Scholastic's Earnings Take Big Hit in Fiscal 2019 - Publishers Weekly

Maybe some Cat Wisdom?

Panzer was cleaning out the exhaust of the Panzermobile when he found something wedged in one of the rocket exhaust pipes. Pulling it out our brave kitty discovered it was a post from the Publishers Weekly site about Scholastic.
boo
According to Jim Milliot, Scholastic's 2019 earnings income was down 55 percent. The company says earnings were affected by increased printing, paper and labor costs. Also affecting income was the fact that Scholastic's book club and book fair income were also down.

Panzer says, "Umm ... Sounds like they need another big seller like the Harry Potter books were."

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 Scholastic

Smashwords Sale Ends Today

Today is the last day to get free and discounted books at the Smashwords Summer Sale . There are over 50,000 free books at Smashwords.

Here are our books included in the sale.

Free at The Case of the Cat and the New P.I.

Free at Laugh Don't Cry

Half price (.99) at Cat Wisdom for humans

A New Panzerism

Panzer on showing love:

I gave Mom a dead mouse today.

I left it on her pillow so she'd see it when she woke up.

 Then ...

That really hurts.*

She let What's His Name have it

And ...

He threw it in the garbage can outside.

Humans just don't know the value of love gifts.



*From Cat Wisdom for humans

Publishers' Audiobook Sales Increased 24% in 2018 - The Digital Reader

Today as Panzer was sweeping out the Panzermobile he found a wadded up post under the passenger seat. Flattening it out our fastidious kitty discovered it was a post from The Digital Reader site about 2018 audiobook sales.

According to site owner Nate Hoffelder, audiobook sales were up 24 percent. This is the seventh year audiobook sales have risen. These were only the sales for 20 publishers and the ones named in the post represent the larger publishers.

Me OW. MEow. I have a good voice range.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... The post says mysteries are one the more popular audiobooks genres. So ... Maybe this little kitty should do an audio book."

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

To read the post tootle over to Audiobook sales

Audible's Captions Program Stirs Fears, Frustration Among Publishers - Publishers Weekly

Today, as Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere he decided to make a stop at the Publishers Weekly site. Digging around in the posts, our happy kitty boy found one about Audible's Captions feature. Yesterday, he gave you a post from The Bookseller about Captions.

Maybe it isn't what it seemed yesterday.

According to Rachel Deahl and Jim Milliot, Audible Captions is causing a controversy in the publishing industry. Publishers and agents are calling the program copyright infringement. Publisher Simon and Schuster has ordered Audible not to include any of their titles in the Captions program. The argument against the program involves the fact Audible only has the right to do audio books for a publisher's material, not a book or ebook.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... Maybe Captions isn't such a good idea."

Note: This is a v-e-r-y l-o-n-g post. Bring a cup of tea and two muffins for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Audible's Captions

Audible rolls out text captions feature to read while you listen - The Bookseller

Mom can read it to me.

As Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere today, he decided to make a stop at The Bookseller site. There our adventuresome kitty boy found a post about Amazon's Audible audio book service.

According to Mark Chandler, Audible is releasing a new feature called Captions. Audible Captions will be a $14.95 subscription service available in the U.S. The feature will show the text of the audio book being listened to. Audible says the feature was primarily developed for children.

Panzer says, "This little kitty wants to know how they'll decide which books will have the feature."

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

To read the post tootle over to Audible Captions

Penguin Publishing to House Former F+W Titles - Publishers Weekly

Panzer made a quick stop at the Publishers Weekly site today. With a little digging in the posts our illustrious kitty explorer found one about Penguin Random House.

What will happen to the workers?

According to the Publishers Weekly post by Jim Milliot, Penguin Random House has acquired the Writer's Market books (as well as other book divisions) in the F+W Media bankruptcy. The company won't be offering jobs to any of F+W employees.

Panzer says, "At least now we know what's happening to the Writer's Market books."

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

To read the post tootle over to Penguin Publishing

Industry Notes: Chronicle Books, in Its UK Partnership, Names Inez Munsch as MD - Publishing Perspectives

It will all be over soon.

