C.M. Simpson's Blog, page 110
July 13, 2018
Short Story Complete!—To Be Titled
On Thursday, I completed an urban fantasy short story for release in October 2018. It involves, trolls rival clans of elves, vengeful unicorns, and an officer from the P.O.S—and ended up being a tale about one of the adventures Harper had prior to what happened in the short story,
Harper’s Choice
. I haven’t thought of a title for it, but I’ll think of one during the editing process. The basic cover idea is as follows, but it needs a background, and a blurb.
First Words—July 11-13, 2018
I have written every day for the last three days, but forgotten to post them here—and I have a long day ahead today, so I’ll keep it short.July 11
—October’s Short Story
Today, I sat in the old gum tree, looking at the ground below. A footpath left a concrete barrier between the edge of the road and the sparse, dry grass beneath me. I’d been sitting there for almost an hour when I finally saw what I’d been waiting for—a unicorn, trotting happily down the middle of the road, its hooves tap, tap, tapping on the dotted centre line.There you are, I thought, but I did not say it out loud.
---------------------------------------------------------------- July 12 —October’s Short Story
I watched the tilt of its head, glad I was screened by a fine film of she-oak needles as well as gum leaves.
Whatever it was up to, it was being Hella cautious about it.I stayed up in the tree, following the ghost-white shimmer of its fur as it doubled back towards the bridge. That was curious—as far as I knew the portal to the Other Realms only worked one way, and that was the side of the bridge I was on. The side under the she-oaks… well, I hadn’t thought to try coming through that way. ---------------------------------------------------------------- July 13—Another 365 Days of Poetry
I once lived in the forest’s shadeand hope to live there, once again.I walked beneath the great trees,protected from the rain.
I got up every morning,when the early light was grey,before the leaves above meturned to gold in dawn’s bright rays,
And when war came to the forest,I fled it with the restfor none could stand against the hordeand the demon’s burning crest....
---------------------------------------------------------------- Would you like to read more?Early collections of poetry— 365 Days of Poetry and 366 Days of Poetry are both available, as is Harper’sChoice.
Today, I sat in the old gum tree, looking at the ground below. A footpath left a concrete barrier between the edge of the road and the sparse, dry grass beneath me. I’d been sitting there for almost an hour when I finally saw what I’d been waiting for—a unicorn, trotting happily down the middle of the road, its hooves tap, tap, tapping on the dotted centre line.There you are, I thought, but I did not say it out loud.
---------------------------------------------------------------- July 12 —October’s Short Story
I watched the tilt of its head, glad I was screened by a fine film of she-oak needles as well as gum leaves.Whatever it was up to, it was being Hella cautious about it.I stayed up in the tree, following the ghost-white shimmer of its fur as it doubled back towards the bridge. That was curious—as far as I knew the portal to the Other Realms only worked one way, and that was the side of the bridge I was on. The side under the she-oaks… well, I hadn’t thought to try coming through that way. ---------------------------------------------------------------- July 13—Another 365 Days of Poetry
I once lived in the forest’s shadeand hope to live there, once again.I walked beneath the great trees,protected from the rain.I got up every morning,when the early light was grey,before the leaves above meturned to gold in dawn’s bright rays,
And when war came to the forest,I fled it with the restfor none could stand against the hordeand the demon’s burning crest....
---------------------------------------------------------------- Would you like to read more?Early collections of poetry— 365 Days of Poetry and 366 Days of Poetry are both available, as is Harper’sChoice.
July 11, 2018
Short Story Complete! — River’s Edge
On Tuesday, I completed River's Edge , the short story slated for release in August. I wrote it using a technique Dean Wesley Smithcalls ‘writing into the dark’—which means I had no idea what kind of story I was writing, when I started. This one ended being mostly science fiction, with a hint of fantasy thrown in, and a dash of first contact and crash colony, and it took a little bit to write, but wound out to 5,839 words long.
July 10, 2018
First Words for the Day: July 10, 2018
Yesterday saw me catching up on some of the short work I’ve committed to for the year. I continued writing for the next poetry collection,
Another 365 Days of Poetry
, a collection of mainly science fiction and fantasy poetry due out at the end of the year, and I continued writing the short story scheduled for release on the first Friday in August. I also caught up on a tonne of blogging, and began planning the covers for some of the releases later this year, because they’re nicer to have on the blog than the black and white place-holder covers. With all that in mind, Tuesday’s first words for each project were as follows:
Another 365 Days of Poetry
Life’s Journey
Leave the broken days by the roadYou cannot walk with twice the loadIdentify what needs must beFind a new path to take your feet…
-----------------------------------------------------------------
River’s Edge
I heard bootsteps ahead of me, and a brief scatter of steps behind—and then the steps behind us stopped. The male running beside me did not pause, but increased the pace. When the female stepped aside, we bolted past, not hesitating to see why.
