C.M. Simpson's Blog, page 123
January 29, 2018
New Cover: Dear Tiger: I Don’t Think I’m Human Any More
The fourth cover for this week is for the second book in the Dear Tigerseries, which I write as Carlie Simonsen. Dear Tiger: I Don’t Think I’m Human Any More takes up the story, where the first book left off.
Trapped in a room, and unable to hug her family, Simone knows she is changing. She just doesn’t know what she’s changing into, or how long it will take. The company doctors won’t tell her, and Tiger seems so far away. But at least he writes back, and he’s trying to help. Maybe, together, they can find a way out.
January 28, 2018
Dear Tiger Rereleased: 99c on Smashwords
My teen science fiction story,
Dear Tiger: I Miss You
, has been re-released. To celebrate, it will remain at 99c on Smashwords until Friday, February 9, 2018
“Dear Tiger, this has been the best day ever… but I lie.”
Simone Michaels is in trouble, but she doesn’t know how deep. Her parents’ expedition has gone missing, and that she’s afraid she’ll go missing, too. Will she get the chance to see her mum and dad, again?
“Dear Tiger, this has been the best day ever… but I lie.”Simone Michaels is in trouble, but she doesn’t know how deep. Her parents’ expedition has gone missing, and that she’s afraid she’ll go missing, too. Will she get the chance to see her mum and dad, again?
Progress Report: January 21-27, 2018
Last week saw a drop in hours spent at the desk as other commitments demanded more attention. It also saw a drop in my walking per day, and a continued cessation of language study and sketching. This week, I am working on bringing these back on line, even if it’s only to a small degree, even if it’s the last week of the school holidays, and real life needs a bit of attention. Progress was still made on all writing goal fronts—except the unspecified one to finish
Babes in London
, and I’m working towards clearing a day of desk space just for that. Here is the writing progress made in the past week:
Progress Overview: January 21-27, 2018New words produced: 17,531Outlines and Notes: 2,404Words compiled: 0Works completed: 2 (chapter books: 2)Works edited: 1 ( Reluctant Liaison )Covers created: 4 ( Reluctant Liaison, Dear Tiger: I Miss You, Granny Finds a Gas Mask, Dear Tiger: I Don’t Think I’m Human Anymore )Works published: 1 ( Reluctant Liaison )Works released: 0Works submitted: 0Competitions Entered: 0Bloggery: 3,056Hours at Desk—January 21-28: 35 hours 50mHours at Desk—January 14-20: 46 hours, 28mHours at Desk—January 7-13: 47 hours, 16mHours at Desk—January 1-6: 38 hours, 19m
Goal Progress
Publish Fortnightly: Weekly pre-releases have already been uploaded to the end of January, 2018. Stories have been written to cover the release schedule to the first week of March 2018, and the second release is in the process of being written. This goal is currently on track.
Short Story/Month Goal: So far, the short story, The Queens’ Game , has been released for January 2017, and stories have been written, but not yet published, for February through to June, 2017: Reluctant Liaison, Memory’s Vampire, Dreams of the Serpent, Destiny’s Queen, and Harper’s Choice . A seventh short story was started this week, tentatively titled River’s Edge . This goal is currently on track.
June 2018: May 2018: April 2018:
March 2018: February 2018: January 2018:
Chapter Book/Month Goal: So far, one chapter book, In Full Flight , has been uploaded for pre-release on January 20, 2017, February’s chapter book is complete, and March’s chapter book has been started. This goal is currently on track.
March 2018: February 2018: January 2018:
Novel/Quarter Goal: So far, I have released 1 young-adult novel for Quarter 1, A Planet’s Ransom , and completed the first 50,000 words of the novel due for the second quarter. This goal is currently on track.
February 2018: January 2018:
Publishing 12-Months Ahead Goal: I am going to follow the same pattern for next year’s work, as I am for this year. This means publishing 12-months’ worth of short stories and 12-months’ worth of chapter books, and 1 novel each quarter. I have yet to writing towards this goal, but the writing schedule is in place.
