Turn You Book Into an Audiobook in Minutes with Spotify for Authors - Spotify Blog

I couldn't believe it.

Panzer found this post at the Spotify Blog site. They have a new free service for self-published authors. 

 

An author can create up to five audiobooks for free with Spotify for Authors.

 

Panzer says, "This little kitty couldn't believe it was true, until he checked it out at the site." 

 

Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a cup of tea.

 

Toi read the post tootle over to Spotify

Crawford's on a Winning Streak - The Rap Sheet

Two for One.

Panzer' next stop was at The Rap Sheet site. There our intrepid kitty traveler found a post about the Bloody Scotland International Crime Writing Festival

 

 The winner of the Bloody Scotland Debut Prize and the winner of the McIlvanney Prize were announced there. The winner and links to more information are included in the post.

 

Panzer says, "That's quite a debut."

 

Note: This is a short medium length post. Bring a cup of tea. Of you plan to follow the links, you decide what to bring.

 

To read the post tootle over to The Rap Sheet 

Love v. Wiley Book Writers: A Publishing Scam Gets A Rare Comeuppance - Writer Beware (R)

I'm seeing better now.

Panzer's first stop today was at the Writer Beware (R) site. There he found a post about a ring of scammers who finally got caught.

 

Victoria Strauss' post follows how an author who got scammed out of thousands of dollars was able to get the scammers tracked down, go toi court, and win his case.

 

Panzer says, "Look at the list of company names those guys used." 

 

 Note: This is a very, very long post. Bring a cup of tea and sandwich to snack on.

 

To read the post tootle over to Writer Beware (R) 

A Panzerism

 Panzer on thoughts of Autumn:

 

Mom's asters are blooming. She said they bring another beautiful Summer to a conclusion.

Hey ...

Wait a minute ...

That means Autumn is coming.

She better appreciate my work.

Cold weather. Rain. Sleet. Snow.

COLD! 

I have to get outside now!

I have to rip out all those asters.

NOW!

It's up to ME to stop Autumn form coming!

 

 

 

 

*From Cat Wisdom for humans

Puzzle:No we are not lost. Mom is over here.

Hint

Here' today's new jigsaw puzzle.

 

At the puzzle site at any time to see the finished puzzle click the square in the lower left corner.

 

This one is a real challenge. 

 

Have fun!

 

To do the puzzle tootle over to Kittens Jigsaw Puzzle

Free to Listen Mail Order Bride Shapeshifter Romance Audiobook: Rancher Bear's Mail Order Mate

Tomorrow I'll be better.

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

 

Bear's Mail Order Mate is written by Candace Ayers. It's 1 hour 41 minutes long. 

 

To listen to the audiobook tootle over to Mail Order Bride Romance

Free to Watch Classic Mystery Movie: Midnight Intruder

I hate those eyedrops.

Here's today's mystery movie Panzer found on the WickedlyChels channel on Youtube.

 

Midnight Intruder is a black and white 1938 murder mystery. It's 1 hour 7 minutes long.

 

 Makes some popcorn, grab your favorite beverage and enjoy the movie.

 

To watch the movie tootle over to Classic Mystery Movie 

Free to Listen Enemies to Lovers Romance Audiobook: Return to Sender

Don't wake me until tomorrow.

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

 

The Romcom Return to Sender is written by Wynn Valentine. It's 4 hours 19 minutes long.

 

To listen to the audiobook tootle over to RomCom Audiobook 

Free to Listen Cozy Mystery Audiobook: By Book or By Crook

I feel a little better today.

Panzer found this cozy mystery on the Cozy Mystery Audio channel on Youtuve.

 

By Book or By Crook is written by Eva Gates. It's 9 hours 26 minutes long.

  

To listen to the audiobook tootle over to  

UK Indie Bitter Lemon Press Launches New International Imprint - Publishing Perspectives

Leave me alone.

Here's a post from the Publishing Perspectives site about UK publisher Bitter Lemon Press.

 

According to the post, Bitter Lemon Press's new imprint will publish books translated into English for the U.K. and U.S. market. First books will come out next year. Included in the post are links to the press release and more information about the publisher.

 

Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a glass of lemonade to drink.

 

To read the post tootle over to Bitter Lemon Press 

Bloody Scotland Online Events

I'm not moving from here.

Panzer meant to post this last week but with his on-off-on eye infection things have gone kittywumpus all month.

 

The Bloody Scotland International Crime Writing Festival which starts September 18 thru 20 has several online events. You can buy digital passes to attend these. If you want to attend from home, the link is below for program information and costs.

 

To check out the information tootle over to Bloody Scotland 

Exploring Earthsea: Ursula K. Le Guin's Fantasy Masterpiece

Leave me alone. Let me sleep.

