Number of Self-Publishered Titles Jumped 40% in 2018 - Publishers Weekly

As Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere today, the Panzermobile was suddenly buffeted by aahing and oohing. Following all the noise took our brave kitty boy to the Publishers Weekly site. There he discovered a post about the number of titles self-published in 2018.

Jim Milliot's post concerns Bowker's annual survey of self-published books for 2018. According to the survey, self-published books and ebooks increased by 40 percent over 2017. Bowker's self-published books figures use the number of ISBNs sold as the measurement tool. The post includes Amazon's CreateSpace and Lulu publishing numbers for books. Ebooks numbers are included too. No ebook publishing numbers are available for Amazon (doesn't use ISBNs); however, Smashwords and Lulu both show publishing declines.

1.68 million? That's scary!

Panzer says, "According to Bowker, 1.68 million books were self-published in 2018! How can this little kitty compete with book numbers like that?"

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

To read the post tootle over to self published titles

Create Space to be Phased Out - Indies Unlimited

Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere when the Panzermobile was buffeted by crying and wailing. Following all the noise took our brave kitty boy to the Indies Unlimited site. There he found a post about Create Space.

I knew it was coming, but I don't like it.

According to the post by K.S. Brooks, Amazon announced today that Create Space is being merged into KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing). The email quoted in the post states that Create Space's publishing facilities and employees will still be used, so there should be no change in quality of service. However, a second email quoted in an update at the end of the post states there is an increase in printing costs for shorter UK and EU books. There are links included in the post for more information.

Panzer says, "This little kitty doesn't think Barnes and Noble will be getting his books from Amazon KDP like they have from Create Space to sell in their stores and online. ... So ... He (and you) better learn how to use Ingram to publish and distribute his (your) paperbacks."

Note: This is a long-medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and two muffins for today's reading selection. Oh, and you better bring a tissue to dry your tears at the demise of Create Space.

To read the post tootle over to Createspace

Pirating on CreateSpace - Publishers Weekly (PW)

There's all kinds of ways to scam authors.

Today's trip into the Catosphere took Panzer to the Publishers Weekly (PW) site. With a little digging around our persistent kitty found a post about CreateSpace.

According to Kenny Brechner, book pirates have been using CreateSpace to print and distribute their stolen books. Mr. Brechner owns a bookstore in Maine and learned about the scam from an author who came into his bookstore. The author's book had been scanned and then printed and distributed through CreateSpace. Upon investigation Mr. Brechner found examples of other stolen books. All the books listed the same pirate named Cecil Eckar as the author. The post includes screen shots showing examples of the pirated books.

Panzer says, "Amazon needs to have better screening for copyright infringement in place at CreateSpace."

Note: Because of the screenshots illustrating the post, 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 Create Space

Createspace DVD/CD Production is Shutting Down, With Accounts Moving to Amazon Media on Demand - The Digital Reader

Panzer's trip into the Catosphere today took him to The Digital Reader site. With just a little digging our inquisitive kitty discovered a post about Createspace.

It's only a matter of time.

According to the post by The Digital Reader site owner Nate Hoffelder, Createspace is notifying their CD/DVD production clients by email that Createspace is shutting down the CD/DVD division. All client accounts are being transferred to Amazon Media on Demand. While the email doesn't specify, it appears everything will remain the same only the name will change: Createpace to Amazon Media on Demand. The post includes the entire email.

Panzer says, "Goodbye Createspace."

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 Createspace

Is Amazon Bugging Authors Into Moving From Createspace to KDP Print - The Digital Reader

Today, Panzer made a quick trip to The Digital Reader site. With a little digging around he found a post about KDP Print and Createspace.

According to The Digital Reader site owner Nate Hoffelder, Amazon's Createspace has developed an annoying habit. Indie authors are reporting receiving copyright verification emails from Createspace. From the example cited it appears even books that were published in foreign languages are fair game for the emails. Whether harassing authors with these verification emails is Amazon's plan to push authors over to Amazon's KDP Print or not is still unclear; but, the copyright verification emails are definitely annoying to authors.

Makes no sense to this little kitty.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... The author in the example says they got 18 emails so far this year. ... Wow. ... I thought Amazon was all about customer service. ... Amazon owns Createspace. ... Authors use Createspace printing service. ... Authors are customers. ... Where's the customer service?"

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 KDP Print and Createspace

Barnes & Noble to Rebrand Nook Press as B&N Press - The Digital Reader

Panzer's trip into the Catosphere today took him to The Digital Reader site. There our enterprising little kitty discovered a post about Barnes and Noble's Nook Press.

Hmm ... 65 percent?

According to the post by site owner Nate Hoffelder, Barnes and Noble has renamed the Nook Press the Barnes and Noble Press (B&N Press). In addition, the royalty rate for ebooks priced $10.00 or more is now 65 percent and the pre-order window is lengthened to 12 months. The company has also made changes on the print on demand (POD) book side such as in cover options and trim size. The major portion of the post is an email from Barnes and Noble to the Nook Press authors.

Panzer says,"Hmm ... This little kitty didn't know there was a Barnes and Noble POD paperback press division.  He used CreateSpace POD to make his paperback books available in the b&n.com store."

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

To read the post tootle over to Barnes and Noble

Amazon laying off 58 workers at North Charleston self-publishing business - The Post and Courier

Panzer just can't get a nap today. He was just starting a little snooze when the news alarm started blaring in the Panzermobile. Heading into the Catosphere our poor kitty pilot was buffeted by crying and shouting. Following all the noise took him to the The Post and Courier site, where he discovered news about Amazon's Createspace business.

