2026 Derringer Award Finalists - Short Mystery Fictioin Society Blog

Recognize anyone on the lists?

At his stop at the Short Mystery Fiction Society Blog Panzer discovered a post with the newly announced finalists for the SMFS Derringer Awards.

 

There are five categories for the Derringers. The categories are Best Flash Fiction, Best Short Story, Best Long Story, Best Novelette and Best Anthology.

 

The winners will be announced May 1.

 

To read the list of the finalists tootle over to 2026 Derringers Finalists 

 

 

Does the "Shy Girl" AI Accusation Mean Writers Should Stop Using the Em Dash? - Anne R. Allen's Blog ... with Ruth Harris

AI fights give me a headache.

Here's a helpful post for writers wondering about AI generated material Panzer found on the Anne R. Allen's Blog ... with Ruth Harris site.

  

Anne R. Allen's post brings up interesting points authors face with their writing in today's AI fiction generated world. Included in the post are links to other information about accusations of AI generated fiction.

 

Panzer says, "This little kitty wants to know: What's that Em Dash thingy everybody is talking about and how do you make one?"

  

Note: This is a long post. Bring a cup of hot chocolate and four chocolate chip cookies (biscuits) for today's snack.

 

To read the post tootle over to AI Accusation 

Harlequin to Co-Produce AI-Generated 'Microdramas' - Publishers Weekly

 

I want to see one.

Panzer's last stop in the Catosphere today was at the Publishers Weekly site.

 

There he found a post by Sam Spratford about romance publisher Harlequin's announcement of its jump into AI-generated content in the form of Microdramas.

 

Panzer says, "Hmm ... One company bans AI-generated content and another embraces it."

 

Note:This is a long-medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and two chocolate chip cookies (biscuits) to snack on.

 

To read the post tootle over to Harlequin 

Wikipedia bans AI-generated content in its online encyclopedia -TheGuardian

I didn't know it was an issue.

Panzer's next stop in the Catosphere was at The Guardian site. With a tiny bit of digging in the posts our inquisitive kitty boy found one about Wikipedia.

 

According to the post by Oliver Milman, Wikipedia has banned AI material from the site. Included in the post are links to other information.

 

Panzer  says, "When you go to the site, that's not a pay wall you see first. Click the down arrow on the right to read the post."

 

Note: This is a short medium length post. Bring a cup of tea to drink.

 

To read the post tootle over to Wikipedia Bans AI 

74 Calls for Submissions in April 2026 - Paying markets - Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity

74 markets? Wow!

Panzer's first stop in the Catosphere today was at the Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity site.

 

There he found Erica Verrillo has a list of 74 markets accepting fiction (long and short), nonfiction and poetry submissions. Some of the markets have a deadline of April 1 and some open for submissions April 1.

 

Panzer says, "Always read the guidelines before you submit."

 

Note: Because there are 74 markets listed, this is a very long post. You'll need to decide what to bring to snack on while you study the markets. 

 

To read the post tootle over to Calls for Submissions

A Panzerism

Did you pay the bill yet?*

Panzer on the look of innocence:

 

Oh. Your credit card bill came today?

 

Who joined the Catnip of the Month Club?

 

 Hmmm ...

 

How would I know?

 

 

 

*From Cat Wisdom for humans 

Puzzle: Double Trouble

Hint

Here's today's new jigsaw puzzle.

 

At the puzzle site at any time you can click the square in the lower left corner to see the finished puzzle.

 

Have fun!

 

To do the puzzle tootle over to Double Trouble

Free to Watch Classic Mystery Movie: The Old Dark House

Don't know who he is? Google him.

If you like spooky classic movies, Panzer found this one on the BlimeyTV/Restored Classic Movies channel on Youtube.

 

The Old Dark House is a 1932 black and white horror movie starring Boris Karloff. It's 1 hour 11 minutes long.

 

Make a pizza, grab your favorite beverage and enjoy the movie.

 

To watch the movie tootle over to Classic Movie 

Free to Listen Raomantasy Audiobook: The Clock Keeper

Short trip today. I'll find your movie next.

Here's a time travel romantasy Panzer found on the author's channel on Youtube.

 

The Clock Keeper is written by Melissa Delport. It's 8 hours 37 minutes long. 

 

To listen to the audiobook tootle over to Romantasy Audiobook 

Free to Listen Mail Order Bride Audiobook Clean Romance: The Rancher's Temporary Wife

I'm finished for the day.

Panzer found this mail order bride audiobook on the author's channel on Youtube.

 

The Rancher's Temporary Wife is written by Shelfie Bennett. It's 3 hours 25 minutes long.

 

To listen to the audiobookt tootle over to Mail-Order Bride Romance