RBmedia Acquires Award-Winning U.K. Indie Boldwood Books - Publishing Perspectives

This smoke is giving me a headache.

Panzer's next stop in the Catosphere was at the Publishing Perspectives site. There our inquisitive kitty boy found a post about U.K. publisher Boldwood.

 

According to the post RBmedia has acquired Boldwood. RBedia is an audiobook publisher and Boldwood is an ebook, print book and audiobook publisher.

 

Panzer says, "Sounds like they'll fit right together."

 

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

 

To read the post tootle over to RBMedia 

3 ways Book insights helps you get more from your reading - Google Blog The Keyword

 

Another hot day.

Panzer's last stop today was at the Google Blog.

 

Our inquisitive kitty found a post about Google's Book insight feature and how to use it. The post includes links to free ebooks so you can test the feature.

 

Note: This is a long post because of the examples. Bring a cold glass of lemonade and two sugar cookies (biscuits) to snack on.

 

To read the post tootle over to Google Play 

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 

Deeper reading insights unlocked: Rakuten Kobo and StoryGraph announce integration - Rakuten Kobo Blog

There's a lot more to StoryGraph.

Panzer's next stop was at the Rakuten Kobo Blog. There he discovered a post about Kobo's and StoryGraph's integration.

 

By adding StoryGraph to Kobo readers can now track their reading genre choices, reading speeds, and more. The post includes a section explaining how StoryGraph works with Kobo.

 

To read the post tootle over to Kobo and Storygraph 

Library Orgs Urge Big Five to Address Digital Pricing - Publishers Daily

Publishers are in it for the money.

Today, Panzer's first stop in the Catosphere was at the Publishers Daily site. There with just a little digging in the posts our inquisitive kitty boy found one about library organizations and the big five publishers.

 

Nathalie op de Beeck's post quotes extensively from the representatives of library groups in the U.S. and Canada about the high costs of licensing digital products. The library organizations would like to meet with publishing representatives to discus the pricing at sustainable levels for libraries.

 

Panzer says, "It's important to have ebooks and audiobooks available in libraries for patrons to read and listen to."

 

Note: This is a long-medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and a muffin for a snack.

 

To read the post tootle over to Digital Pricing 

Amazon is ending support for Kindle devices from 2012 and earlier - liliputing

Just like computers. You have to buy a new one.

Panzer was traveling around in the Catosphere when the Panzermobile was suddenly buffeted and shaken by crying and moaning outside. Following all the angst took our brave kitty boy to the liliputing site. There he discovered Amazon was the cause of the problems.

 

According to Brad Linder's post, Amazon is stopping all support for any Kindle devices made in 2012 or older. This means the devices will no longer work with the Kindle store.

 

Panzer says, "This little kitty better get all 5,000 ebooks he bought downloaded on his Kindle NOW."

 

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

 

To read the post tootle over to Amazon Support 

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

Hoopla Digital Shares 2025 Trends, Growth Categories - Publishers Weekly

Information about indies in libraries too,

Today's trip in the Catosphere took Panzer to the Publishers Weekly site. With no digging at all, our intrepid traveling kitty found a post about library reader trends.

 

Nathalie op de Beeck's post covers the report Hoopla Digital put together for 2025 about the trends and growth 0f ebooks and audio books in the libraries it serves. The post also includes links to other information about the report.

 

Panzer says, "There's that romantasy category again."

 

Note: This is a long-medium length post. Bring a cup of cocoa and a large muffin.

 

To read the post tootle over to Hoopla 

Introducing Kindle Translate in Beta: Translate eBooks into multipla languages - KDP Forum

Books translated? Who checks the translation?

Panzer's next stop was at the KDP Forum site. 

 

There our inquisitive kitty boy found a post about the new Kindle Translate feature. Kindle Translate is in Beta and so by invitation only.

 

Panzer says, "Right now it's free because it's in Beta testing." 

 

To read the announcement tootle over to Kindle Translate 

Amazon Adds Benetech Accessible Metadata to Ebooks - Publishers Weekly Daily

Better check my ebooks.

Today, Panzer's first stop was at the Publishers Weekly site. With no digging at all our intrepid traveler found a post about Amazon ebooks.

 

According to Ed Nawotka's post, Benetech metadata will now be available for Amazon ebooks which meet accessibility for disabled readers.The post has information about the disability laws and the steps publishers have taken to comply with them. Also included in the post are links to more information.

 

Panzer says,"This little kitty knew the U.S. had an accessibility law, but didn't know Europe did."

 

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

 

To read the post tootle over to Amazon Accessible Metadata 

New! Create and sell your digital products directly in MailerLite - Blog

We're having a heatwave here.

Here's a new feature Panzer found to sell ebooks on the MailerLite site.

 

The MailerLite blog post by Magle Navickaile explains how to set up your dashboard so you can sell your epub books through MailerLite. There's also a Youtube video with more information.

 

Panzer says, "Setup looks a little complicated to this little kitty."

 

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

 

To read the post tootle over to Mailerlite

Amazon killing a feature that let you download and backup Kindle books - The Verge

 You've got one week to take care of your ebooks.

Panzer stopped in at The Verge site today. There with a little digging in the posts our intrepid kitty traveler found one about an Amazon change to purchasing and downloading ebooks.

 

According to a post by Andrew Liszewski, Amazon is doing away with their feature to download and backup your ebook purchases. You'll need to get your wi-fi set up very soon.

 

Panzer says, "As an Amazon user you should be prepared, because the company  is always changing something."

 

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

 

To read the post tootle over to Amazon

DPLA, IPG Team Up to Offer Libraries E-book Ownership Option - Publishers Weekly

They're buying the ebooks legally.