Today as Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere he decided to make a stop at the Publishing Perspective site. With a little digging in the posts our inquisitive kitty boy found one about Abrams and Chronicle Books.

According to the post by Porter Anderson, U.S. publishers Abrams and Chronicle Books U.K. partnership arm has appointed Inez Munsch managing director. The U.K. partnership distributes books in Europe. This section of the post contains speculation about the possibility of a recession caused by Brexit. The second section of the post is about Chronicle Books distribution of Levine Querido books in the U.S. Levine Querido is a children's book publisher.

Panzer says, "Brexit sure is causing a lot of speculation."

Note: This is a l-o-n-g post. Bring a cup of tea and two muffins.

To read the post tootle over to Chronicle Books and Abrams

A New Panzerism

Panzer on training your human:

What's His Name said I'm a lazy, good for nothing cat.

And ...

The only thing I am good for is ...

Careful. I will give you what you ask for.*

Eating, sleeping, and dropping fur.

Well ...

I'll show him.

I'll just have to prove him right.



*From Cat Wisdom for humans

Amazon Literary Prize Finalists To Be Considered for Prime Video - Publishing Perspectives

Panzer was washing the windows of the Panzermobile, when he found a wadded up post stuck in the door frame. Flattening it out our fastidious kitty boy discovered it was a post about Amazon's Prime Video and the UK Kindle Storyteller Prize from the Publishing Perspectives site.

It's very confusing.

According to Porter Anderson, Amazon has added a bonus for the finalists in the UK Kindle Storyteller competition for self-published in English authors and Amazon's other five global (other languages than English) literary prize group competitions. In addition to the Kindle Storyteller winner (and the other winners in the global group) all finalists will also be considered for an audiovisual production contract with Amazon Studios and an additional advance payment. The post brings out some of the confusing points in the competition's rules and terms. Since parts of the terms are stringent and limiting, the post stresses it's important to read everything before making a decision.

Panzer says, "Here's your chance for an audiovisual deal."

Note: This is a h-u-g-e post. Bring a thermos of tea and four muffins for today's reading selection. If you plan to follow the links in the post, bring a thermos of tea and a dozen muffins.

To read the post tootle over to Amazon

A New Panzerism

Mom is still sick ... so ... She hasn't been able to look for any news for today ... so ... Pretend it's Monday and here's a Panzerism.

No saddle needed. *

Panzer on equestrian skills:

I am not scratching the furniture ...

I am learning how to ride the couch without a saddle.



*From Cat Wisdom for humans

Sick Days

Panzer here.

Mom and What's His Name have been sick for a few days. Mom is feeling better and will be back posting tomorrow (Wednesday).

B&N Sale Moves Closer to Completion - Publishers Weekly

The sale will work out fine.

Today as Panzer was traveling around the Catosphere he heard clapping and cheering coming from outside the Panzermobile. Following all the jocularity took our happy kitty pilot to the Publishers Weekly site. With a little digging in the posts, he found one about the Barnes and Noble company sale.

According to Calvin Reid, the sale of Barnes and Noble to Elliott Capital Advisors is on track to close by August. Elliott is offering $6.50 per share all cash. According to papers filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, another company had also offered to buy Barnes and Noble, but financing issues prevented the acceptance of the offer. The papers also document founder Leonard Riggio's offer to purchase the company, which he withdrew.

Panzer says, "Let's hope Elliott can turn Barnes and Noble around to profitability."

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

To read the post tootle over to Barnes and Noble sale

Scribd Develops Snapshots - Publishers Weekly

Panzer was taking a leisurely trip in the Catosphere when he decided to stop in at the Publishers Weekly site. With a little digging in the posts our inquisitive kitty boy found one about Scribd.

According to Jim Milliot, reader subscription service Scribd has added a new reader service. Scribd's new Snapshots feature is used to describe the content of a nonfiction title to a subscriber. The subscriber can use the information to decide whether the title is of interest to them.