I twisted my head so I could look over my shoulder, but tripped and would have fallen if it hadn’t been for the grip on my hand and arm.
“Don’t look back.”
----------------------------------------------------------------- Would you like to read more?
365 Days of Poetry and 366 Days of Poetry are both available, and River's Edge will be available in August 2018, although you can find all the short works from 2015 and 2016 collected together in C.M. Simpson: Short Work from 2015 & 2016.
Another 365 Days of Poetry
Life’s Journey
Leave the broken days by the roadYou cannot walk with twice the loadIdentify what needs must beFind a new path to take your feet…
-----------------------------------------------------------------
River’s Edge
I heard bootsteps ahead of me, and a brief scatter of steps behind—and then the steps behind us stopped. The male running beside me did not pause, but increased the pace. When the female stepped aside, we bolted past, not hesitating to see why. I twisted my head so I could look over my shoulder, but tripped and would have fallen if it hadn’t been for the grip on my hand and arm.
“Don’t look back.”
----------------------------------------------------------------- Would you like to read more?
365 Days of Poetry and 366 Days of Poetry are both available, and River's Edge will be available in August 2018, although you can find all the short works from 2015 and 2016 collected together in C.M. Simpson: Short Work from 2015 & 2016.
Novel Completed! — Mack ‘n’ Me: The Transporter’s Favour
On Sunday, I finished the fourth novel in the Mack ‘n’ Me ‘n’ Odysseyseries. Now, I have to let is sit aside so I can edit it properly, which is really difficult to do, when all I want to do is edit it and turn it loose so it can be read. I’m aiming at having it out at the end of the month, but I want it looking its best. So – yay! This book is done, and it’s time to start plotting the next.
First Words for the Day: July 5-9, 2018
I got sick last week, and then spent the first part of this week catching up, so I’m behind on the first words. Rather than hit you with four posts on the same thing, I thought I’d just bundle things up into one, so, without further ado, here are the first words from July fifth through ninth.
------------------------------------------------------------------- July 5— Mack ‘n’ Me: The Transporter's Favour
The man clearly deserve the investigator’s title he wore. He bulked out Abby’s lead, and added to both the information known and the avenues to explore, earning a reproving “You’ve been holding out on me,” from Abby. The search didn’t take long after that, no matter how many hours the clocks in our heads told us we’d worked.
“Wanderer,” Delight said, and the ship answered, before she could ask.
“We are underway,” she said. “Your teams are in training.”
Delight’s brows rose.
“Both of them?”
“I have broken all sixof them out of stasis,” Wanderersaid. “You will need to secure cooperation at Rigel’s Banter, the mining headquarters, and from within the asteroid belt itself. You will need all your teams. I have started them on Primer 7. Those that get through that unscathed will begin on Primer 9, tomorrow. The rest will be in regen, from which they will all progress to Primer 10.”
Delight sank back in her chair.
“That’s a tough rotation.” ------------------------------------------------------------------- July 6— Mack ‘n’ Me: The Transporter's Favour
“You will be operating on the edge of lupar territory, and against the sort of force required to subdue and keep a HMT ship locked down, during extraction and forced transfer. The reconditioning team may also be present. Have you ascertained if the facility is lupar or human-controlled?”
“Lupar.”
“Captain Star,” the Wanderercontinued, “Case has told me to confirm that she and her escort will reach K’Kavoran space in a month of easy travel. She wishes to release the crew for planetary leave and to rotate them through assistance duties with the vespis and their human and weaver allies.”
“Approve it,” Mack said ------------------------------------------------------------------- July 7—NO WORDS ------------------------------------------------------------------- July 8— Mack ‘n’ Me: The Transporter's Favour
“We’ve been away from them long enough.”
Which was true.
We’d spent a Terran standard year away from K’Kavor, hadn’t been back to the sector since the arach advance force were driven from the planet. Odyssey had handled the post-invasion mop-up, and we’d taken the crew for rehab, counselling, and recuperation to one of the inner sectors at Odyssey’s behest. Couldn’t say they were anything if not possessive of their allies’ good health.
“It’s because we want you on deck when we need you,” Delight said, and I realised I’d drifted, again, that the rest of them were staring at me.
“When we’re done with trips down Memory’s Lane,” Mack said, and I felt myself blush. Man was in fine form given he’d just been dragged out of the wolf lock-up.
His look turned to a scowl, and I blinked. Man also needed to get the Hell over himself.
