CM Simpson: Writer & Gamer

Today, I cannot share all the first words I write—some of them belong to a series I’m working on for LMPBN. The first words from the poetry and flash fiction, though, I can, so, without further ado, here are today’s first words: Another 365 Days of Poetry— Death from on High What is it that roars on high? Why? Another 365 Days of Poetry— An Incursion of Mist “The mists are forming out on the plain where the rivulets shift and flow.” “But it’s still midday. Would they come?” “It’s hard to know.” Another 365 Days of Flash Fiction— Out of Darkness   Living in the dark was no fun at all, but Renwin endured it. It was better to live in the dark than die in the light. The only question was: For how long? How long would the raiders stalk the surface world and the day? How long would he have to hide beneath their feet, trying to figure out a way of getting them off his world? How long… A metallic scrape caught his attention, snapping hi...

Welcome to a new segment for this year. I'll publish a single poem each week, on a Wednesday. Today's verse was written 'into the dark', and started with the first line, and the genre - and echo verse variant. You can find out about echo verses at: https://www.youngwriters.co.uk/types-echo-verse . For those wondering where I find the inspiration, sometimes I don't feel inspired when I write and I use the challenge of writing a particular style of verse to get me started. Here is today's poem: Death from on High What is it that roars on high? Why? I need to know what that shadow casts. To know, though, is to breathe your last. What is that heat that scorches rooves? Tis fire that flies and sears and moves. What is that curious whistling sound? The sound of swift death too soon found. What is that chill that creeps through bone? Tis fear, for we are not alone. What is that sudden urge to run? Don’t bother, for the ...

It’s the first day of a whole new year. The slate is clean, the board is empty, and the months lie ahead, gleaming with promise. Okay, all joking aside, while the months ahead gleam with promise, my dance card is full and I have a shit tonne to do. I’ve written down a few goals for this year, but I’m not ready to name them, yet. They’re on record, so I can’t cheat, and things have started well, but I’m scared I’ll jinx myself, if I say what they are, so I’ll leave it a bit. No nagging. In the meantime, here are the first words from the writing done, today. Another 365 Days of Flash Fiction— Joshua’s Run Joshua thought the world was ending, but he ran anyway—through the silvered trunks and gilded leaves of the moonlit forest, his boots crunching through the leaves, his muscles trembling with fatigue. His breath came in short, hard gasps and his lungs burned with effort. Behind him, the hoofbeats grew louder, a thundering rumble that shook the ground as the unicorns gained....

Today, I finished a new short story for the Lunar Wolves and Odyssey universe. I started it in November, but only completed it, today, so I decided the cover should be created, too. It’ll go up for release in the next couple of days. The excellent artwork is from PhilCold at Dreamstime . I only had to add the words and choose how much to show.   Captured by the space wolves and held aboard their battle cruiser, Miguel doesn’t think things could get worse—and then he discovers he’s sharing his cell with the two psychopaths he’s been trying to avoid. Dragged into their next deadly scheme, he faces two choices—do what they want and live as their captive, or save Earth and die horribly as a result. Either way, he loses. Just how much he loses is up to him.