A New Year's Eve Panzerism

 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

66 Free Writing Contests in January 2025 - No entry fees - Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity

These look really interesting.

Panzer stopped at the Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity site today. There he found a post about January's writing contests.

Erica Verrillo's list includes contests for fiction, short stories and novels, and nonfiction, poetry and plays. None of them charge an entry fee.

Panzer says, "You know what I always say: Read the rules and guidelines before you submit your entry."

Note: With 66 contests on this list it's a very long post. You'll need to decide what to bring to snack on while you read.

To read the full list tootle over to January Writing Contests

A Monday Panzerism

 Panzer on home decorating:

Ooooh! Bright colors.

I leap with amazing skill. Fast as a cheetah I grab a curtain.

 

Zoom! I'm off again.

Boom! That evil couch cushion never stood a chance against this puma.

My living room remodel is almost finished.

One more shredded throw pillow to go.

My annotated Kitty Bible says, "Idle paws are the devil's playground."

 

Well ...

I don't need to worry about that.

*From Cat Wisdom for humans

Your Free Sunday Jigsaw Puzzle: What?

Hint

Here's your Sunday jigsaw puzzle.

As alway, remember at the puzzle site to click the square in the lower left corner to see the finished puzzle.

This one is much harder than any of the others have been.

Have fun!

To do the puzzle tootle over to What?

Free Classic Crime Movie: Knock on Any Door

I need all the sleep I can get to prepare for New Year's Eve.

Panzer found this movie on the CineStream channel.

Knock on Any Door is a black and white crime noir movie. It's 1 hour 20 minutes long.

Grab your beverage of choice, make some popcorn and enjoy the movie.

To watch the movie tootle over to Knock on Any Door

Free Sherlock Holmes Mystery Audio: The Problem of Thor Bridge

Still looking for your movie.

Panzer found this Sherlock Holmes mystery at the Bitesized Audio Classics channel on Youtube.

The Problem of Thor Bridge was written by Arthur Conan Doyle. It's read by Simon Stanhope and 1 hour 2 minutes long.

 

Note: This site does have ads.

Make a cup of tea, find a place to relax and see if you can solve the mystery before Sherlock does.

To listen to the audio tootle over to Sherlock Holmes

Free Clean Romance Audiobook: Her Cowboy Hero

Off to find a movie for you.

For those of you who like your romance clean Panzer found this one at the author's channel on Youtube.

Her Cowboy Hero is written by Marie Richards. It's 2 hours 11 minutes long.

Grab you beverage of choice, find a comfy spot to relax and enjoy this romance.

To listen to the audiobook tootle over to Her Cowboy Hero

Free Classic Mystery Audiobook: The Babbington Case

My work is finished for the day.

If you're a fan of classic, old-time detective novels, Panzer found this one on the Storytime Haven channel on Youtube.

The Babbington Case is "written" by Nicholas Carter the fictional detective Nick Carter in the novel. The audiobook is 6 hours 38 minutes long.

Have fun.

To listen to the mystery tootle over to Nick Carter

Free Classic Ghost Audiobook: Mr. Hymphreys and His Inheritance

A kind of scary story this time..

If you like your mysteries with a little shiver thrown in, Panzer found this one for you on the Classic Ghost Stories channel on Youtube.

 

Mr. Hymphreys and His Inheritance is written by MR James. It's narrated by Tony Walker and 1 hour 29 minutes long.

Find a comfy spot to lay back, wrap up in a warm blanket to keep the chill out and enjoy this classic mystery story.

 

To listen to the audiobook tootle over to Classic Ghost Story

Free Clean Romance Audiobook: Christmas Baggage

Let's see what else I can find.

If you like sweet romcom, Panzer found this one on the author channel on YouTube.

 

Christmas Baggage is written by Deborah M. Hathaway. It's 7 hours 54 minutes long.

This audiobook has over 35 chapters in it. You might want to listen to it while you're cleaning house after all your Christmas company goes home.