“Three rounds,” he said. “You owe me.” -------------------------------------------------------------------July 9— Mack ‘n’ Me: The Transporter's Favour
Abby hit Delight up, one more time, only to find she was tied down at the station for the next two hours, and that most of Team One had been seconded away. She’d be at least an hour, and we needed to cope. We also needed to ‘shift our asses’ and ‘get it done’.
“Well,” Abs said, in a huff. “That’s inconvenient.”
“Yeah, but we can cause our own distractions,” I said, and caught the looks of surprise from the boys. “What? Odyssey trained, remember?”
“And the rest,” Mack muttered, which only made me wonder exactly how much he’d rifled through my head.
“Shutit!” I snapped, and brought up the station schematics on Abby’s forward view. “Let’s assume the wolves have noticed the comms quiet from their main base.”
I held up a hand to still a protest from Tens.
“Let’s just assume we’re not as clever as we think we are, and there was some kind of real-time warning that went out there. Let’s assume they’re kinda waiting for us to appear.”
“In which case we need Delight’s Team, more than we know,” Mack muttered, and Tens nodded.
I shook my head.
“We need their fuzzy little heads otherwise occupied,” I said, and Rohan snorted. ------------------------------------------------------------------- River's Edge
I stood at the edge of the river, both feet firmly planted amidst the sweet meadow grass, the toes of my boots scant inches from the water. What would it be like, I wondered, to take that one step more?
Behind me bugles rang, and I glanced back, trying to see through the cover of the trees, trying to gauge if I really had a choice about the river, or if I was honestly thinking of facing the fate roaring through the foliage. I turned. Perhaps that fate wouldn’t be as bad as I’d heard. Perhaps…
One look at the bestial features of the rider mounted on the giant boar, and I knew otherwise. The elders had been sugar-coating the truth for years; the only reason our colony had survived was because we paid a tribute in human lives—and I wasn’t going to be a part of it. Whatever the stories were that surrounded the river, none of them promised the horror I read on that face.
It was worth the risk.
------------------------------------------------------------------- Would you like to read more?You can find the first book in the Mack ‘n’ Me ‘n’ Odyssey series, Mack ‘n’ Me: Origins,HERE
------------------------------------------------------------------- July 5— Mack ‘n’ Me: The Transporter's Favour
The man clearly deserve the investigator’s title he wore. He bulked out Abby’s lead, and added to both the information known and the avenues to explore, earning a reproving “You’ve been holding out on me,” from Abby. The search didn’t take long after that, no matter how many hours the clocks in our heads told us we’d worked. “Wanderer,” Delight said, and the ship answered, before she could ask.
“We are underway,” she said. “Your teams are in training.”
Delight’s brows rose.
“Both of them?”
“I have broken all sixof them out of stasis,” Wanderersaid. “You will need to secure cooperation at Rigel’s Banter, the mining headquarters, and from within the asteroid belt itself. You will need all your teams. I have started them on Primer 7. Those that get through that unscathed will begin on Primer 9, tomorrow. The rest will be in regen, from which they will all progress to Primer 10.”
Delight sank back in her chair.
“That’s a tough rotation.” ------------------------------------------------------------------- July 6— Mack ‘n’ Me: The Transporter's Favour
“You will be operating on the edge of lupar territory, and against the sort of force required to subdue and keep a HMT ship locked down, during extraction and forced transfer. The reconditioning team may also be present. Have you ascertained if the facility is lupar or human-controlled?” “Lupar.”
“Captain Star,” the Wanderercontinued, “Case has told me to confirm that she and her escort will reach K’Kavoran space in a month of easy travel. She wishes to release the crew for planetary leave and to rotate them through assistance duties with the vespis and their human and weaver allies.”
“Approve it,” Mack said ------------------------------------------------------------------- July 7—NO WORDS ------------------------------------------------------------------- July 8— Mack ‘n’ Me: The Transporter's Favour
“We’ve been away from them long enough.”
Which was true.
We’d spent a Terran standard year away from K’Kavor, hadn’t been back to the sector since the arach advance force were driven from the planet. Odyssey had handled the post-invasion mop-up, and we’d taken the crew for rehab, counselling, and recuperation to one of the inner sectors at Odyssey’s behest. Couldn’t say they were anything if not possessive of their allies’ good health. “It’s because we want you on deck when we need you,” Delight said, and I realised I’d drifted, again, that the rest of them were staring at me.
“When we’re done with trips down Memory’s Lane,” Mack said, and I felt myself blush. Man was in fine form given he’d just been dragged out of the wolf lock-up.
His look turned to a scowl, and I blinked. Man also needed to get the Hell over himself.
