2015 U.S. Book Publishing Revenue Flat: Print Sales Rise as Ebook Sales Decline - Book Business

Panzer was just tootling around in the Catosphere when the Panzermobile was buffeted and shaken by the sounds of crying and wailing. Our big brave kitty boy followed all the moaning to the Book Business site. There he found the source was a post about declining ebook sales.

Don't worry. It's just a craze.

According to the post by Ellen Harvey quoting from the Association of American Publishers' annual report, ebook sales comparing 2014 and 2015 are down. While that was happening, print book sales increased for the same time span. So what happened? For one thing, adult coloring books happened. Between the 2014 and 2015 time span is when the adult coloring book craze took off. Adult coloring books have to be printed books, so a jump in print book sales. The post includes charts  covering sales revenue and volume as well as genre breakdowns.

Panzer says, "So ... Adult coloring books are responsible for the turn around in print book sales. Humans are such an interesting species."

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

To read the post, tootle over to print sales

Amazon Extends Its Dominance with Audible Channels - Book Business

Panzer made a trip into the Catosphere today looking for news for you. Our kitty reporter stopped in at the Book Business site. After a little digging around, he found an interesting post about Amazon and their subsidiary Audible.

This definitely needs looking into.

Joe Wikert's post is about Audible's new Channels service. Panzer told you about Channels a few days ago. Mr. Wikert explains how useful the newspaper article feature can prove to be. It would be particularly beneficial for those who don't want to subscribe to a newspaper but still want the news articles. He also includes his evaluation of the original content feature and the podcast curation feature.

Panzer says, "Hmmm ... Maybe Channels is more than just a YouTube competitor."

Note: This is a longish post. You'll need a muffin and a cup of tea for today's reading selection.

To read the post, tootle over to Audible Channels

To read Panzer's original post, tootle over to Audible

A New Panzerism

Panzer on a cat's perspective:

What's His Name told Mom I'm having a rough day.

He said, if you wake up late, the whole day is out of synch.

And ...

He said today is like that for me.

So ...

He keeps waking me up saying I overslept.

Don't wake me. I'm busy.

He told me humans have this saying, "You snooze, you lose."

Well ...

I know that's just a big pile of stupid.

I get a lot more done when I'm sleeping than when I'm awake.

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

Audible Unveils Short Form Audio Streaming Service - PW

Panzer did a quick trip into the Catosphere today and went to the Publishers' Weekly site. After a little digging around there he found a post about Audible.

Amazon is everywhere.

According to the post by Shannon Maughan, Amazon's Audible has launched a new service called Channels. The service will have short selected newspaper content, lectures, and entertainment. There will not be audio books. Audible subscribers will get the service free of charge. Non-subscribers will be charged a monthly fee.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... Sounds a lot like YouTube with a fee to this kitty cat."

Note: This is a longish post. Bring a glass of lemonade and a muffin.

To read the post, tootle over to Audible

Amazon Is Quietly Elimiating List Prices - The New York Times

I'm still recovering from yesterday.

Panzer was just tootling around in the Catosphere when he heard oohing and aahing echoing around the Panzermobile. Following the sounds took our intrepid kitty hunter to The New York Times site. There he found a post about Amazon.

The post by David Streitfeld points out that for the past two months Amazon has been deleting the list price comparison from items sold on the site. According to the post, the list price is not and never has been the "true" price of the items. It's been a marketing ploy to make the items appear to be "on sale." Also, it's not just the Amazon products that are losing the list prices, but other sellers' items as well.

Panzer says, "It's about time they did away with that silly list price. You humans already knew that was a bogus price, right?"

Note: This is a l-o-n-g post. Bring a thermos of tea and half a dozen muffins for today's reading selection.

To read the post, tootle over to Amazon

Litsy App Brings Bookish Conversation to Life Online - Book Business

I need a nap. It's been a long day.

When Panzer woke from his afternoon nap he decided to finish cleaning out the Panzermobile. It's a good thing he did because he found another post under his pilot's seat. The post is from the Book Business site and is a followup to the Litsy post our adventuresome kitty told you about earlier today.

This new post is by Todd Lawton. Mr. Lawton is the co-founder of Litsy. He uses a question and answer format to explain the iOS app.  As Panzer told you earlier Litsy is for readers to engage in 300 character conversations about books. Mr. Lawson's post is geared more toward reasons for publishers to join the "conversations" on Litsy.

Panzer says, "Remember kittens ... This is a post by the co-founder of the app. It's more of a press release about the good points of the app rather than a non-biased post."

Note: This is a long post. Bring a thermos of tea and a sandwich for this reading selection.

To read the post, tootle over to Litsy app

To read Panzer's earlier post about Litsy, tootle over to Litsy

The Fascinating Work Habits of 18 Famous Writers - Galleycat

I like it clean inside and out.

Panzer was cleaning out the Panzermobile this afternoon. Our fastidious kitty discovered a post he found last week at GalleyCAT about famous writers.

The post by Dianna Dilworth includes an infographic about the strange habits of 18 famous writers while they wrote. You can read who wrote without clothes, who liked rotten apples and sixteen more weird writing habits.

Panzer says, "After reading this I don't feel so weird that no matter what the weather I write in a fur coat."

Note: This is a medium longish infograhic. Bring a cup of tea and a chocolate frosted muffin for today's selection.

To read the post, tootle over to work habits

New App,Litsy, Aims To Be The Instagram Of Books - PW

I'll be watching this one.

Panzer was enjoying tootling around in the Catosphere today when he decided to stop in at the Publishers' Weekly site. After doing a little digging around there, our inquisitive reporter kitty found a post about a new iOS app for book lovers.

According to the post by Ed Nawotka, the new app Litsy is for those who want to only talk about books. Posts must be 300 characters or less. Currently, there are 20,000 users including not just readers but writers and publishers as well .

Panzer says, "Hmm ... Well, 300 characters is better than a Twitter Tweet."

Note: This is a medium longish post. Bring a cup of iced tea and a muffin for today's selection.

To read the post, tootle over to Litsy

Happy Fourth of July

Happy Independence Day
from   Mom, Panzer and What's His Name