CM Simpson: Writer & Gamer

A new project, and one which I'm using to renew the well between older projects. 2,328 words, today, plus 804 words of glossary, DA01, is a predominantly fantasy LitRPG game setting, which I am currently writing 'into the dark.' However, the nature of this genre will demand some outlining as it progresses, and I have already begun making notes beyond the glossary. Last words for today are as follows: ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Once the price was decided, the old man signaled to the younger, who withdrew a bag of coin from beneath his cloak, and gestured to where the ship ‘s clerk sat. “Shall we?” The overseer had long released his grip on my neck, and I had very wisely stood still and waited until the whole process was over. I didn’t manage to stifle a flinch when the crewman releasing my hands brushed against my back, but I did manage to keep the protest silent. To my annoyance, my han...

Last week's bout of flu continued to plague the household, and led to more disruptions to the work schedule, but family had to come first, and I had to undertake some self-care...apparently sleep is important to producing words, among other things. We had more medical appointments, some scheduled, others due to a need for medical certificates for missed days of schooling, and one because I'd been sick for a week, and decided I should get it checked. Writing still got done, but video production dropped due to a sore throat and difficulties in focus. Altered taskings to suit. Goals for March 2026, Week 3, ending March 21, 2026 Write 1 short story submission for a second new magazine market;   Publish Book 4 a week ahead of schedule;   Maintain content creation schedule;   And start to learn marketing. Goals Completed March 2026, Week 3, ending March 21, 2026 Struggled with concept for story submission, still working on it;   Book 4 published to pre-release, and...

I was a little startled by the impact last week’s unscheduled interruptions had on the schedule, and had to triage. Determined to keep the book focus, I had to let things slide on the content creation front…at least a little. Unfortunately, I managed to catch the same flu my child had brought home, and this meant a lot more had to be let go in favor of trying to get better. Goals for March 2026, Week 2, ending March 14, 2026 Write 1 short story submission for a new magazine market; Publish the next novel a week ahead of schedule;   Maintain content creation schedule. Goals Completed March 2026, Week 2, ending March 14, 2026 Completed short story submission and submitted on due date;   Novel formatted to Nuke stage; and   Minor slippage on content creation schedule; still retrievable. Other Factors As above, this flu hit harder than expected, but we got through the week. Also adapting to the news that I have autism and adhd to a level that adversely affects 'norm...

This is the last day to pick up the newly released third editions of Mack and Me: Blaedergil’s Host , and Mack and Me: Arach , Books 2-3 of the Mack ‘n’ Me ‘n’ Odyssey series. It’s also the last day to pick up free or heavily-discounted titles from the likes of C. Gockel, Eric Boebelbecker, Julia Huni, Audrey Sharpe, and Drew Avera, as well as series by E.W. Barnes, Scott Moon and Craig Martelle, and Rachel Ford, to mention but a few. You can find these, and more, in the IASFA March Science Fiction book promotion HERE: https://iasfa.org/mar26/

Also free this week, Trading into Shadow , the first novel of the Magic Below Paris, sci-fantasy series. Technically, it’s all science fiction, but hyper-intelligent cats, nanite-abilities that manifest as magic, and the ability to communicate mind to mind, no matter the reason, give it an e lement of fantasy that’s hard to deny. If you enjoy a bit of snark and a lot of action and have always wanted to read a story set in post-apocalyptic Paris, then try this. Trading into Shadow, and the Magic Below Paris series, is set in Michael Anderle’s Age of Magic (Kurtherian Gambit) universe, and was a lot of fun to write. You can find it as part of this week’s Wild Wednesday offer – which runs until March 29 th , Pacific Time. You can find it here:  https://books2read.com/u/3GnYgd Other titles in this week's deals include: Izzie Berens: The Arcane Enforcer Complete Series Boxed Set – https://books2read.com/u/bw5Wxv First Casualty (FREE, KCD for series) U.S. Series Sale: https://www.amaz...