Finishing-Series-I-Have-Started Goal: At the start of the year, I named several series that I wanted to advance. For C.M. Simpson, these were the: Freeman, The Priestess, the Prince & Dragon, Aggie & Tams series; and for Carlie Simonsen they were the: Wings and Tag Man One series. So far, I have uploaded In Full Flight for pre-release, for the Wings series, and am in the process of writing the third book for the Dear Tiger series. This goal is on track.
Finishing-Novels-Started-2017 Goal: At the start of the year I said I wanted to finish some novels started last year. I mentioned Mack ‘n’ Me , Arach. I forgot about the second book in the Aggie & Tams series, and the second book in The Priestess, Prince & the Dragon series. I am currently 50,000 words in to writing Mack ‘n’ Me , which is now slated for release in the second quarter.
Anthology Challenge ProgressThe Anthology Challenge is to release one collection of short work each month in 2019. When I began this challenge, I had completed four collections, but had to compile, cover, edit and upload any. The current status for each collection is as follows:
January—Short Work for 2017, Volume 1: Completed and collated at 98,000 words, requires cover, front and end matter, editing, formatting and publication;
February—Short Work for 2017, Volume 2: Completed, requires collation editing, and publication;March—Tales from Odyssey: 79,824/90,000 words;
April—An Anthology of Bloodlines: 46,510/90,000 words;May—Pixie-Dust Dreaming: 53,020/90,000 words;
June—The Story-Match Challenge 2015:Completed at 102,655 words, requires collation, editing, and publication;
July—The Story-A-Week Catch-Up Collection:Completed and compiled at 96,700 words, this still requires a cover, formatting, editing and publication;
August—Another Anthology of Dragons: 43,311/90,000 words;
September—Tales from When the Trolls Came: 21,815/90,000 words;
October—Stories from the Lizardine: 31,493/90,000 words;
November—Tales from Tallameera: 19,902/90,000 words; and
December—Another 366 Days of Poetry: 0/90,000 words.
Extension—Another 366 Days of Flash Fiction: 0/90,000 words.
Chapter-Book-Collection Challenge ProgressThe Chapter-Book-Collection Challenge is to release one collection of chapter books each month in 2020. When I began this challenge, I had not completed any of the proposed collections. The current status for each collection is as follows: January—Wings: 3 of 4 proposed volumes completed; existing stories compiled with updated front and back matter;
February—Rocky: previously known as the Otherworld series; 5 of 6 proposed volumes completed;
March—Wheelchair Romance: currently included in the Wheelchair Adventures series; 3 of 4 proposed of volumes completed;
April—Granny Finds Adventures: 1 of 6 proposed volumes completed, but overviews are completed for the first three, and writing has commenced on the second volume.
May—Tag Man One: 1 of 4 proposed volumes completed;
June—Long Hair Collected: 1 of 6 proposed volumes completed;
July—Ribbondrake Riders: 1 of 4 proposed volumes completed;
August—On Patrol Collection: 1 of 4 proposed volumes completed;
September—Running with the Pack: 1 of 4 proposed volumes completed;
October—Traveller’s Tales: 1 of 4 proposed volumes completed;
November—Marcus Drain’s Collected Adventures; 0 of 6 proposed volumes completed;
December—The Dear Tiger Letters: 2 of 4 proposed volumes completed, and a fifth volume is now planned. The third volume of the series is currently being written.
Progress Overview: January 21-27, 2018New words produced: 17,531Outlines and Notes: 2,404Words compiled: 0Works completed: 2 (chapter books: 2)Works edited: 1 ( Reluctant Liaison )Covers created: 4 ( Reluctant Liaison, Dear Tiger: I Miss You, Granny Finds a Gas Mask, Dear Tiger: I Don’t Think I’m Human Anymore )Works published: 1 ( Reluctant Liaison )Works released: 0Works submitted: 0Competitions Entered: 0Bloggery: 3,056Hours at Desk—January 21-28: 35 hours 50mHours at Desk—January 14-20: 46 hours, 28mHours at Desk—January 7-13: 47 hours, 16mHours at Desk—January 1-6: 38 hours, 19m
Goal Progress
Publish Fortnightly: Weekly pre-releases have already been uploaded to the end of January, 2018. Stories have been written to cover the release schedule to the first week of March 2018, and the second release is in the process of being written. This goal is currently on track.
