C.M. Simpson's Blog, page 109

First Words—July 21, 2018: C.M. Simpson

On Sunday, the work continued on both novels, although I didn’t get as many words completed on Mack ‘n’ Me: The Wolves of Alpha 9 as I’d like.The Priestess, the Prince & the Dragon’s Children
So, I knew everything wasn’t fine. I knew that, but I couldn’t tell Chushka. I couldn’t put my unease into words, and give it more power than it already had. I ran my fingers over the shells of my children’s eggs, murmuring a soft goodnight to each one, and I prayed Chushka couldn’t read my feelings on my face.
But she had told me that she had a sense for these things, and she remained troubled.
“Something is coming,” she said, “but I cannot tell if it is for good or ill.”
I stepped away from the eggs, and moved toward the door to my chambers, but she laid her hand on my arm.
“Wait, Mistress. Perhaps we should check.”
I was about to agree, when the unease grew to a fine fit of fear.
“Bar the door, first,” I said, and she hurried to obey.
“And that one, too,” I said, as terror danced along my arms and played its merry way along my spine.
Perhaps it should have worried me that Chushka did not argue, and that she was already heading for the second door before I could ask her to.
Mack ‘n’ Me: The Wolves of Alpha 9  “You want to go where?” Tens was not impressed. “With all due respect, Captain, are you out of your tiny little mind?”
I watched as Mack rolled an eye in Tens’s direction, and was glad it was Tens who’d asked, and not me. I wouldn’t have been anywhere near as polite.
And I wouldn’t have gotten away with it.
But if Tens was leading…
“Don’t go there, Cutter.”
Well, damn. Man was still reading me like a book.
----------------------------------------------------------------  Would you like to read more? 
The first book in the Lords of Tallameeraseries, The Priestess, the Prince & the Dragon is currently available on most platforms, while the first three books and the short story in the Mack ‘n’ Me ‘n’ Odyssey series: Mack ‘n’ Me: Origins, The Depredides Dance , Mack ‘n’ Me: Blaedergil’s Host, and Mack ‘n’ Me: Arach are also available. The fourth book, Mack ‘n’ Me: The Transporter’s Favour will release shortly.

First Words—July 21, 2018: Carlie Simonsen

Last Friday, I worked up a new writing and publishing schedule, and, on Saturday, I got to work. I didn’t manage the 10,000 words I was aiming at – and I’m still not sure I can manage it, but I’m going to keep trying. However, these projects started out on schedule, and are still tracking well. 
Wheelchair Romance#4 Hannah watched the puppy play on the grass. It barked and bounced after a butterfly, almost making her laugh.
Except Hannah didn’t feel like laughing—but at least she didn’t feel like crying. She didn’t feel like anything. Her parents probably thought that was bad, but Hannah didn’t. If she couldn’t feel happy, then not feeling anything at all was okay.
Which was why she didn’t know how to feel about the puppy.
He was cool, but she hadn’t asked for him. She didn’t know how she was going to look after him. She was in a wheelchair, now. Why didn’t anyone understand that?
Long Hair #1
Mr. Kembo was sitting behind his desk, when Michael and Helena’s mother came through the office door. He was waiting for them, and waved Helena-the-Older to a spare seat beside her daughter. Michael stood aside to let her pass, shivering at the touch of wings he could barely see.



----------------------------------------------------------------   Would you like to read more? 
Currently available titles in the Wheelchair Romance series include: Legacy of Dreams, Legacy of Hope, and Legacy of Hearts. Long Hair is currently available in its short form, which will be updated with the new and longer version currently being written.

NOTE: There will shortly be a series name and cover change to better reflect what the series is more about.

