C.M. Simpson's Blog, page 219

New Release: Old Magic

Today, as part of my attempt to release one title a week, I released one of my earlier short stories: Old Magic. Set in post-apocalyptic Melbourne, Old Magic is about a meeting between survivors, and has an underlying theme of the inheritance in bloodlines.



After disaster and disease wipe out the world we know, powers carried by right of ancestry act as a sixth sense for trouble in a ruined city. Can she be the only one to have survived?

Old Magic is one of the short stories that will be included in An Anthology of Bloodlines . It is currently available on Smashwords, but will be releasing from Kindle, Kobo, Nook and iTunes soon.

New Release - The Buried Blade

The Buried BladeWhen the grass in one of her uncle's fields starts to die, Amanda tries to work out why, but her uncle only sees stones, where she sees fragments of pottery. In a war as old as time, will Amanda convince her uncle of the truth, and remain unscathed, or will she fall under the control of an old and subtle power? The Buried Blade is a short tale of dark fantasy, which will later be incorporated into An Anthology of Blades .

The Buried Blade can currently be found at Smashwords in most formats, but will soon be available on Amazon, Kobo, and iTunes

Progress Report: Week 2 January 2013

I’m not sure where this week went, but it did. I completed the following goals:Tier 1 Projects
DarkFantasyNovel1B—Shadow Trap: Completed Edit 2/4, and base format; added 1,000 words. This project is currently 54 days ahead of schedule.
Backburner Projects
ShortStory24—The Buried Blade: Completed edit 4/4 and prepared for release.
Publishing TasksCreated cover for ShortStory24;Formatted ShortStory24 for Kobo upload;Formatted ShortStory24 for Kindle upload;Formatted ShortStory24 for Smashwords upload;Formatted ShortStory24 for DriveThruFiction upload;Formatted ShortStory24 for CreateSpace print upload;Formatted ShortStory24 for CreateSpace large print upload.
I foresee a busy couple of days of uploading new titles ahead—when my internet connection speeds up again. New ArrivalsThese ones arrived this week:
DarkFantasy11A: based on the journeys of one of the characters who leaves in DarkFantasy1B.

Progress Report: Week 1, January 2013

Progress Report: Week 1, January 2013I had a few extra days off this week, so tried to work my way ahead on the project timelines.Current Tier 1 ProjectsThe following ‘must do’ work was completed on my current projects this week:
DarkFantasyNovel1A-Shadow’s Rise: released under C.M. Simpson in five formats. Revised 22 chapters, formatted, reviewed and released novel. This project was completed 30 days ahead of its timeline.
DarkFantasyNovel1B-Shadow Trap: to be released under C.M. Simpson. Revised first 7 chapters as part of Edit1. This project is currently 35 days ahead of its timeline.
RomanceNovel14A: to be released under Madeleine Torr. Revised 4,000 words, and added 4,000 words. This project is currently running 3 days ahead of its schedule.
Current Tier 2 ProjectsThe following ‘sincerely hope-to-do’ work was completed this week:
ChapterBook2: to be released under Carlie Simonsen. Revised 2,500 words, and added 5 black-and-white ink drawings. This project is currently 3 days ahead of its timeline.
Annual1: to be released under C.M. Simpson. Added 5,000 words. This project is currently running to time.
Current Tier 3 Projects Nil progress this week.Publishing TasksThis week I completed the following publishing tasks:
Formatted and released Shadow’s Rise for CreateSpace in large and normal print;
Formatted and released Shadow’s Rise for Kindle;
Formatted and released Shadow’s Rise for Smashwords;
Formatted and released Shadow’s Rise for Kobo;
Formatted and released Shadow’sRise for Drive Thru Fiction;
Updated Goodreads for Shadow’s Rise
Updated Shelfari for Shadow’s Rise
Updated Linked-In for Shadow’s Rise
Updated Pinterest for Shadow’s Rise
Updated  my blog and the publishing blog
Updated the Fantasy page on the publishing blog, and the Tales of Tzamesch page here.
Craft DevelopmentI have added a new challenge, writing to order as part of craft development and attempting, where possible, to submit something new to a different market every week. The only condition is that I have to finish the week’s work in all tiers first, so, on weeks where the work is not done, no writing to order will be done.New ArrivalsTitles that already existed but hadn’t been added to the records and assigned a number:
RomanceNovel4A: a novel of romantic suspense.

First Paragraphs: Shadow’s Rise

Shadow's Rise is in the process of being released on Smashwords, Kindle and CreateSpace. Here is the first paragraph to tide you over while it goes live:


Gilzereet caught the carriage just after it left Duke Graglecrock’s city mansion. He tipped the driver, paying him for his silence and the risk he took, and easing the man’s terror with a single golden coin. Skill and secrecy was what he paid for, loyalty was what he inadvertently bought. The coachman gave him all three.

Shadow's Rise is the first book in the Shadow series. Shadow Trap and Shadow Fall are scheduled for release later this year.

