Where Should I Buy My ISBNs? - Indies Unlimited

Today, Panzer decided to make a quick stop at the Indies Unlimited site. With a little digging in the posts, our inquisitive kitty found one about buying and owning ISBNs for your books, ebooks and audio books.

Now where is that ISBN hiding?

According to Melinda Clayton, where you buy your ISBNs (International Standard Book Number) is extremely important. Your book's ISBN identifies it in the Books in Print database. This is how libraries and bookstores can find your book. Bowker is the official seller of ISBNs in the United States. If you buy your book's ISBN directly from Bowker, you are listed in Books in Print as the publisher of your book.  If you get your book's ISBN from Amazon, then Amazon bought that ISBN from Bowker and Amazon is listed as the publisher of your book. There's also an illegal side to not buying your ISBN from Bowker (or Amazon) too. Turns out there are scammers online who advertise they sell ISBNs at discounted prices and the ISBNs are either not delivered or fake made-up numbers.The post includes a link to the Bowker site and one for authors outside the United States.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... You do need to worry about who owns that ISBN, because some bookstores won't carry books with ISBNs showing Amazon as your publisher."

Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a cup of cocoa and a muffin for today's reading selection. If you plan to follow the links in the post, bring a second cup of tea and another muffin.

To read the post tootle over to ISBNs

Audible Captions, Copyright Lawsuits, and Other News from the World of Writing - Indies Unlimited

My work is never done.

Panzer was sweeping the floor in the Panzermobile when he discovered a post under the mat on the passenger side. Pulling it out, our fastidious kitty discovered it was a post from the Indies Unlimited site about news in the publishing world.

Melinda Clayton's post begins with an examination of Audible's soon to be introduced Captions feature. Panzer told you about Captions a few days ago in two posts. Audible still isn't giving out any concrete information about what the new feature will do. The second section is about new legislation which would make it easier and less expensive to go after copyright infringers. The last section of the post is about book marketing. There are several links included in the post to further information about each section.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... This little kitty thinks ... By not giving out any information, Audible seems to be deliberately causing a lot of speculation about the Captions feature just to build up the hype."

Note: This is a short-medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and a muffins for today's reading selection. If you plan to follow the links in the post, bring a thermos of tea and four muffins.

To read the post tootle over to Audible Captions and more

To read Panzer's first post about Audible's Captions feature tootle over to Audible text Captions feature

To read Panzer's second post about Audible's Captions tootle over toAudible's Captions program

Draft2Digital, Baker & Taylor, and OverDrive - Indies Unlimited

Panzer is still helping Mom with her recuperating extended-family relative, so today's trip into the Catosphere was short. On a quick trip to the Indies Unlimited site our speedy kitty found a post about Draft2Digital.

I really need more sleep.

According to Melinda Clayton, Draft2Digital has announced their partnership with Baker and Taylor's 360 Axis 360 ebook distribution to libraries. Authors who use Draft2Digital will now have two platforms for library distribution: OverDrive and Baker and Taylor. The post also includes information about differences between the two platforms and a brief history of a court case between the two. The link to the court case decision includes interesting information about Baker and Taylor. The post quotes extensively from information on The Digital Reader site.

Panzer says, "This little kitty doesn't think he likes Baker and Taylor's business practices."

Note: This is a long post. Bring a cup of cocoa and three chocolate chip cookies (biscuits) for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Draft2Digital

Draft2Digital Partners with bibliotheca - Indies Unlimited

Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere when he decided to stop in at the Indies Unlimited site. With a little digging around in the posts there, he found one about Draft2Digital and bibliotheca.

Exactly why are you changing the royalties?

According to the post by Melinda Clayton, Draft2Digital (D2D) and bibliotheca have partnered. D2D already works with Overdrive to distribute their authors' ebooks to libraries. The partnership will allow D2D to offer a better checkout experience for readers. There's also a change to the royalties for library purchases authors will want to read. The post has information about opting into or out of the new programs. There are two links included in the post. One is for information about bibliotheca and the second is for information about D2D's new library pricing page.

Panzer says, "Why do humans have to make things so complicated?"

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

To read the post tootle over to Draft2Digital

Book Promo Sites: How long do they work?

Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere when he heard some strange hemming and hawing noises. Following them took our kitty traveler to the Indies Unlimited blog.

With just a little digging Panzer found a post by Melinda Clayton which  was the source of all the noise. Ms. Clayton's post is about the state of ebook promotion sites. Her post contains information on two things important to indie authors. The first is that there seems to be a smaller return in sales from ebook promotion sites than there was just a year or two ago. The second is that promotion sites are merging. This is evidenced by the recent merging/partnering of BookSends and eReaderIQ followed by the merging/partnering of Pixel Ink and BookSends. This spate of merging suggests that there may no longer be enough members/readers to support as many promotion sites as in the past.

This doesn't look good.

Panzer says, "Maybe it's the ebook subscription services with the all you can read for one fee that's taking the members/readers away."

Note: This is a medium-size post. You'll need a cup of tea for your reading today.

To read the post, tootle over to book promo sites

Your Writing Business and Power of Attorney - Indies Unlimited

Just enjoying the sun today.

After a week of rain, today has been a sunny day in Panzerville. Panzer got up from his afternoon nap, took a leisurely stretch and casually strolled over to the Panzermobile. After our happy kitty boy tootled around in the Catosphere for a while, he decided to stop in at the Indies Unlimited blog. There he found an interesting post by Melinda Clayton.

Ms. Clayton's post concerns the issue of the handling of a writer's financial affairs if he or she becomes incapacitated. She decided to look into this after she had to have surgery. (Ms. Clayton gives the usual legal disclaimer material: "I am not an attorney, etc.") She explains the information she learned about a Durable Power of Attorney for Financial Management. If a writer becomes unable to handle their financial affairs, the DPA for Financial Management gives the appointed "agent" the right to collect the writer's royalties, make tax payments, make decisions about property, etc. All writers should at least consider investigating this option in case of an accident or surgery.

Panzer says, "You can always change your mind or change your appointed "agent" or cancel your document if you want."

Note: You'll want a cup of tea and muffin for your reading today.

To read the post, tootle over to your writing business