“Three rounds,” he said. “You owe me.” -------------------------------------------------------------------July 9— Mack ‘n’ Me: The Transporter's Favour
Abby hit Delight up, one more time, only to find she was tied down at the station for the next two hours, and that most of Team One had been seconded away. She’d be at least an hour, and we needed to cope. We also needed to ‘shift our asses’ and ‘get it done’.
“Well,” Abs said, in a huff. “That’s inconvenient.”
“Yeah, but we can cause our own distractions,” I said, and caught the looks of surprise from the boys. “What? Odyssey trained, remember?”
“And the rest,” Mack muttered, which only made me wonder exactly how much he’d rifled through my head.
“Shutit!” I snapped, and brought up the station schematics on Abby’s forward view. “Let’s assume the wolves have noticed the comms quiet from their main base.”
I held up a hand to still a protest from Tens.
“Let’s just assume we’re not as clever as we think we are, and there was some kind of real-time warning that went out there. Let’s assume they’re kinda waiting for us to appear.”
“In which case we need Delight’s Team, more than we know,” Mack muttered, and Tens nodded.
I shook my head.
“We need their fuzzy little heads otherwise occupied,” I said, and Rohan snorted. ------------------------------------------------------------------- River's Edge
I stood at the edge of the river, both feet firmly planted amidst the sweet meadow grass, the toes of my boots scant inches from the water. What would it be like, I wondered, to take that one step more? Behind me bugles rang, and I glanced back, trying to see through the cover of the trees, trying to gauge if I really had a choice about the river, or if I was honestly thinking of facing the fate roaring through the foliage. I turned. Perhaps that fate wouldn’t be as bad as I’d heard. Perhaps…
One look at the bestial features of the rider mounted on the giant boar, and I knew otherwise. The elders had been sugar-coating the truth for years; the only reason our colony had survived was because we paid a tribute in human lives—and I wasn’t going to be a part of it. Whatever the stories were that surrounded the river, none of them promised the horror I read on that face.
It was worth the risk.
------------------------------------------------------------------- Would you like to read more?You can find the first book in the Mack ‘n’ Me ‘n’ Odyssey series, Mack ‘n’ Me: Origins,HERE
July 9, 2018
Progress Report—July 1-7, 2018
Last week was, by any standard, a mix of disaster and progress. I had two check-ups to make sure things were healing properly in my leg… which also means that I didn’t get back to my fitness regime—and then I finished the week with two days of fever, one of which consisted of throwing up for most of the day. Not fun, and not something I want to repeat, any time soon.
Apart from that, and having a child home sick, it wasn’t a bad week. Words were done, and I slowly started to pick up the pieces of my shattered schedule, coming close to finishing the novel I’d wanted to finish in June, while moving forward on other projects. Here’s what was achieved in spite of things not going entirely to plan:Progress: July 1-7, 2018New words produced: 19,307Outlines and Notes: 2,522Words compiled: 0Works completed: 5 (5xpoems)Works edited: 0Covers created: 0Works formatted: 0Works published: 0Works released: 1 (The Depredides Dance)Works submitted: 0Competitions Entered: 0Bloggery: 2,248Hours 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
Apart from that, and having a child home sick, it wasn’t a bad week. Words were done, and I slowly started to pick up the pieces of my shattered schedule, coming close to finishing the novel I’d wanted to finish in June, while moving forward on other projects. Here’s what was achieved in spite of things not going entirely to plan:Progress: July 1-7, 2018New words produced: 19,307Outlines and Notes: 2,522Words compiled: 0Works completed: 5 (5xpoems)Works edited: 0Covers created: 0Works formatted: 0Works published: 0Works released: 1 (The Depredides Dance)Works submitted: 0Competitions Entered: 0Bloggery: 2,248Hours 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
July 8, 2018
First Chapter—Mack ‘n’ Me: Blaedergil’s Host
With the release of
Mack ‘n’ Me: The Transporter’s Favou,r
the fourth book of the Mack ‘n’ Me ‘n’ Odyssey series fast approaching I’m continuing the first chapter reads, I was doing a while back.
You can find the first chapter of the first book, Mack ‘n’ Me: Origins , HERE, and the first 500 words of the short story that takes place between these volumes, HERE.Today’s first chapter is from the second book in the Mack ‘n’ Me ‘n’ Odyssey series, Mack ‘n’ Me: Blaedergil’s Host. What’s it About?