To listen to the audiobookk tootle over to RomCom

Free Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine Trace Evidence: The Devil and the Details

Not where I'd want to live.

If you like reading about where writers get their ideas from Panzer found this post on AHMM's Trace Evidence site.

Mystery writer John M. Floyd explains where the ideas for his AHMM story The Cado Devil came from.

 

 Have fun reading this.

 

To read the post tootle over to John M. Floyd

It's the weekend!

 Time for fun in the snow!

 

13 (Warm) Writing Conferences and Workshops in January 2025 - Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity

Mom sure is a good cook.

Today, Panzer stopped in at the Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity site. There he discovered a post about writing conferences and workshops in January.

 

 Erica Verrillo lists 13 conferences and workshops. (One had a registration deadline in December.) Most of them are in-person, but a couple are online. Read the guidelines to find the registration fees for each.

Panzer says, "Do read the registration guidelines as there may be restrictions on entry."

Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and a muffin to snack on while you read.

 

To read the post tootle over to Writing Conferences

Christmas

 

From Mom, Panzer and What's His Name

 

Christmas Eve

  

A Monday Panzerism

 Panzer on reconciling your human to their place in the cat universe:

One thing I know for sure,

When Mom says something,

I believe it.

And ... She actually thinks I'll do what she said.

Because she says it's true ...

And ...

She says she's alway right.

Then ...

I do whatever I want.

*From Cat Wisdom for humans

Your Free Sunday Jigsaw Puzzle: We're ready. Where's the big guy?

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.

How fast can you do this one?

To do the puzzle tootle over to We're ready. Where's the big guy?

Free Classic Mystery Movie: Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome

Have fun watching the movie.

The classic mystery movie Panzer found tonight on the PizzaFlix channel is different than our usual movies. This one features a newspaper comics character.

 

Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome is a 1947 black and white movie. It's 1 hour 5 minutes long.

Get your beverage of choice, make some popcorn and enjoy the movie.

To watch the movie tootle over to Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome

Free Highland Romance Audiobook: A Captain's Heart: Highland Heartbeats

Let's see what else I can find for you.

Panzer found this Scottish highlands romance on the author's channel on Youtube.

The clean romance A Captain's Heart is written by Aileen Adams. It's 6 hours 3 minutes long.

Make a cup of tea, find a comfortable place to relax and enjoy this romance.

To listen to the audiobook tootle over to A Captain's Heart

Free Mysteryrat's Maze Podcast: Some Things Don't Change Christmas

I like these podcasts.

If you like to listen to podcasts here's one Panzer found at the Mysteryrat's Maze Podcast.

Some Things Don't Change Christmas is written by KM Rockwood. It's read by Parker Forrest Lewis and 18 minutes long.

Find a comfy place to sit and enjoy this Christmas story.

 

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

Winter Begins

 First Day of Winter

Free Romantic Suspense Audiobook: Bet On A Billionaire

Nap time for this little kitty.

If you like clean romance, Panzer found this one at the author's channel on Youtube.

 

Bet On A Billionaire is written by Nellie Steele.  It's 7 hours 58 minutes long.

 

Grab your beverage of choice and whatever you'd like to snack on while you listen to this fake wife romance.

Note: The cozy mystery audiobook Panzer gave you a link to earlier is written by the same author as wrote this romantic suspense audiobook. Compare the two and see which you like better.

 

To listen to the audiobook tootle over to Romantic Suspense

Free Cozy Mystery Audiobook:Mousse and Murder

I'll see what else I can find for you.

For those of you who like cozy mystery Panzer found this one on the author's channel on YouTube.

 

Mousse and Murder is written by Nellie  H. Steele. It's narrated by Maya Roberts and 3 hours 32 minutes.

 

Make a pot of tea, find a comfy place to relaz, and enjoy the mystery.

To listen to the audiobook tootle over to cozy mystery

Popular Romantasy Book Series By New York Times Best-Selling Author Getting TV Adaption From Outlander Studio - ScreenRant

My work is finished for today.

