AI Best Practices for Publishers: Using AI Detectors and Dealing With Undisclosed AI Use - Authors Guild

Doesn't matter. Cats do whatever they want to do anyway.

Here's a post Panzer found at The Author Guild site about publishers, writers and AI use.

 

This post has a section on AI use detectors.

 

Panzer says, "This little kitty is still confused: Is Spell Checker in Word considered AI use?  Is Find and Replace AI use?"

 

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

  

To read the post tootle over to Publishers 

2026 National Book Awards Finalists - Locus

Recognize anyone?

Panzer made a stop at the Locus Magazine site today.

 

There our traveling kitty found the National Book Foundation's National Book Awards Locus readers genre specific finalist lists.

 

Panzer says, "The post also has a link to the complete lists of all the awards finalists."

 

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

 

To read the post tootle over to National Book Awards Finalists 

A Panzerism

For some unknown reason yesterday's Panzerism got eaten in the Catosphere instead of being posted, so here it is today. 

 **********

 

I'm proving no saddle is needed.

Panzer on equestrian skills:

 

I am not scratching the furniture ... 

 

I am learning how to ride the couch without a saddle. 

Jigsaw Puzzle

 

Hint

Here's today's jigsaw puzzle.

 

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

 

Have fun with this one.

 

To do the puzzle tootle over to Cat Jigsaw Puzzle

Free to Watch Classic Murder Mystery Movie: It Couldn't Have Happened (But It Did)

Don't wake me.

Panzer found this classic movie on the Pizzaflix channel on Youtube.

 

It Couldn't Have Happened (But It Did) is a 1936 black and white murder mystery movie.

 

Make a pizza, grab your beverage of choice and enjoy the mystery.

 

To watch the movie tootle over to Classic Mystery Movie

Something Is Going to Happen - Skidding Broadside in a Cloud of Smoke

The things I do for you.

Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine's Something Is Going to Happen has a post written by mystery writer Anna Scotti. 

 

In the post she explains the trail that led her to being a short story writer.

  

To read the post tootle over to Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine 

Amerian Flash Fiction: Brilliant Brevities & Miniature Masterpieces - Library of America

Off to find something else

In case you missed the Library of America's Flash Fiction presentation earlier in October, it's now online on Youtube.

 

The event features three flash fiction writers discussing what it is and how to write it. The program is one hour long.

 

Note: Yes these are authors published in a Library of America flash fiction book. 

 

To watch the video tootle over to Flash Fiction 

Free to Listen Rom Com Audiobook: Case Study

 

Let's see what else is hiding out there.

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

 

Case Study is written by Lainey Davis. It's 6 hours long.

 

To listen to the audiobook tootle over to Rom Com Audiobook

Free to Listen Paranormal Cozy Mystery Audiobook: Some Enchanted Eclair

Look at that book cover with all those cats.

Panzer found this audiobook on the Cozy Mystery Audio channel on Youtube.

 

Some Enchanted Eclair was written by Bailey Cates. It's 7 hours 33 minutes long.

 

To listen to the audiobook tootle over to Cozy Mystery Audiobook

Free to Listen Clean Romance Audiobook: Coming Home to the Valley

Off to find a mystery for you.

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

 

Coming Home to the Valley is written by Ellen Joy. It's 7 hours 9 minutes long.

 

Note: The title under the book cover on Youtube says "AI Full Length Clean Romance Audiobook." I think that means it's AI narrated not written.

 

To listen to the audiobook tootle over to Clean Romance Audiobook

Must Read Issues Statemen on Cover Illustration Contracts - Locus

Just talking in my sleep.

Panzer's next stop was at the Locus site. 

 

There he found a continuation of yesterdays' post at Writer Beware (R) about contract rights grabs by Must Read Magazines. The Locus post quotes Must Read Magazine's explanation of the contract's terms.".

 

Panzer says, "Hmm ... Maybe ... don't use a specific story's plot/theme/premise as your cover illustration."

 

Note: This is a long medium length post. Bring a glass of milk and three chocolate chip cooks for today's snack.