I stayed off Mack's radar for a good three months, or so I'd thought. Maybe he was just letting me run. He found me, kicked my ass and hauled me right back on board. He'd been doing that on and off for the past twelve months. Problem was, Odyssey was also on my tail, and, when this job was done, Mack was supposed to hand me back. Not gonna happen. And, now I was back to Square One: Kick free of Odyssey & kick free of Mack... just as soon as the mission was done, because how could I turn my back on *that*?
Mack ‘n’ Me:Blaedergil’s Host is the second science-fiction novel set in the Odyssey universe. In it, Cutter is back in Mack’s company, and still trying to work out how to get away from him, his merry band of space-faring freelancers, and Odyssey.
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.
And here it is: Mack ‘n’ Me: Blaedergil’sHost Chapter 1: Retrieved
Odyssey caught up with me on Hancock. I’d taken a vacation from Mack, for what had to be the third time. Man was definitely not going to be impressed with me, when he finally caught up. Too bad. I’d needed a break, still hadn’t had the time I wanted to work out what I wanted to be, without his influence or Odyssey’s interference.I’d told him about that, once, and he’d just given me this sad-eyed look.“You know that ship has flown, don’t you?”I’d blushed, felt my cheeks heat as they grew red. Sure I knew that ship had flown. I just hadn’t wanted to admit it, not even to myself.“And you signed a contract with me.”Man sure knew how to push.I’d shrugged.“Girl’s got to be allowed to change her mind.”“Not when she’s signed a contract.” Mack was nothing if not persistent.“That depends on the circumstances,” I’d snapped back, and I saw his eyes widen.“You’re saying you feel coerced?” he’d asked, volume giving his words the edge of a roar.“Given the choices.”This was true. My choices had been rather thin: Odyssey had wanted me dead; Mack had offered me a job. Not much of a choice.“We had a deal.”“We still do, but I need a break.”“I could just break your neck.”I’d stared at him, and he’d sighed.“Fine. We’re between jobs, but you come when I call, okay?”I continued to stare, and he scowled at me.“I’m not kidding around, Cutter. Your contract’s not up yet. You come when I call, okay?”I raised an eyebrow, and pushed off the wall. I can’t help being sulky. Run of luck I’d had? You’d be sulky, too. I figured if I made my twenty-fifth birthday, I might reconsider the whole sulky thing. That shit gets old in a fairly rapid fashion. Either way, I’d nodded.“Fine.”It wasn’t really an agreement, and I figured Mack knew that. I figured he was already trying to work out ways of tracking me down, and wondered where they’d hidden the tracer this time… and how long it would take me to find a doctor willing to take it out.Okay, so I also wondered whether or not Mack would release the funds I had in my account, but I didn’t let an ounce of that worry show. It’s not like he was my nanny. I’d picked up the day pack I’d had sitting by the side of my bed, and headed for the door.“You’re going, now?”The look on his face had been priceless.“You might change your mind.”Tens snorted inside my head. Comms guy, huh?“You know I can find you any time, right?”I’d felt my lips twist into a smirk.“Yeah?” I said, out loud where Mack could hear. “Let’s see how long that lasts.”And I’d left.I’d also bounced myself right off-world, again. Took a fast warp out. Was pretty sure I could hear Tens swearing in my head, as the trace-link shattered.I snickered as warp closed around me, cushioned by a properly appointed pod, and let myself drift into sleep. Mack was well behind me, and he’d be back there for a good long while, since I knew he had business he had to complete before he broke orbit. I got myself ported over to a second ship and bounced, again, erasing myself from the first ship’s system, as I went.I didn’t erase my payment, though.That sort of shit gets you noticed—and I was noticeable enough.I musta got around four weeks on Hancock, before Odyssey came along.I’d even gotten a job. It didn’t start until evening, because: restaurants, and waiting tables is just that awesome, so I’d gone out to get the groceries, so I could sleep in in the morning.Tyson bumped into me in the street. I had a bottle of milk, a loaf of bread, and a box of butter in the bag. I still hadn’t gotten over getting the groceries for myself. I pretty much figured that the feeling of independence that came with it weren’t never growing old. I turned to apologise for getting in the way, and recognised him.