As Panzer was traveling around the Catosphere the Panzermobile was suddenly shaken by clapping and cheering outside. Following all the ruckus took him to the ScreenRant site. There he discovered a post about a romantasy novel series was causing all the noise.

 

According to the post by Matthew Biggin, the novels in the Blood and Ash series will be developed into a TV series.

 

Panzer says, "I wonder when it will be on TV."

 

Note: Because of the illustrations, 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 Blood and Ash

The Publishers Association on the UK's AI Consultation - Publishing Perspectives

It will be interesting to see what happens.

Today, Panzer stopped at the Publishing Perspectives site. There with a little digging in the posts he found one about the UK and the uses of AI.

Porter Anderson's post gives information on the coming talks on AI and copyright in the UK. The post includes links to other information about the issue.

 

 Panzer says, "This little kitty wonders if it will be like the AI copyright issues in the US?"

Note: This is a long-medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and a chocolate chip cookie (biscuit) for today's reading snack.

 

To read the post tootle over to AI Consultation

Nero Knows Best - The Rap Sheet

As we get close to Christmas there's less news to report.

Panzer made a stop at The Rap Sheet site today. There he found a post about mystery writer Rex Stout's character Nero Wolfe.

 

J.Kingston Pierce's post lists the winners of The Nero Award and The Black Orchid Novella Award.

 

Panzer says, "I wonder if one day there will a Panzer Award for the best mystery solved by a black cat story."

 

Note: This is a short. You won't need to bring anything to snack on while you read.

 

To read the post tootle over to Nero Knows Best

No News Today

Mom had to go to the dentist to fix a filling that broke off her tooth.

Back tomorrow.

A Monday Panzerism

 Panzer on being a happy camper:

This brilliant kitty learned something new today.

Mom's big hot furnace thingy in the basement is broken.

The nice repairman gave Mom something he called a space heater.

I watched everything he did.

 

And ...

 

It looked like a little campfire to me.

And this one is portable.

So ...

 

I put a marshmallow on a stick.

And ...

Eureka!

It works like the big hot campfire thingy in the basement did.

From Cat Wisdom for humans

Your Free Sunday Jigsaw Puzzle: If I fit it's mine.

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.

This one is a little harder than last week's puzzle was. Are you keeping track of your completion time?

Have fun!

To do the puzzle tootle over to If I fit it's mine.

Free Classic Mystery Movie: The Hound of the Baskervilles

See you tomorrow.

Panzer found this classic Sherlock Holmes movie on the DK Classics III channel on Youtube.

 

The Hound of the Baskervilles is a 1939 Sherlock Holmes movie starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce. It's in black white and 1 hour 19 minutes long.

 

You know how this works. Get your beverage of choice, make some popcorn, settle down to watch the movie, while Panzer finds a place to sleep after all his travels today.

 

To watch the movie tootle over to Sherlock Holmes

Free Small Town Romance Audiobook: Then Again

Let's see what else I can find for you.

Panzer found this romance comedy audiobook on the author's channel on Youtube.

The romance novel Then Again is written by Sylvie Stewart. It's narrated by Kelsey Navarro and 6 hours 2 minutes long.

Note: This is is a "Hot" romance, but has been edited/cleaned up for listening on Youtube.

Make something to drink, find a comfortable place to relax, and enjoy this romance.

To listen to the audiobook tootle over to Then Again

Free Mysteryrat's Maze Podcast Episode: Gnomes for the Holidays

We'll start off with a little Christmas mystery.

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

 

Gnomes for the Holidays is written by Margaret S. Hamilton. It's read by Donna Beavers and 15 minutes long,

 

Make a cup of tea, find a comfy place and enjoy this short story.

 

To listen to the podcast tootle over to Margaret S. Hamilton

Free Small Town Audiobook Romance: Coming Home to Pine Haven

Mom is doing Christmas cards tonight.

Panzer found tonight's second chance romance on the author's channel on Youtube.

 

The romance Coming Home to Pine Haven is written by Laura Abbott. It's 4 hours 13 minutes long.

