39 Writing Contests in August 2021 - No entry fee - Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity

 As Panzer was washing the windshield on the Panzermobile he found something under the wiper blade. Flattening it out, our fastidious kitty discovered it was a post about writing contests from the Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity site.

It's nap time now.

The post by Erica Verrillo lists 39 writing contests with deadlines in August. The contests are open to poetry, fiction and nonfiction submissions. Each contest has different rules, so be sure to check them before you submit your manuscript. None of the contests require an entry fee. The post includes links to all the contest sites.

 

Panzer says, "Be sure to check the deadlines too, because some of the deadlines are August 1 and August 2."

 

Note: This is a long post. Bring a big glass of iced tea and a muffin for today's reading. If you plan to follow the links in the post, you'll need to decide what else to bring.

 

To read the post tootle over to August writing contests

What Are ISBNs and Why Should I Care About Them? - Honest Indie Author

 Today, Panzer made a trip to the Honest Indie Author site. There our adventuresome kitty boy found a post about ISBNs.

 

In the post Debbi Mack gives a short description of ISBNs, why you might need them and where to purchase them. Amazon and most of the ebook sites don't require ISBNs, but you still might want to buy them. There's a link in the post to the ISBN purchase site.

For the U.S. only.

 

Panzer says, "ISBNs are for U.S. authors' hardbacks, paperbacks, ebooks, and audio books."

 

Note: Because of the illustrations this looks like a long post but it isn't. Bring a glass of lemonade for your reading time.

To read the post tootle over to ISBN

Shamus - The Rap Sheet

Today  Panzer made a quick trip to The Rap Sheet site. There he found a post about the Shamus Awards and Davitts Awards.

 

According to the post by J. Kingston Pierce, the Private Eye Writers of America have announced the Shamus Award winners. The Shamus Awards are given each year for P.I. novels and short stories. The Davitts have announced the list of nominees. The post contains links to both announcements.

I know some of the winners.

Panzer says, "The Private Eye Writers of America's newsletter says there was no venue available for the awards presentation at Bouchercon, so the Shamus Award winners announcement was made early."

Note: This is a long-short length post. Bring a small glass of iced tea for your reading. If you plan to follow the links, bring a big glass of iced tea and a muffin.

To read the post tootle over to Shamus Awards

23 Awesome Writing Conferences in August 2021 - Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity

In his travels in the Catosphere today Panzer stopped in at the Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity site. With a little digging in the posts there, our inquisitive kitty boy found one about writing conferences in August.

 

I know where I'll be in August.

The post by site owner Erica Verrillo contains information about twenty-three writing conferences held in August. Included in the post are conferences for fiction, nonfiction and poetry writers. Some of the conferences are online and some are in-person. There are links included to all the conference sites for more information and registration,

Panzer says, "Be sure to check the registration dates. Some on the list have already passed."

 

Note: This is a very long post. Bring a thermos of iced tea and two muffins for today's reading selection. If you plan to follow any of the links in the post, you'll need to decide what treat to bring.

 

To read the post tootle over to Writing Conferences in August

Raise Your Voice? - The Rap Sheet

Panzer was just lying down for his evening nap, when he heard clapping and cheering. Hopping in the Panzermobile our kitty pilot followed all the noise to The Rap Sheet site. There he found a post about Amazon Publishing.

It's a very short post by J. Kingston Pierce about the Amazon Publishing New Voices Award competition. The post includes a link to the rules.

Not many days left to enter.

Panzer says, "You better hurry. There's not much time left to submit."

Note: This is a very short post. You won't even need a glass of iced tea. If you follow the link, bring a glass of iced tea and a cookie.

To read the post tootle over to Amazon Publishing

A New Panzerism

 Panzer on board games:

I love playing checkers with Mom and What's His Name.

Especially that part where the noble jungle kitty sneaks through the tall carpet grass.

 

He waits patiently.

He slithers forward ...

and ...

