Booksellers unite in protest as Amazon's AbeBooks withdraws from several countries - The Guardian

Panzer was eating his lunch when his tender ears were assailed by the sound of crying and shouting coming from the Catosphere. Not even finishing his lunch our brave kitty hopped in the Panzermobile to go investigate. Following all the noise took him to The Guardian site. With no digging at all he found a post about Amazon's AbeBooks.

According to The Guardian's Alison Flood, members of the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers (ILAB) and other organizations have joined together to protest Amazon's AbeBooks. The company sent notices to secondhand bookstores in South Korea, Russia, Hungary and the Czech Republic that AbeBooks is closing the bookstores' sales channels through the company. In protest 460 booksellers are taking a "vacation" from AbeBooks and will not have their books available there. AbeBooks says the company is changing their third party payment service. While not explained in the post, it appears that for whatever reason the bookstores specified aren't compatible with the new payment service.

Now for my lunch.

Panzer says, "This kitty is confused. Is it a software problem between the new payment system and the secondhand bookstores' system?"

Note: This is a h-u-g-e post. Bring half a thermos of tea and two muffins for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Amazon AbeBooks

Barnes & Noble must face renewed data breach lawsuit: U.S. appeals court - Reuters

Mom is still feeling a little sick today, so Panzer's trip into the Catosphere was a quick one. Our speedy kitty pilot made a stop at the Reuters site. With just a little digging he found a post about Barnes and Noble.

We need to watch this case.

According to the post by Jonathan Stempel, Barnes and Noble is headed back to court to defend the company against a case seeking restitution for a customer data breach. The data breach involved stolen credit and debit card information at Barnes and Noble stores. A U.S. appeals court has ruled a lower court judge mistakenly disallowed the case; so, the Barnes and Noble customer case has been referred back to the lower court.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... This little kitty thinks it's a good thing Mom only pays cash for everything she buys."

Note: This is a longish-medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and one and a half muffins for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Barnes and Noble

Field Trip: Barnes & Noble at One Loudoun - The Digital Reader

Today's trip into the Catosphere took Panzer to The Digital Reader site. With a little digging our traveling kitty found a post about a new Barnes and Noble store.

Mmm. Tuna. Almost as good as turkey.

According to the post by site owner Nate Hoffelder, he made a visit to the new Barnes and Noble store in Ashburn, Virginia. The store boasts a 17,000 foot size. It contains a cafe/restaurant, a books section and a general merchandise section that includes a small Nook section. In the books section the tables can be moved to create space for an event.

Panzer says, "Inquiring kitties want to know if tuna sandwiches are on the restaurant menu?"

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 Barnes and Noble

"Amazon without Amazon": one-hour book delivery service launched - The Guardian

It's an interesting concept.

Panzer stopped in at The Guardian site today. With no digging at all our big bad kitty found a post about a new Amazon rival service called NearSt.

The post by Alison Flood explains about the start-up NearSt's London book order and deliver service. About 40 London book stores are currently using the platform. The customer places a book order either at the NearSt online site or by Smartphone app. In minutes the order is processed and ready for pickup at the store or one-hour delivery to the customer which ever the customer wants.

Panzer says, "Hmmm ... They don't have to stock inventory because the bookstores have the books. They just have to pay the delivery people. That means pretty low costs to the company. Let's watch this company and see what happens."

Note: This is a long post. Bring a cup of tea and two muffins for today's reading selection.

To read the post, tootle over to book delivery service

Amazon set to rival NYC's bookstores with Hudson Yards spot - New York Post

Panzer was rudely awoken from his nap by "On nos" and "Not another ones" coming from from the Catosphere. Our sleepy kitty got his tired little body into the Panzermobile and headed out. Following all the caterwauling took him to the New York Post site. There Panzer found a post about Amazon.

Now ... To continue my nap.

Jennifer Gould says in her post that unnamed sources have told her Amazon plans to open a new bricks and mortar store. According to the rumors, this one will be in Manhattan's (New York) Hudson Yards.

Panzer says, "Remember kittens ... A rumor is just a rumor and nothing more until Amazon announces it."

Note: This is a short post. You'll only need a cup of tea for today's reading selection.

To read the post, tootle over to Amazon

Amazon's Third Bookstore Will Be In Portland - Fortune

Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere just enjoying himself when he heard sighing and soft "Oh! No-ing!" Our brave kitty boy followed the noise to the Fortune site. There he discovered the worrisome sounds were about a post describing Amazon's latest moves.