Only one post today. Panzer went to the vet again. He's still having eye problems and started a new eye drop medication.

  

****** 

 

In a September 10 post here Panzer told you about a Library of America online event discussing Ursula K. Le Guin's Earthsea fantasy on September 15. 

  

If you missed it yesterday, a recording has been uploaded to LOA's Youtube channel. Panzer doesn't know how long it will be available, so rather than wait until the weekend he'll post a link to it now.

 

Note: It's one hour long. Bring whatever you want to snack on.

 

To watch the program tootle over to Ursula K. Le Guin

Barnes & Noble Agree to Buy Joseph-Beth Booksellers - Publishers Daily

After all this Catosphere traveling I need a nap.

Panzer's last stop was at the Publishers Daily. There our inquisitive kitty boy found a post about Barnes and Noble.

 

According to the post, Barnes and Noble has purchased the two Joseph-Beth Booksellers stores. The stores will keep their names and employees.

 

Note: This is  a medium length post. Bring a glass of iced tea and a chocolate chip cookie to snack on. 

 

To read the post tootle over to Barnes and Noble 

2026 McIlvanney Prize Shortlist - Mystery Fanfare

See anyone you know on the list?

Panzer's next stop was at the Mystery Fanfare site. With a little digging in the posts, he found one about the Mcllvanney Prize and the Bloody Scotland International Crime Writing Festival. The post has the shortlist of fianlists for the Friday, September 18, announcement of the McILvanney Prize winner.

 

Note: This is a short post. You won't need anything to snack on. 

 

To read the shortlist trundle over to 2026 McIlvanney Prize Shortlist

HWA Dissolves Executive Director Position Amid Series of Controversies - File 770

Put this in a story and nobody would believe it.

Today's first stop in the Catophere for Panzer was at the File 770 site. There are some mystery writers who like to include a little horror here and there in their stories and Panzer likes to keep up on the news about Horror Writers of America (HWA).

 

According to a post at File 770 there's a lot going on at HWA. That includes more than the dissolution of the Executive Director's  position. 

 

Panzer says, "There's more going on there than anybody knew."

 

Note: This is a very long post. Bring a sandwich and a glass of milk to snack on.

 

To read the post tootle over to Horror Writers  

A Panzerism

 Panzer on the Cat Olympics:

 

There I was practicing for the high jump.

 

Squat down. Check the height of What's His Name's desk.

 

Wiggle my rear end. I know I can do this.

 

Don't yell at me. You left it there.

Jump for the stars. A perfect arch.

 

Ready for a four point landing ...

 

and ...

 

There's a cup of coffee on his blueprints. 

Today's Puzzle: Mom! Where are you?

Hint

Here's your new jig saw puzzle.

 

Remember, at the puzzle site click the square in the lower left corner to see the finished puzzle.

 

Have fun!

 

To do the puzzle tootle over to Kitten Jigsaw Puzzle

Free to Watch Classic Mystery Movie:The Last Clue (Michael Shayne Private Detective)

Save me some popcorn.

Here's a mystery movie Panzer found on the Halika Official channel on Youtube.

 

Although the Halika Official channel calls the movie The Last Clue, it true title is Michael Shayne Private Detective. It's a 1940 black and white mystery movie.  

 

 Make some popcorn, grab something to drink and enjoy the movie.

 

To watch the movie tootle over to Classic Mystery Movie 

Free to Listen Clean Amish Romance Audiobook: A Love Worth Hiding For

I'll be back with something else for you.

Here's an Amish romance Panzer found on the Indiana Wake and Friends channel on Youtube.

 

A Love Worth Hiding For is written by Sarah Miller. It's 5 hours 18 minutes long.

 

To listen to the audiobook tootle over to Clean Amish Romance

Free to Listen Cozy Murder Mystery Audiobook: Biscuits and Bedlam

I'm finished for the day.

Here's a cozy mystery Panzer found on the author's channel on Youtuve.

 

Biscuits and Bedlam is written by Laina Turner. It's 3 hours 35 minutes long.

 

To listen to the mystery audiobook tootle over to Cozy Mystery Audiobook 

Free to Listen Cowboy Clean Romance Audiobook: Inheriting the Farmhouse

Cozy mystery next.

For those of you who like cowboy romances Panzer found this one on the Author's channel on Youtube.

 

Inheriting the Farmhouse is written by Catelyn Meadows. It's 8 hours 20 minutes long.

 

To listen to the audiobook tootle over to  Cowboy Romance Audiobook

Patriot Day

 

 

Artificial - Official Teaser Trailer for Sam Altman Biopic

Doesn't say which theaters will show it.

Here's a little movie trailer Panzer found on Youtube. Rather than wait until Saturday, he decided to post it today.

 

 It's the teaser for the OpenAI CEO Sam Altman biopic opening on Christmas.

