90 Calls for Submission in March 2024 - Paying Markets - Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity

Get moving! There's no time to waste.

Today Panzer found part two of yesterday's post. Our traveling kitty boy found a new post about open submission calls in March at the Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity site.

 

Erica Verrillo's list includes 90 publications (online/paper/podcast) looking for submissions. There are markets for fiction, flash fiction, short stories and nonfiction essays and poetry, and everything in-between. There's a full range of genres represented in the markets venues.

 

Panzer says, "You need to hurry. Some of the submission deadlines are March 1."

 

Note: This is a very long post. You'll need to decide what to bring to snack on while you read.

 

To read the post tootle over to Submissions

75 Writing Contests in March 2024 - No entry fees - Publishing ...and Other Forms of Insanity

Hurry! There isn't much time left!

Panzer made a quick trip to the Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity site. There our traveling kitty boy found a post about March writing contests.

 

Erica Verrillo lists writing contests of all kinds. There are contests for fiction, short stories, and novels, and for nonfiction essays, poetry, and articles. Some of the contests have restrictions, so be sure to read the rules.

 

Panzer says, "Some of these contests have a submission deadline of March 1, so you better hurry and enter now."

 

Note: With so many contests listed this is a long post. You'll need to decide what to bring to eat and drink for your snack while you read.

 

To read the post tootle over to Writing Contests

Rakuten Kobo Launches Kobo Plus in Hong Kong and Taiwan - Kobo Writing Life blog

Expansion is good. It means more readers.

Today Panzer made a stop at the Kobo Writing Life blog. There our inquisitive kitty boy found a post about Kobo Plus.

 

Kobo Plus is Rakuten Kobo's subscription service. Authors can enroll their ebooks and audiobooks in the service from their author dashboard.

The blog post is the announcement Kobo Plus is now available in Hong Kong and Taiwan. The post includes a link to the press release about the expansion as well as links to other information about Kobo and Kobo Plus,

 

To read the post tootle over to Rakuten Kobo

A Monday Panzerism

I'm still not listening.*

Panzer on the human misconception of their importance:

I went to the vet today.

She cleaned my ears.

I can hear much better now.

But that doesn't mean I'll do what you say.

*From Cat Wisdom for humans

Your Free Sunday Jigsaw Puzzle: Peek-a-Boo!

Hint

Here'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!

 

 

Free Classic Murder Mystery Movie: Detective Kitty O'Day

See you tomorrow.

If you like your murders clean and short, Panzer found this one at the Movieholic channel on YouTube.

 

The black and white movie Detective Kitty O'Day was made in 1944. It's 59 minutes long.

 

Make some popcorn, grab a blanket and see if you can figure out the killer before Kitty and her boyfriend do.

To watch the movie tootle over to Detective Kitty O'Day

Free Mysteryrat's Maze Podcast: Caught by the Last Star

There's no murder in this one.

Here's a cute little mystery short story Panzer found at the Mysteryrat's Maze Podcast.

 

The short story Caught by the Last Star is written by Nikki Knight and narrated by Amelia Ryan. It's 17 minutes long including the intro and outtro.

 

Have a cup of tea while you enjoy the little crime.

 

To listen to the episode tootle over to Mysteryrat's Maze Podcast

 

Free British Mystery Radio: Death Against the Odds

No popcorn with a radio play.

For those of you who like British crime radio plays Panzer found one on the Old Tube Radio channel on YouTube.

The murder mystery Inspector Coleman and Sergeant Astor: Death Against the Odds was broadcast on BBC Radio 4 August 1993. It's 1 hour 23 minutes long.

Make a pot of tea, get a plate of cookies (biscuits) and enjoy this classic thriller.

To listen to the audio tootle over to Death Against the Odds

Free Cozy Mystery Audiobook: Chocolate Grudge

Ads? That is so depressing.

Panzer found a clean cozy mystery audiobook for your listening.

The audiobook Chocolate Grudge was written by Wendy Meadows. It's 3 hours 54 minutes long. Like the romance audiobook we posted about earlier, this one has ads for YouTube channels below the book cover.

