hefty kitty pilot stopped in at the TeleRead site. Luckily there was no digging necessary to find a post about the new Freda app.

According to the post by David Rothman, the new Android version of the ebook reading app Freda is now available. While the heading on the post says public domain users will love the app, the post says it will work for "small publishers" too. The post includes instructions for using various features of the app. Android users can get it free in the Google Play store and there's a direct link in the post. Freda is made by Turnipsoft and they welcome suggestions for improvements and new features. The post also includes information on the paid app Moon+.

Panzer says, "My work here is done and this little kitty is ready for a nap."

Note: This is a long post. Bring half a thermos of cocoa and a muffin for today's reading selection.

To read the post, tootle over to Freda for Android

Happy Thanksgiving

From Panzer, Mom and What's His Name

Simon & Schuster's Vanity Press Launches NaNoWriMo Writing Contest to Exploit More Writers - The Digital Reader

Because Panzer is helping with the baking for Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday, he made a very short trip into the Catosphere today. Our flour covered kitty made a quick stop at The Digital Reader site. With hardly any digging at all he found a post about Simon and Schuster and National Novel Writing Month.

Listen. This is bad, bad, bad.

According to the post by The Digital Reader site owner Nate Hoffelder, National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) participants (like Panzer and me) need to be particularly careful about a contest run by publisher Simon and Schuster. Archway Publishing (Simon and Schuster's vanity publishing subsidiary) is running a contest called Hot Books, Cold Nights Romance Novel Writing Contest for NaNoWriMo Winners. (You're a Winner if you write 50,000 words during the month.) According to The Digital Reader post, if you've never heard of Archway Publishing, they're an expensive high pressure sales pitch publishing company. This post should be required reading for every writer, not just NaNoWriMo participants.

Panzer says, "Why is NaNoWriMo having anything to do with this company?"

Note: This is a medium post. Bring a cup of hot cocoa and a chocolate chip cookie (biscuit) for today's reading selection.

To read the post, tootle over to Simon and Schuster

A New Panzerism

Panzer on moral concepts:

Mom said, "Bad kitty," when I scratched the furniture.

You know ... What's His Name always says she's pretty smart.

So I thought about what Mom said for a long time ...

in between my morning nap and my afternoon nap.

And ...

This is what I decided:

Sorry ... You're wrong again Mom.

There are two ways to look at it,

My way ...

And ...

The wrong way.



* From Cat Wisdom for humans

B&N Dismisses Takeover Proposal - Publishers Weekly

Today's trip into the Catosphere took Panzer to the Publishers Weekly site. There our traveling kitty boy found a post about Barnes and Noble.

Huh?

According to the post by Jim Milliot, Barnes and Noble announced Sandell Asset Management made an  offer to take Barnes and Noble private (buy?) for a reported $650 million.* Apparently, Sandell would start a new company, all the Barnes and Noble shareholders would be required to put their shares into the new company, and then Sandell would control the new company. Barnes and Noble stated in their announcement the company (and founder Len Riggio) had rejected the offer.

Panzer says, "Sandell wants to do what?"

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

To read the post, tootle over to Barnes and Noble

*Updated to correct amount offered.

Amazon Sellers Brood as States Come Calling for Taxes - The New York Times

Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere when the Panzermobile was buffeted by booing and hissing. Following all the hubbub took our brave kitty to The New York Times site. With a little digging he found a post about Amazon and sales taxes.

I'll never understand humans.

The post by Nick Wingfield states Amazon will begin collecting sales taxes for its marketplace merchants who sell merchandise to Washington state residents. It seems the state legislature needed some more money, so they passed a law to collect more sales taxes and the impact is on Amazon's merchants big and small. According to the post, other states are preparing to follow suit.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... Inquiring kitties want to know what's going to happen next with this sales tax thingy? No more merchandise sales to Washington residents? Just curious."

Note: This is a h-u-m-o-n-g-o-u-s post. Bring two thermoses of tea and a dozen muffins for today's reading selection.

To read the post, tootle over to Amazon

Kindle's 10-Year Journey - The Telegraph

Today's trip into the Catosphere took Panzer to The Telegraph site. With a little digging by our inquisitive kitty, he found a post about the Kindle anniversary later this week.

The Telegraph post states the first Amazon Kindle was introduced to the reading public on November 19, 2007. The post covers the evolution of Amazon's ereader from the original Kindle in 2007 to the Kindle Oasis introduced on October 31, 2017. Also included in the post are the publishers and indie authors who began adding their books to the platform in the early days.

She has 121 ebooks on it.

Panzer says, "Umm ... You know ... All you have to do is replace the battery and those Kindles last forever. ... Mom still has a Kindle 2 she uses to read in bed at night."

Note: This is a medium post. Bring a cup of tea, a muffin and a chocolate chip cookie (biscuit) for today's reading selection.

To read the post, tootle over to Kindle

Pearson Closes DRM - Free eBookstore, Will Delete All eBooks From Customers' Account - The Digital Reader

Today, Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere when he heard crying and wailing. Flowing all the noise took our brave kitty boy to The Digital Reader site. There he found a post about Pearson's ebookstore closing.

The post by The Digital Reader founder Nate Hoffelder states Pearson intends to close their MyPearsonStore.com DRM-free ebookstore on April 30, 2018, Customers need to download their ebook purchases before then as all customer accounts and purchases will be deleted on that date. There's a copy of Pearson's announcement included in The Digital Reader post.

One less online bookstore.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... Another online ebookstore closes their doors."

Note: This is a short post. Bring a cup of tea and half a muffin for today's reading selection.