It's hard to keep up with Amazon.

According to Leena  Rao's post there, Amazon is still on its foray into opening bricks and mortar bookstores. Panzer told you in November of last year about their first store in Seattle (Washington) and in March of this year about their second store in San Diego (California). The Fortune post states they'll be opening their third store in Portland, Oregon. They're definitely on an expansion move into the traditional bricks and mortar bookstore market.

Panzer says, "Hmmm ... Amazon must see a returning market for dead tree books or they wouldn't be jumping in now."

Note: This is a shortish post. Bring a cup of tea and a muffin for your reading today. If you plan to read all of Panzer's posts too, bring an extra cup of tea and another muffin.

To read the post about the newest store, tootle over to Amazon

To read Panzer's post about the first Amazon store, tootle over to Amazon Seattle store

To read Panzer's post about the second Amazon store, tootle over to Amazon San Diego store 

New B & N Concept Store Sprouts in Winchester County - PW (Publishers' Weekly)

Panzer made a leisurely trip into the Catosphere today. Tootling around there, our big bad kitty boy stopped in at the Publishers' Weekly site. With a little digging around he found a post about Barnes and Noble's new concept stores that he told you about in March.

I think I know your secret.

According to the post by Jim Milliot, Barnes and Noble has picked a location in Eastchester, N.Y., for their first new concept store. The company's site plan has already been approved by the planning commission. Permits have also been approved for a restaurant at the location. In keeping with Barnes and Noble's secretive nature about the concept stores, rather vague descriptions were given about the store's interior at the planning commission meetings.

Panzer says, "It still sounds like they plan their stores to be like the new Amazon bricks and mortar stores to me."

Note: This is a l-o-n-g-ish post. You'll need a cup of tea and a muffin for your reading today.

To read the post, tootle over to concept store

To read Panzer's earlier post about Barnes and Noble's concept stores, tootle over to Barnes and Noble

Hugh Howey On Saving Barnes and Noble

I looked and I looked. Finally, I found.

Today, Panzer got a late start in the Catosphere.

After searching and searching, my bad boy was able to find a great post for you over at bestselling author Hugh Howey's blog. Panzer enjoys going to Mr. Howey's blog because he always has informative posts for authors and readers.

In this post Mr. Howey is giving us his ideas about Barnes & Noble's slow demise. He brings up points that have lost the company buying customers. These include the loss of places to sit and peruse a selection of books before a buyer makes a choice, the introduction of loyalty cards, and the fact there are no longer author events. Mr. Howey has several more suggestions to help turn around Barnes and Noble.

Panzer says, "At least the company isn't on life support yet."

Bring a large cup of tea because this is a l-o-n-g post.

To read the full post, tootle over to Barnes and Noble

3 Espresso Book Machines To Open AT B&N Stores

Interesting development.

Panzer headed out into the Catosphere in the Panzermobile. My bad boy stopped in at GalleyCAT and found a post there about Barnes and Noble's experiment with Espresso Book Machines. One machine each will be installed in three B&N stores on the east coast.

According to Barnes and Noble, customers can use the machines to print public domain books or their own books.

Panzer says, "Hmmm. Print On Demand at the neighborhood book store."

If you want to read the whole post, tootle over to book machines

Stephen King vs Waterstone Founder

Stephen King said it, so I believe it!

Panzer was looking around the Catosphere today. He stopped in at the BestsellerLabs blog and found a post by Jonathan Gunson featuring an interview with Stephen King!

Now, you have to understand, one of my bad boy's all-time favorite authors is Stephen King. Nobody can keep us up late at night reading like Stephen King. So ... my bad boy cat extraordinaire parked the Panzermobile to find out what Mr. King had to say.

Panzer posted here last week about Tim Waterstone's prediction that ebooks were on the decline. The post at Bestsellerlabs is an examination about whether Stephen King believes the prediction is true or not. There is a two and a half minute interview with Mr. King about his views on books, book stores, ebooks, and writing.

Panzer says, "When you get to the blog, ignore the first screen shot of Mr. King. That's not a working interview. Continue down the page to the second screen shot and click that one for the interview."

If you want to know what Stephen King believes about the future of books and ebooks, tootle over to Stephen King