Make a cup of cocoa, get some chocolate chip cookies and enjoy this cozy mystery.

To listen to the mystery tootle over to Chocolate Grudge

Free Spicy Romance Audiobook:Island Hopping

Not sure if I like this.

If you want a romance with a little spice, Panzer found one for you on YouTube.

The opposites attract romance Island Hopping is written by Ann Omasta. It's 4 hours 39 minutes long. The beginning of the audio says all the nasty parts have been removed. If you want the full version, you have to buy her book. There are several ads for other YouTube channels on the page below the book cover. This is an experiment. Everywhere we went looking for audiobooks had these ads today.

Make some tea, get a warm blanket and enjoy the romance.

To listen to the audiobook tootle over to Island Hopping

30 Marvelous Writing Conferences and Workshops in March 2024 - Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity

I'll do my regular work later.

Today on Panzer's trip to the Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity site our little kitty pilot found a post about writing conferences and workshops.

 

In her post Erica Verrillo lists 30 writing conferences with application/start deadlines in March. These workshops and conferences cover everything and anything that has to do with writing. These include marketing your books and yourself, writing, querying, pitching,and more. Some of the workshops and conferences are in-person and some are online or both.

 

Panzer says, "This little kitty is posting this news today because some of these have March 1 or 2 as deadlines."

 

Note: This is a long post. You'll need to decide what you want for your snack for today.

 

To read the post tootle over to Writing Conferences

UK's Society of Authors: More Clarity in Spotify Terms - Publishing Perspectives

It just keeps spreading.

Today Panzer made a stop at the Publishing Perspectives site. There he found a post about Findaway Voices and Spotify's Terms of Use. Your favorite traveling kitty told you about the Findaway Voices and Spotify Terms of Use (TOU) upset explained in the Writer Beware (R) post on Tuesday.

 

Porter Anderson's Publishing Perspectives post explains the UK's Society of Authors take on that same Terms of Use. Specifically, the Society wants more clarity and assurance about AI training and also that authors' work won't be used without permission. The post includes the Society's itemized list of what needs to be clarified and or agreed to.

 

Panzer says, "This little kitty thinks this AI training use of writers work without permission is starting to sound like the Internet Archive lawsuit. You know how that ended."

Note: This is a long-medium length post. Bring a glass of milk and a piece of apple pie for today's snack.

To read the post tootle over to Spotify Terms of Use

To read Panzer's earlier post tootle over to Findaway Voices

Amazon named among the world's most admired companies for the eighth year in a row by 'Fortune' magazine - About Amazon News

I'm ready for this month to be over.

Now, Panzer will be reporting today's news.

 

Amazon is again in the top three most admired companies in the world ranking. In an Amazon staff written post at the Amazon site it's explained that parts of the basis for this ranking are the  company's increase in employee pay and benefits, its involvement in affordable housing and easier pathways to home ownership, and improvements to customer shopping using AI. The post also includes links to information about the criteria.

Panzer says, "Most admired in the whole world?"

Note: Because of the links to other information, this is a very long post. You'll need to decide what to snack on while you read.

To read the post tootle over to Amazon

Oops! Sorry.

Wasn't me. Mom did it.

Published a draft earlier that was supposed to go to trash.

Although from everybody who was reading it, maybe it shouldn't be trashed?

Outrage Over New Terms of Use at Findaway Voices Forces Change - Writer Beware(R)

You need to be very careful now.

Today's trip into the Catosphere took Panzer to the Writer Beware (R) site. With hardly any digging at all in the posts there our diligent kitty boy found one about Findaway Voices and owner Spotify. This is a follow-up post about an earlier problem with writers/creators losing right to stop AI from "learning" their works through Findaway Voices' Terms of Use.

 

In her post Victoria Strauss does a deep dive into the Findaway Voices' Terms of Use (TOU). She explains different sections of TOU which have been changed and why. There are also details about areas which are still a little confusing and could be better clarified. The post includes links to other earlier posts and to information about Findaway Voices.

Panzer says, "This shows two things: 1) If enough people complain and make enough noise, you can get things changed, and, 2) Always read the Terms of Use."

Note: This is a long post. You'll need to decide what to bring to snack on while you read.