Blogs that made me stop 29 December 2012

Scalzi-Hines Aicardi Pose-Offhttp://whatever.scalzi.com/2012/12/25... Gerry Andersonhttp://www.thegalaxyexpress.net/2012/... News:http://whatever.scalzi.com/2012/12/26/here-comes-the-blizzard/http://whatever.scalzi.com/2012/12/26/boxing-day-blizzard-update/http://whatever.scalzi.com/2012/12/26/more-boxing-day-blizzard-photos/http://whatever.scalzi.com/2012/12/27/editing-a-book-today/http://whatever.scalzi.com/2012/12/27... Reviews:http://darkfaerietales.com/day-christmas-true-love-gave-3.htmlChristmas Greetings and Traditions:http://fantasyhandbook.wordpress.com/2012/12/25/merry-christmas/http://grubbstreet.blogspot.com.au/2012/12/merry-christmas.htmlhttp://historicalhearts.blogspot.com.au/2012/12/christmas-food-and-fun.htmlhttp://paizo.com/paizo/blog/v5748dyo5...http://crimefictioncollective.blogspot.com.au/2012/12/one-character-i-didnt-have-to-research.htmlhttp://www.thepassivevoice.com/12/2012/legal-issues-in-self-publishing-what-authors-need-to-know/http://www.thepassivevoice.com/12/2012/the-secret-writing-rule-bookand-why-to-ignore-it/http://jmney-grimm.com/2012/12/buildi...http://writeitforward.wordpress.com/2012/12/27/area-51-nightstalkers-excerpt/Industry News:http://blog.smashwords.com/2012/12/apple-ibookstore-sales-surge-over.htmlhttp://www.thebookdesigner.com/2012/12/embrace-of-the-daimon/http://www.thepassivevoice.com/12/2012/why-book-buying-stats-might-stifle-the-next-great-author/http://www.thepassivevoice.com/12/2012/for-folks-like-me-the-last-4-years-have-been-disastrous/http://www.thepassivevoice.com/12/2012/more-americans-e-reading-increasingly-on-tablets/http://www.thepassivevoice.com/12/2012/kindle-holiday-sales/http://www.thepassivevoice.com/12/2012/amazon-eyes-the-kids-tablet-market/http://www.geekosystem.com/ereaders-will-not-kill-books/http://laurahoward78.blogspot.com.au/2012/12/diy-blog-tour.htmlhttp://www.digitalbookworld.com/2012/more-americans-e-reading-increasingly-on-tablets-pew-says/http://leegoldberg.typepad.com/a_writ...http://whatever.scalzi.com/2012/12/25/christmas-on-mars/http://www.geekosystem.com/amazon-mic... http://www.geekosystem.com/italian-wolves-enjoy-ham/http://www.geekosystem.com/shark-tank-explosion/http://www.geekosystem.com/randi-zuckerberg-public-photo/http://www.geekosystem.com/yak-insura... Books:http://writeitforward.wordpress.com/2... Setting for the New Year:http://crimefictioncollective.blogspot.com.au/2012/12/with-decisive-intent.htmlhttp://www.deanwesleysmith.com/?p=8367http://www.thepassivevoice.com/12/201... Dilemmas:http://crimefictioncollective.blogspo...

Goals for 2013

Having gone over my publishing schedule, I’ve come up with a more reasonable set of goals for 2013. The base-line for success is as follows:
3 dark fantasy novels as me.1 romance novel as Madeleine Torr
Edit, design covers for, and publish 3 novellas for Eleanor Maine and Ellie Moonwater.
I figured that would be a reasonable goal for the year, but then I added in a Wish List so I could push a little harder if I found myself ahead of schedule with spare time on my hands. It comes in two tiers:
The first tier is this:3 chapter books as Carlie Simonsen.1 zombie annual
The second tier is closer to my heart—the ultimate carrot, if you like:1 generic roleplaying supplement2 x 30-40k adventures
As much as I get done, there is always more I want to get done. This is why I have a three-tiered list.

Progress Report Week 4 December 2012

This week, the following was achieved:Current Projects:Progress on current projects was as follows:
DarkFantasyNovel1A—Shadow’s Rise: Final edit of first 8 chapters.
Publishing Tasks:Publishing Tasks completed were as follows:
Finalised publishing schedule for 2013.Gathered buy links into a single document.Updated distributor sites.Updated blogs.
Craft:This week I caught up on blogs and worked out how to put black-and-white line drawings into CreateSpace templates.New Arrivals:This week, the following pre-existing ideas were found and listed:
ChapBook14: a girl, a horse and a dream.ChapBook15: a sci-fi letter story that gave me goosebumps.