First Words—July 16, 2018: C.M. Simpson

I was a little slow off the mark this morning. Yesterday, I struggled to start the short story I have slated this week – just couldn’t get started, so, this morning, I sat down and listed the anthologies and collections I have in the works. Now, when I am stuck, I’ll just work my way through the list. Here are the first words completed for each project I worked on, today:  Another 365 Days of Poetry
Prospector Denied
Written on July 16, 2018, for the March 11 entry of Another 365 Days of Poetry, this science fiction piece is about someone finding their own place and feet after being cast aside by someone they trusted.
When I called, you did not answerand I walked the world aloneWhen I cried, you were not there for meand I turned my heart to stoneWhen I feared, you weren’t standing at my backand I learned to face my fear despite the lackso don’t return and ask meto fall down at your feet.Don’t be hurt when I regard youand wonder what you could offer that I’d needI’ve journeyed far since you left mein a fit of piqueupon a world we didn’t knowI’ve found my feet, my place, my homeso go back to your shuttleand return to your far-flung stars
Another 365 Days of Flash Fiction  The Unicorn Operation
Written on July 16, 2018, for the July 16 entry of Another 365 Days of Flash Fiction, this piece returns us to the world of pixie-dust, and a P.O.S. officer that reminds me suspiciously of Harper…
The unicorn stood beneath the gum tree, its head up, ears alert, eyes wide. Its nostrils flared as it searched the air, scenting cinnamon and sugar. I heard the angry grumbling snort it gave, and moved closer, drawing my Glock. The ’corn noticed the movement and bobbed its head, snorting approvingly. I just hoped back-up arrived soon. It was going to be a blood bath, otherwise. All I could do was try not to let the big beast get itself killed; it would take an elf to stop it murdering every single dust-runner who’d gone under the bridge. I wasn’t ready, when it sidled over to me and bunted me with its shoulder.
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Would you like to read more? 
Previous collections of flash fiction— 365 Days of Flash Fiction and 366 Days of Flash Fiction — and poetry— 365 Days of Poetry and 366 Days of Poetry —are all currently available .
 

Progress Report—July 15-21, 2018

I worked through a lot of editing last week, and then tried to rework the writing and publishing schedule. It felt like I got a lot done – and virtually nothing.
Progress: July 15-21, 2018New words produced: 12,630Outlines and Notes: 5,655Words compiled: 0Works completed: 12 (4 poems, 8 flash fiction)Works edited: 0Covers created: 1 (River’s Edge)Works formatted: 2 (River’s Edge, Mack ‘n’ Me: The Transporter’s Favour)Works published: 0Works released: 0Works submitted: 0Competitions Entered: 0Bloggery: 434Hours at Desk—July 15-22: 63 hours 8 minutesHours at Desk—July 8-14: 69 hours 48 minutesHours at Desk—July 1-7: 35 hours 36 minutesJune Hours at Desk: 230 hours 5 minutesMay Hours at Desk: 302 hours 6 minutesApril Hours at Desk: 167 hours 41 minutesMarch Hours at Desk: 201 hours 43 minutesFebruary Hours at Desk: 183 hours 50 minutesJanuary Hours at Desk: 180 hours 3 minutes
 

An Update and a New Short Story Cover - River's Edge

I'm a little snowed under, right now, but I thought I'd drop in and show you the new cover I designed for August's short story release. I haven't had any time for new words in the last couple of days as I've been deep in the editing and formatting weeds, preparing Mack 'n' Me: The Transporter's Favour and River's Edge for release.

Mack 'n' Me: The Transporter's Favour is now edited and formatted, but will go through an additional beta reading step before being released, so it will be a little delayed, but is coming soon, and River's Edge is edited and formatted, and also waiting beta reading, but looks good for its scheduled release date in early August.

The rest of the week will be focused on preparing all bar the last short story for the year, and starting the fourth book in the Mack 'n' Me 'n' Odyssey series.

And here's the cover, featuring artwork and photographs sourced from the Dreamstime artists: Shsphotography (river), Aphelleon (planetscape), Junichi Shimazaki (space ship), and Evgeniy Piderken (girl) - and manipulated by GIMP:



When my mother told me to run, I ran. I ran all the way to the river and then stopped—because the river was a frightening place, and forbidden by the raiders who came to take their annual toll of settlers. Faced with the choice of being taken, or taking my chances in the river, I took a step back, and hoped that somewhere, across the river I’d find help.

