Springer Nature Updates AI Policy - Publishers Daily

Read the press release first.

At the Publishers Daily site Panzer found a press release from publisher Springer Nature's changes to the company's AI policy.

 

Being the inquisitive kitty that he is, Panzer went to the company's AI policy page to read it. He's included a link below. 

 

Note: The press release is short. You won't need anything to snack on for that. The AI policy is longer, so, if you also go there, you'll need to decide what to bring to snack on.

 

To read the press release tootle over to Springer Nature AI Policy 

To read their AI policy tootle over to AI Guidance 

Bloomsbury On Track for Record Year - Publishers Daily

They talk about 2027. 

Panzer made a quick stop at the Publishers Daily site today. Our inquisitive kitty boy found a post about Bloomsbury Publishing there.

 

According to information provided during Bloomsbury's annual meeting the company expectis record sales.

 

Panzer says, "This little kitty always gets confused when a company uses a different year than it is."

 

Note: This is a short post. Bring a glass of iced tea to drink.

 

To read the post tootle over to Bloomsbury 

Harlequin to Co-Produce AI-Generated 'Microdramas' - Publishers Weekly

 

I want to see one.

Panzer's last stop in the Catosphere today was at the Publishers Weekly site.

 

There he found a post by Sam Spratford about romance publisher Harlequin's announcement of its jump into AI-generated content in the form of Microdramas.

 

Panzer says, "Hmm ... One company bans AI-generated content and another embraces it."

 

Note:This is a long-medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and two chocolate chip cookies (biscuits) to snack on.

 

To read the post tootle over to Harlequin 

Callaway Arts & Entertainment Files for Bankruptcy - Publishers Weekly

There are a lot of bankruptcies being reported.

Today, Panzer made a stop at the Publishers Weekly site. With a little digging in the posts he found one about publisher Callaway's bankruptcy.

 

According to Sam Stratford's post, the bankruptcy will impact some well-known companies and musicians. 

 

Panzer says, "They. owe a lot of money."

 

Note: A short-medium length post. Bring cup of tea to drink while you read.

 

To read the post tootle over to Callaway Bankruptcy 

London Book Fair 2026: Isolarii's Avant-Garde Ambitions Get Bigger - Publishers Daily

Interesting company.

Panzer found this post about publisher Isolarii on the Publishers Daily site. 

 

Ed Nawotka's post gives a brief history of Isolarii, what they're doing currently and they're plans for the future. There's a link to Isolarii's site included in the post.

 

Panzer says, "Hmm ... Turns out they're more than a publisher."

 

Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a cup of cocoa and a muffin to snack on.

 

To read the post tootle over to Isolarii 

Must Reada Magazines Statement on Changes Made to Standard Contract in Response to SFWA - File 770

You don't want to mess with writers' groups.

Panzer's second stop in the Catosphere today was at the File 770 site. With a little digging in the posts our inquisitive boy found one about the publisher Must Reads Magazines writers contracts.

 

Mike Glyer's post has Must Reads Magazines direct statement about the contract changes made. 

 

Panzer says, "The publisher received similar push-back from mystery writers groups for the contract for their mystery magazines too."

 

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

  

To read the post tootle over to SFWA

Open Road Buys RosettaBooks - Publishers Weekly

 

The links have information too.

Panzer made a quick stop at the Publishers Weekly site. There our traveling kitty boy found a post about RosettaBooks.

 

According to Jim Milliot's post, Open Road has purchased RosettaBooks. The post includes links to other information about the purchase.

 

Panzer says, "It's interesting how this purchase worked out."

 

Note: This is a short medium length post. You can get a cup of tea to drink.

 

To read the post tootle over to Open Road 

China Bestsellers: Nobel Prize Boost, Aspiratioinal Nonfictiion, and Children's Classics - Publishing Perspectives

Do you recognize some of them?

Panzer's next stop in the Catosphere was at the Publishing Perspectives site.

