CM Simpson: Writer & Gamer

The Shadow Trap edit continues, but here is the second passage to have caught my eye. ----------------------------------------------------------------   A Goddess Prepares to Defend or Die “I must go, brother,” Sariel said, as Criella’s shriek reached her ears. “You cannot,” Larias replied, knowing what she’d heard. “The Old One lies in wait for you. He will not let you take her unscathed.” “You do not understand, Larias,” the goddess replied. “It is not I who is important. It is the Old One’s defeat that is important. Even my death cannot change that.” “But dead you cannot aid us any further,” Larias protested. “We need you alive, helping us defend this world and all that rely on it for life. What importance could a mere girl have in comparison to that?” Sariel took his face in her hands and laid her forehead against his own. “Dear Larias,” she said, “don’t you understand? If the Old One takes that mere girl’s life, he is only one, at the most two, steps aw...

The Shadow Trap edit continues, but here is the first passage to have caught my eye. ---------------------------------------------------------------- At the Swap-Meet of the Gods Gilzereet raised his head, tears gleaming in his eyes. Aravare’s presence filled the empty space Berveragna had left. Power and comfort flowed through him, soothing the hurt of Berveragna’s rejection, but leaving sadness at their separation. For that, Gilzereet was grateful; there were some things even the gods had no right to touch, some feelings better left for mortals to deal with in their own time and way. “Thank you, my lord,” he said, his voice husky with emotion. He turned to Berveragna. “My Lady,” he acknowledged, searching for the words to express what he felt. As he opened his mouth to speak those words, a shadow fell over the hall. Evil and dark as it was, Tara saw even the gods of wickedness look for its source, disquiet in their eyes. Aravare groaned, his presence flickering in ...

Here are the covers I created or tweaked this month. Not all of them are for my books - but that's half the fun :-) UPDATE (30/06/2013): Completed this cover last night:  UPDATE 2 (30/06/2013): And this one this afternoon:

DSDU = Dark Side Down Under : A group of Australian writers of romance and other paranormal genres has kindly hosted me today on their regular Magic Thursday blog spot. Today I thought I’d share a little about the importance of world-building in general, and creating the magic of Tzamesch in particular. Feel free to come over and join me.

Shadow’s Fall is the third and final novel in the Shadow series trilogy. This tale contains strong elements of horror, following the path of a small group of heroes who must work together to prevent an ancient evil’s escape. High Priest Urkhrist has settled to his task as the keeper of Beauwallin’s prison. With his long-time friend and companion, Vorgren, guarding his back, and the spymaster’s apprentice, Tara Bloodthorn, acting as his representative in the city of Thargood, he had thought the battle over, but something is wrong. Beauwallin stirs within his prison, and wizards, priests and sorcerers are being taken from Thargood’s streets. The pattern is similar to the one they saw when Beauwallin attempted to break free the last time. Gilzereet must find out if the Old One is trying to escape, again, and discover how he is garnering the power to do so—and then he must try to find a way to defeat him, to succeed, where a pantheon of gods has already failed. Shadow’s Fall ...