 

To read the post tootle over to Findaway Voices

Presidents Day U.S.A.

 

 

Your Free Sunday Jigsaw Puzzle: Three little kittens have lost their mittens

Hint

Here'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 Three little kittens have lost their mittens

Free Mystery Movie: A Shot in the Dark

See you tomorrow.

Panzer found you a mystery movie on the PizzaFix channel on YouTube.

The movie is A Shot in the Dark. It's in black and white and was made in 1935. It's 1 hour 9 minutes long.

Get your favorite beverage, make a big bowl of popcorn (or a pizza) and  enjoy this 89 year old movie.

To watch the movie tootle over to A Shot in the Dark

Free Romance Audiobook: Cupcakes and Cowboys

Now to find a movie.

Here's a clean romance audiobook Panzer found for you on YouTube.

The romance audiobook Cupcakes and Cowboys is written by Lindzee Armstrong. It's narrated by Stacy Clemboski with in intro by the author. It's 2 hours 17 minutes long.

Make a cup of cocoa and enjoy this short romance.

To listen to the audiobook tootle over to Cupcakes and Cowboys

Free Agatha Christie Audiobook: A Deadly Affair

Be careful who you love.

For those of you who like audiobooks and those of you who like short stories, Panzer found a combination of the two at the Agatha Christie Audiobooks channel on YouTube.

The audiobook short story collection A Deadly Affair is fourteen "love" stories by Agatha Christie. The stories are narrated by Hugh Fraser, David Suchet, and Juan Hickson. It's 6 hours 47 minutes long. To see the list of the short story titles click the 'more' button below the cover picture.

Make a pot of tea, get comfortable and enjoy these stories.

To listen to these stories tootle over to A Deadly Affair

Free Sweet Romance Audiobook: Snowed in at the Event Center

Finished for the day.

If you're not ready to let Christmas go yet, Panzer found you a clean sweet Christmas romance audiobook.

The audiobook Snowed in at the Event Center is written by Catelynn Meadows. It's narrated by Georgie Lee King and 5 hours 23 minutes long.

Make some hot cocoa, grab a warm blanket and think about Christmas while you enjoy this romance.

To listen to the audiobook tootle over to Snowed in at the Event Center

Free Audio Short Story: The Plymouth Express Affair

Now I'll see what else I can find.

For those of you who prefer your mystery short with a British flare, Panzer found a Hercule Poirot short story on the Audiobooky channel on YouTube.

The audio short story The Plymouth Express Affair was written by Agatha Christie. It's narrated by Nigel K. and 30 minutes long.

Make a cup of tea, lean back on the couch and enjoy the mystery.

To listen to the audio tootle over to The Plymouth Express Affair

Inside the Censorship and Exclusion Mess of the Hugo Awards - Various

 

Back to regular news tonight.

Because a wind storm brought down a tree yesterday and we lost power, Panzer couldn't post the news. To catch up, here's three posts about the 2024 Hugo Awards problems. There are two posts from Publishers Weekly and one from File 770. It's a complicated problem, so it makes more sense if the posts are read in order at the end of this post.

 

Panzer says, "This little kitty didn't know anything about this problem with the Awards, so he has nothing to say about it. He's just reporting these posts that clogged his news feed."

 

Note: You'll need to decide what to snack on while you read these.

 

To read post one tootle over to Resignations

To read post two tootle over to Glasgow Worldcon

To read or download post three (the report) tootle over to Censorship and Exclusion

Valentine's Day

 

 From Panzer, Mom and What's His Name

Amazon Turns $2.7 Billion Loss in 2022 to a Profit of $30 Billion in 2023 - Publishers Weekly

That's a huge profit jump for one year.

Panzer's trip into the Catosphere today took our traveling kitty pilot to the Publishers Weekly site. There with a little digging in the posts he found one about Amazon's company profits.

 

According to Jim Milliot's post, Amazon announced a turnaround for a company loss in 2022 to a major profit in 2023. The company cut expenses by implementing employee layoffs and delivery reorganizations. The company also had a significant increase in sales. The combination of  these lead to the 2023 profit.