Snapshots? Book Review? You Choose.

Panzer says, "Sounds like a book review to this little kitty."

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

To read the post tootle over to Scribd Snapshots

We're in Smashwords Summer Sale!

Panzer and Mom are participating in Smashwords Summer sale. The sale runs through July 31.

Here's the books we've put in the sale:



Cat Wisdom for humans is half price (99 cents) with Coupon Code SSW50 (Be sure to use the code!)

Cat Wisdom for humans Smashwords Sale

This is a collection of Panzer's Monday Panzerisms.

Laugh Don't Cry, Life's A Joke is free with Coupon Code SS100 (Be sure to use the code!)

Laugh Don't Cry, Life Is A Joke Smashwords Sale

This is a collection of stories about Mom's adventures as a writer (with a little bit about how Mom and I got together).

The Case of the Cat and the New PI is always Free so no code needed

 The Case of the Cat and the New PI Smashwords Sale

 This is the first mystery story from Cat's And Crime.

Under New Management is always Free so no code needed

Under New Management Smashwords Sale

This is a romance short story.

A New Panzerism

Panzer on fairy tales:

What's His Name told me if I kissed a frog it would turn into a beautiful feline princess.

Bletch ...

Worst kiss I've ever had.

Wonder if he'll like the fairy tale in his shoe.

And ...

It must have been a boy frog...

because no feline princess came out of that one.

If I Should Die Before I Wake - SleuthSayers

All cats and writers need to read this.

Today, Panzer decided to make a quick stop at the SleuthSayers site. There with a little digging in the posts, our inquisitive kitty found a post about the important preparations writers need to make before they die.

Michael Bracken's post brings up special things writers need to do. These are things to help their family members take care of the writing business and their royalty payments, the rights to their work, their obituary, and other business duties. This is a serious post.

Panzer says, "This little kitty never thought of writing his own obituary."

Note: This is a long-medium length post. Bring a cup of tea, two muffins and some paper and pen for taking notes for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Sleuthsayers

Happy Independence Day!

Happy Fourth of July!

From Panzer, Mom and What's His Name

New Chapter? UK print book sales fall while audiobooks surge 43% - The Guardian

Panzer hasn't been to The Guardian site for a while, so our traveling kitty decided to stop in there today. With a little digging in the posts he found one about the U.K.'s 2018 book sales.

Looks like audio is the way to go now.

According to the post by Mark Sweney, U.K. physical book sales declined in 2018 by 5.4 percent. This was the first decline since 2014. A chart is included in the post showing physical book sales 2014 through 2018. Although book sales declined, audiobook sales increased 43 percent. The ebook market also declined 2 percent.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... Maybe this little kitty should do some audio books."

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 UK book sales and audiobooks

27 Calls for Submissions in July 2019 - Paying markets - Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity

Today as Panzer was taking his after lunch nap, he was shaken from his kitty bed by clapping and cheering coming from the Catosphere. Hopping in the Panzermobile, our sleepy kitty boy followed all the noise to the Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity site. There he found a post about 27 paying markets accepting submissions from writers.

According to the post at the site by Erica Verrillo, the post contains 27 markets with July deadlines accepting writing submissions. While it's true all the markets have July deadlines 12 are July 1 deadlines. That leaves 15 still open for submissions. The markets are open for poems, short stories, nonfiction and plays. Included in the post is a link to the Calls for Submissions page where she posts markets as she finds them.

Now it's back to my nap.

Panzer says, "Here's what to do with your four day 4th of July weekend."

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 links to the different markets, you'll need a gallon of tea, two dozen muffins and a sleeping bag for a nap in the middle.

To read the post tootle over to 27 Calls for Submissions in July 2019 - Paying markets

A New Panzerism

Panzer on rules to live by:

Both cats and humans need to observe this rule:

 When someone speaks to you in a soft, sweet voice ...

Trust me. I'm right.*

RUN!

They're about to shove you in a cat carrier

or

an old folks' home.



* From Cat Wisdom for humans