 

 Panzer says, "There are some interesting "Comments" under the teaser."

 

Note: The teaser is short. You won't need anything to snack on. 

 

To watch the trailer tootle over to Movie Teaser Trailer 

Barnes & Noble Returns with a Major Bookstore to Jenkintown, PA - Press Release

A big turn around for Barnes and Noble.

Panzer found a press release at the Barnes and Noble site about the opening of a new bookstore.

 

The new bookstore will open on September 16 and is part of Barnes and Noble's planned 60 stores opening this year.

 

Note: This is a long press release. Bring a glass of lemonade and a ginger snap cookie to snack on.

 

To read the press release tootle over to Barnes and Noble 

Springer Nature Updates AI Policy - Publishers Daily

Read the press release first.

At the Publishers Daily site Panzer found a press release from publisher Springer Nature's changes to the company's AI policy.

 

Being the inquisitive kitty that he is, Panzer went to the company's AI policy page to read it. He's included a link below. 

 

Note: The press release is short. You won't need anything to snack on for that. The AI policy is longer, so, if you also go there, you'll need to decide what to bring to snack on.

 

To read the press release tootle over to Springer Nature AI Policy 

To read their AI policy tootle over to AI Guidance 

LAcon V Site Selection Business Meeting - File 770

I did a lot of traveling today. I deserve a long nap.

At the File 777 site Panzer found the announcement that at the Worldcon 2028 Site Selection meeting Brisbane, Australia, won the vote.

 

 Worldcon is the World Science Fiction Convention. It will be held July 27 - 31 2028.

 

Note: This is a short announcement. You won't need anything to snack on. 

 

To read the post tootle over to Site Selection 

Exploring Earthsea Ursula K. Le Guin's Fantasy Masterpiece

I like her books.

Panzer made a stop at the Library of America on the Eventbrite site. There he discovered an announcement about Ursula K. Le Guin's Eathsea books.

 

The announcement has information about a program for those interested in learning more at Le Guin's books. It also contains a description of the program and information about the three presenters.

 

The program is presented by the Library of America online on September 15 from 3 pm to 4 pm PDT.

 

The program is free and you can register on the right side.

 

This is a short medium length post. Bring a glass of lemonade to drink today. 

 

To read the post trundle over to Ursula K Le Guin  

Authors Guild, Co-Plaintiffs Seek Summary Judgment in OpenAI Case - Publishers Daily

This one is confusing to me.

Panzer's first stop in the Catosphere today was at the Publishers Daily site. There our traveling kitty pilot found a post about the court case against OpenAI and Microsoft

 

The court case involves copyright infringement because the plaintiffs say OpenAI fed books into it LLMs. OpenAI says it was "Fair Use". 

 

Panzer says, "Another copyright case." 

 

 Note: Ths is a very long post. You should bring your lunch to snack on.

 

To read the post tootle over to OpenAI Case 

Set up pre-orders up to 18 months in advance - KDP Forum

That's it for today.

Panzer found an announcement at the Kindle Direct Publishing site about pre-orders.

 

There are new rules for pre-order cancellations and the length of a pre-oder.

 

Note: This is a short announcement. You don't need to bring anything to snack on.

 

To read the post tootle over to KDP 

Killer Nashville Magazine Online

I remember when the magazine was all free.

On a quick stop at the Killer Nashville Magazine site Panzer discovered some new material there. There's new nonfiction features and a new short story.

 

As always at the site, anything in red is available to read and anything in white is for the paid version.

 

To read the post tootle over to Killer Nashville Magazine 

Anthropic Copyright Settlement: Publishers Are Making Incorrect Claims On Authors Payouts - Writer Beware (R)

I've got a headache from all this.

Today, Panzer's first stop was at the Writers Beware (R) site. 

 

Victoria Strauss' column is beyond huge. There's mess with the payouts for books copied by Anthropic. Publishers and agents are caught in  mistaken claims in the settlement payouts. Included in the post are links to important information.

 

Panzer says, "Looks like authors need to read everything very carefully."

 

 Note: The post is beyond huge. It's gigantic. Pack a lunch to eat today. You're going to want it.

 

To read the post tootle over to Anthropic 

A Panzerism

 Panzer on teaching humans:

 

Everyone says that cats hold grudges.

You know ...

It's true.

We value the ability a grudge gives us to maintain our contempt for humans.

 

Chubby cat, huh?*

Here's an example: 

Mom's new neighbor Buddy actually said this out loud the first time he came over to the house last week,

"What s chubby sat."

 

I'll tell you about grudges ...

He will never find his house key again. Never. Never. Never.

 

 

 

*From Cat Wisdom for humans 

Labor Day

 

 

Today's Puzzle - Autumn is on the way.

 

Hint

Here's today's new jigsaw puzzle.