You're free! Fly away!

pounces on the checker board where all the plastic pieces take flight ...

like ...

a herd of butterflies.

From Cat Wisdom for humans

Whitaker Takes Home Another Honor - The Rap Sheet

Panzer was cleaning out the glove box in the Panzermobile when he discovered a post from The Rap Sheet site about author Chris Whitaker.

 

Now ... Time for my nap.

According to the post by J. Kingston Pierce, Chris Whitaker's novel We Begin at the End has been named the Theakston Old Peculiar Crime Novel. There are links to other information about the award included in the post.

 

Panzer says, "You will want to follow the links to find out more about the award."

 

To read the post tootle over to Chris Whitaker

 

Canada's Access Copyright Foundation Announces Grants - Publishing Perspectives

Today, when Panzer was sweeping the floor mats in the Panzermobile, he found something wedged under the pilot's seat. Pulling it out, our fastidious kitty boy discovered it was a Publishing Perspectives post about the Access Copyright Foundation.

 

I want to keep my stuff clean.

According to the post by Porter Anderson, Canada's Access Copyright Foundation (ACF) announced the 2021 Professional Development Grant awards earlier this month. The post says $50,000 (Canadian dollars) were awarded. A list of the recipients is included in the post. The post also contains links to other information about the ACF and future application deadlines for other grants.

 

Panzer says, "Following the post about the ACF grants is one about Canada's Covid-19 cases and opening the Canada-US border."

 

Note: Because of the list of grant recipients this is a long post. Bring a large mug of iced tea and a muffin for today's reading selection.

 

To read the post tootle over to Canada's Access Copyright Foundation

Bad Contract Alert: ByteDance's Reading/Writing App - Writer Beware

Panzer was shaken from his afternoon nap by crying and the gnashing of teeth coming from the Catosphere. Our brave kitty boy hopped in the Panzermobile and headed out. Following all the chaos took him to the Writer Beware site. There he found a post about the newest contract writers need to avoid.

 

I'll have nightmares about this.

According to Victoria Strauss' post, there's a new readers' app looking for writers. The app is ByteDance's  Fictum. You might recognize ByteDance as TikTok's parent company. The post dissects Fictum's writers' contract. The contract states on the first tier writers are expected to produce 1,000 words per day per month. That's 30,000 words per month. For this, the writer will be paid $200 per month. In total the writer is to produce 200,000 words. The post points out other problems with the contract including cancellation clauses, royalty payment clauses, copyright clauses, right of first refusal for anything you write during the contract, and there's even more. There are several links to other posts included.

 

Panzer says, "Everybody says cats aren't good at math. ... But ... 30,000 words for $200 is only $0.01 per word, right?"

 

Note: This is a v-e-r-y l-o-n-g post. Bring a big glass of lemonade, three chocolate chip cookies (biscuits) and a brownie. If you plan to follow the links, you decide what to bring.

 

To read the post tootle over to bad contract

Reaching Readers at the Dollar Store - Publishers Weekly

Today, Panzer made a stop at the Publishers Weekly site. With a little digging in the posts, our inquisitive kitty found one about selling in dollar stores.

An interesting market idea.

According to the post by Karen Raugust, some of those books you see in dollar stores aren't remaindered books. They're actually books supplied by publishers. Dollar General, Dollar Tree, Five Below, and Family Dollar stores are all viable market places for new book sales. While the profit margins are lower, the opportunity for greater sales will make up for it. The post includes interviews with publishers and distributors. The sale of children's books is concentrated on.

Panzer says, "This little kitty didn't know those were new books."

Note: This is a very long post. Bring a thermos of iced tea and two muffins for your reading today.

To read the post tootle over to Dollar Store

The UK's Welbeck Publishing Group To Publish in Australia, New Zealand - Publishing Perspectives

 Today as Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere he suddenly heard clapping and cheering outside. Following all the hullabaloo took our traveling kitty pilot to the Publishing Perspectives site. With no digging at all he found a post about the Welbeck Publishing Group.

