Disney Exits OpenAI Deal After AI Giant Shutters Sora - The Hollywood Reporter

I can only take so much excitement in one day. 

As Panzer was heading home in the Catosphere the Panzermobile was suddenly hit by the sounds of crying and yelling outside. Following all the noise took our brave kitty to The Hollywood Reporter site. There he discovered the demise of the Sora app was the problem.

 

According to Alex Weprin's post, OpenAI announced the closing of the Sora app with more news to come at a later date.

 

Panzer says, "Hmm ... This little kitty wants to know why they're shutting down Sora."

 

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 Sora AI Video App 

Baker & Taylor Prepares Plan to Shut Down - Publishers Weekly

It is fast-tracked.

As Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere today, he made a stop at the Publishers Weekly site. There with no digging at all he found a post about the Baker and Taylor shut down.

 

According to Jim Milliot's post, Baker and Taylor is on a fast-track shut down. Also included in the post are links to other information about what led up to the shut down and how it's being handled.

 

Panzer says, "It doesn't surprise this little kitty."

 

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

 

To read the post tootle over to Baker and Taylor 

Interview: Wattpad's Aron Levitz, and the Demise of Radish - Publishing Perspectives

Radish?

Here's a post about Wattpad and Radish Panzer found at the Publishing Perspectives site.

 

Porter Anderson's post is divided into two sections. The first section follows Wattpad's Aron Levitz's rise through the company to president, The second section follows Radish to it's closing at the end of this year. 

 

 Panzer says, "This little kitty doesn't remember ever hearing about Radish before."

 

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

 

To read the post tootle over to Wattpad 

Author Stephen King To Shutter Three Maine Radio Stations - Radio Ink

You never know what you can learn online.

Here's an interesting post about author Stephen King Panzer found at the Radio Ink site.

 

According to the news post at Radio Ink, Stephen King has decided after nearly forty years of ownership that he will be closing his three radio stations. The post has the history of his ownership of all three and why he's decided to close them.

 

Panzer says, "This little kitty didn't know Stephen King owned radio stations."

 

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

 

To read the post tootle over to Stephen King

Kindle Vella Update FAQ

Nobody knew about it.

Today. Panzer made a trip to the KDP site. With no digging at all in the posts there our adventuresome kitty discovered news about Kindle Vella.

 

According to a post there, Amazon is closing the Vella platform in February 2025. The post explains how the shut down will work and what to do if you still have a series you're working on for Vella.

Panzer says, "Vella didn't seem to get the attention of readers."

 

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

 

To read the post tootle over to Kindle Vella

Small Press Distrubution Shuts Down - Publishers Weekly

It's not easy to run a small company.

Panzer found some unfortunate news at the Publishers Weekly site today. The Small Press Distribution shut down last week. 

 

According to Jim Milliot's post the SPD shut down immediately on March 28. The post includes quotes from Kent Watson, executive director, about the closure. As the name implies the company distributes materials for small press, but this has proved to be nearly impossible in today's book climate.

Panzer says, "An immediate closure will cause a lot of problems for small presses."

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

To read the post tootle over to Small Press Distribution

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

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

Eason to close its seven Northern Ireland stores - The Bookseller

Panzer hasn't been to The Bookseller site for a while, so he decided to make a quick stop there today. With no digging at all our adventuresome kitty found a post about the Eason bookstore chain.

I hate it.

According to Mark Chandler's post, Eason is closing all seven of its Northern Ireland bookstores. The stores have been closed since March because of Covid-19 and will not re-open. The company blames sagging store sales worsened by the coronavirus (Covid-19) for the closures. Eason's 53 bookstores in Ireland have already re-opened and won't be affected by the Northern Ireland closures.

Panzer says, "That virus thingy is still causing trouble."

Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and a chocolate chip cookie (biscuit) for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Eason Northern Ireland bookstores

Microsoft eBook Refunds Are Coming in July - The Digital Reader

Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere when he heard clapping and cheering outside the Panzermobile. Following all the noise, our inquisitive kitty found himself at The Digital Reader site. With a little digging he found a post about the Microsoft ebookstore and the ebook rebates. Panzer told you about the Microsoft ebookstore's closing back in April.

It's about time.

According to The Digital Reader site owner Nate Hoffelder, an email sent out by Microsoft says the official closing of the Microsoft ebookstore will be in July. Users won't be able to access their ebooks after the beginning of July. The email also says users will receive refunds in July for the ebooks they purchased and can no longer access. There's a link in the post to the Microsoft FAQ for information about the closing and refunds.

