Penguin Random House to Combine Offices in NYC, Saving $20M Annually - Book Business

Yesterday, Panzer told you about the latest sales and revenue figures reported by the the Big 5 in the traditional book publishing market. Today, in a post at the Book Business site our inquisitive kitty reporter found some interesting information about the cost saving measures that traditional publisher Penguin Random House is making.

He would share with me. Right?

In a post at the site by Ellen Harvey Panzer learned that after approval by the Board of Directors and shareholders Penguin Random House (PRH) CEO Marcus Dohle notified employees by memo of the consolidation of the company's two offices into one building. According to his memo the consolidation will save the company $20M. The post includes CEO Dohle's entire memo to employees.

Panzer says, "Hmmm ... Mom ... Let's share space to save money. And while we're on this closer together thing ... How about What's His Name shares his food dish with me too?"

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

To read the post about PRH's consolidation, tootle over to Penguin Random House

To read yesterday's post, tootle over to financial reports

What the Big 5's Financial Reports Reveal About the State of Traditional Book Publishing - Book Business

Today, Panzer found some interesting information at the Book Business site about the big five traditional publishing companies' financial reports.

According to the post by Thad Mcilroy, three of the Big 5, (Hachett, HarperCollins, and Simon and Schuster) had losses in sales over the same period last year, one (Macmillan) did not report their sales figures, and only one (Penguin Random House) had an increase. The post is a little confusing because it compares figures from different reporting periods for the companies. The end of the post speculates on which publishing companies might be candidates for mergers/takeovers.

Me...OW ... OW. My head hurts.

Panzer says, "Make sure you have an aspirin (or headache tablet). You'll need it by the time you finish the post."

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

To read the post, tootle over to Big 5

Retail sales up despite Brexit - The Bookseller

Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere today when he decided to make a stop at The Bookseller site. There he found a post about how retail sales are doing in the UK after the Brexit vote.

Sales look pretty good.

According to the post by Lisa Campbell, retail sales are up by 1.1 percent across the board even after the Brexit vote. All the way at the very end of the post we learn that UK print book sales for July 2016 are also up by 4.3 percent over July of last year. There is no mention of ebook sales figures.

Panzer says, "I guess we know where the retail market places the importance of print book sales ... at the very bottom of the list. ... And ebook sales ... no where."

Note: This is a short post. You won't even need a muffin for today's reading selection, just bring a cup of tea.

To read the post, tootle over to book sales

George R.R. Martin's "Wild Cards" in Development at Universal Cable Productions - Variety

Panzer's trip into the Catosphere today took him to the Variety site. There are our happy kitty traveler found some news about one of his favorite fantasy authors George R.R. Martin.

According to the post by Laura Prudom, Universal Cable Productions has bought the rights to George R.R. Martin's "Wild Cards". UCP will develop a new television series based on the "Wild Cards" books and stories. The "Wild Cards" volumes have been running since 1986 and total twenty-three, including one being published this month. There are "Wild Cards" books, stories, comics/graphic novels, and games. The post includes a link to Mr. Martin's original announcement about the arrangement with UCP.

Panzer says, "Just about the time the "Game of Thrones" series ends the "Wild Cards" series will begin."

I need a nap after that long trip.

Note: The Variety post is long and George R.R. Martin's post is extra long. Bring two thermoses of tea and a dozen muffins and a dozen cookies (biscuits) if you plan to read both of today's reading selections.

To read the post, tootle over to George R.R. Martin's Wild Cards

A New Panzerism

Panzer on human indecisiveness:

Mom is always saying, "Be a good kitty."

I wish she'd make up her mind.

Hurry up. I've got things to do.

Which is it?

Good?

or

Kitty? *


From Cat Wisdom for Humans

3 Facebook Changes You Need to Know About - dbw (Digital Book World)

Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere today just enjoy the quiet day. Our traveling kitty boy decided to make a quick stop at the dbw (Digital Book World) site. There he found some news about Facebook.

Don't let them out of your sight.