 

It sounds interesting.

According to the post by Porter Anderson, Welbeck Publishing Group announced the opening of a publishing subsidiary in Sydney, Australia. The company also announced Australia's Booktopia acquired twenty-five percent ownership in the new Australian publishing subsidiary. Plans are for the subsidiary to publish 50 books per year. The post includes links to other information about the companies.

 

Panzer says, "Hmm ... A whole new market for authors in Australia and New Zealand."

 

Note:This is a long-medium length post. Bring a large glass of lemonade, a chocolate chip cookie (biscuit) and a brownie for today's reading. If you plan to follow the links in the post, you decide what extra treats to bring.

 

To read the post tootle over to Welbeck Publishing Group

Celebrating 2019 and 2020 Agatha Nominated Best Short Stories - Writers Who Kill

Today's trip into the Catosphere took Panzer to the Writers Who Kill site. There our brave kitty boy found a post about the Agatha Awards for Best Short Stories.

Go away Covid-thingey. We're finished with you.

The post by Paula Gail Benson list the nominees and the winners of the 2019 and 2020 Agatha Awards. Also included in the post are seven author bios with photos. There are only seven included because some authors were nominees both years. Because of Covid-19 the 2019 and 2020 Malice Domestic conferences were held online.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... This little kitty recognizes most of the writers from the Short Mystery Fiction Society."

Note: This is a long-medium length post. Bring a glass of lemonade and two cookies (biscuits) for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Short Story Agatha Award

 

ITW Thriller Award Winners 2021 - Mystery Fanfare

Today, when Panzer got back from the Catosphere, our fastidious kitty boy decided to do some work on the Panzermobile. As he was cleaning out the wheel wells, he found a wadded up post stuck in there. Flattening it out, he discovered it was about the International Thriller Writers winners.

 

Finally ... Nap time ... zzzz

According to the post at the Mystery Fanfare site, the 2021 International Thriller Writers Awards have been announced. There are six awards covering best hardback novel, best first novel, best paperback novel, best short story, best young adult novel, and best ebook novel. All six winners are listed in the post.

 

Panzer says, "Even if I live to be twenty, I'll never finish my To-Be-Read pile."

 

Note: This is a short post. You won't need to bring anything to eat or drink when you read this post.

 

To read the post tootle over to ITW award winners

Joy Rides To Win - The Rap Sheet

 Panzer made a quick stop at The Rap Sheet site. There he discovered a post about the Hammett Prize.

 

How do you get nominated?

According to J. Kingston Pierce's post, David Joy's novel When These Mountains Burn has won the Hammett Prize. The Hammett is presented by the International Association of Crime Writers. The post contains links to reviews of the novel.

Panzer says, "Well ... that means there's another novel to go on my To-Be-Read pile."

 

Note: This is a short post. Bring a glass of iced tea for today's reading selections. If you plan to follow the links in the post, bring some cookies (biscuits).

To read the post tootle over to Hammett Award

A New Panzerism

 Panzer on the fairness of things:

At first it didn't seem right.

 What's His Name shouted and swatted me when I accidentally landed on his head in the middle of the night.

Then he said the punishment should equal the offense.

Now ...

Equal is fair.

 

I agree he's right.

So ...

He deserves what I left in his new slippers.

* From Cat Wisdom for humans

Book cover design tutorials (best art and fonts + photoshop tips) - CreativIndie

Panzer is on author Derek Murphy's email list. Before he began his writing career, Derek Murphy was a book cover designer. His email today includes a link to a series of tutorials he put together on book cover design. The tutorials demonstrate fonts, mood, character, background, lighting, magic, and typography. The tutorials are free to watch on YouTube.

Free is good. Double free is great.

 

Panzer says, "Don't worry if you don't have Photoshop. Gimp software works just like Photoshop and it's free."