Panzer says, "It took long enough for them to start the refund process. Human's just don't understand cats have no patience. We want it now."

Note: This is a short post. Bring a cup of tea for today's reading. If you plan to follow the link for the FAQ, bring another cup of tea and two muffins.

To read the post tootle over to Microsoft refund

To read the post about the Microsoft ebookstore's closing, tootle over to Microsoft ebookstore

Clock Is Ticking on B&T Retail Shutdown - Publishers Weekly

Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere when he heard crying and wailing. Following all the heart-wrenching noises took our brave kitty to the Publishers Weekly site. With no trouble at all he found the post about Baker and Taylor that was causing all the angst.


According to Publishers Weekly's Jim Milliot, Baker and Taylor is shutting down its retail wholesaling business. Baker and Taylor will no longer ship books from publishers to independent booksellers. Booksellers will now have to order their books directly from the publishers. Publishers have begun setting up programs to fill the void left by Baker and Taylor's withdrawl from the market. The post includes links to previous posts about the shutdown and information about the publishers' plans.

It will all work out.

Panzer says, "By closing down their retail wholesaling business Baker and Taylor is causing a little bit of a mess for independent booksellers."

Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a cup of lemonade and two sugar cookies (biscuits) for today's reading selection. If you plan to follow all the links, bring a thermos of cocoa and half a dozen muffins. (You'll need something more substantial than lemonade and cookies (biscuits) if you're going to follow all those links.)

To read the post tootle over to Baker and Taylor

Lifeway to Close All Stores - Publishers Weekly

Lost another one.

Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere when he decided to make a stop at the Publishers Weekly site. With a little digging around in the posts our inquisitive kitty boy found one about Lifeway bookstores.

According to Emma Wenner, Lifeway Christian Resources has announced they will close all their bookstores by the end of 2019. The company plans to move from a brick-and-mortar retail to an online presence. The company sells Bibles and Christian books and resources. There are links included in the post to other information sources.

Panzer says, "This little kitty hates to see any brick-and-mortar bookstore close."

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

To read the post tootle over to Lifeway

Online Distribution Platform Ganxy to Close - Publishers Weekly

Today Panzer had hardly entered the Catosphere when he heard wailing and crying. Following all the noise took our inquisitive kitty to the Publishers Weekly site. There with no digging at all he found a post about Ganxy.

Nobody can see me here.

According to Jim Milliot at Publishers Weekly, Ganxy is closing its doors the end of December. Ganzy is an online distribution platform. The post includes quotes from a post at the Ganxy site about the closing. The company couldn't compete with Amazon's larger distribution platform. Money will be paid to sellers as it's available.

Panzer says, "The only way to compete with an 800 pound gorilla is to hide."

Note: This is a short post. Bring a cup of tea for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Ganxy

Online Bookstore Bookwitty.com Shuts Down - Publishers Weekly (PW)

Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere when the Panzermobile was buffeted by wailing and crying. Following all the noise took our brave kitty to the Publishers Weekly (PW) site. There with no digging at all he discovered a post about online bookseller Bookwitty.com.

According to the post by Ed Nawotka, three year old Paris-based online bookstore Bookwitty.com is closing. The company sent an email to its contributors that the site is shutting down. Bookwitty.com was the online arm of Bookwitty, a distributor of books to third-party sellers. No reason other than the company could not provide the service customers deserved was given; although, the post does say a hoped for $10 million cash infusion did not materialize.

Maybe their inventory was just too big.

Panzer says, "Bookwitty.com had 27 million books for sale. That is a lot of books."

Note: This is medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and a chocolate chip cookie (biscuit) for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Bookwitty.com

Amazon is Shutting Down Its Crowd-Sourcing Platform, Kindle Scout - The Digital Reader

Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere when all of a sudden the Panzermobile was buffeted by crying and screaming. When our brave kitty boy got control of the Panzermobile again, he followed all the noise to The Digital Reader site. With no digging at all he discovered a post about the Kindle Scout platform was causing all the mayhem.

According to The Digital Reader site owner Nat Hoffelder, Amazon announced through an email that it's shutting down the Kindle Scout platform. Mr. Hoffelder's post includes an email Amazon sent to Kindle Scout voters about the platform's closure. Kindle Scout is/was a site where authors could submit their manuscripts and people could read and vote for the one they would like to see published.  Effective April 3 the platform won't accept any new submissions or voter/members. Once all the voting is finished on current submissions the site will shut down.

Mom found out from somebody else's  site.

Panzer says, "Mom is a Kindle Scout voter. Why didn't she get an email saying KS is closing down?"

