Local trio buy Santa Fe Southern Railroad - Sante Fe New Mexican

Panzer was just tootling along minding his own kitty business when he heard clapping and cheering outside the Panzermobile. Following all the jocularity took our inquisitive kitty boy to the Sante Fe New Mexican site. There he discovered a post about the sale of a railroad spur line to three New Mexico residents.

Trains are really noisy.

According to the post by Robert Nott, the Santa Fe Southern Railroad has been purchased (in alphabetic order) by Bill Banowsky, George R.R. Martin (yes, the Game of Thrones author) and Catherine Oppenheimer. The 18 mile long spur line runs from Sante Fe, New Mexico to Lamy, New Mexico. The trio hope to have a holiday train trip, a speak-easy bar and other entertaining train excursions. They also hope to interest movie makers into using the train for location shoots.

Panzer says, "Some humans never outgrow playing with trains."

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

To read the post tootle over to Santa Fe Southern Railroad

Bill Clinton writing a second thriller with James Patterson - The Guardian

Today, Panzer decided to make a quick stop at The Guardian site. With no digging in the posts at all our inquisitive kitty found one about Bill Clinton and James Paterson's newest novel writing enterprise.

Hmm ... A U.S. President for your co-author.

According to Alison Flood's post, former U.S. President Bill Clinton is writing a second novel with James Patterson. This novel is titled The President's Daughter. Their first novel together, The President is Missing, is being made into a television movie by Showtime.

Panzer says, "Who better to write novels about presidents than a former president?"

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

To read the post tootle over to Bill Clinton and James Patterson

RWA Retires RITA Awards, Debutes the 'Vivian' After a Winter of Controversy - Publishers Weekly

As Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere today the Panzermobile was shaken violently by crying and clapping coming from outside. Following all the hullabaloo took our confused kitty boy to the Publishers Weekly site. There he found a post about the Romance Writers of America (RWA) that was what was causing all the noise. Panzer told you earlier this year (and last year) about all the problems the Romance Writers of America has been having with the RITA Awards, the membership and the previous Board of Directors resignations.

I really hate the water.

According to the post by John Maher, the Romance Writers of America (RWA) has done away with the RITA Awards and replaced it with the Vivian Awards. The new Vivian Award is named after Vivian Stevens. Vivian Stevens was RWA's founder. There will be new rules and new training for the judges for the awards to 'ensure the Vivian is inclusive, equitable, and accessible.' There's a link to the site where the new information will be posted after it's voted on by the Board included in the post.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... Now we'll see if this new award can help calm the waters in the RWA Tsunami."

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

To read the post tootle over to RWA Rita Awards
To read Panzer's previous post about the RWA tootle over to Romance Writers of America

A New Panzerism

Panzer on the importance of keeping a journal:

Dear Journal,

Early last Tuesday, about quarter past second breakfast ...

I was thinking real hard on something to think about.

It didn't work.

My brain stayed empty.

That's what I think ... Zzzzz

And ...

I fell asleep.

Which proves that the leading cause of premature sleep is thinking.

U.S. Memorial Day

Never Forget

Arlington Cemetery

Amazon is reopening its French warehouses after COVID-19 labor dispute - The Verge

Today's trip into the Catosphere took Panzer to The Verge site. There our traveling kitty pilot found a post about Amazon's French warehouses. Last week Panzer told you about Amazon closing the company's French fulfillment centers in April.

All humans want is more money.

According The Verge's Chaim Gartenberg's post, Amazon is reopening the company's six French warehouses. The company will open the fulfillment centers slowly. There will be staggered shifts for the employees and increased pay.

Panzer says, "Well ... Now people there will get their orders faster, since Amazon won't be shipping from fulfillment centers outside France anymore."

Note: This is a long-short length post. Bring a cup of tea for your reading selection today.

To read the post tootle over to Amazon French fulfillment centers reopen
To read Panzer's earlier post tootle over to Amazon French shutdown

Seattle-area booksellers, moved by community support During coronovirus shutdown, say 'indie bookstores will thrive again' - The Seattle Times

Today Panzer decided to make his trip in the Catosphere closer to home (he lives in Washington state), so he stopped in at The Seattle Times Newspaper site. (The city of Seattle is located in Washington state.) With just a little digging in the posts, our inquisitive kitty boy found one about how indie bookstores are doing in the Seattle-area (Washington) with the coronavirus pandemic state-ordered shutdown.