Short Story/Month Goal: So far, the short story, The Queens’ Game , has been released for January 2017, and stories have been written, but not yet published, for February through to June, 2017: Reluctant Liaison, Memory’s Vampire, Dreams of the Serpent, Destiny’s Queen, and Harper’s Choice . A seventh short story was started this week, tentatively titled River’s Edge . This goal is currently on track.
June 2018: May 2018: April 2018:
March 2018: February 2018: January 2018:
Chapter Book/Month Goal: So far, one chapter book, In Full Flight , has been uploaded for pre-release on January 20, 2017, February’s chapter book is complete, and March’s chapter book has been started. This goal is currently on track.
March 2018: February 2018: January 2018:
Novel/Quarter Goal: So far, I have released 1 young-adult novel for Quarter 1, A Planet’s Ransom , and completed the first 50,000 words of the novel due for the second quarter. This goal is currently on track.
February 2018: January 2018:
Publishing 12-Months Ahead Goal: I am going to follow the same pattern for next year’s work, as I am for this year. This means publishing 12-months’ worth of short stories and 12-months’ worth of chapter books, and 1 novel each quarter. I have yet to writing towards this goal, but the writing schedule is in place.
Finishing-Series-I-Have-Started Goal: At the start of the year, I named several series that I wanted to advance. For C.M. Simpson, these were the: Freeman, The Priestess, the Prince & Dragon, Aggie & Tams series; and for Carlie Simonsen they were the: Wings and Tag Man One series. So far, I have uploaded In Full Flight for pre-release, for the Wings series, and am in the process of writing the third book for the Dear Tiger series. This goal is on track.
Finishing-Novels-Started-2017 Goal: At the start of the year I said I wanted to finish some novels started last year. I mentioned Mack ‘n’ Me , Arach. I forgot about the second book in the Aggie & Tams series, and the second book in The Priestess, Prince & the Dragon series. I am currently 50,000 words in to writing Mack ‘n’ Me , which is now slated for release in the second quarter.
Anthology Challenge ProgressThe Anthology Challenge is to release one collection of short work each month in 2019. When I began this challenge, I had completed four collections, but had to compile, cover, edit and upload any. The current status for each collection is as follows: January—Short Work for 2017, Volume 1: Completed and collated at 98,000 words, requires cover, front and end matter, editing, formatting and publication;
February—Short Work for 2017, Volume 2: Completed, requires collation editing, and publication;March—Tales from Odyssey: 79,824/90,000 words;
April—An Anthology of Bloodlines: 46,510/90,000 words;May—Pixie-Dust Dreaming: 53,020/90,000 words;
June—The Story-Match Challenge 2015:Completed at 102,655 words, requires collation, editing, and publication;
July—The Story-A-Week Catch-Up Collection:Completed and compiled at 96,700 words, this still requires a cover, formatting, editing and publication;
August—Another Anthology of Dragons: 43,311/90,000 words;
September—Tales from When the Trolls Came: 21,815/90,000 words;
October—Stories from the Lizardine: 31,493/90,000 words;
November—Tales from Tallameera: 19,902/90,000 words; and
December—Another 366 Days of Poetry: 0/90,000 words.
Extension—Another 366 Days of Flash Fiction: 0/90,000 words.
Chapter-Book-Collection Challenge ProgressThe Chapter-Book-Collection Challenge is to release one collection of chapter books each month in 2020. When I began this challenge, I had not completed any of the proposed collections. The current status for each collection is as follows: January—Wings: 3 of 4 proposed volumes completed; existing stories compiled with updated front and back matter;
February—Rocky: previously known as the Otherworld series; 5 of 6 proposed volumes completed;
March—Wheelchair Romance: currently included in the Wheelchair Adventures series; 3 of 4 proposed of volumes completed;
April—Granny Finds Adventures: 1 of 6 proposed volumes completed, but overviews are completed for the first three, and writing has commenced on the second volume.
