C.M. Simpson's Blog, page 156

NEW COVER: Legacy of Hope as Carlie Simonsen

And yesterday, I received the cover for my next release as Carlie Simonsen, a contemporary tale of hope touched with romance - Legacy of Hope.

Legacy of Hope PoD Cover Legacy of Hope Ebook Cover




















Sean is finally home, but everything he hoped for is gone. As far as he can tell, his life is over. His dreams of becoming a garden designer seem done, because he can’t dig or weed. He can’t see how he can be of any use in the School Gardens Program, he used to help to run. And he can’t kick a ball, or ride a skateboard, so how can he continue to be the buddy of a boy who loves to do both? And as for his girlfriend, Angelica… well, Sean feels he has no choice but to send her away. After all, she’ll be better off with a guy who can walk, won’t she? Unfortunately, Angelica and his little buddy Brian have other plans. They just need to get Sean to see that he’s not so useless after all…
Legacy of Hope is a teen to young adult story about how Sean learns to cope with losing his ability to walk, and to see that there is still might be a way to do the things he loves. But even the strongest person needs a little help to learn to hope again.
Legacy of Hope is the second book in the Wheelchair Adventures series, which is based around young people getting their wheels underneath them, after they find themselves in wheelchairs.

JUST RELEASED: Rocky Touches Down as Carlie Simonsen

Just to let you all know that the fifth book in my Otherworld Adventures series has been released on Smashwords in all formats, and that other platforms will shortly follow.

Rocky Touches Down Ebook Cover Rocky Touches Down PoD Cover



















When Rocky finally reaches Tallona, he crash lands. The cargo pod carrying his beloved pony Tank is dropped in, and radio communications are lost with the colony and the space ship. To make matters worse, there is a pack of velociraptors nesting right near the crash site. With help a long way away, someone has to reach the horses and set them free, and the only way to stop his little sister from trying to do just that, is to go himself. Can Rocky sneak out of a dropship full of adults, reach the horses, and then get to the colony before the raptors eat him? With the help of the alien girl, Elita, he can only try.

Rocky Touches Down is the fifth book in the Otherworld Adventures series, which is set around Rocky’s journey to the world of Tallona, where his parents will farm alongside the aliens who have asked them for help.

JUST RELEASED: The Science Fiction Volume of the 2014 Collection

I've just released Volume 2 of my collection of short works from 2014 on Smashwords, in all formats.


What's it About?

A collection of flash fiction, short stories, poems and essays where science fiction explores future possibilities and tragedies, where hopes and dreams are held and lost, and where cyberware stands alongside shapeshifters and starships. The poems here either explore these futures, or are written as though they were created by someone in those futures. This is the realm of the starborn and starbound, and of futures that might never be.
Where can I find Print?
 
At the moment you can also find the print-on-demand (PoD) at the CreateSpace store in both mass market and large print versions, but it should also be available on Amazon soon, as well.

New Cover for Carlie Simonsen: Rocky Touches Down

The cover for the fifth book in the Otherworld series has just been completed and approved.




When Rocky finally reaches Tallona, he crash lands. The cargo pod carrying his beloved pony Tank are dropped in, and radio communications are lost with the colony and the space ship. To make matters worse, there is a pack of velociraptors nesting right near the crash site. With help a long way away, someone has to reach the horses and set them free, and the only way to stop his little sister from trying to do just that, is to go himself. Can Rocky sneak out of a dropship full of adults, reach the horses, and then get to the colony before the raptors eat him? With the help of the alien girl, Elita, he can only try.

Rocky Touches Down is the fifth book in the Otherworld Adventures series, which is set around Rocky’s journey to the world of Tallona, where his parents will farm alongside the aliens who have asked them for help. While I originally thought this one would be the last book in the series, I’ve had another idea for poor Rocky, so there is at least one more book to come.

I Went for a Walk... in the Crace Hilltop Reserve

January was a great time for long walks... and playing ingress. So, at one point, I found myself at the Crace Hilltop Reserve - and I loved it. Little animal statues hiding in the native bush in the middle of a new suburb? Awesome!

Welcome to the Crace Hilltop Reserve.

On the left is a playground for under-fives, and on the right is a path leading away from it.


 Of course, straight ahead is a sign welcoming you the the sculpture walk. Let's take the path to the right. The little ones can play *after* a short walk.

Mind you, the first sculpture on the left is a little *too* lifelike for my liking.

The length is about right, but it *is* a statue!

And, of course, here's the information about what to do if you see a snake. It's good advice no matter what part of Australia you're in.