 

To watch the tutorials tootle over to book cover design tutorials

Locked Room vs. Closed Circle Mysteries - What's the difference between these traditional mystery sub-genres - Something Is Going To Happen

Today Panzer made a trip to the Something Is Going To Happen site. There he found a post about the Locked Room mysteries and the Closed Circle mysteries. Something Is Going To Happen is the blog of the Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine.

 

No ghosts. Good. They're scary.

In her post Gigi Pandian explains the differences and overlaps of the Looked Room mystery and the Closed Circle mystery. Hint: Locked Room is a crime in a locked room that couldn't have happened. A Closed Circle is a specified number of people trapped in a location. She also explains what you can and cannot do in these types of mysteries. Hint: No ghosts or secret passages allowed.

 

Panzer says, "This is interesting information for both writers and readers."

 

Note: This is a long-medium length post. Bring a large glass of lemonade, two cookies (biscuits), and a brownie for today's reading selection.

 

To read the post tootle over to mystery sub-genres

Plaintiffs Oppose Discovery Delay in E-book Price Fixing Case Amazon - Publishers Weekly

Panzer's day began with a trip to the Publishers Weekly site. There our traveling kitty pilot found a post about one of the lawsuits against Amazon mentioned in the day before yesterday's post.

 

According to Andrew Albanese's post, the plaintiffs in the case against Amazon and the Big 5 publishers have asked the judge not to grant the company's request to delay the discovery phase. Amazon has filed to dismiss the case against the company and wants the discovery phase stopped until the dismissal is decided. The judge has not decided how to rule on the discovery question yet. The plaintiff's case accuses Amazon and the Big 5 publishers of price-fixing. This is based on the most favored nations clauses in the contracts between Amazon and the publishers. The post includes several links to other information about the case.

It is a waste of my nap time.

 

Panzer says, "Hmm ... A delay makes sense to this little kitty. If the company does the discovery now and the case gets dismissed, that's a lot of wasted time and money."

 

Note: This is a short-medium length post. Bring a large glass of iced tea for today's reading. If you plan to follow the links in the post, you will need to decide what to bring to eat and drink during your reading.

 

To read the post tootle over to Amazon

10 Amazon changes authors need to know about - Build Book Buzz

Today Panzer made a quick trip to the Build Book Buzz site. With some digging in the posts our speedy little kitty boy found one about changes Amazon has made that authors need to investigate.

 

The post by Rob Eagar explores the changes Amazon has made to Amazon ads, changes to Author Central and additions to KDP. In all, there are descriptions of 10 changes which authors need to be familiar with and use when appropriate. There are links to specific change areas included in the post.

My work is never finished.

 

Panzer says, "The first thing this little kitty is going to do is update his Amazon Author Central page."

 

Note: This is a long post. Bring a large glass of lemonade, two chocolate chip cookies and one brownie. If you plan to follow the links included in the post, you decide what else you want to bring.

 

To read the post tootle over to Amazon changes

 

 

 

A New Panzerism

 Panzer on training your human with unsheathed claws:

Sometimes What's His Name can just be too overly helpful.

 

Mom says he means well and maybe she's right

But ...

I'm a cat.

I don't need help from anybody.

So ...

Get this Mr. What's His Name ...

That's what my tongue is for.

 

Next time you think I need a bath ...

I'll do it myself.

We'll both be happier.

From Cat Wisdom for humans

No Post

No post today.

 

Panzer went to the vet for his vaccinations.

He doesn't feel well, so we're taking the day off to rest.

CWA Dagger Award Winners 2021 - Mystery Fanfare

 Today Panzer made a stop at the Mystery Fanfare site. With a little digging in the posts our inquisitive kitty found one about the Crime Writers Association's Dagger Awards

 

Those daggers are sharp.

According to site owner Janet Rudolph's post, the Dagger Awards winners were announced July 1 by the UK's Crime Writers Association (CWA) There were eleven Daggers awarded for novels by authors both new and old, for short stories, for publishers, for translations, for libraries, and for lifetime achievement. The post includes a link to the CWA site where you can download the press release.