According to the post by Moira Macdonald, Seattle-area (Seattle, Redmond and Mercer Island) independent bookstores are finding creative ways to continue to sell books. Bookstores are adding shopping carts to their websites so buyers can order their books online. Books are then either mailed to the buyer or can be picked up curbside outside the bookstore.  People are also calling in their book orders for mail or pickup. Book buyers are buying from their neighborhood indie bookstores to help keep them from closing permanently.

Don't worry. They'll be open soon.

Panzer says, "The neighborhood bookstore is where humans can go and hold a book in their hands. That's important to a lot of humans."

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

To read the post tootle over to Seattle-area bookstores

Coronavirus Shutdowns Weigh on Book Sales - The New York Times

It doesn't make sense to me.

Panzer decided to make a stop at The New York Times site today. There he found an interesting post about book sales in the month of March.

The post by Alexandra Alter says, according to figures released by the Association of American Publishers (AAP), book sales were down 8 percent in March as compared to March of last year. Most of that loss was in educational books for children. Ebooks were down by 5 percent as well. In contrast however, audio books were up by 15 percent.

Panzer says, "Well, with schools closed educational book sales would be down, but I don't understand why ebooks sales were down."

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

To read the post tootle over to book sales

Agatha Awards, Edgar Awards and EU Prize for Literature - Various

Today as Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere the Panzermobile was suddenly buffeted from all sides by clapping and cheering. Our brave kitty pilot followed all the hullabaloo first to the Mystery Fanfare site, then to the Mystery Tribune site and finally to the Publishers Weekly site.

Each of these sites had announcements about the recent winners of literary prizes. They include the Agatha Awards, the Edgar Awards and European Prize for Literature.

I am so tired I can't keep my eyes open.

First, in addition to a list of the Agatha winners Mystery Fanfare includes a link to the presentation ceremony via Zoom. Second, in addition to the list of the Edgar winners Mystery Tribune includes a description of each winner's story plot. Third, in addition to the list of The European Prize for Literature winners Publishers Weekly explains how the prizes are awarded.

Panzer says. "This little kitty spent so much time traveling he needs a long nap."

Note: Because today's reading includes three sites and a Zoom ceremony, this is a triple humongous reading adventure. Bring a thermos of tea and a thermos of cocoa and five muffins and ten chocolate chip cookies.

To read the post about the Agathas tootle over to Agatha Award Winners
To read the post about the Edgars tootle over to MWA Edgar Winners
To read the post about the E.U. Prize tootle over to European Prize for Literature

A New Panzerism

Panzer on human misconceptions:

Mom needs to stop telling me I'm a fat cat.

She needs to change her attitude.

I am a statuesque cat.

Washington. Lincoln. Panzer. *

Statues weigh a lot and have a solid base.

Sounds like me, right?

Got it Mom?

I'm a cat statue.




* From Cat Wisdom for humans

Amazon's Showdown in France Tests Its Ability to Sidestep Labor - The New York Times

Today as Panzer was cleaning out the Panzermobile, he found a post wadded up under the passenger seat. Flattening it out, our fastidious kitty discovered it was a post from The New York Times site about Amazon's labor problems in France.

I have my priorities.

The post by Liz Alderman and Adam Satariano documents problems with the French warehouse workers labor union. The union is not happy with Amazon's response to workers' health protection in the company's French fulfillment centers. The union took Amazon to court and won a court order that Amazon must stop delivering 'nonessential' items during the pandemic. In response Amazon closed their French fulfillment centers. Amazon is shipping orders from warehouses in other countries to French customers. There are more issues in the case and Amazon has appealed to the French Supreme Court.

Panzer says, "Umm ... Who decides what is nonessential? What's essential to the neighbor's dog wouldn't be essential to me. So, who decides? Me or the dog?"

This is a humongous post. Bring a thermos of tea and six muffins for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Amazon and French Unions

John Grisham: Why Indie Bookstores Are Essential - The Literary Hub

Panzer made a quick trip to The Litarery Hub site today. There our speedy little kitty boy found a post with a clickable link to The Literary Life with  Mitchell Kaplin podcast.

We need to help indie bookstores stay alive.

The podcast is Michell Kaplin interviewing super-bestselling author John Grisham about indie bookstores. In the thirty minutes long podcast John Grisham discusses why he loves indie bookstores, their importance to authors and why he thinks they'll survive the Covid-19 pandemic.

Panzer says, "This is an interesting interview. You might want to subscribe to the iTunes podcast to listen to Mitchell Kaplin's other interviews."

Note: Since this is a podcast, you'll want to sit down with a cup of tea and muffin while you listen to it.

To listen to the podcast, tootle over to John Grisham

Wattpad's Verticalization: Now Making Its Own International Adaptions - Publishing Perspectives

Today, Panzer decided to make a stop at the Publishing Perspectives site and boy is he glad he did. There he found a post about Canada's Wattpad's newest plans for expansion.

