Happy Thanksgiving

From Panzer, Mom and What's His Name

B&N Seeks Knockout Blow in Litigation with Fired CEO - Publishers Weekly

Today Panzer decided to stop at the Publishers Weekly site. Digging in the posts, our inquisitive kitty discovered one about the old Barnes and Noble.

It just goes on and on and on.

According to Andrew Albanese, the Barnes and Noble court fight continues with former CEO Demos Parneros and his lawsuit against the company. Barnes and Noble's attorneys are filing in court for a summary judgment in the lawsuit. The company wants two of Mr. Parneros' three claims dismissed. The two claims are 1) defamation and 2) breach of covenant of good faith and fair dealing. Barnes and Noble's attorneys presented the court with a 33 page memorandum explaining why the two claims should be dismissed. There are several links in the post, including one to the memorandum.

Panzer says, "I've been telling you about this never-ending lawsuit story since it started."

Note: This is a long-medium length post. Bring a cup of cocoa and a muffin for today's reading. If you plan to follow the links included in the post, bring a quart of cocoa and a dozen muffins.

To read the post tootle over to Barnes and Noble litigation

To read Panzer's most recent previous post about the litigation, tootle over to Barnes and Noble's risky move

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 ...




*From Cat Wisdom for humans

B&N Cuts Freelance Writers from Its Teen and SFF Blogs - Publishers Weekly

Today, Panzer was tootling around in the Panzermobile in the Catosphere when he heard sighing and crying coming from outside. Following the noise, took our sympathetic kitty boy to the Publishers Weekly site. There he found a post about Barnes and Noble's change to the company's freelance writing team.

Your job is never safe.

According to the post by Judith Rosen, Barnes and Noble has made major changes to the company's freelance bloggers. These freelancers are the ones who wrote the Teen and Science Fiction and Fantasy (SFF) blogs. The post includes quotes from freelancer teams that were let go and one of these is quoted as saying all freelancers were let go. As freelancers they weren't considered employees and so could be let go at any time. According to at least one of the quotes, some of them had worked for Barnes and Noble for years.

Panzer says, "Whenever a company is taken over by new owners, people will be let go no matter how long you've worked there."

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 teen and sff blogs

Where Should I Buy My ISBNs? - Indies Unlimited

Today, Panzer decided to make a quick stop at the Indies Unlimited site. With a little digging in the posts, our inquisitive kitty found one about buying and owning ISBNs for your books, ebooks and audio books.

Now where is that ISBN hiding?

According to Melinda Clayton, where you buy your ISBNs (International Standard Book Number) is extremely important. Your book's ISBN identifies it in the Books in Print database. This is how libraries and bookstores can find your book. Bowker is the official seller of ISBNs in the United States. If you buy your book's ISBN directly from Bowker, you are listed in Books in Print as the publisher of your book.  If you get your book's ISBN from Amazon, then Amazon bought that ISBN from Bowker and Amazon is listed as the publisher of your book. There's also an illegal side to not buying your ISBN from Bowker (or Amazon) too. Turns out there are scammers online who advertise they sell ISBNs at discounted prices and the ISBNs are either not delivered or fake made-up numbers.The post includes a link to the Bowker site and one for authors outside the United States.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... You do need to worry about who owns that ISBN, because some bookstores won't carry books with ISBNs showing Amazon as your publisher."

Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a cup of cocoa and a muffin for today's reading selection. If you plan to follow the links in the post, bring a second cup of tea and another muffin.

To read the post tootle over to ISBNs

Scandal Engulfs Independent Publisher ChiZine Publications - Writer Beware

Today as Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere, the Panzermobile was suddenly buffeted and shaken by yelling and screaming outside. Braving the chaos and following all the noise took our adventuresome kitty boy to the Writer Beware site. It took no digging at all to find the cause of all the hullabaloo was a post about Canadian indie publishing company ChiZine Publications. In case you didn't know, Writer Beware is a site which advises writers about scams and unscrupulous sites, agents, and publishers.

Watch where you step.

According to Victoria Strauss, ChiZine Publications has recently had numerous complaints filed against the company by writers. While it appeared the company had an excellent record working with authors, it has come to light according to the quoted authors, sites and blog posts this wasn't true. The post contains quotes from authors' blogs about not getting paid their royalties, statements from writers' organizations, and a statement from ChiZine. There are also links to several blog posts about the issues as well.

Panzer says, "This is definitely one big pile of pooh you don't want to step in."

Note: This is a humongous post. Bring a gallon of tea and a dozen muffins for today's reading selection. If you plan to follow the links, also bring a gallon of cocoa, a dozen muffins and a dozen chocolate chip cookies.

To read the post tootle over to scandal

A New Panzerism

Panzer on the Creator's creations:

The Creator only made a certain number of perfect creatures.

Ones ...

with fur ...

See ... No thumbs

with tails ...

with pointy ears ...

and the extraordinary ability to purr.

The rest he gave opposable thumbs.



