Happy New Year's Eve

 Panzer on celebrating New Year's Eve:

Same thing every year.

Skip my late, late nap.

Munch some catnip,

But getting there is fun.*

pass out,

and ...

spend the rest of the night snorting carpet dust.

Bletch!

*From Cat Wisdom for humans

New Year's Eve

 

 

 

No Post

Tomorrow is New Year's Eve.

Panzer here.

No  post today.

Mom is finishing work.

No Post

Saving my energy for New Year's Eve.

Panzer here.

No post today.

Mom's finishing a project.

Free Mystery Short Story: A Ghost for Marcie's Garden - EQMM Podcast

Enjoy.

If you're looking to listen to something shorter than the cozy mystery audio book Panzer found for you earlier today, here's a mystery short story for you. Our adventuresome kitty boy found it at the Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine podcast site.

 

The short story A Ghost for Marcy's Garden is read by the author W. W. Mauck. The podcast is 30 minutes long including the intro.

To listen to the podcast tootle over to Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine Podcast

Free Cozy Mystery Audiobook: Girl in the Shadows by Angela Pepper

I'm ready. Let's get started.

Today Panzer found a cozy mystery audio book for you at YouTube.

Angela Pepper's Girl in the Shadows is 3 hours and 45 minutes long.

Like all audio books on YouTube, it's free for listening.

To listen to the audio book tootle over to Girl in the Shadows

54 Writing Contests in January 2023 - No Entry Fee - Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity

Today Panzer is delivering this list of January writing contests from the Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity site.

 

It's a slow week for news.

Erica Verrillo's post contains fiction, nonfiction, and poetry contests with January entry deadlines. The first six on the list have a January 1 entry deadline, so you'll need to hurry for them. The rest have deadlines later in the month, but some do have entry restrictions.

Panzer says, "Be sure to read all the rules before you submit."

Note: This is a long post. Bring a thermos of cocoa, a muffin, a brownie, and a chocolate chip cocoa (biscuit). If you plan to follow any of the links in the post, you'll need to decide what to bring to eat and drink.

To read the post tootle over to January writing contests

A Day After Christmas Panzerism

 Panzer on the Christmas holiday:

The dent? The big guy with the reindeer.*

Do I think those look like my paw prints on the hood of the care?

Noooo ...

From here I'd say they're reindeer prints.

*From Cat Wisdom for humans

Your Sunday Christmas Jigsaw Puzzle

Hint

Here's your Sunday jigsaw puzzle to celebrate Christmas.

 

Remember to click the box in the lower left corner of the puzzle site to see the finished puzzle.

This one is about as hard as last week's was. Have fun!

To do today's puzzle tootle over to Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas To You

 

From Panzer, Mom and What's His Name

 

Not A Snowman ...

 

A Snow Cat
 

Christmas Eve

 

 

Free Not Exactly A Christmas Song: Bohemian Catsody - A Parody Song for Every Cat Queen and King

Listen and learn human.

Today's not exactly a Christmas song, Bohemian Catsody, is for cats and their humans everywhere.

It's 5+ minutes of why and how cats rule the world.

 

For those of you who don't speak cat, there's on-screen captioning at YouTube.

 

To listen to the music tootle over to Bohemian Catsody

Christmas Quote

 

 

Free Christmas Song: Up On the House Top (Ho Ho Ho) - Gene Autry

I never heard this one before.

Here's your Christmas song of the day, Gene Autry's Up On the House Top (Ho Ho Ho). 

It's 2+ minutes long and free on YouTube.

To listen to the song tootle over to Up On the House Top

Free Mystery Short Story: Term Life by Kevin Egan

It is a good story.

Today, Panzer found an online short story for you. This isn't a Christmas story, but it is a mystery short story.

The short story, Term Life, written by Kevin Egan is free at the Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine's podcast site.

The episode is 27 minutes long and narrated by the author.

To listen to the short story tootle over to Term Life

Free Christmas Story: Some Things Don’t Change at Christmas - Writers Who Kill

Bring a tissue or hanky.

Panzer found your free Christmas mystery story for today at the Writers Who Kill site.

RM Rockwood's Some Things Don't Change at Christmas is a short 10-15 minute read Christmas story.

To read the story tootle over to Some Things Don’t Change at Christmas

Free Music: Wintergatan - Marble Machine - YouTube

How did he build that?

While this isn't a Christmas song, Panzer likes it a lot anyway.

 

All those marbles making music is so interesting to him.

 

Enjoy.

 

To listen to the music and watch the marble machine tootle over to Marble Music

Free Christmas Song: I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus

Come on. Admit it. It's cute.