Blogs that Made Me Stop December 24, 2012

As part of my tidy up, I have been catching up on the blogs. This time there were only around 800 to go through, and there were a lot more that made me stop. Here they are, separated roughly into subject areas: Readershttp://www.thepassivevoice.com/12/201... Charity Pose-Offhttp://www.jimchines.com/2012/12/choo...http://www.lindsayburoker.com/ebook-news/kobo-becoming-a-player-for-indie-authors/http://www.digitalbookworld.com/2012/ten-bold-predictions-for-ebooks-and-digital-publishing-in-2013/http://www.digitalbookworld.com/2012/kobo-partners-with-major-it-retailer-in-germany/http://www.digitalbookworld.com/2012/urban-readers-prefer-ebooks-rural-readers-prefer-print-new-study-says/http://www.thepassivevoice.com/12/2012/uk-copyright-reform-affects-fair-use-format-shifting-and-big-data/http://www.thepassivevoice.com/12/2012/a-devastating-report-for-amazons-kindle-business/http://www.thepassivevoice.com/12/2012/mark-cokers-2013-book-publishing-industry-predictions/http://www.thepassivevoice.com/12/2012/amazon-is-ripe-for-disruption/http://www.thepassivevoice.com/12/2012/publisher-sues-best-selling-author-over-failure-to-deliver-biography-of-alex-rodriguez/http://www.thepassivevoice.com/12/2012/swedes-think-different-a-new-model-for-e-lending/http://kriswrites.com/2012/12/20/the-business-rusch-where-art-meets-commerce/Crafthttp://www.lindsayburoker.com/guest-posts/want-more-time-to-write-go-indie/http://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com/2012/12/writing-picture-books-set-yourself.htmlhttp://www.thepassivevoice.com/12/2012/want-more-time-to-write-go-indie/http://www.thepassivevoice.com/12/2012/overcome-procrastination-steven-pressfields-top-12-tips/http://www.thepassivevoice.com/12/2012/three-lessons-from-writing-a-thriller-heroine/http://www.thepassivevoice.com/12/2012/anti-science-fiction/http://www.thebookdesigner.com/2012/12/should-fiction-authors-be-bloggers/http://blog.smashwords.com/2012/12/mark-cokers-2013-book-publishing.htmlhttp://halliechandler.wordpress.com/2012/12/09/night-caller-book-cover-tutorial/http://halliechandler.wordpress.com/2012/12/09/night-caller-book-cover-tutorial/http://jakonrath.blogspot.com.au/2012/12/konraths-resolutions-for-writers.htmlFodderhttp://pjmedia.com/lifestyle/2012/12/22/the-sleep-deprived-doctor-saving-your-life/http://www.geekosystem.com/cockchafer-microbes/http://sp.theyoungriderstv.net/wordpress/?p=2205(Trust me, click the picture J)http://sp.theyoungriderstv.net/wordpress/?p=2198http://www.geekosystem.com/earliest-christmas-recording/http://www.geekosystem.com/boiling-snow-video/http://www.geekosystem.com/dragonflies-selective-attention/http://www.geekosystem.com/peel-and-stick-solar-panels/http://www.geekosystem.com/megapiranha-was-a-real-fish/http://www.geekosystem.com/pompeii-of-japan-volcano/www.geekosystem.com/freshwater-mosasaur-discovered/http://www.geekosystem.com/alpha-dog-spoken-command/http://www.geekosystem.com/mealworms-cheap-protein/http://www.geekosystem.com/pitcher-plant-water-slide/http://www.geekosystem.com/tau-ceti-exoplanet/http://www.geekosystem.com/decoy-spiders/http://thenextweb.com/uk/2012/12/21/18-uk-government-departments-commit-to-new-digital-strategies-to-improve-services-for-citizens/http://thenextweb.com/shareables/2012/12/21/watch-fedex-guy-delivers-an-ipad-mini-ups-guy-steals-it/http://thenextweb.com/insider/2012/12/19/russian-startup-dream-industries-claims-to-be-raided-on-by-its-investors/ Writershttp://www.jlake.com/2012/12/23/cancer-death-march-continues-downgraded-to-a-dire-march/http://csfg.wordpress.com/2012/12/23/some-things-our-members-are-up-to/http://terribleminds.com/ramble/2012/12/19/a-holiday-hiatus-and-other-news/http://www.sfwa.org/2012/12/foxhole-pizza-and-interstellar-quail-cooking-the-books-with-joe-and-gay-haldeman/‘Cos I like ithttp://jmney-grimm.com/2012/12/bandanna-gift-wrap/http://www.thepassivevoice.com/12/2012/10-drool-worthy-secret-passage-bookshelves/http://gretavanderrol.net/2012/12/24/whatever-and-however-you-celebrate/

Final Goal Status for 2012

I decided about a fortnight ago that I was not going to manage the goals I had set. Excuses? I could give a few, but the main one is that I'm still learning the limits of writing around family and work, with the result that, after my last delay, as I started gear up to bull my way through the outstanding goals I realized I would be risking quality for the sake of pride, so I stopped.
I have spent the last few days working out a publishing schedule I think I can keep for the next twelve months, while meeting editing, cover art, and interior art commitments, and will spend the last few days of the year tidying up some loose ends and preparing for next year.
The end-state of my 2012 goals stands as follows:

Success:
1/1 novel released for PenName2 - Madeleine Torr.2/2 novellas released for PenName3.
Partial Success:
4/5 Anthologies released; fifth anthology to be scheduled for first quarter 2013.1/5 novels released; other four to be scheduled over 2013.
Complete Failure:
0/2 novellas released for PenName1.

One part of me feels like a failure; the other part of me says 2 novels, 2 novellas and four anthologies in seven months is okay. A third part of me wonders if I can plan an achievable schedule for 2013. Guess there’s only one way to find out.