Libro.fm Launches In-App Direct Purchase, Member Signup - Publishers Weekly

I expected this. Did you?

Panzer found a news release by Libro-fm on the Publishers Weekly site.

According to the release, Libro.fm now allows app users to make purchases outside Apple.

 

 Note: This is a short news release. You won't have time to snack on anything while you read this.

 

To read the release tootle over to Libro.fm

Introducing the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association - SFWA Site

Good move.

If you've followed your favorite kitty boy for a while now, you know he likes dragons and unicorns and sf/f conventions. So it's no surprise he made a stop at the SFWA (Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America) site today.

 

According to the SFWA's landing page, the organization changed it's name to Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association. Since the organization also has members in countries other than the U.S., the name change is appropriate.The membership guidelines have also been changed.

 

To read the post tootle over to Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association

CWA Opens Membership to Self-Published Authors - CWA

As Panzer was tootling around in the  Catosphere today, he heard clapping and cheering outside the Panzermobile. Following all the happy noise took him to the Crime Writers' Association's CWA site. There with no digging at all he found a post about a membership change.

 

It's about time.

The post explains the Crime Writers' Association's (CWA) membership change. After a vote by CWA members which passed by 85 percent, self-published authors will now be accepted as members. Self-published authors can apply for membership beginning September 13.

 
Panzer says, "Another writers' organization joins the ranks and is accepting self-published authors."

 

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

 

To read the post tootle over to CWA membership

Walmart unveils Walmart+, its Amazon Prime competitor that costs $98/year and will launch Sept. 15 - GeekWire

Panzer made a quick trip to the GeekWire site today. There our speedy kitty found a post about Walmart's new membership program.

This might be interesting.

According to the post by Taylor Soper, Walmart has announced a new membership program called Walmart+. The new program is available for $98.00 per year or $12.95 per month. Walmart+ gives free delivery for your online purchases. There is a $35.00 minimum order requirement however. There is a 15 day free trial period available. The post contains a link to Walmart's post about the new program. Walmart's post has more information about the program benefits.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... If you really think about it you'll see it's not really a competition. Amazon Prime is a lot more than just free delivery."

Note: This is a long-short length post. Bring a half a cup of tea for today's reading selection. If you plan to read Walmart's post about the new program, bring another half a cup of tea.

To read the post tootle over to Walmart+

RWA Retires RITA Awards, Debutes the 'Vivian' After a Winter of Controversy - Publishers Weekly

As Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere today the Panzermobile was shaken violently by crying and clapping coming from outside. Following all the hullabaloo took our confused kitty boy to the Publishers Weekly site. There he found a post about the Romance Writers of America (RWA) that was what was causing all the noise. Panzer told you earlier this year (and last year) about all the problems the Romance Writers of America has been having with the RITA Awards, the membership and the previous Board of Directors resignations.

I really hate the water.

According to the post by John Maher, the Romance Writers of America (RWA) has done away with the RITA Awards and replaced it with the Vivian Awards. The new Vivian Award is named after Vivian Stevens. Vivian Stevens was RWA's founder. There will be new rules and new training for the judges for the awards to 'ensure the Vivian is inclusive, equitable, and accessible.' There's a link to the site where the new information will be posted after it's voted on by the Board included in the post.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... Now we'll see if this new award can help calm the waters in the RWA Tsunami."

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

To read the post tootle over to RWA Rita Awards
To read Panzer's previous post about the RWA tootle over to Romance Writers of America

Plot Twist: Romance Writers of America - Indies Unlimited

Today Panzer made a stop at the Indies Unlimited site. With no digging at all in the posts our inquisitive kitty found one about the on-going battle at the Romance Writers of America group. Panzer told you about the suspension and banning of author Courtney Milan a few weeks ago.

According to Lynn Cantwell's post, the investigation that led up to the membership suspension and ban from ever holding an office in the Romance Writers of America (RWA) by Courtney Milan is still roiling the group. Chinese-American author Courtney Milan wrote twitter posts about a book by Kathryn Lynn Davis which Ms. Milan felt was an unfair representation of Chinese women. Ms. Davis filed a complaint with the RWA against Milan. (Davis's publisher filed a second complaint.) The RWA set up a secret ethics committee, did a secret investigation of the situation and then the Board suspended and banned Milan. The post contains links to other information about the suspension and ban which will help you get a full understanding of the situation.

So ... No free speech allowed in RWA?

Panzer says, "This was the first time this little kitty read it was a secret ethics committee."

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 links in the post, bring a gallon of tea and two dozen muffins. If you plan to read Panzer's previous post (and follow his links), bring a quart of tea and six more muffins.

To read the post tootle over to Romance Writers of America
To read Panzer's previous post about the RWA tootle over to leadership resigns

After Changes, the Nobel Prize for Literature Returns - Publishers Weekly

Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere when he heard clapping and cheering. Following all the hoopla took our brave kitty boy to the Publishers Weekly site. There with hardly any digging at all he found a post about the Nobel Prize for Literature.

Glad it's back. It's an important prize.

According to Calvin Reid, after a one year hiatus the Nobel Prize for Literature is back. This fall the Nobel Prize for Literature will be awarded for 2018 (the year skipped) and 2019. Changes have now been made to the voting process, the membership rules and the rules to address possible criminal allegations. The post contains information about these changes and others that have been implemented.

Panzer says, "This little kitty was wondering how long it would be before the Nobel Prize for Literature came back."

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

To read the post tootle over to Nobel Prize for Literature

Amazon is raising the price of Prime monthly memsberships by nearly 20 percent - recode

Panzer was cleaning out the Panzermobile when he saw something sticking out from under the mat on the passenger side. Pulling it out he discovered it was a post from the recode site about Amazon Prime.

That's a big price increase.

According to Jason Del Rey, Amazon is raising the price of the monthly payment option fee for a Prime membership. The price since inception has been $10.99 per month, but is now jumping to $12.99 per month. The new payment amount will raise the monthly payment plan "annual membership fee" equivalent to $156.00, while the regular one time annual membership fee will remain at $99.00. Prime gives users free shipping on select products and select streaming programs.

Panzer says, "Umm ... So, if you can't afford the full annual membership fee at one time, Amazon will just increase the monthly charge to make it even harder to pay."

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

To read the post tootle over to Amazon Prime

Audible Launches Dedicated Romance Service - Publishers Weekly

It's only the first day and I'm so tired.

Today is the beginning of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), so Panzer got a late start into the Catosphere. Our sleepy little kitty boy made a quick trip to the Publishers Weekly site. There he found a post about Amazon's Audible.

According to the post by Shannon Maughan, Audible, Amazon's audio book arm, has added a new membership category called Audible Romance. A membership in Audible Romance is $14.95 per month. If, however, you already have a regular Audible membership, it's only an additional $6.95 per month to add the new service. Listeners will be able to choose their romance audio books based on a Steaminess Score. There are stages to the score starting with Sweet and getting hotter from there.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... Does Audible have an Audible Mystery category? ... And ... Do they have a Dead Villain Score?"

Note: This is a longish post. Bring half a thermos of cocoa and two muffins for today's reading selection.

To read the post, tootle over to Audible Romance