McIlvanney Prize 2021 Short List Announced - Bloody Scotland

Now for my afternoon nap.

Today Panzer discovered Bloody Scotland has announced the five finalists for the McIlvanney Prize. The winner will be announced on September 17. 

 

Tickets to the announcement of the winner will be for either in-person or the online broadcast. 

 

Tickets to attend either are free and a link to get tickets is included in the announcement post.

 

A couple of weeks ago Panzer told you about the program for this year's Bloody Scotland and how to get tickets for the program.

To read the post about the nominees tootle over to McIlvanney Prize shortlist

To read Panzer's previous post tootle over to Bloody Scotland Programme

Ingram Warns of 4th-Quarter Suppy Chain Disruptions - Shelf Awareness

 Today's trip into the Catosphere took Panzer to the Shelf Awareness site. There our intrepid kitty traveler found a post about Ingram Content Group.

 

According to the post, Ingram Content Group is predicting supply chain problems and cost increases for the publishing industry this holiday season. Ingram is also expecting warehouse and transportation problems. All these problems will cause slower deliveries.

 

Another ruined Christmas?

Panzer says, "This little kitty thinks you need to get your holiday books ready now, so you don't get caught in the Covid-19 storm in December."

 

Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and a brownie (everything feels better with chocolate) for today's reading.

 

To read the post tootle over to Ingram

36 Writing Contests in September 2021 - Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity

As Panzer was cleaning out the glove box in the Panzermobile he discovered a folded up post in there. Flattening it out, he found it was a post from the Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity site about 36 writing contests in September.

 

According to Erica Verrillo's post none of the 36 writing contests have an entry fee. There are contests for poetry, nonfiction and fiction. There are novel competitions included as well.

Some tight deadlines here.

Panzer says, "Always check the deadline dates and the rules."

 

Note: This is a long post. Only you know how many of these contests you'll be interested in so only you can decide what treats to bring.

 

To read the post tootle over to writing contests

A New Panzerism

 Panzer on cat behavior:

Get it? *

Humans wonder why cats run around with their tails straight up and bushed out in the air.

Well ...

You got a better way of checking the catmospheric conditions?

* From Cat Wisdom for humans

Bouchercon 2021 Free Presentations

Although due to the Covid-19 pandemic Bouchercon was cancelled this year, Panzer found two free presentation that were done via Zoom and posted online at YouTube.

The first is titled James Lee Burke and Alafair Burke in Conversation. 

The second is titled The Thrill of the Short Story: Video Panel

Free is good.

The Anthony Awards presentation will also be free and on Zoom at 4:00 pm today and posted at the same YouTube channel as the James Lee Burke and Alafair Burke presentation.

Panzer says, "Check your time zone to watch the Awards live."

To watch the James Lee Burke and Alafair Burke Zoom tootle over to Conversation

To watch The Thrill of the Short Story tootle over to Short Story Panel

Barnes & Noble Climbs Back - Publishers Weekly

Today's trip into the Catosphere took Panzer to the Publishers Weekly site. There he found a post about Barnes and Noble bookstores.

 

Everybody loves books.

According to the post by Jim Milliot, Barnes and Noble is making a comeback after the Covid-19 pandemic. Total store sales are up 5 percent this year over 2019. CEO James Daunt has given store managers more control over book ordering, returns, and book placement within the stores. Barnes and Noble continues closing under-performing stores. CEO Daunt foresees Nook sales increasing this year too.

Panzer says, "I'm glad B&N will continue the Nook."

Note: This is a long-medium length post. Bring a glass of iced tea and two chocolate chip cookies (biscuits) for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Barnes and Noble

24 Superb Writing Conferences in September 2021 - Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity

Panzer was eating his dinner when it was interrupted by oohhing and aahhing coming from the Catosphere. Using the Panzermobile, he followed all the noise to the Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity site. There he found a post about writers conferences in September.

 

Found this just for you.

Erica Verrillo's post contains information about 24 writing conferences in September. Included in the post are poetry, fiction and nonfiction conferences. Some conferences are in-person, some are online and some are a combination of both. Each conference description includes a link to more information about costs.

 

Panzer says, "Be sure and read all the information because at least one of the conferences is already closed."

 

Note: This is a long, long, long post. Depending on which conferences you want to read the information about, you'll need to decide what you want to bring and eat while you read.

 

To read the post tootle over to writing conferences

Pulling Out the Macavitys - The Rap Sheet

Panzer was shaken from his noon nap by clapping and cheering coming from the Catosphere. Dragging his poor tired little kitty body into the pilot's seat of the Panzermobile, he headed into the Catosphere. Following all the jocularity took him to The Rap Sheet site. There he discovered all the noise was for the announcement of the Macavity Award winners.

 

J. Kingston Pierce's post lists the winner and the fellow-nominees in each Macavity category. The categories are for novel, first novel, short story, biography, and the historical. Mystery Readers International subscribers and friends nominate and then vote for the winner in each category.

 

Mom should subscribe and vote.

Panzer says, "So ... It's kind of like the readers' favorite award?"

Note: This is a long-short length post. Bring a glass of iced tea for today's reading selection.

 

To read the post about the Macavity winners tootle over to Macavitys

Amazon is About to Shut Down Their Excuse for Charging Kindle eBook Delivery Fees - Nate Hoffelder

Today, Panzer made a trip to Nate Hoffelder's site. There with a little digging in the posts our inquisitive kitty boy found one about Amazon's 3G Kindle's demise in December. Panzer told you in a post earlier this month about the shutting down of 3G in December.

 

According to the post by Nate Hoffelder, the fee Amazon has been charging authors and publishers for ebook delivery was instituted in 2010 so Amazon could recoup the costs of using 3G. With 3G disappearing in December Nate Hoffelder makes the argument there should be no reason for Amazon to continue to charge the delivery fee. Amazon, however, has made no mention of removing the fee. There's a link included in the post which will take you to a Verge post about Amazon's announcement.

 

What can we do about it?

Panzer says, "This little kitty didn't know the delivery fee was connected to 3G."

 

Note: This is a long-short length post. Bring a small glass of lemonade for today's reading selection. If you plan to read Panzer's previous post and follow the link in that post, bring another glass of lemonade and a muffin.

 

To read the post tootle over to delivery fees

To read Panzer post about the 3G Kindles tootle over to Amazons Kindles

SF Author W. Bradford Smith Fund Raiser

Those of you who follow this blog regularly know we usually cover black cats, indie publishing, writing, and humor in our posts.. 

 

This post will be a little different.

 

SF author W. Bradford Smith (aka Orrin Jason Bradford) is battling cancer. Because the alternative treatment he's receiving isn't covered by his insurance, he has to pay for it himself. A GoFundMe page has been set up to raise money to help cover his medical expenses.

 

Your Tweets, Facebook and Blog posts will help too.

He also has a site set up where you can purchase his ebooks directly from him, if you're more comfortable with that instead of GoFundMe. He also has other ways to donate available on that page.

 

To read about how he's progressing with the treatments and to pledge tootle over to GoFundMe

 

To read about other ways besides GoFundMe to help finance his treatments tootle over to contribute