Fiction prize renamed in honour of Margaret Atwood and late partner Graeme Gibson - The Guardian

 Panzer made a stop at The Guardian site today. With a little digging in the posts he found one about the renaming of the Writers Trust of Canada fiction prize.

 

Laughed so hard I fell off the desk.

According to Alison Flood's post, the Writers Trust of Canada has changed the name of their fiction prize to the Atwood Gibson prize. Margaret Atwood shares some funny stories in the post about early fund-raising activities for the Writers Trust.

 

Panzer says, "This little kitty didn't know they were two of the original founders of the Writers Trust of Canada."

 

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 Atwood-Gibson Prize

Campaign to buy JRR Tolkien's house backed by Lord of the Rings actors - The Guardian

Today's trip into the Catosphere took Panzer to The Guardian site. With no digging at all our intrepid traveling kitty found a post about J.R.R. Tolkien.

It looks important to me.

According to The Guardian's post by Alison Flood, the Project Northmoor wants to raise the money to buy the house where J.R.R. Tolkien wrote Lord of the Rings. The house would be turned into a museum. To accomplish this, the Project Northmoor charity has started a crowdfunding campaign. Lord of the Rings actors Sir Ian Mckellen, John Rhys-Davis and Martin Freeman are helping promote the fundraising campaign. The post has a link to the Project Northmoor site. The Project Northmoor site has all kinds of information about the fundraising and what the money will be used for. You can read about the gifts you will get by donating at the different levels. You can also donate from there.

 

Panzer says, "This little kitty can give up his kitty treats for a day to donate at The Hobbit level. How about you?"

 

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 link to Project Northmoor, also bring a thermos of tea and twelve muffins. (There are also links there too.)

To read the post tootle over to J.R.R. Tolkien's house

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

Missouri could jail librarians for lending 'age-appropriate' books - The Guardian

Today as Panzer was napping, he was tossed from his bed by yelling and booing coming from the Catosphere. Our poor discombobulated kitty boy could hardly stand on the shaking floor. Staggering into the Panzermobile, Panzer attempted to find the source of all the noise. He discovered it was coming from two places.  One was a post from The Guardian site and the second was a post from the BookRiot site. Both posts were about the attempt by the state of Missouri to pass what many see as a book banning law.

I don't like puppy books. Let's ban them.

According to The Guardian's post by Alison Flood, the Missouri House Bill No 2044 would allow a panel of Missouri parents to determine what books a library could allow children to check out. If a librarian doesn't obey the panel's orders, the librarian is subject to a fine or time in jail. Every library in Missouri would be required to have a panel, but not have any say in the panel's work.

The BookRiot post by Kelly Jensen, delves into the de-funding of libraries who don't comply with the proposed law. The post also quotes extensively from the proposed law. While the proposal does speak to material of a sexual nature, it could be applied to any book the special panel deems unacceptable for children. In this way any book could be banned by the panel.

Panzer says, "Umm ... A human is a child until they are 18 years old. ... So ... The panel decides what they can  read until then?"

Note: Each of these posts is medium length. Bring two cups of warm cocoa and two muffins for today's reading selections.

To read The Guardian post tootle over to Missouri
To read the BookRiot post tootle over to Missouri public libraries

Amazon Breaks Embargo of 'TheTestament' - Various Sources

Panzer was eating his lunch when his food bowl began shaking from all the screaming and shouting coming from the Catosphere. Getting into the Panzermobile, he discovered the noise was coming from different directions. Our busy kitty visited the Publishers Weekly site and The Guardian site and discovered both have posts about Amazon and The Testament embargo. Panzer told you yesterday about Amazon breaking the embargo on Margaret Atwood's new book.

According to the Publishers Weekly post by Claire Kirch, the American Booksellers Association (ABA) has been trying to convince the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission to investigate Amazon for violating antitrust laws. The ABA now wants to use Amazon's shipment of Margaret Atwood's new novel before the embargo conclusion as new fuel in that argument.

It was an accident.

According to The Guardian's post by Alison Flood, Amazon shipped 800 pre-ordered copies of the novel to buyers by accident. The post includes a quote from Amazon which says "a technical error" caused the books to be shipped early. A quote from Atwood's publisher Penguin Random House says the error "has now been rectified."

Panzer says, "Looks like this kerfuffle* will be around for a while."

Note: These are large posts. Panzer hopes you still have that RV you borrowed for yesterday's posts, because you'll need it and its cooking and sleeping facilities for today's reading selections.

To read the Publishers Weekly post tootle over to ABA
To read The Guardian post tootle over to Amazon
To read Panzer's previous post tootle over to Booksellers

* Yes, it's a word. Google it. Tee hee hee

Tolkien film-makers insist they were respectful after estate disavows biopic - The Guardian

Today as Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere he heard angry shouting coming from outside the Panzermobile. Following all the noise took our inquisitive kitty to The Guardian site. There with a little digging in the posts he found one about the Lord of the Rings author  J.R.R. Tolkien.