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

To read the post tootle over to Amazon Kindle Scout

Parragon Faces Closure - Publishers Weekly

Step forward now to buy them.

Today's trip took Panzer to the Publishers Weekly (PW) site. There our intrepid kitty reporter found a post about the impending closure of book publisher Parragon.

According to Jim Milliot at Publishers Weekly, publisher Parragon has announced the company's closure. The U. K.-based company has employees around the world, including the U.S. Employees have already been notified of the company's decision. While the company is looking for a buyer there doesn't appear to be any interest.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... This was an unexpected announcement."

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

To read the post tootle over to Parragon

Amazon laying off 58 workers at North Charleston self-publishing business - The Post and Courier

Panzer just can't get a nap today. He was just starting a little snooze when the news alarm started blaring in the Panzermobile. Heading into the Catosphere our poor kitty pilot was buffeted by crying and shouting. Following all the noise took him to the The Post and Courier site, where he discovered news about Amazon's Createspace business.

According to the post by Thad Moore, Amazon is laying off 58 workers at the North Charleston Createspace self-publishing business. Amazon is closing down the editing, marketing and design divisions of Createspace. Amazon said the company intends to continue printing books.

Please! No more news tonight!

Panzer says, "This little kitty thinks Createspace is going the way of the dodo bird. Very soon Amazon is going to funnel paperback authors into the Amazon store only. No more sending your Createspace books to other bookstores and to libraries."

Note: This is a long-medium post. Bring a cup of tea and three muffins for this reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Amazon Create Space

Pearson Closes DRM - Free eBookstore, Will Delete All eBooks From Customers' Account - The Digital Reader

Today, Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere when he heard crying and wailing. Flowing all the noise took our brave kitty boy to The Digital Reader site. There he found a post about Pearson's ebookstore closing.

The post by The Digital Reader founder Nate Hoffelder states Pearson intends to close their MyPearsonStore.com DRM-free ebookstore on April 30, 2018, Customers need to download their ebook purchases before then as all customer accounts and purchases will be deleted on that date. There's a copy of Pearson's announcement included in The Digital Reader post.

One less online bookstore.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... Another online ebookstore closes their doors."

Note: This is a short post. Bring a cup of tea and half a muffin for today's reading selection.

To read the post, tootle over to Pearson eBookstore

Macmillan to Close Its Self-Publishing Unit, Pronoun - Publishers Weekly

Today, as soon as Panzer entered the Catosphere he discovered something was wrong. The Panzermobile was buffeted and knocked around by all the crying and shouting. Following the sounds of distress took our brave kitty boy to the Publishers Weekly site. There he found breaking news about self-publishing platform Pronoun's fate.

How humans hunt: Catch. Eat. Kill.

In a post by Calvin Reid Panzer learned Pronoun is being closed down. Pronoun is platform similar to Smashwords. Indie authors/publishers upload their material to Pronoun for distribution to retailers. As of now the Pronoun platform won't accept any new author/publisher accounts.  It will totally shut down all accounts and distributions on January 15, 2018. Macmillan bought Pronoun in May 2016. No announcement has been made by Macmillan about the shut down decision.

Panzer says, "Umm ... Nobody needs to make an announcement about anything. It's simple.  Buy your competition and then shut them down."

Note: This is a medium post. Bring a cup of tea and a muffin for today's reading selection. (If you're a Pronoun platform user, you'll probably want a box of tissues too.)

To read the post, tootle over to Pronoun closure

CreateSpace Is Closing Its Online Bookstore - GoodEreader

Today, Panzer's trip in the Catosphere was interrupted by the Panzermobile being buffeted by crying and moaning coming from outside. Following all the noise took our kitty boy to the GoodEreader site. It only took a little digging to find the post causing all the angst was about the CreateSpace online bookstore.

I am not a happy kitty.

According to the post by Mercy Pilkington, Amazon's CreateSpace has announced the closure of their popular online bookstore on October 31. Indie authors and publishers who used the CreateSpace platform to publish their paperback books had the option to sell through the CreateSpace online bookstore. The main reason for authors and publishers to use the bookstore was the royalties. CreateSpace bookstore paid 80 percent royalty on sales compared to the Amazon bookstore's 60 percent. There's a link at the end of the post to the CreateSpace announcement about the closure.

Panzer says, "It's enough to make a grown kitty yowl. Cat Wisdom for Humans is available at the CreateSpace bookstore with the 80 percent royalty and, now, it's not even worth the time to put up the buy link here."

Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and a muffin for today's reading selection. If you plan to follow the link to the CreateSpace announcement bring another cup of tea and a muffin.

To read the post, tootle over to Createspace