Fiona L. Woods's Blog, page 209
November 4, 2021
No Post
Published on November 04, 2021 21:45
November 3, 2021
Protecting Fictional Characters Under U.S. Copyright Law - NOLO
Today, Panzer made a trip to the NOLO site. There with a little digging in the posts our inquisitive kitty boy found one about copyrighting fictional characters.
According to the post by Richard Stim, Attorney, it is possible for writers to copyright the characters in their work. There are, however, certain things the writer must do. The most important thing a writer must do is make sure the character is different and distinct from other characters. How? Something like a five-foot-tall cat who can change his color to blend in with his surroundings and who is telepathic. That would make the cat different and distinct from other cat characters. The post covers other necessary criteria and includes court decisions on the issue too.
I'm one of a kind.
Panzer says, "Or how about a dog who runs around in circles and barks at his tail? No you couldn't copyright that character. That's just what every dog does."
Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and a muffin for today's educational reading session.
To read the post tootle over to fictional characters
According to the post by Richard Stim, Attorney, it is possible for writers to copyright the characters in their work. There are, however, certain things the writer must do. The most important thing a writer must do is make sure the character is different and distinct from other characters. How? Something like a five-foot-tall cat who can change his color to blend in with his surroundings and who is telepathic. That would make the cat different and distinct from other cat characters. The post covers other necessary criteria and includes court decisions on the issue too.

Panzer says, "Or how about a dog who runs around in circles and barks at his tail? No you couldn't copyright that character. That's just what every dog does."
Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and a muffin for today's educational reading session.
To read the post tootle over to fictional characters
Published on November 03, 2021 15:21
November 2, 2021
Justice Department Sues to Block Penguin Random House Aquisition of S&S - Publishers Weekly
Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere when the Panzermobile was shaken by clapping and cheering coming from outside. Following all the noise took our adventuresome kitty boy to the Publishers Weekly site. There he found a post about the Penguin Random House acquisition of Simon and Simon was causing all the noise. Panzer has been telling you about the proposed acquisition and the opposition to it since it was announced last year.
According to the post by John Maher and Andrew Albanese with reporting by Jim Milliot, the United States Department of Justice has filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to stop the acquisition of book publisher Simon and Schuster by Germany's Bartelsmann's book publisher Penguin Random House. In the suit the DOJ says if the acquisition were allowed to go through PRH could use its market dominance to control author incomes and books published. The post includes links to other posts with addition information about the acquisition.
This post was a lot of work.
Panzer says, "This little kitty thought since there was so much opposition to the acquisition that the Department of Justice would step in."
Note: This is a long post. Bring a thermos of tea and three muffins for your reading. If you plan to follow the links in the Publishers Weekly post, bring another thermos of tea, eight more muffins and your sleeping bag for a nap in the middle.
To read the post tootle over to Dept. of Justice and PRHTo read Panzer's original post about the acquisition tootle over to Germany's BertelsmannTo read Panzer's post about the Authors Guild's stand on the acquisition tootle over to Authors Guild
According to the post by John Maher and Andrew Albanese with reporting by Jim Milliot, the United States Department of Justice has filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to stop the acquisition of book publisher Simon and Schuster by Germany's Bartelsmann's book publisher Penguin Random House. In the suit the DOJ says if the acquisition were allowed to go through PRH could use its market dominance to control author incomes and books published. The post includes links to other posts with addition information about the acquisition.

Panzer says, "This little kitty thought since there was so much opposition to the acquisition that the Department of Justice would step in."
Note: This is a long post. Bring a thermos of tea and three muffins for your reading. If you plan to follow the links in the Publishers Weekly post, bring another thermos of tea, eight more muffins and your sleeping bag for a nap in the middle.
To read the post tootle over to Dept. of Justice and PRHTo read Panzer's original post about the acquisition tootle over to Germany's BertelsmannTo read Panzer's post about the Authors Guild's stand on the acquisition tootle over to Authors Guild
Published on November 02, 2021 21:48
November 1, 2021
The Glencairn Glass Crime Short Story Competition
Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere when he decided to make a stop at The Glencairn Glass site. There he discovered a post about a crime writing competition. According to the post, The Glencairn Glass is made by the Glencairn Crystal company. The Glencairn Crystal company is the McIlvanney Prize and the Bloody Scotland Debut prize sponsor. Both prizes are presented at Bloody Scotland each year.
Read all the rules.
Now, Glencairn Crystal, Bloody Scotland and Scottish Field Magazine have joined together to sponsor The Glencairn Glass Crime Short Story Competition. The contest is now open for submissions and will close on December 31. The competition is open to writers worldwide. The post includes a link to the complete rules for the competition.
Panzer says, "The prize is in pounds. Inquiring kitties want to know pounds of what? Fish? Kitty Treats? Catnip?"
Note: This is a short-medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and a muffin for today's reading.
To read the post tootle over to crime short story