According to Alison Flood, there's a "bio pic" of J.R.R. Tolkien's early years slated for release in May. The film-makers didn't consult the family or the estate about the material contained in the movie, but say the film is respectful of Tolkien. Since the family and estate had nothing to do with the film they refuse to endorse it. The post includes a link to a longer post explaining the family and estate's position on the film.

I'll do one about Mom and not ask. She'll like it.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... They made a film without consulting the family ... and ... now ... they want the family to say it's a great film. Well ... This little kitty doesn't think that's going to happen."

Note: This is a short post. Bring a cup of tea for today's reading selection. If you plan to follow the link to the longer post, bring a muffin too.

To read the post tootle over to Tolkien film

Booksellers unite in protest as Amazon's AbeBooks withdraws from several countries - The Guardian

Panzer was eating his lunch when his tender ears were assailed by the sound of crying and shouting coming from the Catosphere. Not even finishing his lunch our brave kitty hopped in the Panzermobile to go investigate. Following all the noise took him to The Guardian site. With no digging at all he found a post about Amazon's AbeBooks.

According to The Guardian's Alison Flood, members of the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers (ILAB) and other organizations have joined together to protest Amazon's AbeBooks. The company sent notices to secondhand bookstores in South Korea, Russia, Hungary and the Czech Republic that AbeBooks is closing the bookstores' sales channels through the company. In protest 460 booksellers are taking a "vacation" from AbeBooks and will not have their books available there. AbeBooks says the company is changing their third party payment service. While not explained in the post, it appears that for whatever reason the bookstores specified aren't compatible with the new payment service.

Now for my lunch.

Panzer says, "This kitty is confused. Is it a software problem between the new payment system and the secondhand bookstores' system?"

Note: This is a h-u-g-e post. Bring half a thermos of tea and two muffins for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Amazon AbeBooks

The Alternative Nobel: Vote opens for a suprising new literature prize - The Guardian

Today's trip into the Catosphere took Panzer to The Guardian site. There our traveling kitty pilot found a post about the New Academy literature prize.

According to Alison Flood, the Swedish Academy Nobel prize for literature may be gone for 2018, but the New Academy prize for literature is here to fill the void. Sexual misconduct allegations derailed this year's Nobel prize for literature. The New Academy has stepped up and asked Swedish librarians to put together the long-list for the new literature prize. The public can now vote on this long-list of nominees by August 14. The short list created by this vote will be passed on to the New Academy judges to pick the 2018 prize winner. There's a link at the site to a post about the Nobel prize for literature scandal.

No Nobel prize? That's depressing.

Panzer says, "There are some interesting rules for this new prize."

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

To read the post tootle over to alternative Nobel prize for literature

Freight authors agast as former publisher sets up new imprint - The Guardian

17 Day Until Christmas

Panzer had barely made it into the Catosphere when the Panzermobile was struck by a sound torpedo of crying and screaming. Following the noise trail took our brave kitty pilot to The Guardian site. There he found a post about Scotland's Freight Books.

The post by Alison Flood documents the demise of Freight Books. According to the post, the partnership between Adrian Searle and Davindor Samrai was dissolved in April when Mr. Searle left the company. By September the company was in financial straits and unable to pay its creditors, including authors. The company is currently shutdown and in liquidation. It appears the authors will never be paid. While authors are dealing with the realization they won't receive their royalties, former partner Adrian Searle opened another publishing company the day after the liquidation was announced.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... It just doesn't make sense to this little kitty."

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 Freight authors

"Amazon without Amazon": one-hour book delivery service launched - The Guardian

It's an interesting concept.

Panzer stopped in at The Guardian site today. With no digging at all our big bad kitty found a post about a new Amazon rival service called NearSt.

The post by Alison Flood explains about the start-up NearSt's London book order and deliver service. About 40 London book stores are currently using the platform. The customer places a book order either at the NearSt online site or by Smartphone app. In minutes the order is processed and ready for pickup at the store or one-hour delivery to the customer which ever the customer wants.

Panzer says, "Hmmm ... They don't have to stock inventory because the bookstores have the books. They just have to pay the delivery people. That means pretty low costs to the company. Let's watch this company and see what happens."

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 book delivery service

J.K. Rowling under fire for writing about "Native American wizards" - The Guardian

I'm staying out of it.

Panzer didn't make it very far in his trip into the Catosphere today. Our traveling kitty had barely started when he heard shouting and snarling. He followed all the noise to The Guardian site.

According to a post by Alison Flood, it turns out all the hubbub was caused by one of J.K. Rowling's posts at Pottermore. Panzer told you last week about Ms. Rowling's posts about wizardry in America. Some members of the Navajo Native American culture found her post about their legend of the skinwalkers disrespectful. Apparently, there has been quite a few Tweets on Twitter about it. The post also includes a link to the post about skinwalkers.

Panzer says, "One of the first things this little kitty learned was don't use real people, places or things in a story. It's just safer that way."

