McIlvanney Prize 2021 Short List Announced - Bloody Scotland

Now for my afternoon nap.

Today Panzer discovered Bloody Scotland has announced the five finalists for the McIlvanney Prize. The winner will be announced on September 17. 

 

Tickets to the announcement of the winner will be for either in-person or the online broadcast. 

 

Tickets to attend either are free and a link to get tickets is included in the announcement post.

 

A couple of weeks ago Panzer told you about the program for this year's Bloody Scotland and how to get tickets for the program.

To read the post about the nominees tootle over to McIlvanney Prize shortlist

To read Panzer's previous post tootle over to Bloody Scotland Programme

Ingram Warns of 4th-Quarter Suppy Chain Disruptions - Shelf Awareness

 Today's trip into the Catosphere took Panzer to the Shelf Awareness site. There our intrepid kitty traveler found a post about Ingram Content Group.

 

According to the post, Ingram Content Group is predicting supply chain problems and cost increases for the publishing industry this holiday season. Ingram is also expecting warehouse and transportation problems. All these problems will cause slower deliveries.

 

Another ruined Christmas?

Panzer says, "This little kitty thinks you need to get your holiday books ready now, so you don't get caught in the Covid-19 storm in December."

 

Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and a brownie (everything feels better with chocolate) for today's reading.

 

To read the post tootle over to Ingram

36 Writing Contests in September 2021 - Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity

As Panzer was cleaning out the glove box in the Panzermobile he discovered a folded up post in there. Flattening it out, he found it was a post from the Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity site about 36 writing contests in September.

 

According to Erica Verrillo's post none of the 36 writing contests have an entry fee. There are contests for poetry, nonfiction and fiction. There are novel competitions included as well.

Some tight deadlines here.

Panzer says, "Always check the deadline dates and the rules."

 

Note: This is a long post. Only you know how many of these contests you'll be interested in so only you can decide what treats to bring.

 

To read the post tootle over to writing contests

A New Panzerism

 Panzer on cat behavior:

Get it? *

Humans wonder why cats run around with their tails straight up and bushed out in the air.

Well ...

You got a better way of checking the catmospheric conditions?

* From Cat Wisdom for humans

Bouchercon 2021 Free Presentations

Although due to the Covid-19 pandemic Bouchercon was cancelled this year, Panzer found two free presentation that were done via Zoom and posted online at YouTube.

The first is titled James Lee Burke and Alafair Burke in Conversation. 

The second is titled The Thrill of the Short Story: Video Panel

Free is good.

The Anthony Awards presentation will also be free and on Zoom at 4:00 pm today and posted at the same YouTube channel as the James Lee Burke and Alafair Burke presentation.

Panzer says, "Check your time zone to watch the Awards live."

To watch the James Lee Burke and Alafair Burke Zoom tootle over to Conversation

To watch The Thrill of the Short Story tootle over to Short Story Panel

Barnes & Noble Climbs Back - Publishers Weekly

Today's trip into the Catosphere took Panzer to the Publishers Weekly site. There he found a post about Barnes and Noble bookstores.

 

Everybody loves books.

According to the post by Jim Milliot, Barnes and Noble is making a comeback after the Covid-19 pandemic. Total store sales are up 5 percent this year over 2019. CEO James Daunt has given store managers more control over book ordering, returns, and book placement within the stores. Barnes and Noble continues closing under-performing stores. CEO Daunt foresees Nook sales increasing this year too.

Panzer says, "I'm glad B&N will continue the Nook."

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

To read the post tootle over to Barnes and Noble

24 Superb Writing Conferences in September 2021 - Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity

Panzer was eating his dinner when it was interrupted by oohhing and aahhing coming from the Catosphere. Using the Panzermobile, he followed all the noise to the Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity site. There he found a post about writers conferences in September.

 

Found this just for you.