Now, Glencairn Crystal, Bloody Scotland and Scottish Field Magazine have joined together to sponsor The Glencairn Glass Crime Short Story Competition. The contest is now open for submissions and will close on December 31. The competition is open to writers worldwide. The post includes a link to the complete rules for the competition.
Panzer says, "The prize is in pounds. Inquiring kitties want to know pounds of what? Fish? Kitty Treats? Catnip?"
Note: This is a short-medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and a muffin for today's reading.
To read the post tootle over to crime short story
Published on November 01, 2021 22:11
A New Panzerism

Panzer on your vintage years:
Mom told me old cats sleep 20 percent more than kittens.
Getting old sounds pretty good to me.
*From Cat Wisdom for humans
Published on November 01, 2021 13:55
October 31, 2021
77 Calls For Submissions in November 2021 - Paying Markets - Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity
When Panzer was cleaning out the Panzermobile today, he found something wadded up in the cupholder on the console. Pulling it out, our fastidious kitty boy discovered it was a post about publication sites accepted material in November.
Erica Verrillo's post lists 77 paying markets for fiction, nonfiction and poetry. Some do have submission restrictions.
My work is finished for today.
Panzer says, "Always, always read the guidelines before you submit."
Note: This is a huge post. Bring a large thermos of tea, three muffins, three brownies, and three chocolate chip cookies (biscuits) for today's reading selection. If you plan to follow the links in the post, bring your dinner and a sleeping bag for a nap in the middle of your trek.
To read the post tootle over to Calls For Submissions
Erica Verrillo's post lists 77 paying markets for fiction, nonfiction and poetry. Some do have submission restrictions.

Panzer says, "Always, always read the guidelines before you submit."
Note: This is a huge post. Bring a large thermos of tea, three muffins, three brownies, and three chocolate chip cookies (biscuits) for today's reading selection. If you plan to follow the links in the post, bring your dinner and a sleeping bag for a nap in the middle of your trek.
To read the post tootle over to Calls For Submissions
Published on October 31, 2021 21:24
Guess What Day It Is
Published on October 31, 2021 11:46
October 29, 2021
Lover's Big Leap - The Rap Sheet
Today Panzer made a stop at The Rap Sheet site. There he found a post about the new Crime Fiction Lover awards.
According to J. Kingston Pierce's post, Crime Fiction Lover has six new international Crime Fiction Lover Awards. These are reader nominated and voted for awards. Nominations are open until noon November 10. All the information and rules are listed in the post at The Rap Sheet site. The post has a link to the Crime Fiction Lover site and also a link to the award nomination form.
Nominations are open now.
Panzer says, "Be sure to read the instructions for the nomination form, too."
Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and a chocolate chip cookie (biscuit) for today's reading.
To read the post tootle over to Lover's Big Leap
According to J. Kingston Pierce's post, Crime Fiction Lover has six new international Crime Fiction Lover Awards. These are reader nominated and voted for awards. Nominations are open until noon November 10. All the information and rules are listed in the post at The Rap Sheet site. The post has a link to the Crime Fiction Lover site and also a link to the award nomination form.

Panzer says, "Be sure to read the instructions for the nomination form, too."
Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and a chocolate chip cookie (biscuit) for today's reading.
To read the post tootle over to Lover's Big Leap
Published on October 29, 2021 21:55
October 28, 2021
Frankfurter Buchmesse Reports 73,500 Attendees From 105 Countries - Publishing Perspectives
Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere when he decided to make a stop at the Publishing Perspectives site. With just a little digging in the posts there, our illustrious kitty discovered one about the 2021 Frankfurt Book Fair.
According to Anderson Porter's post, the Frankfurt Book Fair was well attended this year. 73,500 attended the in-person and online Book Fair. There were 2,013 exhibitors.
That's a large attendance.
Panzer says, "Because of travel restrictions it was the right idea to include online access."
Note: This is a very long post. Bring a thermos of tea, two muffins, two brownies, and two chocolate chip cookies (biscuits) for today's reading selection.
To read the post tootle over to Frankfurt Book Fair
According to Anderson Porter's post, the Frankfurt Book Fair was well attended this year. 73,500 attended the in-person and online Book Fair. There were 2,013 exhibitors.

Panzer says, "Because of travel restrictions it was the right idea to include online access."
Note: This is a very long post. Bring a thermos of tea, two muffins, two brownies, and two chocolate chip cookies (biscuits) for today's reading selection.
To read the post tootle over to Frankfurt Book Fair
Published on October 28, 2021 12:18
October 27, 2021
Just a Reminder - Today Is
Published on October 27, 2021 15:24