 

To read the post tootle over to Must Read's Statement 

Charter of Ethical AI Use in the Creative Industries - Society of Authors

It doesn't say I can't use my spell checker.

Panzer made his first stop of the day at the U.K.'s Society of Authors site.

 

There with no digging in the posts at all he found the organization's new Charter which it is asking other organization to sign. At the bottom of the post are two "Plus signs". Each opens one of the reports mentioned in the Charter.

 

Panzer says, "This little kitty got confused about what specific uses are ethical or not ethical."

 

Note: This is a long post. Bring a cup of tea and a muffin for today's snack.

 

To read the post tootle over to Ethical AI Use

MACAVITY AWARD WINNERS 2026 - Mystery Fanfare

They missed a lot of good indie books and stories.

Tootling around in the Catosphere today, the Panzermobile was suddenly buffeted by clapping and cheering outside. Following all the noise took our intrepid kitty traveler to the Mystery Fanfare site.

 

There he discovered a list of the winners of this year's Macavity Awards was posted. The list also includes the nominees for each award. The poem that's about Macavity (the cat the awards are named after) is at the end of the post.

 

Panzer says, "This little kitty didn't see any indie books or short stories on the list."

 

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

 

To read the post tootle ovesr to Macavity Award Winners...

Book Publishers Are Quietly Using More AI. Staff Are Revolting - Wired

I wonder if cover designer know about this?

Today, Panzer stopped at the Wired site where he discovered a post about publishers and AI.

 

According to interviews with employees at HarperCollins, Simon and Schuster and Hachette, all three are using AI in ways unknown to the public. These run from email to cover material.. If you've read about the books pulled by publishers because of "suspected" AI use, you'll find this post about their own use of AI interesting.

 

 Panzer says, "It's not that big a jump from back cover copy to front cover illustration."

 

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

 

To read the post tootle over to Publishers and AI 

More Rights Grabs from Must Read Magazines - Writer Beware (R)

Pay Attention! These are professionals.

Panzer made a trip to the Writer Beware (R) site where he found an interesting post about Must Read Magazines.

 

After the trouble Must Read Magazines contracts caused with writers the new owners are using similar ones with illustrators. The outcome looks to be the same this time.

 

Panzer says, "This little kitty doesn't think it looks like they learned anything from the writer uproar."

 

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

 

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

We're making it easier to identify A-I generated content globally - News from Google (Blog)

Here's an announcement Panzer found on the Google blog site.

 

According to the post, Google has made their AI watermark detector available to everyone. The detector can read other AI company's watermarks as well as Google's. The detector works for video and audio watermarks. The post contains links to other information about the detector and Google.

 

Panzer says, "The post lists the other company watermarks the detector can read." 

 

Note: This is a short announcement. You won't need anything to snack on unless you decide to follow the links to other information.

  

To read the post tootle over to SynthID Detector 

A Panzerism

 Panzer on the human idea of closure:

 

Mom's goldfish Molly died. Mom says she wants closure.

 

Silly idea. Cats don't waste their time that way.

 

Mom. Molly was a goldfish.

Humans should understand each moment passes away forever. It's gone. There's no way to enter the past.

 

The past is like water disappearing down the toilet with Molly. She's gone to some unknown unknowable place.

 

A better place for Molly? Perhaps. 

A Puzzle - I am not lost.

Hint

Here's your new jigsaw puzzle.

 

At the puzzle site if you click the square in the lower left corner, you can see the finished puzzle.

 

Have fun!

 

To go to the puzzle site tootle over to Cat Jigsaw Puzzle

Free to Watch Classic Mystery Movie: Bowery at Midnight.

See you for Puzzle Day tomorrow.

Panzer found this movie on the Hastings Mystery Theater site on Youtube.

 

Bowery at Midnight is a 1942 black and white thriller movie. It's 1 hour 7 minutes long.

 

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

 

To watch the movie tootle over to Classic Mystery Movie

Free to Listen Clean Romance Audiobook:Falling Into Fiction

I'll see what else is out there.