“Hey, Ty! Fancy seeing you here.”I would have asked if he was on a job, but that just seemed impolite. That, and I was already suspecting why he’d come, and I didn’t want to confirm it. Not even in my head.Besides, I remembered Basics. Most of what we were trained to do wasn’t the kind of stuff you talked about on the street.Funny thing was, though, I didn’t think there’d be a likely target for Odyssey for at least a half a mile. Wrong kind of neighbourhood, ya know? Then again, I hadn’t stuck around long enough to get a broad idea; I’d gotten out just as soon as I could make the getting good… and botched it up just as fast.It was kinda cool knowing Odyssey seemed to have washed its hands of me, and let Mack take me on, instead of spacing me, or putting a blaster through my brain. I pretty much figured they weren’t here after me, but I couldn’t work out what else they might be after.The area was sort of all lower-middle class with no crims around. I knew. I’d double-double-triple-checked. Just cos I was seeing what life might have been without them, didn’t mean I hadn’t been pretty good at what they’d trained me to do.The look Ty gave me was a real wake-up call. Sort of surprised at my response, followed by a tight-lipped smile that flickered over his lips, and then vanished like it hadn’t ever been. It was the puzzled frown that got me. That, and the sudden grab that locked my upper arm in his hand.We stopped, and I turned to face him in the street.“You’re wanted in the office,” he said, grabbing me by the other arm.“Like the stars, I am. I’ve got a shift starting in an hour and a half, and a shit tonne of stuff I need to get done beforehand. Keep your hands to yourself.”I tried to shrug him off, but he was a good bit taller than I was, and maybe a good bit stronger, and the look on his face was starting to scare me.“You can’t quit,” he said, even though I was very much under the impression I already had.“Sure, I can,” I said. “I quit when they decided they’d rather terminate me than my contract. I left, and now I don’t work there anymore.”Ty tightened his grip on my arm, and gave me a little shake. One little shake for each of the next three words he spoke.“You. Can’t. Leave,” he said, bringing his face close to mine.I stared at him.“Sure, I can,” I said, rolling my arm in his grip. “It’s a free world, and you can’t stop me.”“I just did,” he replied, and held me tight, when I tried to pull away.“I’m being retrieved?” I asked, and he looked up and over my shoulder, although the look on his face wasn’t exactly welcoming.Warmth filled the space behind me, another someone bigger than I was.“Yup,” sounded, low and confident in my ear.Mack.“You coulda just asked.”“Would you have come?”“Hell, no, and I’m not coming, now.”I pulled my head back, ready to go full head butt into Ty’s face, but Mack was just as fast as I knew he could be. He dodged the backward tilt, and had my hair in his fist before I could do more than get ready to strike, had an arm around my throat before I realised he could. Was putting me under with a choke hold I just couldn’t avoid. I was out in seconds, wondering why on Earth Mack was working with Odyssey to bring me in.Hadn’t he picked me up, when they cast me aside? And didn't we have a contract?
What in Hells…--------------------Would you like to read more?
Mack'n' Me: Blaedergil's Host
is available direct from Amazon, Smashwords, DriveThruFiction, Google Play and Kobo, and via Smashwords and Draft2Digital distribution. More links can be found at Books2Read.
You can find the first chapter of the first book, Mack ‘n’ Me: Origins , HERE, and the first 500 words of the short story that takes place between these volumes, HERE.Today’s first chapter is from the second book in the Mack ‘n’ Me ‘n’ Odyssey series, Mack ‘n’ Me: Blaedergil’s Host. What’s it About?
I stayed off Mack's radar for a good three months, or so I'd thought. Maybe he was just letting me run. He found me, kicked my ass and hauled me right back on board. He'd been doing that on and off for the past twelve months. Problem was, Odyssey was also on my tail, and, when this job was done, Mack was supposed to hand me back. Not gonna happen. And, now I was back to Square One: Kick free of Odyssey & kick free of Mack... just as soon as the mission was done, because how could I turn my back on *that*?Mack ‘n’ Me:Blaedergil’s Host is the second science-fiction novel set in the Odyssey universe. In it, Cutter is back in Mack’s company, and still trying to work out how to get away from him, his merry band of space-faring freelancers, and Odyssey.
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.