It makes sense for them to do it.

Porter Anderson's post concerns Wattpad's announcement today about the company's plans for its international adaptions. The post is divided into three sections. The first section describes the company's new plans to adapt content from the platform to produce media ready projects, instead of outsourcing the adaptions. The second section concentrates on quotes from Wattpad Studio's Aron Levitz's views on the company's expansion into the development of Wattpad content into film projects. The third section is a description of the first two projects Wattpad intends to adapt: What Happened That Night and The Hound. There are several links included in the post to other information about Wattpad.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... It will be interesting to see what these projects look like when they're finished."

This is a h-u-m-o-n-g-o-u-s post. Bring a thermos of tea and six muffins for today's reading selection. If you plan to follow the links, bring a gallon of tea and 10 muffins and 12 chocolate chip cookies.

To read the post tootle over to Wattpad

Amazon upgrades Fire HD 8 lineup, adds USB-C charging, aiming to rebound in tablet market - GeekWire

I want one.

Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere when he heard clapping and cheering coming from outside the Panzermobile. Following all the noise took our inquisitive kitty to the GeekWire site. With no digging in the post pile, he found one about Amazon's Fire tablet.

According to Kurt Schlosser's post, Amazon has made upgrades to the Fire HD tablet. The post examines the Fire HD 8 and Fire HD 8 Plus for adults and the Fire HD 8 for Kids. Prices range from $89.00 to $159.00 depending on the different features and special offers you choose. You can use Zoom, Audible, Prime and more on the tablet. There are links included in the post to go to the Amazon store to check out the specifications and add-ons for each tablet.

Panzer says, "MeWow! I can Zoom with the new girl kitty down the street."

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

To read the post tootle over to Amazon Fire Tablets

Smashwords Sale

Smashwords Authors Give Back program which began in March is continuing through May 31. We've had two of our books enrolled in the program since the beginning, but there's only a little over two weeks left before they return to their regular prices. Also, The Cat and the New P.I. is always free.

+++++

Laugh Don't Cry, Life Is A Joke is free through the program. This is a short read with flash stories about different aspects of my writing life, including how Panzer came into my life, how What's His Name joined us, and how other happenings influenced my writing.

Be sure to read the instructions on the right side of the page at Smashwords and make sure the ebook is free before you click the Buy button.

To get Laugh Don't Cry, Life Is A Joke free go to Smashwords

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Cat Wisdom for humans is on sale for 60 percent of its regular price, which makes the price  $1.39. I wanted to make it 50 percent off, but Smashwords didn't have that as an option. If I changed the price manually, the ebook wouldn't be in the program, so we're stuck with this price.

Be sure to read the instructions on the right side of the page at Smashwords and make sure the price is correct before you click the Buy button.

To get Cat Wisdom for humans for 60 percent go to Smashwords

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The Cat and the New P.I. is always free, so you can get it at Smashwords too. The Cat and the New P.I. is the first story in Cats and Crime. There are no special instructions because The Cat and the New P.I. is always free.

To get The Cat and the New P.I. free go to Smashwords

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To check out all the books in the promotion go to Authors Give Back

A New Panzerism

Panzer on talking to What's His Name is like quicksand:

What's His Name: He who hides his hunger has hubris.

Ha! Gotcha! Nobody beats this cat.

Panzer: What?

What's His Name: Alliteration.

Panzer: Man makes me mad most Mondays.

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to All Mothers

From Panzer, Mom and What's His Name

Trump Administration Would 'Eviscerate' Copyright, Say Industry Players - Publishing Perspectives

Today Panzer decided to make a stop at the Publishing Perspectives site. With no digging at all our inquisitive kitty found a post about a new assault on the U.S. copyright law.

These guys give me a headache.

According to the post by Porter Anderson, the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) wants to change U.S. copyright law to force intellectual property owners to provide their copyrighted material for free online to be available globally. If the OSTP's proposal is enacted, this would apply to medical and scientific journal articles. There are links in the post to public comments in response to this proposal.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... What's next? Forced to give away all our books online for free?"

Note: This is a humongous post. Bring a gallon of tea and two dozen muffins for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to eviscerate copyright protection

Stephenie Meyer to Publish New 'Twilight' Book 'Midnight Sun' - The New York Times

Panzer was just minding his own kitty business tootling around in the Catophere when the Panzermobile was shaken up and down and back and forth by clapping and cheering coming from outside. Following all the hubbub took our favorite kitty boy to The New York Times site. There he discovered a post about bestselling author Stephenie Meyer.

