Print Book Sales Flat in First Half of 2026 - Publishers Weekly

The industry needs a big bestseller.

Panzer made a stop at the Publishers Weekly site today.

 

There our traveling kitty found a post about print book sales. Compared  salesto the first half of 2025 this year's sales are flat. The print book sales figure is based on the adult and children's fiction and nonfiction total.

 

Panzer says, "The post includes a 2025 vs 2026 chart and a 2026 best seller chart."

 

Note: Because of the charts this is a long medium length post. Bring a glass of milk and two sugar cookies to snack on.

 

To read the post tootle over to Print Book Sales 

Publishers Sue WeLib for Copyright Infringement - Publishers Weekly

It's been a long day.

Panzer's last stop for today was at the Publishers Weekly site. There he found a post about a lawsuit against another alleged pirate site.

 

 According to the post, 13 publishers have joined together to sue the WeLib site for pirating millions of books and other materials. Included in the post is a link to a lawsuit the publishers won against another pirate site a month ago.

 

Panzer says, "They just shut down one pirate site and another one pops up."

 

Note: This is a short medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and a chocolate chip cookie (biscuit) to snack on. 

 

to read the post tootle over to Pirate Site Welib 

Authors Guild Looks at Why Author Incomes Are in Decline - Publishers Weekly

I need a nap after all today's traveling.

Panzer's last stop today was at the Publishers Weekly site. There he discovered a post about authors' income.

 

According to the post, the Authors Guild commissioned a study to determine why authors income is declining. The study found among other factors that not as many people buy books anymore. The post includes links to other information.

 

Panzer says, "This little kitty wonders if anybody looked at the cost of traditionally published books as a factor. They cost a lot of kitty treats."

 

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

 

To read the post trundle over to Author Incomes 

U.S. Audiobooks Sales Grew 9% in 2025, to $2.43 Billion - Publishers Weekly

There's only one post today.

Panzer had to go to the vet, so we didn't have enough time to gather more news..

 

******* 

 Panzer made a stop at the Publishers Weekly site today. There he found a post about audiobook sales last year.

 

I need to recover from today's trip.

According to Ed Nawolka's post, the Audio Publishers Association reports the 2025 audiobook sales jumped up 9% over 2024.

 

Panzer says, "This little kitty didn't know not many people admit to listening to AI generated audiobooks."

 

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

 

To read the post tootle over to US Audiobook Sales 

Everand, Fable Launch Combined Subscription - Publishers Weekly

Everand acquired Fable a few months ago.

Today Panzer stopped in at the Publishers Weekly site. There our inquisitive kitty pilot found a post about Everand and Fable.

 

According to the post, Everand and Fable are launching a subscription service for their ebooks and audiobooks. The low-end tier will be $11.99 per month and increase through two more tiers.

 

 Panzer says, "I wonder how many different genres of ebooks they have."

 

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

 

To read the post tootle over to Everand and Fable 

Around the World, Reading Is Becoming More Social - Publishers Weekly

Cats need a lot of naps to stay healthy.

Panzer's last stop today was at the Publishers Weekly site. There he discovered a post about international readers.

  

The post addresses how readers are forming reading groups to discuss what books and genres they're reading. The post also discusses what platforms readers are using.

 

 Panzer says, "This little kitty didn't know about any of this."

 

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 Reading 

Court Rules Against Anna's Archive in Copyright Lawsuit - Publishers Weekly

Another pirate site taken down.

Panzer found a post about the Anna's Archive lawsuit at Publishers Weekly site.

 

According to the post, the publishers won their copyright infringement lawsuit against the pirate site Anna's Archive. The court basically shut them down.

 

Panzer says, "That's a large fine. Now they have to find them and collect."

 

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

 

To read the post tootle over to Anna's Archive 

In Europe's Translation Market English Dominates, Japanese Grows, AI Disrupts - Publishers Weekly

No mention of translating feline in European markets.

Today in his travels in the Catosphere Panzer found a post on the Publishers Weekly site about European translation markets.

 

The post contains extensive information about the popularity of translations from English and Japanese material. The last section concentrates on using AI for translations. Included in the post are several links to other information.

 

Panzer says, "This little kitty would like to know which genre translations are the most popular."