Erica Verrillo's post contains information about 24 writing conferences in September. Included in the post are poetry, fiction and nonfiction conferences. Some conferences are in-person, some are online and some are a combination of both. Each conference description includes a link to more information about costs.

 

Panzer says, "Be sure and read all the information because at least one of the conferences is already closed."

 

Note: This is a long, long, long post. Depending on which conferences you want to read the information about, you'll need to decide what you want to bring and eat while you read.

 

To read the post tootle over to writing conferences

Pulling Out the Macavitys - The Rap Sheet

Panzer was shaken from his noon nap by clapping and cheering coming from the Catosphere. Dragging his poor tired little kitty body into the pilot's seat of the Panzermobile, he headed into the Catosphere. Following all the jocularity took him to The Rap Sheet site. There he discovered all the noise was for the announcement of the Macavity Award winners.

 

J. Kingston Pierce's post lists the winner and the fellow-nominees in each Macavity category. The categories are for novel, first novel, short story, biography, and the historical. Mystery Readers International subscribers and friends nominate and then vote for the winner in each category.

 

Mom should subscribe and vote.

Panzer says, "So ... It's kind of like the readers' favorite award?"

Note: This is a long-short length post. Bring a glass of iced tea for today's reading selection.

 

To read the post about the Macavity winners tootle over to Macavitys

Amazon is About to Shut Down Their Excuse for Charging Kindle eBook Delivery Fees - Nate Hoffelder

Today, Panzer made a trip to Nate Hoffelder's site. There with a little digging in the posts our inquisitive kitty boy found one about Amazon's 3G Kindle's demise in December. Panzer told you in a post earlier this month about the shutting down of 3G in December.

 

According to the post by Nate Hoffelder, the fee Amazon has been charging authors and publishers for ebook delivery was instituted in 2010 so Amazon could recoup the costs of using 3G. With 3G disappearing in December Nate Hoffelder makes the argument there should be no reason for Amazon to continue to charge the delivery fee. Amazon, however, has made no mention of removing the fee. There's a link included in the post which will take you to a Verge post about Amazon's announcement.

 

What can we do about it?

Panzer says, "This little kitty didn't know the delivery fee was connected to 3G."

 

Note: This is a long-short length post. Bring a small glass of lemonade for today's reading selection. If you plan to read Panzer's previous post and follow the link in that post, bring another glass of lemonade and a muffin.

 

To read the post tootle over to delivery fees

To read Panzer post about the 3G Kindles tootle over to Amazons Kindles

SF Author W. Bradford Smith Fund Raiser

Those of you who follow this blog regularly know we usually cover black cats, indie publishing, writing, and humor in our posts.. 

 

This post will be a little different.

 

SF author W. Bradford Smith (aka Orrin Jason Bradford) is battling cancer. Because the alternative treatment he's receiving isn't covered by his insurance, he has to pay for it himself. A GoFundMe page has been set up to raise money to help cover his medical expenses.

 

Your Tweets, Facebook and Blog posts will help too.

He also has a site set up where you can purchase his ebooks directly from him, if you're more comfortable with that instead of GoFundMe. He also has other ways to donate available on that page.

 

To read about how he's progressing with the treatments and to pledge tootle over to GoFundMe

 

To read about other ways besides GoFundMe to help finance his treatments tootle over to contribute

 

 

 

 

 

A New Panzerism

 Panzer on observable truths:

There is an ancient cat proverb that I just made up:

To catch a bird requires stealth.

For his dog-sized brain.

Meanwhile ...

The dog next door is running around yapping at birds flying over his house.

I fear he needs help ...

A Cat Led A Rescue Team To An 83-Year-Old Woman Who Had Fallen Down A Ravine - NPR

Today Panzer's lunch was interrupted by clapping and cheering coming from the Catosphere. Hopping in the Panzermobile, he followed all the joyous noise to the NPR site. With just a little digging in the posts there, he found one about a cat in Cornwall, England, that saved his human.