Panzer found another Christmas song for your listening pleasure tonight.

This one is Jimmy Boyd's I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus free on YouTube. He recorded it in 1952. You can tell from the photo he recorded it when he was a child.

To listen to the song tootle over to I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus

Free Christmas Song: Snoopy's Christmas vs The Red Baron - The Royal Guardsmen

Brings us all together.

Here's Panzer's Christmas song for today.

 

Sung by The Royal Guardsmen, Snoopy's Christmas vs The Red Baron is available on YouTube. The song is 3 minutes long.

 

To listen to the song tootle over to Snoopy's Christmas

Free RomCom Christmas Audiobook: Tinsel Terrors

Those kids need a nap.

Panzer found another Christmas-themed audiobook for your entertainment today.

This one is Mazy Morris' Tinsel Terrors available on YouTube. It's a 23 minute AI narrated romantic comedy. As with all the audiobooks this week it's free.

To listen to the audiobook tootle over to Tinsel Terrors

Jingle Bells Meowy Christmas - Jingle Cats

It's fun to watch too.

Panzer loves this Christmas rendition of Jingle Bells.

 

Here's Jingle Bells by the Jingle Cats on YouTube. It's 2+ minutes long and free to watch.

If you want to sing along, click the Show More button and you'll see the lyrics so you can join in.

To watch the Jingle Cats tootle over to Jingle Bells

Cozy Mystery Audiobook: Gnome For Christmas - Read by the Author

So, who done it?

Today, Panzer found a short cozy Christmas mystery audiobook for you.

Author Celia Kinsey's audiobook, Gnome For Christmas, is available on YouTube. It's 30 minutes long and free to listen to.

 

Enjoy.

 

To listen to the audiobook tootle over to Gnome

Why All The Christmas Stuff This Week?

 Panzer here.

Some of you humans have been asking Mom why we/re doing all the Christmas music, audio books, movies, jokes and stuff this week.

It's because Mom's Grandpa was born on Christmas day. Because of that, he never got to celebrate his birthday when he was growing up. No party. No cake. No games. No music. Nothing at all, because it would interfere with the family Christmas celebration.

When he became an adult, he still didn't want to celebrate his birthday on Christmas. He would just pick a day in the week before Christmas and celebrate his birthday with cake, music, games, and/or a movie. Each year he would pick a different date and it would be a surprise to his family.

Mom's Grandpa is gone now, but she thought it would be fun to celebrate every day this week.

So... 

 

Happy Birthday All Week, Grandpa.

Image by Nisha Gill from Pixabay

A Monday Panzerism

Didn't see it coming did you?

Panzer on training your cat to fall asleep in two easy steps:

1.) Wake Him Up.

2.) If step one fails, you've achieved your goal.

Your Sunday Jigsaw Cat Puzzle

Hint

Panzer has your Sunday jigsaw puzzle for you.

This one is harder than last week's was. Remember to click the square in the lower left corner to see the finished puzzle.

 

 Have fun.

 

To do today's jigsaw puzzle tootle over to Best Way to Sleep

Simon's Cat and Tree Trouble

Watch and learn human.

Panzer found a YouTube video that explains the human misunderstanding of cats and their affinity for Christmas trees.

 

To watch the video tootle over to Simon's Cat

Carol of the Bells - By Lindsey Stirling

Watch what she does.

Panzer found another Christmas carol for your enjoyment.

Today's carol isn't as peppy as yesterday's, but it's not slow-paced either.

Enjoy!

 

To watch the video tootle over to Carol of the Bells

Santa Claus is Coming on a Boogie Woogie Choo Choo Train - Tractors

Enjoy the lights.

Panzer found a little something to get the weekend off to a spirited start.

To listen tootle over to Santa Claus Is Coming

No Post

Eight days until Christmas.

Panzer here.

No post today.

Mom has a project to finish.

We'll be back tomorrow.

Amazon to End Print Textbook Rentals, Overhaul Magazine and Newspaper Subscriptions - Publishers Weekly

Today, Panzer made a quick trip to the Publishers Weekly site. There with just a little digging in the posts our illustrious kitty traveler found a post about Amazon.

According to Jim Milliot's post, Amazon is ending their textbook rental program. After spring quarter next year students will only have the option to buy either new or used textbooks from Amazon. This change and the discontinuation of magazine and newspaper subscription sales are part of the company's cost saving measures.

I'll miss the magazines.

Panzer says, "This little kitty hates to see the magazine subscriptions go away."

Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a cup of cocoa and a brownie for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Amazon textbook rentals

Copyright and ISBN 20BooksTo50K Las Vegas 2022

Here's a presentation from the 20BooksTo50K Las Vegas 2022 conference Panzer thought you might find interesting.

 

I didn't know some of this.

This is the Copyright and ISBN presentation in which Kevin McLaughlin explains ISBNs and copyright and when and why you need each.

The presentation is free for viewing on YouTube and is 44 minutes long.

 

To watch the presentation tootle over to Copyright and ISBN

Free Cozy Mystery Audiobook "Frosted" by Sarah Hualde

 

Free is always good. Right?

Panzer found a free paranormal cozy mystery audiobook on YouTube for you.

Sarah Hualde's Frosted is 1 hour and 16 minutes long including the intro and free to listen to.

To listen to the audiobook tootle over to Frosted

In England, the Booker Prize Names its 2023 jurors - Publishing Perspectives

Today's trip into the Catosphere took Panzer to the Publishing Perspectives site. There he found a post about the Booker Prize.

Interesting about last year's winner.

Porter Anderson's post also includes information on last year's winner and information on next year's schedule.

Panzer says, "The post includes so much information you'll need to read it yourself."

Note: This is a long post. Bring a big cup of cocoa, a chocolate muffin, a chocolate brownie, and a chocolate chip cookie (biscuit). Mom says you can never have too much chocolate.

To read the post tootle over to Booker Prize Jurors

Cartoon of the Day: Best Christmas Card Photo Ever! - Mystery Fanfare

What? You don't believe it?

Here's a little something to get you into the Cat Christmas spirit.

 

Enjoy!

 

To see the cartoon tootle over to Best Christmas Card Photo Ever

Saint Nicked - MysteryRat's Maze Podcast

Only 12 days until Christmas.

If you want to listen to a little Christmas mystery,  Panzer found just the thing for you. Our traveling kitty boy stopped in at the MysteryRat's Maze Podcast site and discovered a new episode.

MysteryRat's Maze Podcast has Herschel Cozine's Saint Nicked episode uploaded now. It's 22 minutes long including the intro and as always at the MysteryRat site free to listen to.

 

To listen to the podcast tootle over to Saint Nicked

With Six You Get Eye Rolls - Rap Sheet

Today, Panzer made a quick stop at the Rap Sheet site. With just a little digging in the posts, he found one about the Six Word Mystery Contest.

 

You've been warned.

 J. Kingston Pierce's post lists the winners and finalists names in the contest categories and their entries.

 

Note: Under no circumstances bring either food or drink to today's reading selection.

 

To read the post tootle over to eye rolls

Cozy Mysteries Panel 20BooksTo50K Las Vegas 2022

Cozy mystery is what we write.

Here's another presentation from the 20BooksTo50K Las Vegas 2022 conference Panzer thought you might like to watch.

This one is the Cozy Mysteries Panel. Deann Powell is the moderator with Catherine Cole and Stella Bixby. All three are successful cozy mystery authors.

The presentation is free for viewing on YouTube and 43 minutes long.

To watch the presentation tootle over to Cozy Mystery Panel

Writing Into The Dark at 20BooksTo50K Las Vegas 2022

If you didn't get to the 20BooksTo50K Las Vegas 2022 conference, Panzer discovered some of the presentations have been uploaded to YouTube.

We read his book he talks about.

Dean Wesley Smith's presentation, Writing Into the Dark, is available. He's a bestselling author who has been writing and selling short stories and novels since the mid-1970s. His presentation is called Writing Into the Dark because he writes without an outline. He writes one draft and it's finished. In the presentation he tells how he does it.

 

The presentation is free for viewing and is 48 minutes long.

 

To watch the presentation tootle over to Writing Into the Dark

A Monday Panzerism

Watch and learn.*

Panzer on self-confidence:

The universe belongs to whoever is willing to reach out and grab it with his claws.

*From Cat Wisdom for humans

Sunday Free Cat Jigsaw Puzzle

 

Hint

Here's your Sunday jigsaw puzzle.

This one is a little harder than last week's.

Remember to click the square at the bottom left corner to see the finished puzzle.

To go to the puzzle tootle over to Sunday Jigsaw Puzzle

Free Camilla Isley Romance Audio Book

Enjoy your Sunday book.

Panzer's last post was about a podcast for mystery lovers. If you're more interested in spending your Sunday afternoon listening to romance, here's a free romance audio book on YouTube.

 

Titled Sweet Love and Country Roads and written by Camilla Isley, it's 7 1/2 hours long. It's free to listen to.