 

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

 

To read the post tootle over to Europe's Translation Markets 

HarperCollins Partners with 'AI-Powered Animation House Toonstar - Publishers Weekly

I want to see this.

At the Publishers Weekly site Panzer found a post about publisher HarperCollins.

 

According to Sam Spratford's post, HarperCollins announced Toonstar will make animated episodes of select novels for them. The post contains links to more information about both companies.

 

Panzer says, "AI-Powered animation? What is that?"

 

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

To read the post tootle over to HarperCollins

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 

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 

Publishers Charges Anna's Archive with Copyright Infringement - Publishers Weekly

They're everywhere.

Here's an interesting post Panzer found at the Publishers Weekly site.

 

According to the post by Jim Milliot, publishers have found another pirate site selling access to books for AI training.

 

Panzer says, "They're everywhere. They're like cockroaches. You can't kill them."

  

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

 

To read the post tootle over to Anna's Archive 

Bookwire, ElevenLabs Team on AI Audiobook Production - Publishers Weekly

Daylight Saving Time is still causing me problems.

Panzer visited the Publishers Weekly site on his way home today. There he found a post about a partnership between Bookwire and ElevenLabs.

 

Ed Nawotka's post focuses on an announcement made by Bookwire explaining the partnership. The post includes a link to the announcement and to other information about ElevenLabs.

  

Panzer says, "This is definitely worth checking out."

 

Note: This is a short post. You'll only need to bring a cup of tea.

 

To read the post tootle over to ElevenLabs 

Gernert Company Teams with Bookcase Literary for Women's Fiction - Publishers Weekly

Romance and Romantasy are big markets.

Here's an interesting post for women's fiction authors.

 

 According to Publishers Weekly's Jim Milliot's post, Gernert Company and Bookcase Literary Agency are working together. They will help writers of women's romance and romantasy expand their market exposure.

 

Panzer says, "This little kitty thinks it might be a good opportunity for writers to get in now at the beginning.

 

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

 

To read the post tootle over to Gernert Company and Bookcase hel

PRH Inks Distribution Deal With Drawn & Quarterly - Publishers Weekly

Which comics do they publish?

This is a short press release Panzer found on the Publishers Weekly site.

 

According to the release, the deal goes into effective September 1.

 

Note: This is a short post. No need to bring anything to snack on.

 

To read the post tootle over to Drawn and Quarterly 

Audible Now Let's You Read Along With Your Kindle Books - Publishers Weekly

Isn't it confusing to do that?

On his way home Panzer stopped at the Publishers Weekly site.

 

There he found Ed Nawotka's post about Audible's new feature to read a book as you listen to it. 

 

Panzer says,"It does mean more sales if the listener wants to do both."

 

Note:This is either a short-medium length or long-short length post (your choice which). Bring a cup of tea to drink.

 

To read the post tootle over to Audible 

Publishers Strike Back Against Google in Infringement Suit - Publishers Daily

Ignorance is no defense.

Panzer found this post on the Publishers Weekly site about the infringement lawsuit filed against Google

 

Jim Milliot reports in his post publishers are petitioning to join the authors lawsuit against Google. Included in the post are links to other information about the lawsuit.

 

Panzer says, "If they can get added to the lawsuit, it will be interesting to watch."

 

Note:This is a medium length post. Bring a cup of tea to drink while you read.

To read the post tootle over to Google 

Spotify Adds Bookshop.org Links, Page Sign - Publishers Weekly

Who will be next?

Panzer stopped in at the Publishers Weekly site today and found a post about Bookshop.org.

 

Ed Nawotka's post explains Spotify's partnership with Bookshop.org. Bookshop.org will now carry Spotify author's print books on the platform. Included in the post are links to other information.

 

Panzer says, "Yesterday Bookshop.org added Draft2Digital authors and today added Spotify authors."

 

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

 

To read the post tootle over to  Bookshop and Spotify Deal

Bookstore.org Teams with Draft2Digital - Publishers Weekly

I feeel better today.

On his way home from the Catosphere Panzer made a stop at the Publishers Weekly site. There our traveling kitty boy found a post about Draft2Digital.

 

Ed Nawolka reports Draft2Digital and Bookshop.org have an agreement which allows D2D authors to sell their books through Bookshop.org.

 

Panzer says, "That's a whole new marketplace for indie authors."

 

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

 

To read the post tootle over to Draft2Digital