On today's trip into the Catosphere Panzer made a stop at the Publishers Weekly site. With a little digging in the posts he found one about library ownership of ebooks.

 

According to the post by Andrew Albanese, the Digital Public Library of America (DPLA)  has reached an agreement with the Independent Publishers Group (IPG) to have the option to purchase ebooks.This would mean instead of renting ebooks for patrons to read the library would own the books with no continuing fees.

 

Panzer says, "This would save libraries a lot of money."

 

Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a glass of lemonade and a sugar cookie (biscuit) for reading today's selection.

 

To read the post tootle over to Libraries E-book Ownership

BookNet Canada: Free sources for Reading Surpass Paid - Publishing Perspectives

Why ask? Free of course.

At the Publishing Perspectives site Panzer found a post about Canadian readers' preferences for obtaining reading material.

Porter Anderson's post includes information from BookNet Canada's report about the almost 1500 readers questioned about obtaining their reading materials. No matter which format, ebook,  audiobook, or print, all users reported getting at least some of their materials for free.The post includes charts and graphs to illustrate the readers answers.

Panzer says, "Let's see: Free or paid. Which would you choose?"

Note: This is a long post. Bring a cup of tea and a muffin for today's snack while you read.

To read the post tootle over to BookNet Canada

Amazon Launches Massive Six-Day Book Sale - Publishers Weekly

Interesting sale.

Today, Panzer made a stop at the Publishers Weekly site. There he found a post about an Amazon book sale.

According to the post by Sophia Stewart, Amazon is having a book sale May 15 to the 20. The sale will include adult and children's books. It will be open to everyone. The post includes a link to the Amazon site.

 

 Panzer says, "This little kitty didn't know about the sale, so his books must not be included."

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

 

To read the post tootle over to Amazon

Libraries struggle to afford the demand for e-books and seek new state laws in fight with publishers - AP

Publishers raise the prices every year.

Panzer's post today is going to be short. We lost electricity last night and didn't get it back until late today. Let's just say things are a mess right now. With said, here's today's news.

 

On a quick trip to the AP news site Panzer discovered libraries are experiencing problems with ebooks and audiobook publishers again.

 

According to a post by Susan Haigh, the costs of publishers' ebooks and audiobook are forcing libraries to cut into their budgets. Libraries are also cutting back on the number of ebooks and audiobooks they can get for patrons as well as how long they can afford to offer them.

Panzer says, "This little kitty wonders if it's to publishers advantage to keep libraries from loaning the books to force patrons to buy the publishers' book to read it?"

Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a cup of cocoa and a chocolate chip cookie (biscuit) to read today's selection.

To read the post tootle over to Libraries and Ebook Publishers

Court Orders Amazon E-book Monopoly Lawsuit to Proceed - Publishers Weekly

This looks like it's going to go on for a long time.

Today, Panzer's trip into the Catosphere took him to the Publishers Weekly site. There our intrepid kitty traveler found a post about Amazon's ebook contracts with publishers.

 

According to Andrew Albanese's post, Judge Gregory Woods is allowing the class action lawsuit that accuses Amazon of monopolizing ebook sales and thereby setting ebook prices to continue. This lawsuit originally started in 2021. The post includes links to information from the original lawsuit and subsequent filings.

 

Panzer says, "This lawsuit is separate from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) lawsuit."

 

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

 

To read the post tootle over to Amazon E-book Monopoly Lawsuit

Amazon Removes the "Look Inside" Feature: Resistance is Futile - Anne R. Allen's Blog ... with Ruth Harris

Today Panzer made a trip to the Anne R. Allen's Blog ... with Ruth Harris site. With a little digging in the posts there, our traveling kitty boy found one about Amazon making changes.

 

Read the "Comments" too.

The post covers a wide range of topics from Amazon to Trolls to Cyborgs to Bullies. It's an interesting post that starts with Amazon's removal of the "Look Inside" feature and follows a trail that ends with technology (and those who control it) taking away our right to enjoy our experiences.

Panzer says, "Mom said you have to read it yourself because it's one of those pieces she thinks everybody will see something different in it."

 

Note: This is a very long post. Bring a cup of tea and a muffin for your snack while you read today's selection.

 

To read the post tootle over to Look Inside Button

Amazon Issues New AI Guidelines for Its KDP Platform - Publishers Weekly

Today, Panzer made a trip to the Publishers Weekly site. With no digging at all in the posts he found one about Amazon and AI content.

Think they'll tell the truth?

According to Jim Milliot's post, Amazon announced new guidelines in the KDP Community Forum for AI-generated books. The Forum is where authors can ask questions, get answers and learn about publishing at KDP. It's also one of the places Amazon makes publishing announcements. The post contains links, including one which goes to Amazon's announcement.

Panzer says, "This little kitty thinks, it looks like Amazon says, 'We'll ask you if your book is either partially or fully AI-generated'. We expect you to tell us the truth."

Note: This is a short-medium length post. Bring a glass of lemonade to drink while you read.

 

To read the post tootle over to Amazon AI Guidelines

 

Free StoryADay Podcast Episode: Amazon, AI and Author's Rights

My work is finished for today.

Panzer found this episode at Julie Duffy's StoryADay Podcast site. The episode contains information about Amazon and AI book scams he thought you might be interested in.

 

The podcast episode Amazon, AI and Author's Rights is on YouTube. In the "more" section below the episode you'll find a list of writers' advocacy groups. Below that list you'll see the episode is divided into four sections which are listed as "Chapters".  If a Chapter doesn't interest you, you can pick the ones which do.

 

 To listen to the podcast episode tootle over to Amazon and AI