CM Simpson: Writer & Gamer

My science-fiction short story, River’s Edge , has just been released. Running away from a bad situation is sometimes the smartest thing you can do—when you can turn that into running towards worth having, it’s even better. River’s Edge is, or shortly will be, available from all the usual platforms : Amazon, Kobo, DriveThruFiction, Smashwords and Google Play, as well as via Smashwords and Draft2Digital distribution. 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.

Yes, I failed Camp NaNo, but it doesn’t matter. After June, July was wonderful. I caught up on a few things, and got a tonne of words done – even though I ended the month with an RSI injury. Still, as I write this, that’s slowly healing, so, if I’m careful, it will come right. Progress: July 2018 New words produced: 112,146 Outlines and Notes: 24,939 Words compiled: 0 Works completed: 40 (26 poems, 10 flash fiction, Harper & the Unicorn, Long Hair, River’s Edge, Mack ‘n’ Me: The Transporter’s Favour ) Works edited: 1 ( Harper & the Unicorn ) Covers created: 2 ( River’s Edge, Jalaya) Works formatted: 0 Works published: 0 Works released: 1 Works submitted: 0 Competitions Entered: 0 Bloggery: 8,051 July Hours at Desk: 264 hours 18 minutes June Hours at Desk: 230 hours 5 minutes May Hours at Desk: 302 hours 6 minutes April Hours at Desk: 167 hours 41 minutes Marc...

Woot! My science-fiction short story, River’s Edge , has just been uploaded for pre-release. Told by a woman running away from a bad situation with hopes of finding better, it’s currently available on Smashwords for ordering, and will soon be available from all theother usual platforms . 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.

Last week, I came to an almost complete stand-still. the pain in my left arm meant I had to rest it, which meant limited typing, and an increased need to sleep, but more time spent learning the business side of this crazy career. Progress: July 29-August 1, 2018 New words produced: 7,933 Outlines and Notes: 43 Words compiled: 0 Works completed: 0 Works edited: 0 Covers created: 1 ( Jalaya) Works formatted: 0 Works published: 0 Works released: 0 Works submitted: 0 Competitions Entered: 0 Bloggery: 0 Hours at Desk—July 29-August 04: 20 hours 40 minutes Hours at Desk—July 22-28: 71 hours 52 minutes Hours at Desk — July 15-21: 63 hours 8 minutes Hours at Desk—July 8-14: 69 hours 48 minutes Hours at Desk—July 1-7: 35 hours 36 minutes June Hours at Desk: 230 hours 5 minutes May Hours at Desk: 302 hours 6 minutes April Hours at Desk: 167 hours 41 minutes March Hou...

When I started this gig, I didn’t have a budget. Things are a little better, now, but still not up to the point where I can hire a cover artist for four covers a month. I’m getting there, but it isn’t, now. However, I have improved my skills in creating my own covers, and some of my earlier stories deserve better. You’ll see more cover upgrades as the year progresses, and I expand out to other sales platforms, but this is the first—for a story that won my heart a second time: Jalaya. Jalaya will be re-released this week, and I’ll announce it here. In the meantime, I hope you like the new cover as much as I do. Michael has helped the villagers survive the invasion for ten years. This year, he cannot. Cut off from escape, their only hope of salvation is to return to the village, and pray. Returning to the village means returning to his fiancé, forced by a secret family tradition to remain, when duty called him to leave. But reunions will have to wait. First Michael and th...

The week before last went very well for writing, but then disaster struck as I overworked my wrist and forearm, and gave myself a dose of RSI-related tennis elbow… which is when everything stopped. In spite of that, this is what got done: Progress: July 22-28, 2018 New words produced: 47,917 Outlines and Notes: 3,691 Words compiled: 0 Works completed: 1 ( Long Hair ) Works edited: 0 Covers created: 0 Works formatted: 0 Works published: 0 Works released: 0 Works submitted: 0 Competitions Entered: 0 Bloggery: 2,647 Hours at Desk—July 22-28: 71 hours 52 minutes Hours at Desk — July 15-21: 63 hours 8 minutes Hours at Desk—July 8-14: 69 hours 48 minutes Hours at Desk—July 1-7: 35 hours 36 minutes June Hours at Desk: 230 hours 5 minutes May Hours at Desk: 302 hours 6 minutes April Hours at Desk: 167 hours 41 minutes March Hours at Desk: 201 hours 43 minutes Febr...