He's my cousin.

The post by Josie Fischels says the cat was meowing and meowing and meowing at the location where his human had fallen down a ravine. A neighbor investigated and then called a rescue team to help the woman.

Panzer says, "It was, of course, a black cat that saved the woman."

Note: This is a short-medium length post. A small glass of iced tea will be enough for today's reading. A tip of the fedora to The Conscious Cat site for the original link.

To read the NPR post about Piran the hero cat tootle over to black cat hero

Forming an Entity: When Should Authors Create an LLC or S Corp? - Authors Guild

On today's trip into the Catosphere Panzer found an interesting video about when, why and if authors need to form an LLC or an S Corp.

 

Guess I'm not ready for either.

The video is part of the Authors Guild's Money Matters seminar series. It's moderated by Erin Lowry with entertainment associate Daniel Sheerin and accountant Robert Pesce.

 

Including questions and answers at the end, the video is almost an hour long. It's available for viewing at the Authors Guild site or on YouTube.

 

To watch the video tootle over to LLC or S Corp

Publishers Blast Internet Archive's 'Extraordinary' Demand for Sales Data - Publishers Weekly

Today, Panzer made  a stop at the Publishers Weekly site. With a little digging in the posts he found one about the ongoing court case against the Internet Archive. Panzer already told about the case earlier this year.

 

A waste of time and money.

According to the post by Andrew Albanese, the lawyers for the publishers suing the Internet Archive (IA) for copyright infringement have filed a response to IA's lawyers' demand for 10 years of monthly book sales data from the publishers. The lawsuit against IA for copyright infringement is because IA takes hardcover books, scans them and then "loans" the "ebooks" to people and also gives copies to libraries. IA says they need the 10 years of monthly sales data to prove they're not harming publishers' books sales by what they're doing. The publishers' lawyers say gathering 10 years of monthly sales data is extraordinary and unwarranted and has never been allowed in a lawsuit before. They also say the sales data has nothing to do with the case.

 

Panzer says, "Hmm ... Internet Archive wants 10 years of monthly sales data on 500,000 books? Maybe the judge should order IA to pay for the cost of gathering all that data."

 

Note: "This is a long post. Bring a quart of lemonade, two chocolate chip cookies (biscuits) and a brownie for today's reading. If you plan to follow the links in the post, bring a gallon of lemonade, a baker's dozen chocolate chip cookies (biscuits), six brownies, and a sleeping bag for a nap in the middle.

 

To read the post tootle over to Internet Archive

To read Panzer previous post tootle over to 10 years of sales data 

Bloody Scotland Programme

Today, Panzer made a trip to the Bloody Scotland site. There our brave kitty boy found information about this year's Bloody Scotland International Crime Writing Festival.

 

It will be recorded to watch until September 30.

According to the announcement on the site, the authors attending both in-person and online have been announced. Kathy Reichs, Stephen King, Ian Rankin, and Val McDermid and others are scheduled to be presenters. The festival will run September 17 - 19. "Tickets" are available now. Since this will be a hybrid event, tickets can be purchased individually for the different events or for sections of the events. Ticket prices are listed at the bottom of the landing page. If you want to see the different presentations are, click the Events button at the top of the post and that will take you to the page which lists the location, day and time of the different presentations.

 

Panzer says, "Now, this little kitty needs to get Mom to convert pounds into dollars and dollars into kitty kibble for me so I can figure out how much it's going to cost me to watch the festival online this year."

 

Note:This is a medium length post. Bring a glass of lemonade for today's reading. If you plan to read the information about all the presentations, bring a thermos of lemonade, three chocolate chip cookies, and two brownies. Oh and bring a calculator too.

 

To read the post tootle over to Bloody Scotland

No Post

 

I'll make sure she finishes tomight.

 

Panzer here. 

No post today. 

 

Mom is working on a project.

See you tomorrow.

