An author's $2 million book deal - The Substack Post

I can't believe I read the whole thing.

Panzer's next stop was at Substack. There he found a post about LLMs and AI-generated books.

 

This is a wide-ranging post about AI-generated books, the authors who  do them and the books readers and sometimes publishers.

 

Note: This post is so long you'll need to bring your lunch and dinner for while you read.

 

To read the post tootle over to An author's book deal 

Why is Anthropic destroying books? - The Guardian

 

It's a mystery to me.

There are no fires near us. But smoke from the fires on the other side of the mountains are causing hazardous air conditions here. That means we're all coughing, sneezing and feeling rotten. Today's posts are a little hurried and may have spelling etc. mistakes.

 

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Panzer's first stop in the Catosphere today was at The Guardian site. 

 

There's a post there that explains Anthropic's efforts to train the LLM Claude using authors' books. The post includes several links to other information about Anthropic.

  

Panzer says, "You'll need to read the post to understand what Anthropic did."

 

Note:This is a very long post.  You'll need to decide what to you want to snack on.

 

To read the post tootle over to Anthropic   

James Daunt Looks to Clarify B&N's Position on AI-Generated Books - Publishers Weekly

AI is definitely a fighting word for some people.

In a post yesterday Panzer gave you a link to a Today post about an interview with James Daunt, CEO of Barnes and Noble bookstores.

 

 In the interview James Daunt was asked about AI-Generated book sales. Apparently, some people were unhappy with his response, so he clarified the bookstores' stance and the Publishers Weekly posted about it. 

 

Panzer says, "Like this little kitty told you yesterday, 'Read the post all the way to the end'."

 

Note: This is a short-medium length post. Bring a cup of tea to drink. 

 

To read the post tootle over to James Daunt 

To read yesterday's post trundle over to Barnes and Noble CEO 

Barnes & Noble CEO James Daunt Would Support Stores Selling AI Written Books. Here's Why - Today

The title grabs your attention, doesn't it?

Panzer found this post on the Today site.

 

The post is based on an interview with James Daunt, CEO of Barnes and Noble bookstore chain. Be sure to read the post all the way to the end to see exactly what he said.

 

 Panzer says, "The title might be upsetting for some people, so read the whole post."

 

Note: This is a long post. Bring a cup of tea and three chocolate chip cookies (biscuits) for your snack. 

 

To read the post tootle over to Barnes and Noble 

Rising Wartime Costs Rattle Publishing Supply Chain - Publishers Weekly

It's a big mess.

Panzer's first stop today was at the Publishers Weekly site. There our traveling kitty boy found a post about how the war is impacting the publishing industry.

 

 According to the post, the war is impacting publishers' shipments fuel costs by sea and air. The post includes links to other information about the impact.

 

Panzer says, "Didn't anybody think about this before the war?"

 

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

 

To read the post tootle over to Global Supply Chain 

Book Output Topped Four Million in 2025 - Publishers Daily

I'm not the only little kitty who wants to know.

Panzer's next stop was at the Publishers Daily site. 

 

According to Jim Milliot's post, the number of books published in 2025 jumped to 4 million. The majority of these books were self-published.

 

 Panzer says, "Hmm ... This little kitty wants to know, how many of those were AI slop?"

 

 Note: This is a long post. Bring a cup of tea and a brownie for a snack.

 

To read the post tootle over to Book Output in 2025 

Exploring New Revenue Opportunities Through Licensng - Publishing Perspectives

Mom says it's an untapped revenue stream.

Here's an interesting post Panzer found on the Publishing Perspectives site about book IP licensing.

 

The post is about a discussion presented at the London Book Fair about the publishers need to pursue licensing agreements for their books. Included in the post is a link to a report with information on this subject.

 

Panzer says, "Licensing contracts for books' releases in other countries is important."

 

Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and a cookie (biscuit) for today's snack.

