Happy Halloween

 Happy Halloween!

From Panzer, Mom and What's His Name

Looking for writers and writing entertainment to watch this weekend?

 In case you're looking for something to watch this weekend, Panzer made a trip into the Catosphere and found these for you.

 

These will all be interesting.

Malice in Memphis has a presentation by writers talking about writing during their monthly meetings. Click Events in the banner heading and then Monthly Meetings. (Some of the older ones do start with the meeting, but the newer ones are the writer presentations.)

To watch the presentations tootle over to Malice in Memphis

 

You'll need to register with your email and then be given a link to watch the Mystery in the Midlands conference.

To watch Mystery in the Midlands conference tootle over to Mystery in the Midlands

 

Murder by the Book conducts interviews with mystery authors. Here's a link to the September interview with author Ann Cleeves creator of the Vera Stanhope mysteries.

To watch the Murder by the Book interview with Ann Cleeves tootle over to Ann Cleeves 

35 Writing Contests in November 2020 - No Entry Fees - Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity

Panzer made a quick stop at the Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity site.  There our speedy kitty boy found a collection of writing contests for November.

Don't wait. Hurry!

Site owner Erica Verrillo has collected thirty-five no entry fee writing contests with November deadlines. Included in the list are fiction, nonfiction, translations, poetry, and "arts" contests.

 

Panzer says, "Better start getting your entries ready. Sunday is the first day of November."

 

Note: Since this post includes descriptions of all thirty-five contests, it's a l-o-n-g length post. Bring two thermoses of tea, six muffins, six cupcakes, six brownies, and six chocolate chip cookies (biscuits).

 

To read the post tootle over to writing contests

How bookstores are weathering the pandemic - Vox

 Today Panzer decided to make a stop at the Vox site. With just a little digging in the posts he found one about indie bookstores and the pandemic.

 

According to Bryce Covert, indie bookstores are making use of whatever tools they can find to continue business during the Covid-19 pandemic.  Indie bookstores closed either voluntarily when Covid-19 first became a problem or when there was a mandated lockdown. Many bookstores then switched to online book sales or by-phone book orders. Books can then either be shipped by mail or picked up curbside. One bookstore owner even drove book orders to people's homes. The post includes interviews with several bookstore owners. There are also some links to other posts about impacts on indie bookstore sales included in the post.

It all makes sense.

Panzer says, "Even author events were moved to online."

 

Note: This is a h-u-g-e post. You will need a thermos of cocoa, three muffins, three cupcakes, and three chocolate chip cookies and you might also want a blanket for a nap in the middle of today's reading selection.

 

To read the post tootle over to bookstores

Barnes & Noble, Former CEO Abruptly End Litigation - Publishers Weekly

 Today's trip into the Catosphere took Panzer to the Publishers Weekly site. With no digging at all in the posts our inquisitive kitty boy found one about the Barnes and Noble bookstores and Demos Parnero lawsuits. Panzer told you about the ongoing court battles in September.

According to the post by Andrew Albanese, the dueling lawsuits between Barnes and Noble and the company's former CEO Demos Parnero have been dropped. Demos Parnero was fired by Barnes and Noble in 2018. He promptly sued the company. The company then counter-sued him. On October 26 both Parnero and Barnes and Noble agreed to drop their lawsuits against each other. They also agreed to pay their own attorney fees. Neither parties' attorneys would issue a comment.

All that time for nothing.

Panzer says, "So ... After two years of fighting in court, it's all over. Just like that. Poof! Gone!"

Note: This is a short 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

To read Panzer's previous post about the Barnes and Noble lawsuit, tootle over to Barnes and Noble lawsuit

 

 

 

 

October 27 Is National Black Cat Day

 Happy National Black Cat Day

 

 

 

From Panzer

A New Panzerism

 Panzer on the meaning of love:

Mom is always telling me to "Get Down, Panzer."

 

She keeps telling me she says it to protect me because she loves me.

So ... I thought about that in between naps today.

 

And then ...

I got out her pack of little sticky-on-the-back papers.

And ...

Wrote "Get Down, Mom" on them.

And I put one on the couch ...

And one on the computer keyboard ...

 

And one on the kitchen counter ...

 

And one on the dining room table ...

 

She really loves me a lot.

And one on the bed ...

And one on What's His Name's recliner chair.

All the places where she told me she loves me.

I'm back!

 Panzer here.

 

Did you miss me?

It's been a long two days. First we last that stuff called electricity. That's the thing that makes the dark go away at night. Then we last that stuff called the Internet World Spider Web. That's the thing we use to send out our stuff to you. 

Happy Cat Dance! We've finally got everything back where it belongs.

So, we'll be playing catch-up all weekend.

I've got my paws crossed I'll see you tomorrow.