*From Cat Wisdom for humans

B&N Launches Book of the Year Award - Publlishers Weekly

Panzer's trip into the Catosphere today took our illustrious kitty traveler to the Publishers Weekly site. There he found a post about the new Barnes and Noble Book of the Year Award.

Does it help book sales in the UK?

According to the post by Ed Nawotka, Barnes and Noble has announced the company will institute a new annual Book of the Year Award. The Barnes and Noble booksellers are who will pick the nominees and vote for a winner. Barnes and Noble CEO James Daunt is also part of the UK's Waterstones bookstores. Waterstones has had a Book of the Year Award since 2012. The shortlist of this year's nominees is included in the post. A link to information aboutt Waterstones Book of the Year Award is also included in the post.

Panzer says, "This tells this little kitty that if your book isn't sold through the Barnes and Noble stores, you won't be nominated."

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

To read the post tootle over to Barnes and Noble Book of the Year Award

Macmillan Can't Adapt to the Market, So It's Forcing Customers to Adopt to It - The Digital Reader

Today as Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere he decided to make a stop at The Digital Reader site. With a little digging in the posts there he found one about the Macmillan embargo of libraries. Our studious kitty boy has been updating you on this issue every since it started. Under the Macmillan is only allowing libraries to purchase one copy of a newly published ebook until two months after its publication.

Where does he get his information?

In The Digital Reader site owner Nate Hoffelder's post, he explains why he believes Macmillan CEO John Sargent is making unsubstantiated claims about library patrons and their ebook use. CEO Sargent believes if library patrons can't get an ebook in a timely manner at the library, 8 percent of those patron will buy a hardcover copy of the book. According to Mr. Hoffelder's analysis, the publishing company appears to be functioning under a pre-ebook mentality. As he points out, Macmillan is trying to sell books to and through bookstores, instead of to book buyers. This is probably why Macmillan's sales are down and not to libraries or their patrons. There is a link included in the post to a press release issued earlier this month by the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies about CEO Sargent's appearance at a meeting with them.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... Mom and What's His Name must not be part of CEO Sargent's 8 percent. If they can't find the ebook they want through the library, they just look for another ebook by somebody else. "

Note: This is a short-medium length post. Bring a cup of cocoa and a chocolate muffin for today's reading selection. If you plan to read the second post, bring an extra cup of cocoa and another chocolate muffin.

To read the post tootle over to Macmillan

To read Panzer's previous post about Macmillan tootle over to Macmillan CEO

Amazon Reducing Orders to Publishers - Publishers Weekly

Today's trip into the Catosphere took Panzer to the Publishers Weekly site. With a little digging in the posts our adventuresome kitty found one about Amazon's inventory problems.

Never have only distributor.

According to Jim Milliot, Amazon is cutting back on the company's book orders from publishers. This is a step the company is taking in inventory reduction at its warehouses. By reducing the number of books in inventory the company will have more warehouse space available for other items in upcoming sales during the holiday season. Because of the possible loss of holiday book sales, some publishers are considering using BN.com, Walmart and other distribution outlets for their online book sales.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... Maybe ... Amazon needs bigger warehouses/distribution centers?"

Note: Your choice: This is either a long-short length or a short-medium length post. Either way, bring a cup of tea and a muffin for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Amazon

Veterans Day

From Panzer, Mom and What's His Name

Once Upon a Crime: A Collaborative Story in Need of a Title - Criminal Element

Panzer was vacuuming the floor mats in the Panzermobile when he noticed a wadded up post under the passenger seat. Flattening it out, he discovered it was a post from the Criminal Element site.

I have a headache.

According to the post from Criminal Element HQ, Criminal Element and Minotaur Books are running a contest to name a short story. The short story was written in collaboration by a group of mystery/crime writers at this year's Bouchercon. Bouchercon is the annual mystery writers and fans convention. All you have to do to enter the contest is read the story (which is included in the post) and post your title in the Comments section. The winner will receive "a mega-bundle of books from all the participating authors" of the story.

Panzer says, "Be sure and read some of the titles others have already posted in the Comments section."

Note: Even with the story, this is a long-medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and one and a half muffins for today's reading.

To read the post and the story tootle over to Once Upon A Crime

Finding the Best Creative Writing Blogs On the Internet - Jerry Jenkins

I'm always looking for interesting stuff.

Today, when Panzer was cleaning out the glove box on the Panzermobile's dashboard, he discovered a post in there under his forgotten ereader. Flattening out the post, our fastidious kitty boy found it was from author Jerry Jenkins blog site.

Included in the post are Jerry Jenkins 13 favorite creative writing blogs. Each of the blogs listed is followed by a description of what the blog covers and includes a link to the blog site. Be advised, there are popup ads at the site.

Panzer says, "There are blog recommendations for both fiction and nonfiction writers."

If you're looking for some educational/entertaining reading for writers, tootle over to Creative Writing Blogs

As Boycotts Mount, Macmillan CEO Defends Library E-books Embargo - Publishers Weekly

Panzer had hardly entered the Catosphere when the Panzermobile was shaken by all the booing and yelling and hissing outside. It didn't take any effort to follow all the chaos and angst to the Publishers Weekly site. There our brave kitty pilot found a post about the latest news in the Macmillan library embargo. Panzer has been telling you about the embargo for several weeks now because our kitty boy is big supporter of libraries.