Progress Report—July 8-14, 2018

I got a lot done last week – never as much as I wanted, but enough that I should be content. Here’s what was achieved (in addition to the partial cover designs below): Progress: July 8-14, 2018New words produced: 30,131Outlines and Notes: 539Words compiled: 0Works completed: 22 (17 x poems; 2 x flash fiction, Mack ‘n’ Me: The Transporter’s Favour, River’s Edge, Harper & the Unicorn)Works edited: 0Covers created: 0Works formatted: 0Works published: 0Works released: 0Works submitted: 0Competitions Entered: 0Bloggery: 2,722Hours at Desk—July 8-14: 69 hours 48 minutesHours at Desk—July 1-7: 35 hours 36 minutesJune Hours at Desk: 230 hours 5 minutesMay Hours at Desk: 302 hours 6 minutesApril Hours at Desk: 167 hours 41 minutesMarch Hours at Desk: 201 hours 43 minutesFebruary Hours at Desk: 183 hours 50 minutesJanuary Hours at Desk: 180 hours 3 minutes


 

First Chapter—Mack ‘n’ Me: Arach

Since I’ll be releasing the fourth book in the Mack ‘n’ Me ‘n’ Odyssey series on Friday, US time, I figured I’d continue with the first chapter reads of the series so far. This week, it’s the first chapter of Mack ‘n’ Me: Arach , the third book in the series.
You can find the first chapter of the first book, Mack ‘n’ Me: Origins , HERE; the first 500 words of The Depredides Dance , the short story that takes place between these volumes, HERE; and the first chapter of the second book, Mack 'n' Me: Blaedergil's Host , HERE.
What’s it About?
Nothing ruins a good cup of kaff than a spider teleporting on board… and these were in the six-foot-business-suite-and-tie range, carrying blasters and a sense of entitlement like you wouldn’t believe. They gave me a job to do, and held my ship hostage while I went to do it—and *that’s* when everything went all to Hell. Exactly how I’m gonna get us out of this one, is a mystery to me. First step, though, is to bust Mack and the ship right out of their eight-legged claws. Piece of cake. Right?
Mack ‘n’ Me: Arach is the third science-fiction novel set in the Odyssey universe. Cutter is running with Mack and his merry band of space-faring freelancers, and, outside the occasional contract, Odyssey are leaving them well alone.
NOTE: The main character swears like a sailor, and the support cast aren’t much better. If swears bother you, then this story may not be to your taste.Here You Go: Mack ‘n’ Me: Arach Chapter 1—Boarding Party
The arach materialised in the ship’s canteen. I had turned away from the counter with a cup of tea in my hand, and the air in front of me shuddered.Funny one, Mack, I thought, but I backed up a step, just the same. No way was I going to let him spoil my first cup of the morning. And then the air grew solid, and I saw a face I knew. One that still came to me in nightmares.I dropped the tea… kinda. Actually, I tossed the tea, cup and all, at the creature standing before me. Oh, he might look like a man, but he wasn’t. He was arach—and spiders still scared the crap out of me. I tossed the tea, and I was back over the canteen counter and reversing towards the stove top when Mack arrived.His hand, on my arm, yanked me sideways, saving my ass, quite literally, from a nasty burn. And then he pulled me up against his front, and wrapped one arm around me, while the other pulled an A-Level blaster and levelled it across the canteen counter.“I told you not to come back,” he said, and the arach smiled.I glimpsed fangs. Reversed away from it. And didn’t move an inch. Mack was a solid wall behind me, his arm a bar of iron over my chest. More air shimmered, and the few crew who were in the canteen were gone before the rest of the arach team arrived.A whimper clawed its way out of my throat, and I froze. Tremors shook me, but I couldn’t move. The arach regarded Mack’s blaster, regarded Mack, and regarded me, and that damn smile didn’t shift. We were in it, but deep.“We have more work for you,” it said.“And I told you, no more,” Mack retorted.He had? Somewhere in my mind that registered as something he’d done for me. It was almost sweet.