Here's your romance audiobook Panzer found on the author's channel on Youtube.

 

Falling Into Fiction is written by Victorine E. Lieske. It's 6 hours 42 minutes long. 

 

To listen to the audiobook tootle over to Clean Romantic Comedy

Free to Listen Creative Penn Podcast: From Story Seeds To Stories, And Writing An Author' Note, With Joanna Penn

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

Panzer found this episode on The Creative Penn podcast.

 

The episode shows how to gather ideas, plan and write a publishable piece.

 

 The podcast is 1 hour 18 minutes long

  

To read the post tootle over to  The Creative Penn

SelfPubCon 26 The Future of Self-Publishing: What's Working Now & What's Next

I'll find more for you.

The Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi) has announced the date of the SelfPubCon is October 17 and 18. 

 

All presenters and their topics are included in the post. You'll need to adjust times for your location.

 

The event is online and free. You do not need to be a member to attend. A link to register is included.

 

To read the post tootle over to SelfPubCon26

Free to Listen Clean Romance Audiobook: When One Door Closes

Back tomorrow.

Here's a clean romance Panzer found on the author's channel on Youtube.

 

When One Door Closes is written by Bridget E. Baker. It's 6 hours 54 minutes long.

 

To listen to the audiobook tootle over to Clean Romance Audiobook

Free to Listen Magical Cozy Mystery Audiobook: Charms and Chocolate Chips

Everybody needs a little magic in their life.

Panzer found this magical bakery mystery on the Cozy Mystery Audio channel on Youtube.

 

Charms and Chocolate Chips is written by Bailey Cates. It's i7 hours 42 minutes long.

 

To listen to the cozy mystery tootle over to Magical Bakery Shop Mystery

LAcon V Worldcon 2026 - Locus

I'm tired just read about LAcon.

If you didn't make it to LAcon V in August, Panzer found a post at the Locus site for you.

 

The post has photos, award winners and information about all the programs and events.

 

 Panzer says, "Looks like a lot of fun."

 

Note: This is a long, long, long post.

 

To read the post tootle over to LAcon V Worldcon 2026 

The Birth of a New Magazine - In Reference to Murder

It's digital or paper.

Here's an announcement about the Short Mystery Fiction Society's (SMFS) new magazine Panzer found on the In Reference to Murder site. 

   

This is a brand new magazine with stories and interviews written by SMFS members. The first issue is available on Amazon. 

 

Panzer says, "This little kitty is a member of SMFS, but he's not included."

 

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

 

To read the post tootle over to New Magazine..

Call for Articles and Reviews: Mysteries set in India - Mystery Readers Journal

Detailed guideline.

Panzer found this post on the Mystery Fanfare site.

 

The Mystery Readers Journal is open for submissions until November 5.

 

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

 

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

 

To read the post tootle over to Mystery Readers Journal

Canada's Valsoft Aquires Firebrand Group - Publishers Daily

I've got a headache from that.

Panzer stopped in at the Publishers Daily site where he found a post about Valsoft

 

Canadian company Valsoft acquired US company Firebrand Group. Valsoft owns Edelweiss and Firebrand Group owns NetGalley,  so now Valsoft owns Edelweiss and NetGalleiy. Several links to more information are included in the post.

 

Panzer says, "Did you follow all that?" .

 

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

 

To read the post tootle over to Valsoft acquires Firebrand Group  

Frankfurter Buchmesse 2026: Historian Jill Lepore Speaks of an Industry - and a World - 'On the Knife Edge of History' - Publishing Perspectives

You need to read it.

Panzer's first stop today was at the Publishing Perspectives site. There our traveling kitty boy found a post about the Frankfurter Buchmesse. 

 

The post is about Pulitzer Prize winning author Jill Lepore's keynote speech at the event. Her speech addresses AI from more than the publishing perspective.

 

Panzer says, "What she said is kind of scary to this little kitty." 