Just boycott all his books.

According to the post by Andrew Albanese, on November 4 Macmillan CEO John Sargent had a meeting with Chief Officers of State Library Agencies representatives after the library embargo went into effect. CEO Sargent told the assembled librarians the company will not stop the embargo. He continues to stand behind his claim libraries are responsible for the company's sales losses. The embargo prohibits libraries from purchasing more than one copy of Macmillan's ebooks until two months after the book's publication date. The number of libraries joining a boycott of Macmillan ebooks started by the King Country Library System in Washington state is growing and is said to be in the "dozens" of libraries now. It should be noted, however, that some of the libraries boycotting the ebooks are instead purchasing more hardcover editions. Instead of punishing Macmillan for the embargo, purchasing more hardcovers rewards the company. There are nine links to other information about the embargo included in the post.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... You can't buy our ebooks, but we'll sell you all the hardcover books you want to buy. That pile of stinky stuff just keeps getting higher."

Note: This is a h-u-m-o-n-g-o-u-s post. Bring a gallon of tea and a dozen muffins for today's reading selection. If you plan to follow all the links in the post, bring two gallons of tea, three dozen muffins and a dozen chocolate chip cookies (biscuits). You should also bring a portable cooking stove to make your dinner.

To read the post tootle over to Macmillan CEO

To read Panzer's post from two days ago, tootle over to Macmillan library embargo

B&N Pursues 'Risky' Move Against Fired CEO - Publishers Weekly

Today Panzer made a quick trip to the Publishers Weekly site. There with a little digging in the posts pile our fastidious kitty boy found one about the Demos Parneros lawsuit filed against Barnes and Noble.

What was discovered?

According to Andrew Albanese's post, Barnes and Noble attorneys are asking the judge in Demos Parneros' lawsuit against his former employer Barnes and Noble to issue a summary judgement on two of the three claims in the lawsuit. They are the defamation of character claim and the breach of good faith claim. The attorneys say that now the discovery process is over, the information shows there is no merit to these two claims. The judge advised the attorneys it would be a risky proposition to ask for a summary judgement, but the attorneys intend to go ahead with it. They have until November 22 to file their motion. The post contains several links to other posts containing information about the ongoing lawsuit as well as a link to the letter filed with the court advising about the summary judgement request.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... This little kitty doesn't think it bodes well when the judge tells you it's risky to do what you want to do."

Note: This is a long post. Bring a cup of tea and two muffins for today's reading. If you plan to follow all the links in the post, bring a gallon of tea and a dozen muffins. Oh, and you might want to bring a sleeping bag for a nap in the middle of your reading.

To read the post tootle over to Barnes and Noble

Macmillan Library Embargo Update - Various

This has been a tough day for Panzer. He had hardly settled into his little kitty bed, when he was shaken onto the floor by howling and yowling coming from the Catosphere. Jumping into the Panzermobile our traveling kitty boy followed all the hullabaloo to the Motherboard site first and then on to The Digital Reader site. Both sites take publisher Macmillan to task for the company's library embargo. Panzer has been telling you about this ongoing battle since it started.

According to Motherboard's Matthew Gault's post, Macmillan is using flawed logic and incorrect numbers to support its library embargo. Macmillan claims library readers are the cause of the company's book sale losses and, therefore, the embargo to not let libraries have copies of new ebooks until two months after publication is justified. The post points out libraries pay three or four times more for an ebook than a regular purchaser. Once the book has been checked out 52 times or "owned" by the library for two years, the library must buy another copy. The post contains extensive quotes from Overdrive's Steve Potash disputing Macmillan's claims.

The Digital Reader's Nate Hoffelder's post, addresses an increase in the number of libraries that will no longer purchase Macmillan ebooks.. The number of libraries and library systems has grown from one to four. More than one library is included in a library system. One of the participants, the King County Library System, has 50 libraries. The post contains links to other information about the libraries' efforts. There's also a link to a notice some libraries are using to tell patrons that Macmillan's new policy is why they can't get a book they want from the library.

I don't want to wash those shoes.

Panzer says, "This little kitty thinks Macmillan stepped in a big pile of stinky stuff."

Note: This will be a humongous read. Bring a gallon of tea and a dozen muffins for today's reading selections. If you plan to follow the links, bring another gallon of tea and another dozen muffins.

To read the post at Motherboard tootle over to Macmillan library embargo

To read the post at The Digital Reader tootle over to libraries boycotting Macmillan

A New Panzerism

Panzer on ways to save money:

I heard Mom and What's His Name talking.
Mom said they need to save money for Christmas.

What's His Name said my cat food is the really expensive kind ...

and ...

she should change my cat food to the really cheap stuff to save money.

Well ...

I could catch him some spiders.*

I know how What's His Name can save money.

I've heard bugs are a good source of protein.

Maybe ...

What's His Name needs to change his diet to save money.



*From Cat Wisdom for humans