This is not a man-made feature, but it's one you should know about. This is a meat ant's nest. Don't walk on it, and don't stop too close to it. Actually, don't stand still too long anywhere you see meat ants running around - or you'll end up with the little beggars running up your trouser leg. This nest is just a little bit past the snake statue, so be careful if you visit and want to take pictures... or hack an ingress portal. Not much is more disruptive than a nip or five hundred from a meat ant.

This is the next statue to look out for, on your sculpture walk - an echidna, in its own little bit of grassland!

Here's a look at it, close up.

And here's the information about echidnas on the sign nearby. 

Further around, you'll come to the turtle statues. These guys are cute, but you might have to look carefully to see them.




And here's your information sign.


This sign post marks the top of the trail. If you go right, you head into the suburb itself. We, of course, will be following the path to the left.

While walking through this beautiful little area, you should keep an eye out for native birds. This one is an Eastern Rosella.

And this one is, I think, a turquoise parrot.

If you keep following the path around, you'll find directions for another walk. Don't worry, I'll head up that way another time. You, of course, could explore it on the same day! 

Turning right, we look down the path to see a kangaroo! It is another statue, but, in the dusk or early morning, it looks quite real.

Here's a picture from closer up.

And here's some information on the Australian kangaroo.

We keep following the trail, as it bends back towards the entrance to the park, and find ourselves looking at this little guy.

Here he is again - a lovely little statue.

The information is always there - this would be a good place for a school nature excursion, if you did the right worksheets. It's also free, which could be a good thing for homeschoolers.

 One other thing I love about this park, is that each and every information sign, is place

When you've found all the animals, and any little ones have had a bit of a walk, this park for small children is a nice place to rest. There's a seat just out of sight to the left... and the grocery bag will be absent.




As you're leaving the park, you'll find yourself looking out over the main road into Crace - and another sculpture park.

Beyond it, you can see a small shopping mall. There's a restaurant and a coffee shop here, as well as a supermarket.

Here's a closer shot of the sculpture.


And the... nut?... inside it.

There is also a small plaque about the artist... 

... and the artwork.

The street view from this small park is beautiful - even on an overcast day.

It's also pretty good from the road above the park.

Crace - go check it.

I Went for a Walk... along the top end of Lake Ginninderra

On another day in January 2016, I took a stroll along one of the shared bikeways that can be found throughout the city. This one took me along the top of Lake Ginninderra, and down towards the lake itself.

It was a lovely day, and the views were spectacular.
This shot was taken looking down towards the Belconnen town centre. Belconnen, Belco to some of the city natives, is one of the larger suburbs in the city.

Here's another shot of that, playing with the close-up function on the Samsung Galaxy 5.

The summer shoreline was beautiful on this particular morning, with reflections everywhere.

I took a few shots of the bridge and the town centre - so far away, but so close (only a 3 km walk).

This was taken from another bridge, looking back at the peninsula that hangs down in the middle of the lake. Again - reflections...

Here is a shot of the western shore, showing that Canberra does, indeed, have beaches, of a kind.

And here is a view of the Telstra Tower on Black Mountain *from* the western edge of the lake. This tower can be seen from many areas of Canberra. No doubt you'll see it, again, in my pictures.

This shot was taken looking back at the bridge from the boardwalk not far from the Belconnen town centre.

And this was taken while walking on the peninsula.

As you can guess, there are a lot of shots I didn't take on my trip around the lake, but there will be others. Count on it.

I Went for a Walk... in Forde, at the Dog Park

One of the things Canberrans love is their dogs. There are a few of these dog parks all around the city, where people can come, any time of day or night, to exercise their dogs off the lead.

In addition to the trees, Canberra parks like to incorporate a bit of art work...

... and many of them commemorate other parts of our heritage, too. This sign post was standing not far from the park entrance. 

This is what it was here to remember. 

The other thing dog parks here are careful to do is to remind dog owners of what's expected. It helps to keep things peaceful, and is a good learning tool for new dog owners still learning the ropes.

As with the water-quality ponds last week, there seems to be a few things I missed. I think I'll have to come back and take a few more shots so you can get a better feel for the place.

I Went for a Walk... in Forde, at the Water-Quality Ponds Park

So, sometime in January, when I was learning how to play ingress, I went for a walk in Forde. I'll have to go again, because there's a few things I didn't photograph - like the picnic area and the area as a whole, but this is an example of the little nooks tucked away in Australia's capital city, Canberra.

One of the things about Canberra is that it's full of trees. You might wonder how the 2003 bushfires could have been so devastating, but the whole capital is full of trees. It's beautiful.

 It also has a way of making utilitarian areas, like these water quality ponds, pleasant places for picnics and play.

Here's a close-up of the sign, above.

... and of the what's on the sign - a map of the area.