 

Panzer says, "The post has other information about an AI named Rufus. You need to read that too."

 

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

 

To read the post tootle over to Amazon Profit

A Monday Panzerism

Don't soak your paws in it either. Yuk!

Panzer on good health:

If you want to add salt to your food, I don't recommend Epsom Salts.

*From Cat Wisdom for humans

You Free Sunday Jigsaw Puzzle: No doubt about it. It's time to change the cat litter.

Hint

Here'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 No doubt about it.

Free Short Story Audio: The Regent's Park Murder (A "Teahouse Detective" Mystery)

I told you and you still dropped the popcorn on the floor.

For those of you who prefer your mystery in short story and audio form, Panzer found one for you on the Bitesized Audio Classics channel on YouTube.

The murder mystery audio The Regent's Park Murder was written by Emma Orczy. It's narrated by Simon Stanhope and is 35 minutes long.

Make a cup of tea, get a warm blanket and enjoy the mystery.

To listen to the audio tootle over to The Regent's Park Murder

Free Classic Mystery Movie: Philo Vance: The Benson Murder Case

I don't eat popcorn on the floor. It's dirty down there.

Panzer found this week's classic murder mystery movie on the Tolvis77 channel on YouTube.

 

The Philo Vance: The Benson Murder Case is a black and white 1930 movie. It's 1 hour 4 minutes long.

Get whatever your favorite drink is and make a big bowl of popcorn. Enjoy the movie, but don't spill your popcorn when you start laughing at those clothes the women are wearing.

To watch the movie tootle over to  Philo Vance Classic Movie

Free Cozy Mystery Audiobook: Magic Brownies

Maybe I can find something else.

For those of you who like mystery audiobooks Panzer found a cozy mystery for you.

 

The culinary mystery Magic Brownies is written and narrated by Josephine Beintema. It's 5 hours 39 minutes long.

 

Make a cup of tea and relax while you enjoy this cozy mystery.

 

 To listen to the audiobook tootle over to Magic Brownies Cozy Mystery

Free Later in Life Romance Audiobook: Swept Away

Let's see if I can find a little mystery.

Today Panzer found a romance audiobook for those of you who prefer your romance clean but a little grumpy.

 

The small town romance audiobook Swept Away is written by Taylor Claremont. It's AI narrated and 2 hours 28 minutes long.

Get a cup of cocoa, your favorite blanket, lean back on the couch, and enjoy the romance.

 

To listen to the audiobook tootle over Swept Away

Bad Contract Alerts: NovelSnack/Any Stories/ReadInk/ - Writer Beware (R)

45,000 words a month? No. Doesn't leave time to sleep.

Panzer made a trip to the Writer Beware (R) site and he found an important post about bad contracts there.

Victoria Strauss shows in her post that NovelSnack, Any Stories and ReadInk are all part of one company. These are serialized fiction apps. The post then addresses the problems in the NovelSnack contract. Each section of the contract is highlighted and then explained. The contract is so complicated you'll need to read the post yourself to understand it.

Panzer says, "Who can write 45,000 words per month? Why would anybody agree to that?"

Note: This is a very, very long post. You'll need to decide what to bring to snack on while you read this post.

To read the post tootle over to Bad Contracts

Bouchercon Discord Hits Social Media - The Rap Sheett

If you don't know, it's best to keep your mouth shut.

Today as Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere the Panzermobile was suddenly shaken by noises and howling coming from outside. Following all the chaos, took our brave little kitty pilot to The Rap Sheet site. There he discovered a disagreement in Bouchercon was causing all the trouble in the Catosphere.

 

J. Kingston Pierce's post contains quotes from people about the choice of an interviewer in part of the program and some people's reaction to the choice.

Panzer says, "This little kitty doesn't know anything they're talking about, so it's best he keeps out of it. He's just giving you a link so you can read about it."

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

To read the post tootle over to Bouchercon Discord

Free January Issue of Killer Nashville Magazine

 

Enjoy the magazine.

Panzer found the January issue of Killer Nashville Magazine is now available online.

 

At the site you'll find articles, short stories, interviews, and book reviews.