 

To listen to the audio book tootle over to Sweet Love and Country Roads

Interview With Crime Writer Chip Jacobs - Crime Cafe Podcast

Today Panzer made a stop at Debbi Mack's Crime Cafe Podcast site. 

 

It's an interesting interview.

There he found the newest episode, an interview with crime writer Chip Jacobs, was just posted. In the interview he discusses his crime novel The Darkest Glare and his novel Arroyo. The interview is 31 minutes long and it's free to listen.

If you prefer to read instead of listen, you can scroll down passed the intro material and read the interview transcript. You can also download the transcript to read on your home computer.

To listen to the interview tootle over to interview with Chip Jacobs

No Post

She needs more sleep.

Panzer here.

No post today.

Mom is working on a project.

We'll be back tomorrow.

CrimeReads Creme de Crime - Rap Sheet

Today, Panzer made a quick stop at the Rap Sheet site. There he found a post about CrimeReads picks for "Best Crime Novels: 2022."

 

My work is finished for the day.

J. Kingston Pierce lists all 20 of CrimeReads picks. He also includes a link to the CrimeReads site so you can read the list and a description of each of the novels.

Panzer says, "It's an interesting collection of crime novels."

 

To read the post tootle over to Crime Reads

Why You Might Not Want to Use Wire Transfer or Payment Apps to Pay For Publishing Services - Writere Beware

Today's trip into the Catosphere took Panzer to the Writer Beware site. The post our inquisitive little kitty boy found there is about the payment systems scammers use to defraud writers.

 

I didn't know any of this.

Victoria Strauss' post exams how payment systems work and the rules governing them. She also covers which of the systems offer the best protections for authors to recover their money in a fraudulent transaction. Several links to other information about the payment systems are included in the post.

 

Panzer says, "Every author should read this post."

 

Note: This is a long post. Bring a cup of cocoa and a muffin for today's reading selection. If you plan to follow the links in the post, you'll need to decide what to bring to eat and drink.

 

To read the post tootle over to wire transfer or payment apps

Canada's Thomas Allen & Son to Close ... Publishers Weekly

I didn't expect that.

Panzer was shaken from his kitty bed by crying coming from the Catosphere. Jumping into the Panzermobile, he followed all the angst to the Publishers Weekly site. There he found a post about the closure of Canada's Thomas Allen and Son.

According to the post by Ed Nawotka, Thomas Allen and Son will close in March 2023. The Canadian company is a publisher and distributor in Canada for U.S. and U.K publishers.

Note: This is a long-short length post. Bring a half a cup of cocoa for today's reading.

To read the post tootle over to Thomas Allen to close

Free Christmas Mystery Episode at Mysteryrat's Maze Podcast

Panzer was awakened from his evening nap by clapping coming from the Catosphere. Hopping in the Panzermobile, our brave kitty boy followed all the noise to the Mysteryrat's Maze Podcast site.

Getting you in the holiday spirit.

There he found a new mystery podcast episode. Titled The Afternoon Before Christmas written by Mark Murphy, it is13+ minutes long including the intro. As with all Mysteryrat Maze podcasts it's free.

 

If you want to listen on your cell instead of at the site, there's an option to download the apps.

 

To listen to the podcast tootle over to Mysteryrat Podcast.

Draft2Digital Authors Can Now Distribute to the Smashwords ... - Smashwords Blog

Today, Panzer stopped in at the Smashwords site. There our adventuresome kitty traveler found a post by Mark Coker about Draft2Digital authors.

 

Not what this little kitty expected.

If you've been visiting here for a while, you know we've used Smashwords for our ebook distribution to all the ebook retailers except Amazon. You also know Smashwords has now joined Draft2Digital (D2D). It's no surprise then to learn that the authors and publishers at D2D will use Smashwords' ebook store since D2D doesn't have a store. The post includes a link to a post at D2D about Smashwords.

 

Panzer says, "You need to read both posts to see what the plan is for Smashwords in the future."  

Note: This is a long-medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and a muffin for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Draft2Digital and Smashwords

HarperCollins Addresses Stalled Union Negotiations, Union ... - Publishers Weekly

Panzer just made a quick trip to the Publishers Weekly site. There he found a post about a strike by the workers at publisher HarperCollins.

 

A strike just before Christmas?

Emell Derra Adolphus' post explains publisher HarperCollins' position on the union employees strike against the company. HarperCollins' statement includes information about employee salary and benefit increases. The company made the statement because some authors and agents have said they support the strike. Included at the end of the post is the union's response.

 

Note: This is a long post. Bring a big cup of cocoa and a large muffin for today's reading.

 

To read the post tootle over to HarperCollins strike