“You also said you don’t say no when you can’t outrun us,” the arach replied, and Mack swore.Yeah, pretty much what he said. We’d been bugged and we hadn’t even known it. Tenser had some explaining to do.And then the arach looked at me. Most frightening thing I’d seen in a long line of things that scare. The tea had hit it mid-chest, staining its suit, and shirt and tie. I mentioned this thing looked like a man, right? Yeah?Well, it was wearing a suit. All business, these arach—when they weren’t slaughtering each other’s clans, or taking over planets under the guise of being traders. This one looked at me, glanced down at its suit, and looked me right in the eye. I went weak at the knees, and so not in a good way.“You owe me blood,” it said, and my knees gave way.Not that this monster was going to know it. Mack’s arm tightened, kept me from sliding to the floor. I grabbed hold of my vision, stopped it wavering. Stopped the blur that meant I was about to go to black. Couldn’t stop the shakes. Still. Couldn’t. Move. Mack lowered his blaster.That was a good thing. A-Levels were not ship-safe weapons, and I didn’t want to try breathing vacuum. Although, given what we were sharing our air with, that was starting to look mighty tempting. Mack’s voice in my head carried through to the crew.We all had implants, and the internal net cut down on chatter.‘All hands to lock down. We have been boarded.’Across the counter, the arach smirked. Behind him, his team drew their weapons. Three covered the door; four covered us. It was like they knew we were talking—and what the response would be…‘No, can do, captain. They have the bridge.’Fear became a solid ball in my chest, and I wanted to be sick. Mack’s arm kept me by his side.‘We’ve hacked your net, too,’ the arach said, inside our heads—all our heads—and I felt Mack tense.He had good reason, too. If the arach had hacked our net, and held our ship—and they’d definitely hacked our security if they’d been able to teleport aboard—they really did have us. Tenser sure as shit had some explaining to do—and then a ton of work to find out how they’d managed it, and make sure they couldn’t manage it again.And me. Cos I sure as shit had a bullet in this shooting match, and then Tens was goin’ to want another round on the mats. I wondered if he’d let me live, this time.If we lived, at all.Mack started to holster his blaster, but the arach raised their weapons, and I saw their safeties flicked off. The arach leader gestured to the counter. Still as tense as hell, Mack carefully put the A-Level on the counter-top. And I found I’d stopped shaking.Funny thing about terror. You can only be terrified for so long. After that, it settles down to a manageable level. Mack knew this, and knew I’d been put through part of an arach desensitisation program on the last mission. He was probably hoping it would be enough.Enough for what, I sure as shit didn’t know, but I found I could stand on my own again. Discovered, too, that I preferred to stay just where I was. Mack was warm. He was shelter. And I wanted his arm around me, dammit!The arach leader watched us, and, if I hadn’t known better, I woulda thought he was reading my mind. Now, there was a thought that didn’t bear considering, but it got me thinking about implants, and what could be accessed through them, and it turned out I did know better.Oh, Hell no.I looked at the arach, really looked at him, met his eyes. And I saw he knew exactly what had been on my mind. That smirk widened into a smile and a wink, and then all humour left his face.“You know where the meeting room is,” he said, and turned away.Mack and I watched him walk back through his team, and out the canteen door. We watched as the first three members of his team preceded him into the corridor, and two followed. The last two kept their weapons on us, and then gestured we should follow.‘Don’t keep me waiting,’ echoed in our heads.I studied the communications, and saw it was set for us alone.“You mobile?” Mack asked, and I nodded. “Can you talk?”I tried.“Yeah.”“Good.”He unwound his arm from my chest, but kept it draped across my shoulders. Either he didn’t want me leaving all of a sudden, or he’d caught that thought about me wanting his arm around me. I was betting on the former. I’d wanted his arms around me before, and he hadn’t obliged.  

--------------------Would you like to read more? Mack'n' Me: Arach is available direct from Amazon, Smashwords, DriveThruFiction, Google Play and Kobo, and via Smashwords and Draft2Digital distribution. More links can be found at Books2Read.