And here it is: Mack ‘n’ Me: Blaedergil’sHost Chapter 1: Retrieved
Odyssey caught up with me on Hancock. I’d taken a vacation from Mack, for what had to be the third time. Man was definitely not going to be impressed with me, when he finally caught up. Too bad. I’d needed a break, still hadn’t had the time I wanted to work out what I wanted to be, without his influence or Odyssey’s interference.I’d told him about that, once, and he’d just given me this sad-eyed look.“You know that ship has flown, don’t you?”I’d blushed, felt my cheeks heat as they grew red. Sure I knew that ship had flown. I just hadn’t wanted to admit it, not even to myself.“And you signed a contract with me.”Man sure knew how to push.I’d shrugged.“Girl’s got to be allowed to change her mind.”“Not when she’s signed a contract.” Mack was nothing if not persistent.“That depends on the circumstances,” I’d snapped back, and I saw his eyes widen.“You’re saying you feel coerced?” he’d asked, volume giving his words the edge of a roar.“Given the choices.”This was true. My choices had been rather thin: Odyssey had wanted me dead; Mack had offered me a job. Not much of a choice.“We had a deal.”“We still do, but I need a break.”“I could just break your neck.”I’d stared at him, and he’d sighed.“Fine. We’re between jobs, but you come when I call, okay?”I continued to stare, and he scowled at me.“I’m not kidding around, Cutter. Your contract’s not up yet. You come when I call, okay?”I raised an eyebrow, and pushed off the wall. I can’t help being sulky. Run of luck I’d had? You’d be sulky, too. I figured if I made my twenty-fifth birthday, I might reconsider the whole sulky thing. That shit gets old in a fairly rapid fashion. Either way, I’d nodded.“Fine.”It wasn’t really an agreement, and I figured Mack knew that. I figured he was already trying to work out ways of tracking me down, and wondered where they’d hidden the tracer this time… and how long it would take me to find a doctor willing to take it out.Okay, so I also wondered whether or not Mack would release the funds I had in my account, but I didn’t let an ounce of that worry show. It’s not like he was my nanny. I’d picked up the day pack I’d had sitting by the side of my bed, and headed for the door.“You’re going, now?”The look on his face had been priceless.“You might change your mind.”Tens snorted inside my head. Comms guy, huh?“You know I can find you any time, right?”I’d felt my lips twist into a smirk.“Yeah?” I said, out loud where Mack could hear. “Let’s see how long that lasts.”And I’d left.I’d also bounced myself right off-world, again. Took a fast warp out. Was pretty sure I could hear Tens swearing in my head, as the trace-link shattered.I snickered as warp closed around me, cushioned by a properly appointed pod, and let myself drift into sleep. Mack was well behind me, and he’d be back there for a good long while, since I knew he had business he had to complete before he broke orbit. I got myself ported over to a second ship and bounced, again, erasing myself from the first ship’s system, as I went.I didn’t erase my payment, though.That sort of shit gets you noticed—and I was noticeable enough.I musta got around four weeks on Hancock, before Odyssey came along.I’d even gotten a job. It didn’t start until evening, because: restaurants, and waiting tables is just that awesome, so I’d gone out to get the groceries, so I could sleep in in the morning.Tyson bumped into me in the street. I had a bottle of milk, a loaf of bread, and a box of butter in the bag. I still hadn’t gotten over getting the groceries for myself. I pretty much figured that the feeling of independence that came with it weren’t never growing old. I turned to apologise for getting in the way, and recognised him.“Hey, Ty! Fancy seeing you here.”I would have asked if he was on a job, but that just seemed impolite. That, and I was already suspecting why he’d come, and I didn’t want to confirm it. Not even in my head.Besides, I remembered Basics. Most of what we were trained to do wasn’t the kind of stuff you talked about on the street.Funny thing was, though, I didn’t think there’d be a likely target for Odyssey for at least a half a mile. Wrong kind of neighbourhood, ya know? Then again, I hadn’t stuck around long enough to get a broad idea; I’d gotten out just as soon as I could make the getting good… and botched it up just as fast.It was kinda cool knowing Odyssey seemed to have washed its hands of me, and let Mack take me on, instead of spacing me, or putting a blaster through my brain. I pretty much figured they weren’t here after me, but I couldn’t work out what else they might be after.The area was sort of all lower-middle class with no crims around. I knew. I’d double-double-triple-checked. Just cos I was seeing what life might have been without them, didn’t mean I hadn’t been pretty good at what they’d trained me to do.The look Ty gave me was a real wake-up call. Sort of surprised at my response, followed by a tight-lipped smile that flickered over his lips, and then vanished like it hadn’t ever been. It was the puzzled frown that got me. That, and the sudden grab that locked my upper arm in his hand.We stopped, and I turned to face him in the street.“You’re wanted in the office,” he said, grabbing me by the other arm.“Like the stars, I am. I’ve got a shift starting in an hour and a half, and a shit tonne of stuff I need to get done beforehand. Keep your hands to yourself.”I tried to shrug him off, but he was a good bit taller than I was, and maybe a good bit stronger, and the look on his face was starting to scare me.“You can’t quit,” he said, even though I was very much under the impression I already had.“Sure, I can,” I said. “I quit when they decided they’d rather terminate me than my contract. I left, and now I don’t work there anymore.”Ty tightened his grip on my arm, and gave me a little shake. One little shake for each of the next three words he spoke.“You. Can’t. Leave,” he said, bringing his face close to mine.I stared at him.“Sure, I can,” I said, rolling my arm in his grip. “It’s a free world, and you can’t stop me.”“I just did,” he replied, and held me tight, when I tried to pull away.“I’m being retrieved?” I asked, and he looked up and over my shoulder, although the look on his face wasn’t exactly welcoming.Warmth filled the space behind me, another someone bigger than I was.“Yup,” sounded, low and confident in my ear.Mack.“You coulda just asked.”“Would you have come?”“Hell, no, and I’m not coming, now.”I pulled my head back, ready to go full head butt into Ty’s face, but Mack was just as fast as I knew he could be. He dodged the backward tilt, and had my hair in his fist before I could do more than get ready to strike, had an arm around my throat before I realised he could. Was putting me under with a choke hold I just couldn’t avoid. I was out in seconds, wondering why on Earth Mack was working with Odyssey to bring me in.Hadn’t he picked me up, when they cast me aside? And didn't we have a contract?