 

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

 

To read the post tootle over to Frankfurter Buchmesse 2026 

A Panzerism

 Panzer on keeping pets:

 

The three main reasons to keep pets:

 

1) Teaches responsibility;

2) Teaches unselfishness;

3) Teaches cleanliness.

One heartbeat away from the curb.

 

All true.

 

But mostly I just keep Mom around to feed me. 

Otherwise, I'd dump her in a heartbeat.

 

Today's Puzzle - I know there's catnip in here. I can smell it.

Hint

Here's your new jigsaw puzzle.

 

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 Black Cat Jigsaw Puzzle

Free to Watch Classic Mystery Movie: Sherlock Holmes Faces Death

There's a series to binge watch.

Here's a Sherlock Holmes series Panzer found on the Feature Film channel on Youtube. 

 

Sherlock Holmes Faces Death is a 1943 black and white movie.  It's 1 hour 8 minutes long.

 

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

  

To watch the movie tootle over to Sherlock Holmes Mystery 

Free to Listen Cowboy Single Dad Romance Audiobook: Her Second Chance Cowboy

 

What else can I find?

Panzer found this small town romance on the Relay Publishing channel ion Youtube.

 

 Her Second Chance Cowboy is written by Mary Sue Jackson. It's 6 hours 26 minutes long.

 

To listen to the romance tootle over to Cowboy Single Dad Romance

Free to Listen CBS Radio Mystery Theater: Old Time Radio Tales of the Macabre

And old time radio to finish tonight.

Here's something different Panzer found on the Rod's Radio Reruns channel on Youtube.

 

 It's four episodes from the CBS Radio Mystery Theater. It's three hours long.

 

To listen tootle over to Old Time Radio

Free to Listen clean Amish romance audiobook: Beneath the Lilacs

Next a little romance.

If you like Amish romances, Panzer found this one on the Tica House Audio channel on Youtube.

 

Beneath the Lilacs is written by Hannah Miller. It's 4 hour 5 minutes long.

 

To listen to the audiobook tootle over to Amish Romance

Free to Listen Cozy Mystery Audiobook: How to Book a Murder

A cozy mystery first.

Here's a cozy mystery Panzer found on the Quiet Clues channel on Youtube.

 

 How to Book a Murder is written by Cynthia Kuhn. It's 8 hours 20 minutes long.

 

 To listen to the audiobook tootle over to Cozy Mystery

The secret lives of men who read romance books: My life is full of love, so I'm drawn to them - The Guardian

Did you know this?

If you're a romance reader or writer you might find this post Panzer found on The Guardian site interesting.

 

Turns out a lot of men read and write romance novels. The post interviews several.

 

Panzer says, "This little kitty knew men write romance." 

 

Note: This is a very, very long post. Bring a cup of tea and a big muffin. 

 

To read the post tootle over to Romance Books 

Announcing The Center for Fiction 2026 First Novel Prize Shortlist

Some interesting plots.

Panzer found the shortlist announcement for The Center for Fiction First Novel Prize on the site today

 

The shortlist has seven novels and their plots on the site.

 

Panzer says, "The winner will be announced on December 8.

 

Note: This is a long post. Bring a cup of hot cocoa and a muffin to snack on.

 

To read the post tootle over to First Novel Prize Shortlist 

Scholastic Agrees to Buy Cottage Door Press for $71 Million - Publishers Daily

See you tomorrow.

Here's a post Panzer found on the Publishers Daily site about children's book publisher.

 

While Cottage Door Press is being bought by Scholastic, the company will continue to run as an independent company.

 

Panzer says, " The founder is leaving the company."

 

Note: This is a long medium length post. Bring a cup of hot cocoa and a muffin to snack on.

 

To read the post tootle over to Scholastic 

The Missing Link - Forensic Science

Interesting.

Panzer found this Substack post on Max Houck's Forensic Science

 

The post explains the backward chain used to find a suspect. 

 

Panzer says, "Information needed for mystery writers or anybody interested in crime solving."

 

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

 

To read the post tootle over to Forensics