Wales and Ireland close non-essential shops in new lockdowns - The Bookseller

 Today as Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere he heard crying and sobbing outside. Following all the noise took our kitty pilot to The Bookseller site. With just a little digging in the posts, he discovered one about new Covid-19 lockdowns in Ireland and Wales.

 

According to the post by Mark Chandler, Wales and Ireland are closing all non-essential shops, including bookstores in a new lockdown. Wales' lockdown will last for two weeks and Ireland's lockdown will last for six weeks. Bookstores can still sell online and by telephone.

 

Books are essential.

Panzer says, "That virus thingy just isn't going away."

 

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

 

To read the post tootle over to Wales and Ireland lockdown

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NPD BookScan: US Market sees 6.4 Percent Growth Through Third Quarter - Publishing Perspectives

 As Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere, he heard clapping and cheering coming from outside the Panzermobile. Following all the happiness, took our intrepid kitty traveler to the Publishing Perspectives site. With a little digging in the posts there he found one about U.S. book sales.

That's a lot of books.

According to the post by Porter Anderson, BookScan showed U.S. book sales through the 2020 third quarter increased 6.4 percent over the same time period in 2019. BookScan's sales report was based on the combined adult, children and YA print books and ebooks sales. The post includes a breakdown of sales in each category.

 

Panzer says, "Hmm. A lot of people in the U.S. must have been buying print books online."

 

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

 

To read the post tootle over to US book market

A New Panzerism

 Panzer on hunting skills: 

In the deep, dark garden ...

 

A mighty hunter moves silently ...

 

approaching his prey ...

And ...

He pounces!

 

Hai-kee-yah!

 

Karate Kitty!

Success!

Just doing my job.

One more spider bites the dust ...

Not Mom.

Kindle Create Now Outputs POD Book Files - The Digital Reader

 It's been a while since Panzer has gone to The Digital Reader site, so he decided to make a stop there today. With a little digging in the posts, our traveling kitty pilot found one with news about the Kindle Create app/program/plugin.

According to The Digital Reader site owner Nate Hoffelder, Amazon has added the ability to do POD book files to Kindlw Create. This means you can create the files for your ebook and your paperback book using Create. As the post points out, the paperback book files created can't be used on any other platform. If you plan to use Amazon as your only paperback seller, then Create will work fine for you. The post contains a link to download Create from the Amazon site.

I wonder. Do you?

Panzer says, "Hmm ... We have Kindle Create as a plugin for Word. Inquiring kitties want to know, if we have to download the update ourselves or if it will update itself the next time we open it."

Note: This is a short post. Bring a cup of tea for today's reading selection. If you plan to download and install Kindle Create, bring a muffin too.

To read the post tootle over to Kindle Create

B&N Systems Hacked - Publishers Weekly

Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere when the Panzermobile was shaken and buffeted by crying and screaming outside. Following all the chaos took our brave kitty pilot to the Publishers Weekly site. There he found a post about Barnes and Noble being hacked.

Somebody just causing trouble.

According to Jim Milliot's post, Barnes and Noble sent an email to customers alerting them that the company's corporate systems had been hacked. Although some store functions were shut down for a time, everything is now working again. Barnes and Noble's email contained good news and bad news for customers. The good news? The hackers didn't get your financial information (credit card). The bad news? The hackers got your email address, billing and shipping address and your phone number. The post includes a list of questions and answers about what was and wasn't accessed.

Panzer says, "That explains those emails I've been getting from those girl kitties in Russia that want to meet me. I can't go there to see them. I'm not even allowed outside while this virus thingy is going on. "

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

To read the post tootle over to Barnes and Noble

No Post Today

 Panzer here. 

Sorry no post today. Mom has to finish a project today.

We'll be back tomorrow.

Publishers Worry as Ebooks Fly off Libraries' Virtual Shelves - Wired

Doing some cleaning there wasn't time for this weekend, Panzer discovered a wadded up post stuffed under the pilot's seat cushion. Flattening it out our fastidious kitty discovered it was a post from the Wired site about libraries and ebooks.

 

According to Aarlan Marshall's post, publishers are concerned about the large number of library patrons checking out ebooks. Library ebook check outs are up 52 percent during the  Covid-19 lockdown over the same time period last year. Libraries have switched from buying physical books from publishers to licensing ebooks from them. Publishers are worried about this new trend because they don't earn as much money from the ebook licensing as they do from physical book sales. Publishers have long harbored the fear library patrons won't buy authors' physical books since they can get them for free from libraries.

 

Buy them at Amazon?

Panzer says, "Libraries' buildings are closed because of the Covid-19 pandemic. There's no reason for them to buy physical books. Nobody can get into the libraries to check them out. Bookstores are closed, so there's no place for readers to buy physical books. Readers have to get library ebooks."