A New Panzerism

 Panzer on the Oops Factor:

Mom and I are having a disagreement.

She says my middle name should be Oops.

I'm definitely not happy about that.

They jumped off by themselves.*

It's not my fault her knick knacks keeping smashing themselves by jumping off the shelf in the living room.

I say they have a mind of their own.

 

They're like lemmings.

Where one goes they all follow.

* From Cat Wisdom for humans

Cartoon of the Day - Mystery Fanfare

Best of times and worst of times.

This morning Panzer was shaken from his kitty bed by laughing and crying coming from the Catosphere.  Hopping into the Panzermobile, our adventuresome kitty followed all the confusion to the Mystery Fanfare site. There he discovered a cartoon about today's writing environment.

 

Panzer says, "Book sales are up ... But at what price?"

To read what was causing all the noise tootle over to Cartoon of the Day:

These Amazon Category Hacks Can Boost Your Book Sales - David Gaughran's Blog

 Panzer was searching in his kitty toy box when he found a misplaced post. Flattening it, he discovered it was from David Gaughran's Blog site.

 

He knows what he's talking about.

According to David Gaughran's post, Amazon categories are an integral part of your book marketing plan. It's not only important that you pick the right categories initially, but that you go back periodically and make sure those categories are helping your book's sales. The beginning of the post includes a clickable Table of Contents (TOC) so you can move around in the blog post and read what's most relevant to your current needs.

 

Panzer says, "This should be required reading for every Amazon author."

 

Note: This is a huge post. Bring a thermos of lemonade, a sandwich, a muffin and two chocolate chip cookies (biscuits) for today's learning lesson.

 

To read the post tootle over to Amazon Kindle book categories

Pocketbook's 9.7 inch InkPad Lite eReader coming this fall (likely for under $300) - liliputing

Panzer made a trip to the liliputing site today. There our intrepid kitty traveler found a post about Pocketbook's new ereader.

 

According to Brad Linder's post, Pocketbook will debut it's new InkPad Lite in the autumn/fall of this year. The InkPad Lite will have a 9.7 inch screen and will support WiFi4, 19 ebook formats and include some preloaded apps. The post also includes the ereader's other specs. Several illustrations are contained in the middle of the post. The price will be $299 (US). After the end of the post there are two links to sites for more information. (The two after it says via.)

 

Christmas isn't that far away.

Panzer says, "For the price it looks like an interesting ereader."

 

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

 

To read the post tootle over to Pocketbook InkPad Lite

Crime Writer Patricia Highsmith - BBC World Service

When Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere today, he decided to make a stop at the BBC World Service site. There our adventuresome kitty found The Forum had Inside the mind of crime writer Patricia Highsmith available for free listening. While she was an American crime writer, Patricia Highsmith was more well-known in Europe.

Included in the program are snippets from her writing and past interviews with her used to introduce interview questions with her biographer Andrew Wilson and her friend Vivien De Bernardi.

I was surprised by some of it.

Panzer says, "It's has interesting information about her life and how it influenced her writing."

Note: The program is forty-two minutes long. Bring a glass of lemonade and a cucumber sandwich for your listening time today.

 

To listen to the presentation tootle over to Patricia Highsmith

Bloody Scotland International Crime Writing Festival News

Today, Panzer made a quick stop at the Bloody Scotland site. There he discovered the latest news about this year's event.

According to the post at the site, this year's Bloody Scotland International Crime Writing Festival will be a hybrid event. Part of it will be in-person and part of it online. If you are uncomfortable participating in-person or unable to travel to Scotland, the entire event will be available online later. The crime writing festival will be September 17 - 19. Information about the schedule and tickets will be posted at the site on August 18.

We had so much fun last year.

 

Panzer says, "Hmm ... This little kitty wonders how much it will cost to watch it online."

