CM Simpson: Writer & Gamer

This week’s verse moves from a mixed-language poem based on an Indonesian folk tale to a science fiction (or possibly fantasy) verse about some far-flung moonshine makers. It is taken from Another 365 Days of Poetry , a collection of mixed-genre poetry released in 2019. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Badger's Blend If you live in the hollow by the side of the hill, beware of the badgers and their dodgy still. Beware, I say, of their invitation to come and try their home libation. It’s potent as the venom from the creeping carack, or the sliding slon, and deadly to all that enables sense, once the badger brothers start to dance. Don’t be fooled by honeyed words, by human form, by passions stirred, by the products of their home-made still. They’ll thieve affection, and your will, until, beneath thatched roof, or moon, you will succumb to how

This week’s short story takes us from a n urban fantasy setting of elven intrigue to a science fiction setting where a war veteran finds herself in unwitting possession of an enemy heirloom. Welcome to The Reptiles' Blade . When Felicity Shannara Jones is ordered by her command to infiltrate a criminal organization using humanitarian aid as a front, she isn’t sure she’s the right girl for the job, but then she finds Mika, second planetary adviser to humanity’s current foe, and she knows things just got serious. When Mika escapes custody, things go from serious to dire in one jet-propelled moment and Felicity, with her field experience against the lizardine, finds herself in the firing line once more. The Reptiles' Blade is available as a stand-alone short story at the following links: https://www.amazon.com/Reptiles-Blade-C-M-Simpson-ebook/dp/B00G7POM0G/ . You can also find Kristine Kathryn Rusch's latest free short story over on her blog: kriswrites.com

LAST WEEK, Book 5 ended with Tiger racing to meet Simone's shuttle. This week, Simone reveals the shuttle wasn't allowed to land. Chapter 1 Excerpt – So Close! Tiger! I’m so sorry. You were almost close enough to touch! I can’t believe they wouldn’t let us land! We are spec ops, after all. We could have helped. We all had enough stim packs to keep us running for the next forty-eight, but nooo… One minute, I could see the lights of the shuttle pad shining in through the cockpit, and the next they were gone, and we were lifting into the black. I have to admit that I didn’t take that as well as I should have. I made a dive for the door, and the rest of the team made a dive for me. Here I am, all human-hybrid hunter, and I couldn’t get through them. Gunny sat on me. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- The complete series is available as short, individual ebooks, and will become avai