It's short enough you can listen to it while you're wrapping Christmas presents or making Christmas cookies or decorating your Christmas tree. Of course, if you're not preparing for Christmas, you can find a comfy place to relax and listen to the romance.

To listen to the audiobook tootle over to Coming Home to Pine Haven

Free Cozy Mystery Audiobook; Santa Claus Surprise

Off to find a romance.

Panzer found this cozy mystery on the author's channel on Youtube.

 

The mystery Santa Claus Surprise is written by Tonya Kappes. It's 5 hours 14 minutes long.

 

Make a cup of tea, find a comfortable place to relax and enjoy this cozy mystery.

 

Note:There are several advertisements included so, if you don't like ads in your listening, you might want to skip this audiobook.

To listen to the audiobook tootle over to Christmas Cozy Mystery

Sourcebooks Takes Bloom Books Romance into Germany and Brazil - Publishing Perspectives

I didn't know they were big romance markets.

Today, Panzer found a post about Sourcebooks expansion into new romance book markets.

 

According to Porter Anderson's post, Sourcebooks is expanding into Germany and Brazil using Penguin Random House's (PRH) companies in those countries for translation and distribution. The post includes several links to other posts with more information about other aspects of the companies involved in the expansion.

 

Panzer says, "When you're a big company like PRH with subsidiaries in other countries expanding is easy, low cost, and makes sense." 

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

To read the post tootle over to Sourcebooks Expansion

You can buy your next Hyundai car on Amazon in these 48 US cities - About Amazon News

Amazon Autos? This was a total shock to me.

Today, Panzer found this post at the Amazon blog, About Amazon News. Amazon is starting a new auto venture.

According to the staff written post, starting today (December 10) you can buy a new Hyundai online. At Amazon's new Amazon Autos you can do all the browsing, deciding, paperwork, and financing online in the 48 US cities which have Hyundai dealerships in the program.

 

Panzer says, "Hmm ... Buying a new car online."

 

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

 

To read the post tootle over to Amazon Autos

A Monday Panzerism

 Panzer on imparting information:

Here's a riddle:

Do you know why cats don't talk?

Answer:

Because you wouldn't like what we'd say.

Expect something different, did you?*

 

You'd expect us to say things like:

"Dinner please" and "Thank you for dinner."

Cats don't think like that.

Come on. "Give it to me. IT'S MINE!"

*From Cat Wisdom for humans

Your Free Sunday Jigsaw Puzzle: What is that?

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.

This puzzle is harder than last week's was.

Have fun!

To do the puzzle tootle over to What is that?

Free Classic Mystery Movie: Strange Illusions

I'll see you tomorrow.

For classic mystery movie lovers Panzer found this one on the Cult Cinema Classics channel.

 

The noir movie Strange Illusions was made in 1945. It's a 1 hour 25 minutes long black and white movie.

 

Grab your beverage of choice, make some popcorn and find a comfortable place to relax while you enjoy the movie.

 

To watch the movie tootle over to Classic Mystery Movie

Free Romance Audiobook:Her British Billionaire Best Friend

Next is a romance audiobook.

For the romance lovers out there Panzer found this one on the author's channel on Youtube.

 

The romcom Her British Billionaire Best Friend is written by Chelsea Hale. It's AI narrated and 5 hours 22 minutes long.

If you don't want to listen while you go for a walk outdoors, you can listen indoors while you do your cleaning or baking.

 

To listen to the audiobook tootle over to RomCom Audiobook

Free Classic Mystery Audio: The Man With The Watches

Let the party begin.

For the listeners who like their mysteries short Panzer found this one on the Bitesized Audio Classics channel on Youtube.

 

The murder mystery The Man With The Watches was written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. It's narrated by Simon Stanhope and 44 minutes long.

Make a cup of tea, lean back and relax, while you enjoy this mystery.

To listen to the audio tootle over to Arthur Conan Doyle

Kate Jackson: "Top Ten Tips for Private Eyes" - Sweet Freedom

Have fun reading it.