 

To read the post tootle over to Revenue Through Licensing 

Welcome to the Public Domain in 2026 - Internet Archive Blog

There's a lot of fun stuff to listen to, look at, and read.

Today, Panzer made a quick stop at the Internet Archive Blog. There our inquisitive kitty boy found a post about the public domain release on January 1.

 

Sterling Dudley's post lists many of the 1930 materials that lose copyright protection and go into the public domain in the U.S. 

 

 Panzer says, "There are links to movies, music, books, and more."

 

Note: This is a long post. You decide what to bring to snack on. 

 

To read the post tootle over to Public Domain 2026 

Books Escape EUDR Enforcement - Publishers Weekly

Imagine a world without paper books to read.

On his way home Panzer stopped at the Publishers Weekly site. There he found a post about the European Union Parliament..

 

According to Jim Milliot's post, the EU Parliament exempt books from the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).

 

Panzer says, "You'll want to read the post to see what else is exempt."

 

Note: This is a short post. You won't need any snacks.

 

To read the post tootle over to EUDR Enforcement 

OpenAI desperate to avoid explaining why it deleted pirated book datasets - ars Technica

Maybe I don't understand the rules.

Panzer found an interesting post at the ars Technica site about the authors' lawsuit against OpenAI..

 

Ashley Belanger's post reports the judge in the case's ruling about what is not protected in OpenAI's attorney-client privileged information.

 

Panzer says, "This little kitty is confused, because he thought anything between an attorney and client was privileged information."

 

 Note: This is a very long post. You'll need to decide what you want to snack on.

 

To read the post tootle over to OpenAI

 

 

 

©  2025 - Fiona L. Woods.  All Rights Reserved

She Reads Devine Nine - The Rap Sheet

Vote for your favorite.

Today, Panzer found a post about the Goodreads Choice Awards at The Rap Sheet site. It's time to vote for your favorite books.

 

J. Kingston Pierce's post lists the nine nominees in the Mystery, Thriller, & Suspense category. There's a link at the end of the post to the site to cast your vote.

 

Panzer says, "You only have until November 30 to cast you vote, so you better hurry."

 

To read the post tootle over to The Rap Sheet 

New Report Urges Publishers to Captalize on Hidden Strengths - Publishers Weekly

I need a nap to get ready to write faster.

Panzer made a trip to the Publishers Weekly site today. There with hardly any digging in the posts at all, he found one about a new opportunity for publishers.

 

According to Jim Milliot's post a new study has found readers are more interested in books than other activities right now. The post includes a graph for comparison of different activities and a link to previous information about reading.

 

Panzer says,"Hmm ... So this little kitty needs to do more books and fast."

 

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

 

To read the post tootle over to Publishers' Strengths 

Libraries Look to Fill the Gap Left by Baker & Taylor - Publishers Daily

Do they have a crystal ball to foretell the future?

As Panzer was headed home he decided to make a stop at the Publishers Daily site. There he found a post about the problems of libraries caused by the shutdown of wholesaler Baker and Taylor.

 

According to Jim Milliot and Nathalie op de Beeck's post, with the disappearance of Baker and Taylor libraries need to find new book wholesales to stock their shelves. The post includes links to other information about Baker and Taylor's closure and the libraries search efforts.

 

Panzer says, "Guess who already jumped into library book wholesaling back in June?"

 

Note: This is a long post. You'll need to decide what you want to bring to snack on.

 

To read the post tootle over to Libraries 

5 Canadian Writers Shortlisted for 70k Atwood Gibson Writers' Trust Fiction Prize

There are novels and a short story collection.

Panzer's second stop today was at the CBC site. There he found an announcement about the Atwood Gibson Writers' Trust Fiction Prize.

 

According to the post, the five authors and their books have been chosen for this year's prize shortlist. The post contains an explanation of the prize and the shortlist criteria. A short book description and author bio for each shortlisted book is included at the end of the post.

 

Panzer says, "It's an interesting mix of books"

 

Note: This is another long post, so you'll need to decide what you want to snack on while you read there too.