To read the post, tootle over to Pearson eBookstore

A New Panzerism

Panzer on the essence of the ideal:

Mom says it's important to practice what you're good at to get better at it.

Okay ...

Perfection is my goal. *

Nap Practice at 1:00 p.m.

Nap Practice at 2:00 p.m.

Nap Practice at 3:00 p.m.

Nap Practice at ...




* From Cat Wisdom for humans

Veterans Day

Veterans Day

B&N Unveils New Apps and New Holiday Sales Strategy - Publishers Weekly

Already thinking about Christmas?

Panzer was out tootling around in the Catosphere when he heard holiday music. Our inquisitive kitty boy followed all the noise to the Publishers Weekly site. There he found a post about Barnes and Noble's plans for the holiday sales season.

According to the post by John Maher, Barnes and Noble has two new apps to make holiday shopping easier. The first is called Book Graph. When a customer chooses an online book to examine, the app gives them other similar books to consider. Included in the post is a link to the app. The second app is called SmartGift. After a customer purchases a gift they can send an email to the recipient. The recipient has the option to receive the gift or return it and pick another. There's also a holiday catalog/gift guide for the holiday season. Barnes and Noble also has a book drive for charity running until January 1, 2018. Customers can buy a book and donate it to the charity book drive.

Panzer says, "This little kitty thinks that second app is interesting. ... Mom can send an email to me that says 'I bought you a new cat sweater. If you don't like it you can exchange it for what you want.' ... Hmm ... Then I can exchange it for catnip. ... Sounds good to me."

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

To read the post, tootle over to Barnes and Noble

Macmillan to Close Its Self-Publishing Unit, Pronoun - Publishers Weekly

Today, as soon as Panzer entered the Catosphere he discovered something was wrong. The Panzermobile was buffeted and knocked around by all the crying and shouting. Following the sounds of distress took our brave kitty boy to the Publishers Weekly site. There he found breaking news about self-publishing platform Pronoun's fate.

How humans hunt: Catch. Eat. Kill.

In a post by Calvin Reid Panzer learned Pronoun is being closed down. Pronoun is platform similar to Smashwords. Indie authors/publishers upload their material to Pronoun for distribution to retailers. As of now the Pronoun platform won't accept any new author/publisher accounts.  It will totally shut down all accounts and distributions on January 15, 2018. Macmillan bought Pronoun in May 2016. No announcement has been made by Macmillan about the shut down decision.

Panzer says, "Umm ... Nobody needs to make an announcement about anything. It's simple.  Buy your competition and then shut them down."

Note: This is a medium post. Bring a cup of tea and a muffin for today's reading selection. (If you're a Pronoun platform user, you'll probably want a box of tissues too.)

To read the post, tootle over to Pronoun closure

A New Panzerism

Panzer on persistence:

Greatness is never easy.
It requires focus, intense effort, and endurance.
 But after much struggle I have made it.
I am at the top of the world.
I am the greatest!

You can't make me!*

I am the King of all I survey!

What ... ?
What do you mean get off the curtains?

No!
Your King has spoken.


* From Cat Wisdom for Humans

As retail rivals retreat, Indigo Books plans five U.S. stores in next two years - Financial Post

Not your average book store?

Today Panzer's trip into the Catosphere took him to the Financial Post site. There with just a little digging he found a post about Canada's Indigo Books future plans.

According to the post at Financial Post by Hollie Shaw, Canada's Indigo Books and Music plans to open its first store in the United States. The store will be in the Mall in Short Hills, New Jersey. It doesn't appear Indigo Books will be in direct competition with Amazon or Barnes and Noble's bricks and mortar stores, because in addition to books Indigo also sells toys, baby items and other general merchandise.

Panzer says, "Umm ... This little kitty wants to know if they sell e-readers. ... And ... If they do, what kind?"

Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and two muffins for today's reading selection.

To read the post, tootle over to Indigo Books

First Look at the New Nook Glowlight 3 - The Digital Reader

Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere when the Panzermobile was buffeted by clapping and cheering. Following all the hullabaloo took our adventuresome kitty to The Digital Reader site. There he found a post about the new Nook Glowlight 3.

According to The Digital Reader site owner Nate Hoffelder's post, Barnes and Noble's new Nook Glowlight 3 ereader is available now. The Glowlight 3 comes with a 6 inch screen and color changing front light. It also comes with a battery that lasts 50 days. The price is $119.00. The post includes several images of the ereader and a link to check out the specifics on it.

Now where did I put that Kindle?

Panzer says, "Hmm ... This little kitty thinks it looks like a lot like the old Kindle that used to be next to Mom's bed."

Note: All of the ereader images make this a longish post. Bring half a thermos of cocoa and three muffins for today's reading selection.

To read the post, tootle over to Nook Glowlight 3

Audible Launches Dedicated Romance Service - Publishers Weekly

It's only the first day and I'm so tired.

Today is the beginning of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), so Panzer got a late start into the Catosphere. Our sleepy little kitty boy made a quick trip to the Publishers Weekly site. There he found a post about Amazon's Audible.

According to the post by Shannon Maughan, Audible, Amazon's audio book arm, has added a new membership category called Audible Romance. A membership in Audible Romance is $14.95 per month. If, however, you already have a regular Audible membership, it's only an additional $6.95 per month to add the new service. Listeners will be able to choose their romance audio books based on a Steaminess Score. There are stages to the score starting with Sweet and getting hotter from there.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... Does Audible have an Audible Mystery category? ... And ... Do they have a Dead Villain Score?"

Note: This is a longish post. Bring half a thermos of cocoa and two muffins for today's reading selection.

To read the post, tootle over to Audible Romance