Note: This is a longish, involved post. You'll need a cup of tea and a muffin.

To read The Guardian post, tootle over to J.K. Rowling

To read Panzer's original post, tootle over to new story

J. K. Rowling Explains Why Dursleys Mistreated Harry Potter

I'm a little better today.

Panzer is feeling a little better today, so he made a quick trip into the Catosphere. Our recovering kitty boy stopped in at The Guardian site. There he found a post about Harry Potter, one of his favorite non-mystery fictional characters.

According to Alison Flood's post, J. K. Rowling wrote a post at Pottermore.com to explain why the Dursleys treated Harry Potter so badly. Ms. Rowling wrote that there were old resentments between the Dursleys and Harry Potter's parents Lily and James. Because of this, the Dursley's took their resentments out on Harry.

Panzer says, "If you're a Harry Potter fan, you do have an account at Pottermore.com, right?"

To read the full post, tootle over to J. K. Rowling

George R.R. Martin's Game of Thrones Coloring Book

Panzer was enjoying himself tootling around in the Catosphere today. Our fun-loving kitty boy discovered an interesting post at The Guardian site.

 According to Alison Flood, publisher Bantam announced George R. R. Martin will guide the production of a Game of Thrones coloring book. He will oversee the fantasy illustrators' 45 images from the A Song of Ice and Fire series. The book will be available in October.

Panzer says, "I want one."

To read the post, tootle over to Game of Thrones

Agatha Christie Syrian Memoir To Be Republished

Her books are still in print.

Panzer was over at The Guardian site today. Our big bad kitty explorer found a post about one of his favorite female mystery writers Agatha Christie.

According to Alison Flood's post, Agatha Christie's memoir of her travels in Syria with her husband is being republished by HarperCollins. Agatha Christie accompanied her husband Max Mallowan to Syria and Iraq in the 1930s. There she helped her husband at the archeological digs. The post includes several photos from the trip. The book is scheduled for an August this year.

Panzer says, "I got my first look at Agatha Christie in this post. She's in the first photo of the post."

To read the post, tootle over to Agatha Christie

Children's Book Success Story

Whew! That was quite a trip today.

Panzer took a leisurely trip out into the Catosphere today. While our bad boy was tootling around out there, he made a stop at The Guardian site. He stumbled onto a post about an indie success story.

According to a post by Alison Flood, the indie children's book The Little Girl (or Boy) Who Lost Her (or His) Name has sold 500,000 copies and sales are still going strong.  David Cadji-Newby and three others founded the Lost My Name publishing company in 2012 for the sole purpose of publishing the book. Sales were slow to begin with. Then, last year they went on the Dragon's Den show where they secured an investment. Sales took off.

Panzer says, "Sounds like Dragon's Den is better than Kickstarter."

To read the post, tootle over to Dragons Den picture book

New Stephen King Book In November

Hurry up! I can't wait!

Panzer took his usual leisurely Friday trip into the Catosphere today. Our big bad kitty boy found a post about his favorite horror author Stephen King.

According to a post by Alison Flood at The Guardian site, Mr. King has a new book coming out in November. Titled The Bazaar of Bad Dreams, the book will include 20 short stories. Mr. King will also include some of his insights on his writing. The insights will take the form of an introduction to each story about the hows and whys of its creation.

Panzer says, "I hope Mom doesn't get scared reading Mr. King's new book to me."

To read the post, tootle over to Stephen King

Indie Author Annual Earnings Dismal

Mice? Yuk!

Panzer came back from the Catosphere crying big kitty tears today. Our brave kitty boy stopped in at The Guardian site and read a devastating post by Alison Flood.

My poor boy was sobbing so hard I could barely understand him. Turns out that according to a survey quoted in the post, most indie writers are only making between $500 and $999 a year. Writing is hard work and worth a lot more than that for a year of sales. It's enough to make a cat go back to his day job as a mouse catcher!

Panzer says, "That's barely enough to keep me in kitty treats for a year!"

To read the whole post, tootle over to authors earnings

Dead Tree Bookless Library, Only Ebooks Allowed

I see what's coming. Do you?

Panzer stopped in at The Guardian site today.  My little black kitty found a post by Alison Flood there about a new university in Florida.

The new Florida Polytechnic University will have 500 students when it opens this fall. It has a huge library building. 11,000 square feet to be exact!

But there are no dead tree books in that library building.

Instead there are computer terminals for the students to log-on and read their ebooks. Everything in the library is digital.

Panzer says, "Is our future here today?"

To read the whole post, tootle over to bookless library

Orwell Estate Joins The Amazon-Hachette Fray

I give up. This joke will never end.

Panzer found an interesting post by Alison Flood over at The Guardian today.

Bill Hamilton,the George Orwell Estate executor, says Amazon misquoted Mr. Orwell in the letter the retailer sent to readers and authors.

If you want to read the latest in this ongoing, never-ending soap opera, tootle over to another Amazon problem