According to the post by Chris Syme, Facebook has made three changes that authors need to pay attention to. First, Facebook has changed their 20 percent text ad rule. What this means for authors is the more text in your ads, the higher the cost, and the lower the distribution. Second, Facebook has changed the Friends and Family rules. Authors need to ask their fans to "designate your page as one they want to 'See First'." And finally, third, Facebook has changed your page layout. It's not your imagination. Your page is different.

Panzer says, "Facebook must have gotten tired of changing your privacy settings and decided to confuse you by changing other stuff."

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

To read the post, tootle over to Facebook

Amazon Japan starts all-you-can-read service - The Japan News

A cat doesn't need a passport.

Panzer's trip in the Catosphere today took him to a site he's never visited before called The Japan News. Our multi-talented kitty found a post there about Amazon Japan.

According to the post, Amazon Japan has introduced the Kindle Unlimited Service. Introducing the service will make Japan the 12th country to join Amazon's all-you-can-read smorgasbord service. The service will include not only ebooks but magazines and manga as well.

Panzer says, "Hmmm ... Twelve countries ... Kindle Unlimited really is taking over the ebook world."

Note: This is a medium post. Bring a small thermos of tea and three muffins for today's reading selection.

To read the post, tootle over to Kindle Unlimited

Cursed Child Sales Top Two Million - PW (Publishers' Weekly)

On Panzer's trip into the Catosphere today he spent his time looking for news about J.K. Rowlings' new book, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Our traveling kitty told you about the country-wide bookstore parties for the book's launch and wanted any followup news he could find. Panzer found some good news and some bad news in his hunting.

In a post by Jim Milliot at the Publishers' Weekly site, our kitty reporter discovered the good news that the script for the stage play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child turned book of the same name had enormous sales. Over the two days after the launch night the book sold two million copies in the U.S. alone. The book hit #1 on Amazon. The post includes links to reviews of the book.

It makes me very sad.

Panzer discovered the bad news in a post by Maryann Yin at GalleyCat titled J. K. Rowing Declares Cursed Child to be the Final Harry Potter Story. According to Ms. Rowling, Harry Potter is being supplanted by a new generation and so there will be no more books about him . The post includes a link to the original interview.

Note: The two posts are medium length when combined. Bring a thermos of tea and six muffins for today's reading selections.

To read the post about Harry Potter and the Cursed Child's sales, tootle over to Cursed Child sales

To read the post about J. K. Rowling's interview, tootle over to final Harry Potter

To read Panzer's original post about the launch parties, tootle over to Harry Potter is back

The Long Game ... of Thrones - George R.R. Martin

Don't wake me until tomorrow.

Panzer spent today's trip into the Catosphere collecting news about George R.R. Martin's Game of Thrones. Our busy kitty reporter found three news posts for all Game of Thrones addicts like him.

Panzer's first stop was at George R.R. Martin's Not A Blog site. Yesterday, Monday, August 1, was the 20 year anniversary of the first publication of his Game of Thrones book. His publisher is putting out a new edition of the original Game of Thrones. The new edition will include illustrations.

Panzer's next stop was at The Hollywood Reporter site. There he found a post titled HBO Confirms "Game of Thrones" Will End With Season 8. The post by Lesley Goldberg says that HBO has not released any information except the end of the Game of Thrones series after season 8.

Panzer's final stop was at the GalleyCAT site. A little digging around and he found a post titled HBO's Game of Thrones Coloring Book. According to Dianna Dilworth, HBO has commissioned an adult coloring book containing 35 illustration from the television series.

Panzer says, "I'm going to take a long, long nap"

Note: These posts combined are very l-o-n-g. Bring a thermos of tea and a dozen muffins for today's reading selections.

To read the post about the 20 year anniversary edition of Game of Thrones, tootle over to Game of Thrones

To read the post about the end of the Game of Thrones series, tootle over to  Game of Thrones cancellation

To read the post about the new Game of Thrones coloring book, tootle over to coloring book

A New Panzerism

Panzer on keeping pets:

The three main reasons to keep pets:

1) Teaches responsibility;

One heartbeat away from the curb.

2) Teaches unselfishness;

3) Teaches cleanliness.

All true.

But mostly I just keep Mom around to feed me. Otherwise, I'd dump her in a heartbeat.*


*Reprint from Cat Wisdom for humans