Fiona L. Woods's Blog, page 118

Amazon Sues Scammers Targeting Authors - Publishers Weekly

As Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere he heard clapping and cheering outside the Panzermobile. Following all the noise took him to the Publishers Weekly site. There our intrepid kitty traveler found a post about Amazon was causing the hoopla.
  Not smart at all.
According to Andrew Albanese's post, last month Amazon filed a lawsuit against a group which scams authors into believing they're dealing with Amazon's websites and representatives. The victims think they're paying Amazon for publishing services, but, instead, they get either nothing for their money or worthless junk..
Panzer says, "The scammers should know you don't mess with Amazon."
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 Amazon Sues Scammers

Your Monday Panzerism

 Panzer on ownership:  Finders keepers. It's yours.*
Why are you telling me there's a mouse in the kitchen? You saw it first. Seriously ... It's okay. You can have it.    *From Cat Wisdom for humans

Your Free Sunday Jigsaw Puzzle: Peek-a-Boo

HintHere's your Sunday jigsaw puzzle.
As always, remember at the puzzle site to click the square in the lower left corner to see the finished puzzle.
Have fun!
To do the puzzle tootle over to Peek-a-Boo

Your Free Saturday Classic Sci Fi Movie: Phantom From Space

A short nap. Then popcorn.
For those of you who like sci fi movies Panzer found one on the Broken Trout channel on YouTube.
The vintage 1953 movie Phantom From Space is in black and white. It's 1 hour 12 minutes long.
Make some popcorn and enjoy the movie.
To watch the movie tootle over to Phantom From Space

Free Mystery Podcast: MysteryRat's Maze Podcast - When A Prank Goes Bad

Ready for the time change?
Today, Panzer is taking you to the Mysteryrat's Maze Podcast.
 The podcast episode When A Prank Goes Bad is written by Frank R. Clark and narrated by Theodore Fox. It's 8+ minutes long including the intro and exit..
 As always the episode is free for your listening.
This is a Halloween themed episode.  Enjoy!
To listen to the episode tootle over to MysteryRat's Maze

Free Post Apocalyptic Dystopian Audiobook: Addict of the Wasteland

Nap time.
For those of you who like dystopian audiobooks Panzer has one for you.
 The Addict of the Wasteland is written by sff author Jon Cronshaw. It's a novella and 1 hour long.
 As always with all Panzer's treasures, it's free for your listening.
To listen to he audiobook tootle over to Addict of the Wasteland

Free Amish Romance Audiobook: The Amish Bachelor

Remember the cookies.
Today Panzer thought you might like a clean Amish romance audiobook to listen to.
 The audiobook The Amish Bachelor is written by Samantha Price. It's part of the seven book series about seven brother. It's 3 hours 13 minutes long.
 Make a cup of hot cocoa, snuggle up in a warm blanket and enjoy the romance.

To listen to the audiobook tootle over to The Amish Bachelor

Free Self Publishing With Dale Podcast: Huge News: KDP Publishing Audiobooks???

It's Friday.
Panzer thought you might like to watch a podcast about Amazon and AI narrated audiobooks. He told you about Amazon's beta test of AI narrated audiobooks earlier this week.
Dale L. Roberts' podcast episode is 32 minutes long. It covers not only Amazon's original announcement, but his speculation about what the future might be for Amazon's audiobooks market.
Enjoy!

To watch the video tootle over to KDP and AI Audiobooks

London: Top Publishing Organizations on AI Protection - Publishing Perspectives

We need to watch what happens.
Today's trip into the Catosphere took Panzer to the Publishing Perspectives site. With just a tiny bit of digging in the posts he found one by Porter Anderson about AI's place in publishing.
The post describes what the UK's Publishers Association, the Society of Authors, the Association of Authors and Agents, and the Authors Licensing and Collecting Society have said in a statement explaining their position on the use of AI in publishing. The post includes the statement as well as links to other information on each group.
 Panzer says, "Here's what this little kitty thinks it says: AI can't think, feel and create on its own like a human can. So, no it can't write books. Only humans can write books."
Note: This is a long post because it includes the statement. Bring a cup of tea and a chocolate chip cookie (biscuit) to snack on while you read.
 To read the post tootle over to On AI Protection

Kindle Direct Publishing Will Beta Virtual Voice-Narrated Audiobooks - Publishers Weekly

How many voices will there be?
Today Panzer was shaken from his nap in his kitty bed by loud ooohing and aaahing and "It's about time," coming from the Catosphere. Hopping in the Panzermobile, our brave kitty boy followed all the noise to the Publishers Weekly site. There he discovered a post about Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) audiobooks. According to the post, KDP announced in the Kindle Direct Publishing Community Forum they will begin beta testing virtual voice narrated audiobooks. (That means AI-narrated audiobooks.) The books chosen for the beta testing will be by invitation only. The post includes a link to the Community Forum announcement.
  Panzer says, "Interesting. ... Google has been letting authors do AI narrated books for several months now."
 
 Note: This is a short post as is the announcement at the Community Forum. Bring a cup of tea for your reading today.
 To read the post tootle over to KDP virtual voice audiobooks