 

Note: This is a long magazine so you'll need to decide what to bring to eat and drink while you read.

 

To read the new tootle over to Killer Nashville

UK, German, Italian Publishers on AI Policy Developments - Pulishing Perspectives

The EU is moving fast with this.

Today, Panzer made a trip to the Publishing Perspectives site. With just a little digging in the posts our intrepid kitty traveler found one about the Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act).

 

According to Porter Anderson's post, the European Union (EU) Coreper Committee voted on February 2 in favor of the "AI Act." The "AI Act" sets out the EU's digital regulations for AI in the member countries. The "AI Act" will next be voted on in Parliament. The post contains information and opinions about the "AI Act" from several EU member country publishers and individuals. Several links to other information are also included in the post.

Panzer says, "Let's see if the US has it's own "AI Act" soon."

Note: This is a very long post. Bring a cup of cocoa, a muffin, a brownie, and a chocolate chip cookie (biscuit) for your snack while you read.

To read the post tootle over to AI Policy

Your Monday Panzerism

 Panzer on sobriety:

The thing about catnip is,

well ...

If there's enough, I can start now.*

Mom thinks I should go on the wagon for a little while.

Okay ...

Exactly how much catnip is in the wagon anyway?

*From Cat Wisdom for humans

Your Free Sunday Jigsaw Puzzle: Can you find the kitty?

Hint

Here's your Sunday jigsaw puzzle.

As always, remember to click the square in the lower left corner to see the finished puzzle.

Have fun!

To do the jigsaw tootle over to Can you find the kitty?

Your Free Classic Crime Movie: Call It Murder/Midnight

Another job finished.

For all you lovers of crime noir movies Panzer found you one at the Cult Cinema channel on YouTube.

Call It Murder/Midnight is a 1934 black and white mystery movie. It's 1 hour 13 minutes long.

Make some popcorn, get your favorite beverage and sit back and enjoy the movie.

To watch the movie tootle over to Call It Murder

Your Free Cozy Mystery Audiobook: Strawberry Caramel Murder

Off to find something else for you.

For your listening tonight Panzer found a cozy mystery audiobook.

The audiobook Strawberry Caramel Murder is written by Abby Byne. It's AI narrated and 3 hours 22 minutes long.

Get a cup of tea and enjoy this mystery.

To listen to the audiobook tootle over to Strawberry Caramel Murder

Free Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine's Fiction Podcast Episode: Rendering

My work is finished for today.

Panzer found his short mystery lover fans another fiction podcast at Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine's Fiction Podcast site.

The short mystery story Rendering is read the author Sophia Lynch. It's 39 minutes long.

Make a cup of hot chocolate, wrap up in a warm blanket and enjoy this mystery.

To listen to the podcast tootle over to Rendering

Free SAM Magazine Podcast Short Story: Plan D

I'll see what else I can find.

Here's a short story Panzer found at the SAM Magazine Podcast site.

 

The mystery short story Plan D is written by Judy Penz Sheluk. 

 

The intro to the podcast is very long, so make sure to have your beverage of choice and be comfortable before it starts.

 

To listen to the story tootle over to Plan D

Your Free RomCom Audiobook: Flirting With the Hunk Next Door

Let's start with a romance.

Here's a clean romcom Panzer found for his romance lover friends.

 

The sweet romance novella Flirting With the Hunk Next Door is written by Susanne Ash. It's 1 hour 11 minutes long.

Get your favorite drink, lean back on the couch and enjoy the story.

To listen to the audiobook tootle over to RomCom Audiobook

88 Writing Contests in February 2024 - No entry fees - Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity

Sorry. Some days it's just hard to get any work done.

Today on the Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity site, Panzer found the site's February contests post.

Erica Verrillo lists 88 writing contests with February submission deadlines. There are fiction, nonfiction, poetry, essay, and translation contests.

Panzer says, "Be sure to read the submission guidelines. Some have restrictions. This little kitty just found this post and the submission deadline for the first eleven contests is today (February 1), but that still leaves seventy-seven open contests on the list."

 

Note:This is a long post. You'll need to decide what to bring to eat and drink while you read today's post.

 

 To read the post tootle over to Writing Contests