According to the post by Thad Moore, Amazon is laying off 58 workers at the North Charleston Createspace self-publishing business. Amazon is closing down the editing, marketing and design divisions of Createspace. Amazon said the company intends to continue printing books.

Please! No more news tonight!

Panzer says, "This little kitty thinks Createspace is going the way of the dodo bird. Very soon Amazon is going to funnel paperback authors into the Amazon store only. No more sending your Createspace books to other bookstores and to libraries."

Note: This is a long-medium post. Bring a cup of tea and three muffins for this reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Amazon Create Space

CreateSpace Is Closing Its Online Bookstore - GoodEreader

Today, Panzer's trip in the Catosphere was interrupted by the Panzermobile being buffeted by crying and moaning coming from outside. Following all the noise took our kitty boy to the GoodEreader site. It only took a little digging to find the post causing all the angst was about the CreateSpace online bookstore.

I am not a happy kitty.

According to the post by Mercy Pilkington, Amazon's CreateSpace has announced the closure of their popular online bookstore on October 31. Indie authors and publishers who used the CreateSpace platform to publish their paperback books had the option to sell through the CreateSpace online bookstore. The main reason for authors and publishers to use the bookstore was the royalties. CreateSpace bookstore paid 80 percent royalty on sales compared to the Amazon bookstore's 60 percent. There's a link at the end of the post to the CreateSpace announcement about the closure.

Panzer says, "It's enough to make a grown kitty yowl. Cat Wisdom for Humans is available at the CreateSpace bookstore with the 80 percent royalty and, now, it's not even worth the time to put up the buy link here."

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 the CreateSpace announcement bring another cup of tea and a muffin.

To read the post, tootle over to Createspace

Amazon Starts Weekly Bestseller Lists - Publishers Weekly

As soon as the Panzermobile got into the Catosphere today Panzer couldn't believe all the cheering and clapping he heard. Following all the jocularity took our kitty pilot to the Publishers' Weekly site. There he found a post about Amazon's newest endeavor.

This needs looking into.

According to the post by Jim Milliot, Amazon has started a new weekly bestseller lists service for readers. Called Amazon Charts the service has two bestseller lists. One has the top 20 books based on sales numbers and the second has the top 20 books based on reading numbers. The sales numbers will include a book's sales across all Amazon platforms. The read numbers will include a book's reads and audio book listens.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... This little kitty can see that authors who have their books in Amazon Kindle ebooks, CreateSpace paperbacks and Audible audio books have a big advantage when it comes to these bestseller lists."

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

To read the post, tootle over to Amazon Bestseller Lists

KDP Print Enters Public Beta - The Digital Reader

Who prints the books?

Panzer's trip into the Catosphere today took him to The Digital Reader site. With no digging at all our kitty boy found a post about Amazon's KDP Print platform.

According to The Digital Reader site owner Nate Hoffelder's post, Amazon has opened the KDP Print platform to everyone. Currently, the new KDP Print platform does not offer the same options as Amazon's CreateSpace (CS) print platform. Author proof copies are one of the options not available, which means authors will not be able to see what their books look like before they're sold through Amazon. Be sure to read the Comments Section.

Panzer says, "This kitty is staying with CreateSpace for now. I want to okay my proof copies. But ... Maybe ... Amazon is going to close CreateSpace. Why? There have been some complaints about CreateSpace ... And ... Maybe ... Amazon doesn't want to be part of those complaints. "

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

To read the post, tootle over to KDP Print

Amazon to move book-making warehouse in North Charleston, cutting 149 jobs - The Post and Courier

Panzer made a short trip into the Catosphere today. Our busy kitty had hardly started his travels when he began hearing crying and moaning. Following all the noise took him to The Post and Courier site. There he found some news about Amazon.

You know, they print my paperbacks.

According to the post by Thad Moore, Amazon is closing their warehouse in North Charleston, South Carolina. The warehouse is one of Amazon's Createspace locations. Createspace is the print-on-demand arm of Amazon. An Amazon representative said the lease on the location is expiring and the company wants to move the operation to Midlands closer to the distribution hub.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... I wonder if this move will cause any immediate problems with Createspace paperback books print-on-demand operations."

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 Amazon

Jamie McGuire Novel To Be Sold At Wal-Mart

I'm looking for the answers.

Panzer was just tootling around in the Catosphere today, when he heard a bunch of cheering and shouting and general merriment. Following all the noise got him to indie author Jamie McGuire's blog.

According to a post there, Ms. McGuire's indie paperback novel, Beautiful Redemption, will be sold on the shelves of Wal-Mart. This is a first for an indie published book. Unfortunately, the post doesn't explain how she was able to get Wal-Mart to handle the book. Also, there are no details on how Createspace was involved in the agreement. It does, however, seem to be a first step in the door at brick and mortar stores for indie authors.

Panzer says, "I don't want to get anybody's hopes down, but she is a New York Times Bestselling Author. I don't think Wal-Mart will sell paperbacks by you or me anytime soon."

To read the post, tootle over to Jamie Mcguire

Formatting For Createspace

Createspace is next for me.

Panzer has been wondering how to format his new book for Createspace.  So he went on a search out in the Catosphere.

And guess what?

He found the answer at India Drummond's blog. There's a video tutorial that shows in easy steps how to do the formatting.

So, if you've wondered how to get your  book up at Createspace, tootle on over to Formatting for Createspace.

Lee Goldberg's CreateSpace Bestseller?

Those of you looking for self-publishing success at CreateSpace need to read Lee Goldberg's blog. (Lee writes Monk and other tie-in novels, as well as stand-alones.)

This is a real eye opener from Lee's  A Writer's Life  blog on what it takes to be CreateSpace's #4 fiction bestseller, which he is right now.

It's enough to make a writer cry. I couldn't even buy kitty treats on this money!