 

Erin L. Cox's feature post is based on information supplied by OpenBook about China's book bestsellers and popular categories.The post contains charts to illustrate the book sales in the different categories.

  

Panzer says, "There are some interesting bestsellers in the charts."

 

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

 

To read the post tootle over to China Bestsellers 

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

Albert Whitman Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy - Publishers Weekly

This doesn't look good.

When Panzer stopped at the Publishers Weekly site today, he discovered some news about publisher Albert Whitman.

 

According to Claire Kirch's post, the 106 year old children's book publisher filed for bankruptcy. Included in the post are links to other information about the company, the creditors, and the bankruptcy.

 

Panzer says, "Authors who have contracts with the publisher are going to get pulled into this bankruptcy."

 

Note: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 Albert Whitman Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

S&S Launches Audio Imprint Simon Maverick, Helmed by Jason Pinter - Publishers Weekly

.

They are choosing who they want to work with

Today's trip into the Catosphere took Panzer to the Publishers Weekly site. There he found a post about a new Simon and Schuster (S&S) imprint.

According to Nathalie op de Beeck and John Maher's post, S&S has plans for the imprint to eventually be audiobooks first before other formats for books from indie authors.

Panzer says, "It sounds like an interesting new publishing avenue for indie authors."

Note: This is a long, long length post. You'll need to decide what to bring to snack on while you read.

To read the post tootle over to Simon Maverick

Facing Author Lawsuits, Shawline Publishing Re-Brands as New Found Books - Writer Beware (R)

Don't sign a contract with these red flags.

Panzer's second stop in the Catosphere today was at the Writer Beware (R) site. Our traveling kitty pilot always finds useful writer information there.

 

Victoria Strauss' post delves into an Australian publishing company called Shawline Publishing. The company advertises itself as a hybrid publisher. Shawline Publishing is being sued by several authors so the company simply changed its name. Under the new name, New Found Books, it's continuing to do business. The post contains examples of author contracts and book royalty complaints. The post also includes links to other information about this company and its practices.

 

Panzer says, "Victoria Strauss is definitely a bad guy's worst nightmare."

 

Note: This is a very long post. You'll need to decide what to bring to drink and snack on while you read.

 

To read the post tootle over to Writer Beware Blog

HarperCollins Is Cutting 5% of It's North American Workforce - Publishers Weekly

Today, Panzer made a quick stop at the Publishers Weekly site. There he found a post about HarperCollins expense cutting measures. Last week Panzer told you about HarperCollins employee union negotiations.

 

Not a good time to be a publishers.

According to the post by Jim Milliot, HarperCollins has begun another round of employee layoffs. Citing the lack of sales and the increase in expenses as the reasons, the company will reduce its employee workforce by 5 percent by June 30.

 

 Panzer says, "Hmm ... 5 percent is actually a lot."

Note: This is a long-short post or a short-medium post. You decide. Bring a cup of cocoa and two chocolate chip cookies (biscuits) for today's reading.

To read the post tootle over to HarperCollins

To read Panzer's previous post tootle over to Harper Collins and Harper Union

Canada's Thomas Allen & Son to Close ... Publishers Weekly

I didn't expect that.

Panzer was shaken from his kitty bed by crying coming from the Catosphere. Jumping into the Panzermobile, he followed all the angst to the Publishers Weekly site. There he found a post about the closure of Canada's Thomas Allen and Son.

According to the post by Ed Nawotka, Thomas Allen and Son will close in March 2023. The Canadian company is a publisher and distributor in Canada for U.S. and U.K publishers.

Note: This is a long-short length post. Bring a half a cup of cocoa for today's reading.

To read the post tootle over to Thomas Allen to close

HarperCollins Addresses Stalled Union Negotiations, Union ... - Publishers Weekly

Panzer just made a quick trip to the Publishers Weekly site. There he found a post about a strike by the workers at publisher HarperCollins.

 

A strike just before Christmas?