Note: This is a short post. You can bring a small glass of lemonade, but you don't need to bring any treats to eat.

crime

To read the post tootle over to Bloody Scotland

Internet Archive Seeking 10 Years of Publishing Sales Data for Its Fair Use Defense - Publishers Weekly

 Today's trip in to the Catosphere took Panzer to the Publishers Weekly site. With no digging at all our inquisitive kitty boy found a post about the Internet Archive.

According to Andrew Albanese's post, the Internet Archive (IA) is asking the judge in the copyright infringement case against them to order the publishers suing them to turn over 10 years worth of monthly book sales records. The IA's lawyers say they need the records to prove the IA's "loaning" of unauthorized scanned copies of the publishers' books didn't impact book sales. Lawyers for publishers Hachette, Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, and Wiley say asking for that much information is unnecessary. This court case has been ongoing since June 1, 2020.

Hmm ... IA admits to 10 years.

 

Panzer says, "Monthly sales records for every book for 10 years! I am totally meow-less."

Note: This is a medium length post. I wouldn't bring anything to eat or drink for today's reading if I was you. You might spit it all over your monitor and keyboard when you read this post.

 

To read the post tootle over to Internet Archive 

Bouchercon's Fallback Plans - The Rap Sheet

Today as Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere he heard clapping and cheering outside the Panzermobile. Following all the jocularity took him to The Rap Sheet site. With just a tiny bit of digging in the posts, he found one about Bouchercon. Panzer told you last week about the cancellation of the in-person Bouchercon due to Covid-19 concerns.

 

Can anybody watch?

According to J. Kingston Pierce's post, this year's Bouchercon has been resurrected. It will be a two day event online. There are links included in the post to more information about the convention.

 

Panzer says, "He does say if there's any more news he'll post it."

 

Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a glass of iced tea for your reading adventure.

 

To read the post tootle over to Bouchercon

A New Panzerism

 Panzer on errors:

Cats are never wrong.

Never.*

They may be temporarily intellectually challenged, but they are never wrong.

Not ever.

Got it?

Good.

* From Cat Wisdom for humans

International Cat Day

International Cat Day

Just like any other day for me

Goldsboro Books' 'Glass Bell Award' Announces Its 2021 Shortlist - Publishing Perspectives

Today, Panzer was cleaning out the Panzermobile's passenger-side window when he found a wadded up post caught in the weather stripping. Smoothing it out, he discovered it was a post from the Publishing Perspectives site about the Glass Bell Award.

 

According to Porter Anderson's post, the U.K.'s Goldsboro Books' has announced the shortlist for their Glass Bell Award. The short list consists of six books. The winner is chosen by the stores' booksellers. In addition to a cash prize, the winner will receive a glass bell. The winner will be announced on September 30. The post includes links to earlier information about the prize and information about other prizes.

 

I could find a use for a glass bell.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... A glass bell."

 

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

 

To read the post tootle over to Goldsboro Books

No Post Today

I'm serious! No interruptions this time!

 Panzer here.

No post today.

Mom has too much work to finish before the weekend.

(Email messages are turned off this time!)

CWA Opens Membership to Self-Published Authors - CWA

As Panzer was tootling around in the  Catosphere today, he heard clapping and cheering outside the Panzermobile. Following all the happy noise took him to the Crime Writers' Association's CWA site. There with no digging at all he found a post about a membership change.

 

It's about time.

The post explains the Crime Writers' Association's (CWA) membership change. After a vote by CWA members which passed by 85 percent, self-published authors will now be accepted as members. Self-published authors can apply for membership beginning September 13.

 
Panzer says, "Another writers' organization joins the ranks and is accepting self-published authors."

 

Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a glass of iced tea for today's celebration.

 

To read the post tootle over to CWA membership

Singing the Bouchercon Blues - The Rap Sheet

 Panze had hardly laid his head down for his nap when crying and screaming coming from the Catosphere forced him up. Jumping in the Panzermobile, he followed all the noise to The Rap Sheet site. There he discovered news about Mystery Writers of America's (MWA) Bouchercon.