For all of you interested in reading about the PI business Panzer found this post on the Sweet Freedom site. It's written by author Kate Jackson.

Find a comfortable spot and enjoy learning the tips for PIs.

To read the post tootle over to "Top Ten Tips for Private Eyes":

Free Christian Romance:Beyond the Setting Sun

Here's today's romance audiobook for you.

For those of you who prefer your romance clean and sweet Panzer found this one on the Say With Jay channel on Youtube.

 

The sweet christian romance Beyond the Setting Sun is written by Jessie Gussman. It's narrated by Jay Dyess and 6 hours 38 minutes long.

Find a comfy spot to enjoy this beach house romance.

To listen to the audiobook tootle over to Christian Romance

Free Cozy Mystery Audiobook:Choc Chip Murder

I'll see what else I can find for you.

For those of you who like cozy mystery Panzer found this one on the author's channel on Youtube.

 

The murder mystery Choc Chip Murder is written by Rosie A. Point. It's 2 hours 10 minutes long. It's AI narrated and the author admits it's not a good narration.  The narration can be slowed down under the settings button on the right below the cover image.

 

 Find a comfortable spot to sit back, relax and enjoy the murder mystery.

To listen to the audiobook tootle over to Cozy Murder

Internet Archive Copyright Case Ends Without Supreme Court Review - Publishers Weekly

Where do you think the money will come from?

Tootling around in the Catosphere, Panzer found more information at the Publishers Weekly site about the end to the Internet Archive lawsuit he told you about earlier.

 

Andrew Albanese's post has quotes from individuals involved with the Internet Archive as well as links to other information about the lawsuit.

 

Panzer says, "This little kitty wants to know how much money they'll pay and where it will come from."

 

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

Where

To read the post tootle over to Internet Archive Case

To read yesterday's post tootle over to Internet Archive Infringement Suit

Copyright: Publishers Cheer the End of Internet Archive Suit - Publishing Perspectives

I thought it would never end.

Panzer was shaken from his nap in his kitty bed by clapping and cheering coming from the Catosphere. Jumping in the Panzermobile, he followed all the jocularity to the Publishing Perspectives site. There he discovered a post about the copyright infringement lawsuit against the Internet Archive (IA).

 

According to Porter Anderson's post, because IA didn't file to take the lawsuit decision against it to the Supreme Court the decision stands. There are links in the post to other information about the IA lawsuit, including one to the court decision against IA at the end of the post.

 

Panzer says, "If you steal you will have to pay the price."

 

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 Internet Archive Suit

Author Stephen King To Shutter Three Maine Radio Stations - Radio Ink

You never know what you can learn online.

Here's an interesting post about author Stephen King Panzer found at the Radio Ink site.

 

According to the news post at Radio Ink, Stephen King has decided after nearly forty years of ownership that he will be closing his three radio stations. The post has the history of his ownership of all three and why he's decided to close them.

 

Panzer says, "This little kitty didn't know Stephen King owned radio stations."

 

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

 

To read the post tootle over to Stephen King

Google sucks now - Robert J. Sawyer Blog

It's all in his post.

Panzer found this post at science fiction author Robert J. Sawyer's blog.

The blog title says his opinion and the blog explains why with an example.

Panzer says, "This little kitty didn't know that was AI generated. When did that happen?"

Note: This is a very short post. You won't need to bring anything because there won't be enough time while you read for a snack.

To read the post tootle over to Robert J. Sawyer*

 

 

 

*Hat tip of the kitty federa to Nate Hoffelder for the link to the post.

A Monday Panzerism

 Panzer on errors:

Cats are never wrong.

They may be temporarily intellectually challenged,

 

but

 

Never.

they are never wrong

Ever.

Got it?

Good.

From Cat Wisdom for humans

Free Sunday Jigsaw Puzzle: What do I spy with my little eye?

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.

This one is harder than last week's.

Have fun.

To do the puzzle tootle over to What do I spy with my little eye?