 

At the puzzle site click the square in the lower left corner to see the finished puzzle.

 

This one is a challenge.

 

Have fun!

 

To do the puzzle tootle over to Cat Lovers Puzzle

Free to Watch Agatha Christie Classic Suspense Movie: Love from a Stranger

This is a three day weekend. I need my nap!

Panzer found this movie on the PizzaFlix channel on Youtube.

 

 Love from a Stranger is a 1937 suspense movie based on an Agatha Christie story. It's 1 hour 27 minutes long.

 

Make a pizza, get your favorite beverage and enjoy the movie.

 

To watch the movie tootle over to Agatha Christie Suspense Movie

Free to Listen A Magical Prequel Audiobook: A Place to Rest

Just for something a little different.

Panzer found this prequel on the author's channel on Youtube.

 

 A Place to Rest is written by Wynn Valentine. It's 3 hours 53 minutes long and is a prequel to a three book series.

 

To listen to the audiobook tootle over to Magical Prequel Audiobook

Free to Listen Small Town Clean Romance Audiobook: The Daiy Before Forever

I'm off to find you something else.

Here's a small town romance Panzer found on the Blue Coast Studio channel on Youtube.

 

The Day Before Forever is written dy Emily Harper. It's 5 hours 29 minutes long.

 

To listen to the audiobook tootle over to Small Town Clean Romance Audiobook

Free to Listen Mail Order Bride Romance Audiobook: The Bride of Blackwater Creek

See you tomorrow.

Here's a short western romance Panzer found on the Shelfie Romance Audiobook channel on Youtube.

 

 The Bride of Blackwater Creek is written by Shelfie Bennett. It's 1 hour 21 minutes long.

 

To listen to the audiobook tootle over to Mail Order Bride

Free to Listen Cozy Mystery Audiobook: Murder at Lowry House

A little romance is next.

If you like traditional British mystery, Panzer found this one on the Cozy Noir channel on Youtube.

 

Murder at Lowry House is written by Leighann Dobbs. It's narrated biy Alison Larkin and 5 hours 6 minutes long.

 

 To listen to the audiobook tootle over to Cozy Mystery Audiobook 

The Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction Announces 2026 Longlist

An interesting list they picked.

 Panzer made a stop at The Baillie Gifford Prize site. There he found the longlist for the 2026 prize had been posted. 

 

The Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction is for the best nonfiction book published in English in the U.K. The book can be published anywhere else in the world, but must be translated and published in the U.K. also.

 

Panzer says, "The prize is divided between the author and the translator."

 

Note: This is a long post. Depending on where you live and your weather, bring whatever you want to snack on. 

 

To read the list tootle over to Baillie Gifford Prize Longlist 

Reaching Readers: International Publishing and the Silver Economy - Publishing Perspectives

Sounds like a wide open market.

Panzer's first stop today was at the Publishing Perspectives site. There our traveling kitty pilot found a post about "silver" readers.

 

The post covers the nearly totally forgotten market of readers over 55 years old. As the population ages the market gets bigger. The post includes links to several other sources and one to the report quoted in the post.

 

 Panzzer says, "This little kitty never thought about those readers before."

 

Note: This is a long post. Bring a glass of lemonade and two ginger snap cookies for today's snack. 

 

To read the post tootle over to Silver Economy 

ThrillerFest XXII (2027) Scholarship Application (All Scolarships)

They're already talking about 2027.

While Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere, he made a stop at the ThrillerFest site. 

 

He discovered the scholarship applications have been posted there  Requirements and instructions for applying are included. Applications are due January 15, 2027.

 

ThrillerFest will be held April 27 - May 1. 

 

To read the post tootle over to Application 

Books-A-Million Continues to Ride Fiction Wave - Publishers Daily

I'll see what else I can find.

Today, Panzer stopped in at the Publishers Daily site. There he found a post about Books-A-Million.

 

Although Books-A-Million (BAM) doesn't release any specific sales numbers, it does report an increase from last year that continues into this year.

 

Panzer says, "At the end of the post, you can read  about two romantasy events, one in September and one in October, BAM has planned."

 

Note: This is a long medium length post. Bring a glass of lemonade and two chocolate chip cookies to snack on.

 

To read the post tootle overe to Books-A-Million 

85 Calls for Submissions in September 2026 - Paying markets - Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity

Tomorrow will be a better search day.

This is the week leading up to Labor Day in the U.S., so there's not as much activity in the publishing world. However, Panzer was able to find a post about calls for submissions at the Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity site.

 

Erica Verrillo's list includes calls for submissions of fiction,, nonfiction, poetry and numerous genres.

 

Panzer says, "Be sure to read the submission guidelines as some do have restrictions."

 

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

 

To read the post tootle over to 85 Calls for Submissions