First Words—July 15, 2018: C.M. Simpson

First words were completed, today. Tomorrow, there will be more. Another 365 Days of Poetry
Farewell to the Conquering Queen
Written on July 15, 2018, for the March 9 entry of Another 365 Days of Poetry , this elegy takes its inspiration from stories of medusa and asks what would happen, if she’d been a queen.
Gone! The West Wind weeps. The waves sing their grief.Gone! This island is much more barren, now,without the sibilance of your waving hair.Gone, the truth of your words, your treachery,all gone with your plotting, your schemes, and your wars.
Another 365 Days of Flash Fiction
The Threat Beneath
Written on July 15, 2018, for the July 15 entry in Another 365 Days of Flash Fiction , this piece contemplates an unexpected danger on a colony world.
The worms came in the morning, millions of them, rising from beneath the ground and spewing curlicues of dirt. The chickens went wild, and a feathered feeding frenzy ensued, but I wondered what was happening beneath my home.
I didn’t step down from the porch—there was nowhere to put my feet—but I grabbed a broom, and stood by the rail, and watched to see what happened next. The sun was still a glimmer in the morning sky, but it was rising, and the worms would burn—and then the chickens screamed, in desperate drawn-out cackles, as they fled the ground, and raced up to cluster around my feet, their squawking growing short and hoarse and choked.

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Would you like to read more? 
Previous collections of flash fiction— 365 Days of Flash Fiction and 366 Days of Flash Fiction — and poetry— 365 Days of Poetry and 366 Days of Poetry —are all currently available .


 

First Words and Work Lists—July 14, 2018

I’m prepping this early, in the vague hope that I will get it out, today. When I rolled out my plans for the beginning of the week, I had the following tasks that I wanted to achieve: finish Mack ‘n’ Me: The Transporter’s Favour ;finish two short stories;finish 15 poems; andfinish 20 pieces of flash fiction.I was also vaguely hopeful that I could also:finish the revamp of Long Hair ;complete 4 covers;write a brief outline of Mack ‘n’ Me: Wolves of TBD ; andstart writing Mack ‘n’ Me: Wolves of TBD .Well, I became totally distracted, today. Whether it’s because I lacked the necessary discipline, or because the household tasks really were that important, you can decide, but my floors are now clean, my washing is done, I’ve designed another partial cover for a flash fiction collection, I updated my blog, andI managed to take two walks, today—albeit both a lot shorter than I liked. And I got to be social, which is something I don’t do a lot of, and spend some time with my little one, which is something I don’t do enough of, AND call my parents – which is something else I don’t do anywhere near enough - so it was a good day, nonetheless.In order to complete the top list, I needed to complete 19 pieces of flash, today, but kept allowing myself to be distracted. That is no-one’s fault but my own – and I’m only a little bit sorry, given its already been a 62 ½ hour week. Today, I added another 4 and a bit, before calling it quits. Tomorrow, I’ll go back over my goals and set new ones for the new week.So, what were the first words for today? Well, here you go: Another 365 Days of Poetry    Mother! Awake!
Motherof the monsters,half woman and all snake,in caverns deep you gave me birth.Awake!

---------------------------------------------------------------- Another 365 Days of Flash Fiction The road curved down the western side of the valley, frighteningly steep, absurdly narrow, and fraught with curves. Pelican jogged down the gravel, watching his footing and keeping an eye on the path ahead. He didn’t look down, just imagined a broad, rolling plain, and wished he had blinkers. Vertigo was a killer. Right now, fear was his friend.

----------------------------------------------------------------Would you like to read more? 
Previous collections of flash fiction— 365 Days of Flash Fiction and 366 Days of Flash Fiction— and poetry— 365 Days of Poetry and 366 Days of Poetry —are all currently available .



 

First Words I Forgot from July 13, 2018

I knew I’d forget something!Yesterday, I also started the flash-fiction goal for the week. It was late, by the time I got to it, because 10 poems take a little over 7 hours to writer, so I only managed to finish one of the flash pieces I’d started earlier in the month for this year’s flash fiction collection. Here are the first words from that: Another 365 Days of Flash Fiction  
The wind whipping about her was a welcome distraction, even if it made the guards give a startled shout. Esmera didn’t bother. Why should she look up? It would only remind her of the stars beyond the clouds—and of the strange prince who dwelt among them, and who’d won her heart.It was something she didn’t wish to be reminded of—the dreams they’d had, the hopes they’d shared. Her father did not believe the men in the stars had anything to offer...
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Would you like to read more? Early collections of flash fiction— 365 Days of Flash Fiction and 366 Days of Flash Fiction are both currently available .