 

Panzer says, "It must have taken a lot of reading to get it down to one winner in each category."

 

Note: This is a short-medium length post. Bring a glass of lemonade for today's reading.

 

To read the post tootle over to CWA

2021 Workshops and Conferences July to August - Blood Red Pencil

Panzer's trip into the Catosphere today was a quick one. Our speedy kitty boy went to the Blood Red Pencil site. There he found a post about July and August writers' workshops and conferences.

 

Hmm ... Mom says trouble is my middle name.

The post lists eighteen writers' workshops and conferences. Some are online and some are not. Some are for mystery writers and some are not. Some are free and some are not.

Panzer says, "Sorry we don't have a lot of information about the workshops and conferences for you here. Mom read the left-hand sidebar at the Blood Red Pencil and it says if we say too much about what's listed at the site we'll get in trouble."

 

Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a glass of lemonade and a muffin for today's reading selection. If you plan to follow some of the links in the list, you'll need to decide what you want to bring for while you read.

 

To read the post tootle over to workshops and conferences

Hank Phillippi Ryan to Host Mystery Interview Series - Publishers Weekly

Today Panzer made a quick trip to the Publishers Weekly site. There he found a News Brief (press release) about the A Mighty Blaze site.

 

According to the news release A Mighty Blaze's Mighty Mystery page will now feature Hank Phillippi Ryan interviewing mystery authors. The first interview will be posted on July 13. The post includes links to A Mighty Blaze website, the A Mighty Blaze Facebook page and one to author interviewee T.J. Newman's book.

This post is longer than the release.

 Panzer says, "I know what this little kitty will be doing next Tuesday."

 

Note: This is a press release so it's so short you won't even need a glass of iced tea. If you plan to follow the links, however, you'll need a glass of iced tea, two chocolate chip cookies (biscuits) and a brownie.

 

To read the press release tootle over to Mystery Interviews

A New Panzerism

 Panzer on human indecisiveness:

Mom is always saying be a good kitty.

I wish she'd make up her mind.

Which is it:

Really. You can't have both.

good ... 

or ...

Kitty?

* From Cat Wisdom for humans

July 4th

 Happy Independence Day!

From Panzer, Mom and What's His Name

Germany's Bookwire in Distribution Deal with Spain's Editorial Planeta - Publishing Perspectives

Today as Panzer washing the wind screen on the Panzermobile he found a post stuck under the wiper blade. Pulling it out, our fastidious kitty discovered it was a post from the Publishing Perspectives site about Bookwire.

 

Now for a little nap.

According to Porter Anderson's post, Bookwire has entered into an agreement with Editorial Planeta. According to terms of the agreement Bookwire will distribute 30,000 ebooks and 1,200 audio books to the Spanish-language market. There are links to information about Bookwire, Editorial Planeta and Bookwire's OS platform included in the post.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... Interesting. The post lists Amazon and Kobo as two of the places they'll distribute to."

 

Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a glass of iced tea and two chocolate chip cookies for today's reading selection.

 

To read the post tootle over to Germany's Bookwire

Things I Wish I Knew About Being an Author I Didn't Know Before by MK Scott - Writers Who Kill

 Panzer found this post for your weekend reading entertainment.

 

Enjoy your weekend.

It's to help you understand what writers go through.

 

(If you've read Mom's author bio at Amazon, you'll recognize some of these things.)

To read the post tootle over to Things I Wish I Knew

The Whys and Hows of Novel Translations - Fiction University

Today Panzer decided to stop in at the Fiction University site. With a little digging in the posts there, our traveling kitty pilot found one about book translations.

 

I'll definitely look into this.

The post by Ariel Tachna at Janice Hardy's Fiction University covers the Why, What, and How of novel translations. It includes information about traditionally published novels and indie published novels.

Panzer says, "There's no information about translation from human speak to kitty speak; but I can help you with that."

Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a glass of lemonade for today's reading selection.

 

To read the post tootle over to Novel Translations