According to J. Kingston Pierce's post, Bouchercon 2021 in New Orleans, Louisiana, has been cancelled due to Covid-19 concerns. The post contains links to more information about the cancellation.

Now back to that nap.

Panzer says, "That Covid thingy just keeps ruining things."

Note: This is a short-medium length post. Bring a small glass of lemonade for your reading. If you plan to follow the links, add a cookie (biscuit) or two for your further reading adventures.

To read the post tootle over to Bouchercon

No Post Today

While she works I nap. It's my job.

Panzer here.

 

No post today. 

 

Mom has to finish a project.

We'll be back tomorrow.

The Big Thrill Online Magazine

Panzer was cleaning the carpet in the Panzermobile when he found something wedged under the pilot's seat. Pulling it out, he discovered it was a post for the August issue of the International Thriller Writers magazine The Big Thrill.

These are interesting interviews.

This is an online only magazine and it's free to read. At the site you can click on the banner across the top of the page to read the magazine's individual interviews; however, if you go down the right side of the post below the advertisements, you'll see, Hot Off the Press, then Interviews, then New Releases." These are the magazine sections which contain the individual interviews and book/reviews from the magazine.

 

To read the magazine tootle over to The Big Thrill

Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Reader's Choice Award Voting

I already voted.

Today, Panzer made a quick trip to the Killer Nashville conference site. Even if you can't attend the Killer Nashville conference, Panzer discovered you can still vote for the Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Readers' Choice Award.

There's a list of over 200  entries for you to pick your five favorites from. Read the instructions carefully. You can only vote once, so pick your favorites the first time because you can't come back if you change your mind. After you've picked your choices click the Submit button at the end of the list. Voting closes August 15.

 

To vote tootle over to Readers' Choice Award

 

* If you have trouble voting through the link above, copy the url and put it in your browser and try again.

How to Manage a Book Series on Amazon - Indies Unlimited

Today, Panzer was sweeping under the pilot's seat in the Panzermobile when he discovered a wadded up post. Flattening it out, our fastidious kitty found it was a post from the Indies Unlimited site about Amazon.

 

This is important.

The post by Melissa Bowersock includes instructions and illustration for how to manage your book series on Amazon..

 

Panzer says, "Even though this is a post from April, the information is still useful."

 

Note: This is a long-medium length post. Bring a large glass of lemonade for your reading selection today.

 

To read the post tootle over to Amazon book series

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

A New Panzerism

 Panzer on pagan rituals:

Every Summer humans perform tribal offerings to their Sun God.

 

They put a sign on the street that says, "Garage Sale."

Worshipers arrive by car ...

and ...

then take offerings from a table.

But ...

Every Autumn the garage remains.

Makes more sense my way.

Humans need to re-think the ritual ...

 

And ...

Put a sign on the street that says, "Cheap sacrificial items on a table sale."

Amazon's old Kindle 3G devices will lose internet access in December - Liliputing

 Today, Panzer was shaken from his nap on the back of the couch by crying and screaming coming from the Catosphere. Hopping in the Panzermobile,, our brave kitty boy followed all the chaos to the Liliputing site. There he found a post about Amazon Kindles.

 

Let's see what happens.

According to Brad Linder's post, Amazon is notifying owners of its older Kindles that the devices won't connect to the internet after December. The older Kindles use the 3G network which is being shutdown. The post lists the Kindle devises which are affected.The post contains links to information about the 3G shutdown and links to new Kindle device pages at the Amazon store.

 

Panzer says, "Hmm ... Mom gave What's His Name her old Kindle. I wonder if he's going to lose internet access."

 

Note:This is a long-medium post. Bring a large glass of lemonade for today's reading selection. If you follow the links included in the post, bring your credit card to purchase a new ereader.

 

To read the post tootle over to Amazons Kindle 3G devices