May—Tag Man One: 1 of 4 proposed volumes completed;
June—Long Hair Collected: 1 of 6 proposed volumes completed;
July—Ribbondrake Riders: 1 of 4 proposed volumes completed;
August—On Patrol Collection: 1 of 4 proposed volumes completed;
September—Running with the Pack: 1 of 4 proposed volumes completed;
October—Traveller’s Tales: 1 of 4 proposed volumes completed;
November—Marcus Drain’s Collected Adventures; 0 of 6 proposed volumes completed;
December—The Dear Tiger Letters: 2 of 4 proposed volumes completed, and a fifth volume is now planned. The third volume of the series is currently being written.
PokemonGo: Today’s New Medal
With the influx of new pokemon from Hoenn, I have been able to catch more steel-types. Okay, so they’re mostly aron, but they’re there, and today I FINALLY caught my fiftieth steel-type. This medal is one of three pokemon ‘type’ medals that aren’t gold, and one of the last two that were bronze, so I’m pretty pleased with the advance.
Reluctant Liaison is now 99c on Pre-Order from Smashwords
Just a quick note to let you all know that you can get Reluctant Liaison , my urban fantasy short story, for 99c on SMASHWORDS until it releases on Friday.
I woke up in a car—upside down, staring into the faces of a half dozen pixies sitting on a tree branch. To one side, was a cliff face, to the other, sky, and things were starting to shift. Apparently, I’d had an interesting night… if only I could remember what it was, and why I’d run, and why following the pixies scared me almost as much as the idea of staying in the car…
In Reluctant Liaison the Paranormal Operations Squad is faced with a dilemma outside their usual remit, when Otherworld and ‘real’ world cultures clash.
Yesterday’s New Pokemon: Lunatone & Zangoose
Yesterday, I went back to a place I’d visited earlier in the week, and, to be honest, I didn’t think I’d find any new pokemon, but we live in hope, right? Anyway, this is the first time I’d ever seen a lunatone, and only the second time zangoose has popped up on my scanner.
EDIT: Today, I went walking to a different place, hunting aron, and checking in on a portal for Ingress – and I saw (and caught) THREE zangoose. Go figure…
EDIT: Today, I went walking to a different place, hunting aron, and checking in on a portal for Ingress – and I saw (and caught) THREE zangoose. Go figure…
New Cover: Granny Finds a Gas Mask
This third book cover is for the first book in a series I’ve been wanting to write for some time. Granny Finds a Gas Mask is about what happens when Gareth and Giselle are swept back in time when their Gran unpacks a gas mask, while cleaning out the garage.
Helping Gran is a chore, but with her holding their mobile phones hostage, Gareth and Giselle have no choice. Unpacking boxes of books is no surprise. Unpacking the gas mask is—and so is finding themselves back in the war, in Gran’s war, because ‘some things are meant to be changed’. How on Earth, does Gran expect them to help with this? Better yet, how on Earth, can they get back home?
Granny Finds a Gas Mask is the first book in a series where the things Granny finds lead to adventure, and Gareth and Giselle have to figure out how to get back to their own time and place.
January 27, 2018
New Cover: Dear Tiger: I Miss You
This week’s second cover is for a re-release of the first volume of the Dear Tiger series, which I write as Carlie Simonsen. Dear Tiger: I Miss You has been re-edited, re-formatted, and the series’ look has been slightly updated.
“Dear Tiger, this has been the best day ever… but I lie.”
Simone Michaels is in trouble, but she doesn’t know how deep. Her parents’ expedition has gone missing, and that she’s afraid she’ll go missing, too. Will she get the chance to see her mum and dad, again?
January 26, 2018
New Cover: Reluctant Liaison
The first new cover that arrived this week was for the urban fantasy short story, Reluctant Liaison , which will be published next Friday.
I woke up in a car—upside down, staring into the faces of a half dozen pixies sitting on a tree branch. To one side, was a cliff face, to the other, sky, and things were starting to shift. Apparently, I’d had an interesting night… if only I could remember what it was, and why I’d run, and why following the pixies scared me almost as much as the idea of staying in the car…
In Reluctant Liaison the Paranormal Operations Squad is faced with a dilemma outside their usual remit, when Otherworld and ‘real’ world cultures clash.
Today’s New Pokemon: Lairon
No new catches, today, but I did have a new evolution after finding some aron this morning’s 4.5 km walk. This brings the Johto pokedex up to a grand total of 64, which leaves me 26 to go before I hit gold.