Of course, just because they were designed as public spaces, in a bushfire prone city, doesn't always mean they are well-maintained... 
This shot looks across Mulligan's Flat Road from Forde, into the neighbouring suburb of Bonner.

... and has another sign explaining what it's all about.

 - the water-quality ponds, of course - and why they are important.

This is another section of the ponds, again looking into Bonner. Take a good look at the sandstone carvings on the left.

Here's a close-up of the sandstone carvings.

This little nook was, of course, about the plants.

I've noticed there's a lot I've missed from this trip - it was my first time documenting things... and I was kind of distracted by ingress, so I'll go back and take some more photos to include the barbecue area, the children's playground, and a couple of other statues and cultural signs that are out there.
In the meantime, I hope you've enjoyed the glimpse of this little hidden park.

On the Recent Furor Over Paying the Writer...

So, some dude at Huffington Post believes that pieces written for free are more authentic than those written for money - and so he is very proud that Huffington Post does not pay its writers.

Needless to say, this has created a bit of a furor from a whole stack of writers... but it's something that's been going on for a while, now - this whole not-paying or not-paying-a-fair-rate to writers, so all I can say is it's about time.

Mind you, this attitide isn't confined to the editor-in-chief - yes, that was the 'some dude' - it's also held by at least one staffer holding a salaried position, who believes that writing for free means that, as a writer, you don't have daily hours, deadlines, or need to work on weekends and that the 'exposure' is worth doing something for nothing.

Both these guys delicately avoid the point that they make money off the content they provide, including any content they seek to be allowed to use from other bloggers. While bloggers might post for free on their blog, it could be said that if someone wants to use that content, it's not for charity, it's because that content is expected to grow their audience, or appeal to their audience and assist in their own publication's profitability. For these benefits, it's fair to offer payment.

So, think about it - Huffington Post makes money from those who click on its - often unpaid - articles. There is a way to express your dislike. As Porter Anderson and Chuck Wendig have suggested: Don't support them. Stop clicking.

And think on this: 

Instead of screaming at markets like the Huffington Post (because they are not alone) ... just. don't. write. for. them. - Of course, this means that some other writer is going to write for them, one who doesn't understand that working for nothing means that more people who own markets will think that not paying writers is okay, that it will take a lot of writers not sharing their content and a lot of readers not reading or sharing their content before they understand that words which make you money need to be paid for.

On that note, also remember that signing contracts which purchase rights that the buyer is unlikely to use, that purchase ALL rights for the life of the copyright, that do not have clauses that guarantee the work purchased will stay in print and available for the duration of the contract is very close to working for nothing. There are better contracts out there. Be sure of what your rights are. Be sure of what you want to sell and for how much. Set time limits. Protect your IP and copyright. Negotiate.
If writers work together to insist on payment, and better contracts, instead of rushing into something for fear of 'missing out' - and it will take every writer to do that - then we can work together for better pay for our work.
But, unless we *all* agree to not work for nothing, to not work for peanuts, to not sign greedy rights-grabbing contracts, unless we *all* stop trying to get the contract first, to snap up that limited release slot before anyone else gets the chance, then nothing will change.
Screaming just isn't going to cut it, nor is acting alone, or acting to ensure you don't 'miss out'. Have faith in your work. Have faith in yourself. Have faith in your readers. You are not alone, and you are totally alone, but you work in a community of writers, and we all need to start acting for the good of the whole, instead of only the good of ourselves - if we don't, then unfair contracts will continue, and markets that think it's okay to not pay, or to underpay their writers, will also continue.
Stop screaming. Stop whining. Start acting - together - for change.
Some links that provide a number of different views on the Huffington Post and paying the writers matters as follows:

http://terribleminds.com/ramble/2016/... http://wilwheaton.net/2015/10/you-can...

JUST RELEASED: Rocky Rides the Space Range - Carlie Simonsen

The latest chapter book in the Rocky series has just been released. Writing as Carlie Simonsen, I have followed Rocky's journey across the stars to a new world.





















When Rocky’s ship stops to resupply at Tallona’s First Moon, Rocky and his classmates head down to the surface. Seeing moon dragons, ice beetles, dangerous butterflies and flowers that grow on the moon’s surface seem like a good way to spend a day. Rocky never expects to have to deal with moon raiders as well. When his little sister runs away to protect the dragon eggs, Rocky’s troubles really begin. Can he sneak out of the base, find his sister, and bring her back without the pirates or moon base security ever finding out? All he knows is that he has to try.

Rocky Rides the Space Range is the fourth book in the Otherworld Adventures series, which is set on Rocky’s journey to the world of Tallona, where his parents will farm alongside the aliens who have asked them for help.