 

To read the post tootle over to Shortlist 

Denmark Drops Its 25-Percent Vat on Books - Publishing Perspectives

25 percent VAT on books?

Panzer's stop today was at the Publishing Perspectives site. There he found a post about Denmark's book VAT.

 

According to Porter Anderson's post, Denmark has dropped it's 25-percent VAT on books to zero. The post examines the elimination on reading in the  country and elsewhere.

 

Panzer says, "This little kitty thinks this is a smart move."

 

Note: This is a very long post. You'll need to decide what to bring to snack on.

 

To read the post tootle over to Denmark Book VAT 

Wilton Square Launches with Plans to Acquire Orphaned Unbound Titles - Publishers Daily

I assume the authors have the rights to their books.

Today's trip into the Catosphere took Panzer to the Publishers Daily site. There with just a small amount of digging in the posts he found one about help for some of the now gone publisher Unbound. On August 5 Panzer told you about the demise of Unbound.

 

Ed Nawotka's post gives highlights of publisher Wilton Square's plans to publish some of Unbound's books. The post includes links to other information about the situation.

 

Panzer says, "It was an interesting business model."

 

Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a glass of milk and three chocolate chip cookies (biscuits) to snack on.

 

To read the post tootle over to Wilton Square

To read Panzer's previous post tootle over to Boundless

Stable Book Group Teams with HBG to Launch Indie Distribution Service - Publishers Weekly

It looks like you need to publish others' books too.

Panzer stopped in at the Publishers Weekly site today. There he found a post about a new distribution service for indie publishers.

 

Ed Nawotka's post says the Stable Book Group will begin distribution next year for North American indie publishers.

 

Panzer says, "Be sure to read the entire post."

 

Note:This is a l-o-n-g post. You'll need to decide what to bring to snack on while you read.

 

To read the post tootle over to Distribution 

Author Complaints at Clear Fork Press - Writer Beware (R)

Wind. Hail. Thunder. Lightening. Tornado. Bad day.

Today's weather forecast is for a major storm. We're posting early and will be unavailable until tomorrow.

***

Today, Panzer made a quick trip to the Writer Beware (R) site. There he found a post about problems authors and illustrators  are having with a children's book publisher.

 

According to Victoria Strauss's post, the problems being encountered at Clear Fork Press run from not receiving royalty payments to not receiving ordered books on time. As with all of her posts Victoria Strauss does a deep investigations of the problems.

 

Panzer says, "You really need to read this post."

 

Note:This is a very long post. You'll need to decide what to bring to snack on.

 

To read the post tootle over to Write Beware

HarperCollins AI Licensing Deal - Authors Guild

Now for a nap before I go back to work.

Panzer went to the Authors Guild site where he found this post. The post is part of the material discussed in Panzer's earlier post about HarperCollins AI deal.

 

The post's opening is a listing of the major points included in the HarperCollins AI deal. This is followed by an expansion of the listed points and HarperCollins interactions with the nonfiction authors whose books are involved.

 

Panzer says, "It's interesting to get the Authors Guild's opinion on this agreement."

 

Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and a muffin to snack on while you read.

 

To read the post tootle over to Authors Guild

Hilary Weston Writers Trust Prize for Nonfiction - Writers' Trust of Canada

It's been a long day. See you tomorrow.

Panzer's last stop today was at the Writers' Trust of Canada site.

 

The shortlist for the Hilary Weston Writers' Trust contains five nonfiction books. Click the See More button under each book to see what the Jury Citation says about the book. The jurors and their bios are listed below the shortlisted books. Hilary Weston's bio is below the jurors'. The winner will be announced November 19.

 

Panzer says, "If you're Canadian and interested, the submission guidelines are also listed on the landing page."

 

Note:With books and author bios and the Jury Citations and juror bios and Hilary Weston's bio, this is a long post. You'll need to decide what to bring to snack on while you read.

 

To read the post tootle over to Hilary Weston Writers Trust Prize