Werewolves are just like dogs only stupider.

Johnny Diaz's post says Stephenie Meyer will have a new book titled 'Midnight Sun' due out on August 4. You might know Stephenie Meyer as the author of the 'Twilight' books. The books were set in the Pacific Northwest in the forests in Washington state. The stories have romance, adventure, vampires and werewolves. The books were also made into movies. There are links included in the post to the publisher's announcement about the new 'Twilight' book and to other posts about the previous books.

Panzer says, "This little kitty thought we all needed some good news today, instead of more virus gloom and doom news."

Note: This is a long-medium length post. Bring a cup of cocoa and two chocolate chip cookies and a coconut macaroon for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Stephenie Meyer

No post today

We're taking the day off because Mom has a project she needs to finish.

We'll be back tomorrow.

Booksellers Face Difficult Decisions When Reopening Stores - Publishers Weekly

Today Panzer decided to make a stop at the Publishers Weekly site. With no digging at all in the posts our brave kitty boy found a post about bookstores reopening.

Workers are paid to stay home now.

The post by Ed Nawotka is about what will happen as states relax the stay at home rules for the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic and bookstores begin to reopen.  The post quotes extensively from bookstore owner Donna Paz about what she believes will be the extent of decisions owner will need to make before the reopen. Owners will need to decide how many hours to operate, how many and which employees to hire back, and how to have employees interact with customers. She also addresses if employees will even be ready to return to work and interact with customers. Also, customers may not be ready to shop in stores as they did before the pandemic.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... Workers may not want to come back to work until they're sure this virus thingy is gone."

Note: This is a long-medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and three chocolate chip cookies for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to bookstores

A New Panzerism

Panzer on recognizing what's important:

It's almost Mother's Day ...

So ...

I should observe that I love Mom a lot ...

She's like a bright light in the darkness to me ...

Petting makes my fur shine too.

And ...

I need ...

a bright light ...

to make my halo shine.

Print Unit Sales Rose 10.1% Last Week - Publishers Weekly

Panzer decided to make a stop at the Publishers Weekly site today. With hardly any digging in the posts at all our inquisitive kitty boy found a post about print book sales.

According to Jim Milliot's post, BookScan reports that based on information submitted to them by publishers weekly book sales increased by 10.1 percent between the week ending April 18 and the one ending April 27. The sales figures showed gains in adult fiction and adult nonfiction. The sales figures don't cover all book sales, however. because BookScan only collects information from approximately 85 percent of publishers and also doesn't collect information on book sales to libraries.

I'm just curious.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... It's interesting ... But ... This little kitty wonders ... With only 85 percent of the publishers' information ... Does really BookSpan really have all the information needed to make the conclusion about book sales increases?"

Note: This is a short-medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and a muffin for your reading today.

To read the post tootle over to print unit sales

Non-Amazon Online Bookstores - Travels with Kaye

We're still in "Stay at Home" mode here in Washington state, so Panzer has been doing a little cleaning to keep busy. When he was washing the Panzermobile today he discovered a post in one of the wheel wells. Flattening it out, our fastidious kitty boy discovered it was a post from the Travels with Kaye site and contained a list of online bookstores. It's a post from April, but for anybody who's still in "Stay at Home" mode its a useful list.

Yay! So much time and so many books!

According to the post by site owner Kaye George, this is a list of online bookstores not including Amazon. The list came about when Amazon said books were not a priority and shipments would be slower than usual. There are over 30 online bookstores on the list. There are both print and ebook stores.

Panzer says, "This little kitty didn't know there were this many online bookstores."

Note: With all of the online bookstores on the list this is a long post. Bring a cup of tea and two muffins for while you read the list.

To read the post tootle over to online-bookstores

Coronavirus Update: The UK Scraps Its 20-percent VAT on Digital Books - Publishing Perspectives

Panzer was taking a well-deserved nap, when he was shaken from his kitty bed by clapping and cheering. Hopping in the Panzermobile, our intrepid traveling kitty headed into the Catosphere. Following all the jocularity took him to the Publishing Perspectives site. There with no digging at all he discovered a post about the UK's (United Kingdom) VAT was causing all the noise.

Woo Hoo! The tax is gone!

According to Porter Anderson's post, as of today (May 1) the UK's VAT (value added tax) on digital products is gone. This means ebooks, e-journals and e-newspapers are no longer subject to the 20 percent VAT. This is a windfall for the UK's citizens who are stuck at home because of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic and reading ebooks and e-newspapers is one of their only entertainments.

Panzer says, "Finally. Something good came out of this virus thingy."

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

To read the post tootle over to UK digital books VAT