Note: This is a humongous post. Bring a thermos of cocoa, three muffins, three brownies and three chocolate chip cookies (biscuits) for today's reading selection.

 

To read the post tootle over to libraries' virtual shelves

A New Panzerism

 Panzer on educational television:

Mom and What's His Name were watching television tonight ...

When ...

A show came on about bears.

Did you know bears ...

 

sleep all winter?

Imagine ... See you next April.

It's called hibernation.

 

All I can say ...

 

Is ...

I'm envious.

Amazon streams Thursday Night Football again with new X-Ray feature audio feed, Twitch shows - GeekWire

Today Panzer made a stop at the GeekWire site. Although the post he found there doesn't have anything to do with publishing, our adventuresome kitty boy found it interesting. Amazon is live streaming the Thursday Night Football games for Prime members.

 

According to the post by Taylor Soper, Amazon just signed a new multi-year contract to stream the football games.  The post includes links to information about Amazon's added features of extra streamed programming for stats, audio and programming on Amazon's Twitch. The post also includes a schedule of all the Thursday night games which will be live streamed.

I'm ready for football.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... They sure like cats in football. There are teams called the Bengals, the Jaguars and the Panthers."

Note: This is a long post. Bring a thermos of tea and three muffins. If you plan to follow the links, bring an extra thermos of cocoa and another three muffins.

 

To read the post tootle over to Amazon football

 

 

 

 

Google will soon begin enforcing in-app purchase fees for all apps that sell digital content - TeleRead

 Today when Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere, he found a post at TeleRead about Google's new app sales fees.

Will Amazon play nice in Google's sandbox?

The post at TeleRead by Chris Meadows, says Google just announced they will be charging fees to app developers. Google's announcement says all apps sold in the Google Play app store which sell digital goods in the apps will be required to pay 30 percent of the money they earn to Google. To ensure Google knows how much an app makes from the in-app sales, developers are "required to use Google Play's billing system." The post also discusses the Amazon, Nook and Kobo ebook apps available in the Google Play store. There are several links in this post, including one about Fortnite being removed from the Google app store.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... This little kitty wonders who can afford to give Google 30 percent of their sales money."

Note: This is a long post. Bring a thermos of tea and six muffins for your reading experience today.

To read the post tootle over to Google

Update on COVID-19 Testing - The Amazon Blog

Today, Panzer made a trip to The Amazon Blog site.  With a little digging in the posts our inquisitive kitty boy found one about Amazon's response to Covid-19 testing in the company's workplaces.

That's not a lot.

According to the blog post, Amazon is conducting Covid-19 tests of company employees not just at U.S. fulfillment centers, but at the company's Whole Foods Markets as well. Employees have been tested multiple times in case there are asymtomatic workers. Of those employees tested there have been 19,816 positive tests. Employees with positive test results are placed on paid quarantine until they recover. The post includes a link to a chart with all the U.S. states and the number of positive Covid-19 employee cases per 1,000 employees in that state.

 

Panzer says, "If you go all the way to the bottom of the chart linked in the post, there is some information about the numbers on the chart."

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

To read the post tootle over to Amazon

No Post Today

 Panzer here. There will be no post today. Mom got her flu vaccination yesterday. Today her arm hurts so bad she can't use her fingers to type on the keyboard. One finger typing isn't very fast, so we'll be back tomorrow.

A New Panzerism

 Panzer on scratching posts:

Mom is always yelling at me to use the scratching post.

Now everybody knows the truth.*

I don't tell her where to wipe her feet.

Now, you tell me who has better manners ...

Cats or human?

* From Cat Wisdom for humans

Announcing a New 'Green Book' Consortium: Canada, USA, UK - Publishing Perspectives

Panzer's evening nap was interrupted by clapping and cheering coming from the Catosphere. Hopping into the Panzermobile, our intrepid kitty pilot followed all the joyful noise to the Publishing Perspectives site. There he discovered a post about the new Green Book consortium.

 

According to Porter Anderson's post, a group comprised of Canadian, U.K. and U.S.A. supply chain organizations for the book publishing industry has formed the International Green Book Supply Chain. The group was formed in part to "make significant changes to reduce its overall environmental impact on the planet." The post includes a list of possible issues the group will address. The post also includes a section of interviews and statements from each country's representative of the member group.

 

Maybe ebooks only?

Panzer says, "We all love trees. but one day there won't be any trees left to make books."

 

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

 

To read the post tootle over to Green Book Consortium

 

 

 

 

No Post Today

 Panzer here. No post today.

 

Mom and What's His Name are busy watching the news. The guy on the news said that virus thingy got into some White House place and got the people there sick.