What in Hells…--------------------Would you like to read more?
Mack'n' Me: Blaedergil's Host
is available direct from Amazon, Smashwords, DriveThruFiction, Google Play and Kobo, and via Smashwords and Draft2Digital distribution. More links can be found at Books2Read.
July 6, 2018
New Release—The Depredides Dance
Well, maybe less of a dance and more of a quick step into trouble… Anyway, my science-fiction short story,
The Depredides Dance
, has just been released and is now available direct from Amazon, Smashwords, Kobo, and multiple stores via Books2Read, as well as via Smashwords and Draft2Digital distribution.
All I had to do was disappear. That was it: disappear and stay out of sight. Hard enough with Abs running an auction for the last location she left me, but then I poked the Depredides communications network—and everything else looked downright easy… I’m not even sure there is a way out of this…
The Depredides Dance is a stand-alone short story set in the Odyssey universe. However, if you’re into reading things in order, it tells the story of what happened to Cutter after the end of Mack ‘n’ Me: Origins , and thus forms story 1-1 of the Mack ‘n’ Me ‘n’ Odyssey series.
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.
All I had to do was disappear. That was it: disappear and stay out of sight. Hard enough with Abs running an auction for the last location she left me, but then I poked the Depredides communications network—and everything else looked downright easy… I’m not even sure there is a way out of this…The Depredides Dance is a stand-alone short story set in the Odyssey universe. However, if you’re into reading things in order, it tells the story of what happened to Cutter after the end of Mack ‘n’ Me: Origins , and thus forms story 1-1 of the Mack ‘n’ Me ‘n’ Odyssey series.
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.
July 4, 2018
First Words for the Day—July 4, 2018
Kicking off a new writing schedule is never easy, especially when you’re trying to more than double your output, and your little one falls ill, and school holidays hit, while you’re also recovering yourself.
But it’s happening, and the little bit I’d fallen behind is slowly being caught up, and I’m very grateful for that. Mack ‘n’ Me: The Transporter Favour
The wolf’s next words drew my full attention—and explained why I had to be awake. He surveyed us, running he eyes over each of those the contract had named.
“You have taken back each of those subject to the contract’s terms… and they are unharmed.”
I heard Rohan gulp, and Tens give what might have been a suppressed growl. Cascade’s protest was louder. The wolf curled its lips, partly in amusement and partly in challenge. Rohan whimpered, and Cascade growled, even though he didn’t move from the boy’s side. Mack cleared his throat.
“I wouldn’t call that unharmed.”
The wolf looked at him.
“Do you challenge my judgement?”
And it was Mack’s turn to lift his head and meet its eyes. He even managed to rip out a credible snarl. Delight raised her hand.-------------------------------------------- Would you like to read more? You can find the first book in the Mack ‘n’ Me ‘n’ Odyssey series, Mack ‘n’ Me: Origins,HERE
But it’s happening, and the little bit I’d fallen behind is slowly being caught up, and I’m very grateful for that. Mack ‘n’ Me: The Transporter Favour
The wolf’s next words drew my full attention—and explained why I had to be awake. He surveyed us, running he eyes over each of those the contract had named.
“You have taken back each of those subject to the contract’s terms… and they are unharmed.” I heard Rohan gulp, and Tens give what might have been a suppressed growl. Cascade’s protest was louder. The wolf curled its lips, partly in amusement and partly in challenge. Rohan whimpered, and Cascade growled, even though he didn’t move from the boy’s side. Mack cleared his throat.
“I wouldn’t call that unharmed.”
The wolf looked at him.
“Do you challenge my judgement?”
And it was Mack’s turn to lift his head and meet its eyes. He even managed to rip out a credible snarl. Delight raised her hand.-------------------------------------------- Would you like to read more? You can find the first book in the Mack ‘n’ Me ‘n’ Odyssey series, Mack ‘n’ Me: Origins,HERE
