Buying houses in cash and selling millions: meet self-publishing's 'hidden' authors - The Guardian

As soon as Panzer entered the Catosphere today the Panzermobile was buffeted by clapping and cheering. Our kitty pilot didn't need radar to find that The Guardian site was the source of all the racket. It didn't take any digging either to find the post about self-publishing authors that caused all the noise.

That would buy a lot of catnip.

According to Danuta Kean's post, there is a group of 'hidden' indie authors selling seven figure amounts of their novels. Three authors are spotlighted in the post. They are crime thriller writer Keith Houghton, crime/romance/humour writer LJ Ross, and psychological thriller writer Rachel Abbott. Why are they called 'hidden' authors with those kinds of sales numbers? Because all their novels are Amazon ebooks only and their readers are the only ones who have heard of them. Where does the 'buying houses' part of the post title come from? It comes from the fact Keith Houghton paid for his new house in cash using money from the sales of his novels. There's a lot more information about each author included in the post.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... Maybe this little kitty should start writing crime/thrillers."

Note: This is a h-u-m-o-n-g-o-u-s post. Bring two thermoses of tea and two dozen muffins for today's reading selection.

To read the post, tootle over to hidden authors

George RR Martin says Game of Thrones spin-offs will all be prequels - and announces a fifth - The Guardian

Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere when he heard clapping and cheering. Following all the jocularity took our handsome kitty pilot to The Guardian site. With just a little digging around he found a post about George R.R. Martin's Game of Thrones.

Do the novel now. I can't wait.

According to the post by Danuta Kean, George R.R. Martin has announced in conjunction with HBO he's helping with the creation of five Game of Thrones spin-offs. These won't be spin-offs in the usual use of the word, but prequels to aspects of the world he created for Game of Thrones. Each prequel is getting a pilot episode. Each pilot is written by a different writer with Mr. Martin's input. Mr. Martin does stress that he's still working on his next novel Winds of Winter. There are several links in the post including one to Mr. Martin's blog post about the spin-offs.

Panzer says, "This kitty wishes Mr. Martin would hurry up and finish Winds of Winter."

Note: This is a long post. Bring a big cup of tea and two muffins for today's reading selection. If you plan to follow the links in The Guardian post, bring a thermos of tea and two extra muffins.

To read the post, tootle over to Game of Thrones spinoffs

Malorie Blackman leads books world's protests against US travel ban - The Guardian

Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere today looking for some interesting news. Our kitty traveler made stops at The Guardian and Rap Sheet sites. There he found news about reactions from writers in England and Canada to U.S. President Trump's Executive Order banning travelers from seven countries from entering the United States and specifically banning refugees from Syria from settlement in the U.S. The Executive Order was implemented as soon as the President signed it.

According to The Guardian site post by Danuta Kean, author Malorie Blackman announced she will not attend any book, author or literary function in the United States because of the U.S. President's travel ban. Author Matt Haig has joined her and cancelled his trip to the U.S. as well.

According to the Rap Sheet site post titled, A Principled Stand, by J. Kingston Pierce, Canadian author Linwood Barclay has cancelled his United States book tour in protest of the travel ban.

Panzer says, "This kitty wonders if other writers will join the movement?"

Note: The Guardian post is a shortish-medium length and the Rap Sheet is a short length. Bring a cup of tea and a muffin for today's reading selections.

To read The Guardian post, tootle over to  Malorie Blackman

To read the Rap Sheet post, tootle over to Linwood Barclay

Books World alarmed by Pearson's sale of stake in Penguin Random House - The Guardian

Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere just minding his own cat business when he heard crying and gnashing of teeth coming from up ahead. Following all the noise took our kitty boy to The Guardian site. It didn't take any digging at all to find the news about Pearson's PRH sale is what everyone was so nervous about. Yesterday Panzer told you about Pearson's announcement.

Let's see what happens.

According to the post by Danuta Kean, many authors and agents are unsure about the consequences of Pearson's sale of their partial ownership in publisher Penguin Random House. The post speculates partner Bartelsmann will acquire 22 percent of Pearson's 47 percent and the remainder will be acquired by private equity. Bartelsmann will then be the majority stakeholder with 75 percent. Some authors and agents are worried Bartelsmann may be more interested in profit margins now than previously.

Panzer says, "Inquiring kitties want to know: What private equity will acquire that remaining 25 percent?"

Note: This is a v-e-r-y l-o-n-g post. Bring a thermos of tea and half a dozen muffins for today's reading selection. If you plan to read Panzer's earlier post about the Pearson sale as well, you'll need an extra muffin or two.

To read the post, tootle over to Pearson Penguin Random House sale

To read Panzer's post from yesterday about Pearson's PRH sale, tootle over to Penguin Random House