Emell Derra Adolphus' post explains publisher HarperCollins' position on the union employees strike against the company. HarperCollins' statement includes information about employee salary and benefit increases. The company made the statement because some authors and agents have said they support the strike. Included at the end of the post is the union's response.

 

Note: This is a long post. Bring a big cup of cocoa and a large muffin for today's reading.

 

To read the post tootle over to HarperCollins strike

Kensington CozyClub Mini-Con October 2022 - Criminal Element

Panzer made a quick trip to the Criminal Element site today. With a little digging in the posts our illustrious kitty boy found one about publisher Kensington's October cozy author mini-con.

They did speed dating?

Doreen Sheridon's post includes information about the authors who attended the mini-con and all the activities there. One of the activities was called Speed Dating. Only Kensington cozy mystery authors participated. Photos of the authors are included.

Panzer says, "This little kitty is happy to see the writing conventions are starting again."

Note: Because of all the photos included this is a long post. Bring a cup of tea and a muffin for today's reading.

To read the post tootle over to Kensington CozyClub

Henry Holt Lays Off Metropolitan Books Staff - Publishers Weekly

This morning Panzer made a quick stop at the Publishers Weekly site. There he found a post about Metropolitan Books demise.

 

No reason why?

According to Jim Milliot's post, Henry Holt has laid off the staff at Metropolitan books. Henry Holt gave no information about the closure.

 

Panzer says, "I have nothing to say about this."

 

Note: This is a very short post. You won't need any refreshments when you read it.

 

To read the post tootle over to Metropolitan Books

Amazon's Closure of India's Westland Books: Consternation and Confusion - Publishing Perspectives

Today, Panzer made a trip to the Publishing Perspectives site. With a little digging in the posts there our inquisitive kitty boy found one about India's Westland Books.

Why? What happened?

According to the post by Porter Anderson, Amazon announced February 1 the company will close India's Westland Books publishing. Amazon gave bookstores dates in February and March to order books, but after March 31 Westland will not be fulfilling any orders. Amazon bought the 60-year-old Westland Books in 2017.

 

Panzer says, "This little kitty wonders what caused Amazon to close it now."

Note: This is a very, very, very long post. Bring a thermos of cocoa, three muffins, three chocolate chip cookies (biscuits), and a brownie for today's reading.

To read the post tootle over to Amazon and Westland Books

The Publisher Perspective: October 2021 (Getting Your Book Into Libraries With OverDrive) - Writers and Publishers Network

As Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere today, he discovered a site named Writers and Publishers Network (WPN). Digging in the posts, he found one about getting your ebooks into libraries.

 

According to the post by Jay Hartman, authors getting their ebooks into libraries is relatively easy. First, the library needs access to OverDrive. Second, the author needs online access to their local library. Third, the author needs to see if their book is already in the system and, if not, then request the library purchase it. The post includes instructions for the library request process.

 

I just need a few friends' help.

Panzer says, "Looks easy to this little kitty. Now, I just need to find all my brothers and sisters and cousins and nephews and nieces and aunts and uncles to get them to request my books Cats and Crime and Cat Wisdom for humans. Then, I'll be in every library in the world!" 

Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a cup of hot cocoa and a scone for today's learning experience.

 

To read the post for the steps to follow tootle over to Libraries

2021 Strand Critics Awards Nominees - Mystery Fanfare

Today Panzer made a quick trip to the Mystery Fanfare site. There our speedy kitty boy found a post about the Strand Magazine's Critics Awards nominees.

 

According to the post the Strand Magazine announced the nominees for the Best Mystery Novel and the Best Debut Novel Critics Awards. The winners of the Lifetime Achievement Awards and the Publisher of the Year Award were also named. The post lists all the nominees. There's a link included in the post to another post about the announcement, but it contains the same information as this post.

 

She reads it to me.

Panzer says, "Mom subscribes to the Strand Magazine."

 

Note: This is a long-short length or short-medium length post (your choice). Bring a cup of lemonade for today's reading selection.

 

To read the post tootle over to 2021 Strand Critics Awards