CM Simpson: Writer & Gamer

Not much progress this week. I spent a lot of time with the kids, and trying to catch up on some long-neglected household and garden chores, which could be neglected no longer. Sometimes I wonder if I’m not dedicated enough, and sometimes I wonder if I’ll ever get the balance of full-time work, baby-and-teenager-family stuff, study, sleep, garden and household bits right. I can see improvement, but it’s still not quite there. I may just end up trying to lay down 14,000 words every weekend instead and counting what gets done during a work week as a bonus. Anyhow, excuses aside, here’s what got done in Week 2 of March, 2012. Current Projects: These are in the current priority order, which represents the order I tackle things in any given day. I usually only get to the first two projects on this list on any given day. The order will change as contracts in the ‘on hold’ list are signed, edits and playtest deadlines received. The daily ‘quota’ is either 1,000 words or a full chapter...

This is the oldest of my novels and, since self-publishing should happen as a progressive activity, I thought it would be most appropriate to post this book first. It is, after all, my first completed book, and I’ve come a long way since I completed it, but it forms the basis of the series. Never fear; I will be revising it first, and I will be acting on my beta-reader’s comments before I do. A taster? Sure.  Gilzereet caught the carriage just after it left the Graglecrock city mansion. He tipped the driver, paying him for his silence and the risk he took, easing the man’s terror with a single golden coin. Skill and secrecy was what he paid for, loyalty was what he inadvertently bought. The coachman gave him all three. This one will take a couple of months to revamp. I’ll let youall know when it goes live.

I’m not going to go into too many details with this one—can’t, the stories aren’t written and are subject to change, but the ones I wanted to focus on are those I originally planned for existing settings. Each of these settings has its own set of rules, creatures peculiar to it, and cultures that exist only within its bounds. Because of this, any stories written for them are tied to only one possible publisher, and, if refused, must die stillborn. I don’t want to let this happen. I want my stories to live and entertain for a long, long time to come. With this in mind, I took a look at the work I’ve done over the last ten years, comparing the older work, which I wrote because I had a story I wanted to tell,   with the more recent stuff, which I had been started with a particular market in mind. While I was doing this, along came the news that a new rules edition was in the works, and this meant that the worlds I was writing for would change, since they change with every ...

Project1 has just crossed the 31,000-word mark. Character classes are done—and I mean completely done, bar the play-testing—so I am now working on the new races. Normally, I’d put up a short free read to celebrate, but I can’t do that without giving away what the project’s about. Since that might imply a relationship with the publisher that doesn’t exist, I’d rather not do that. Project1 is planned as an on-spec submission with no guarantee of acceptance. I can’t even discuss the research I’ve done as that might also leave clues, so all I can say is that I’m enjoying this project. Whatever the outcome of the submission, this project is something I have to get out of my head. I’m not worried that I’ll regret the time spent on it. It won’t be wasted. Despite Project1’s relatively unique nature, working on it has spawned other ideas that lend themselves to more generic systems and settings, and these are now waiting to be written. I’ve also had an idea for a setting that I can use ...

The new god looked towards him. “They walk my realm as we speak. I could do nothing more. They will be remembered for the sacrifice they made, and not for becoming as the creatures they fought.” Tanalir waited. Beside the new god, Fianrei was still. Her perfume surrounded them as Lantaris, spoke once more. “I will plant a garden where Saran’s Watch stood, and populate it with plants and creatures of my own making. You will allow both to spread into the forest beyond. Some you will spread on my behalf. A temple will be built in the garden’s centre and twin fortresses at its outer edge. One of the towers will be named Saran’s Watch, the other will be known as Talek’nar’Tanalirmarn.” There was a flare of light, mirrored in a burst of flame, and the two gods faded from view. The goddess’s voice mingled with that of the god as they departed. “Guard the clearing, until the first flowers bloom and twin fortresses guard the entry to the Lianreida once again.” “Look after my beast...

“My lady.” Sularn whispered. "My lord, forgive me, I did not see…" Tanalir turned back, feeling the chill of apprehension work its way through him. His face felt cold and numb with shock when he finally faced the other way, and looked his goddess in the eye. “Oh my lady,” he murmured, and with a groan knelt once more. The goddess’s smile was gentle as she stepped to one side revealing the man-like god standing behind her. “This is Larias,” she said, by way of introduction. “He is a problem-solver in the world of men and an inventor. I have renamed him Lantaris, the elven defender against undead, god of elemental flame, and creator of creatures and gardens. He will become both by the moon's third showing from now.” Raising his eyes so that he could see the one of whom the lady spoke, Commander Tanalir noted a tall male elf whose skin was a rich golden green and whose eyes gleamed with the colour of an azurian sky. A mane of golden hair hung past the stranger...

The soldier shook his head. “No, my lord.” Tanalir glanced back towards the smoke. The clearing was empty, devoid of anything except the smoke. Shaking his head and hiding his disappointment as best he could, Tanalir rose to his feet and signalled for his men to follow him. When he had found a space large enough for them to gather, he was able to note the losses they had sustained. “Saran’s Watch has fallen,” he stated the obvious, and ignored the wryness his words brought to their expressions. They knew the fortress had fallen. “I saw the goddess Fianrei walking in the smoke of the clearing.” This brought soft snorts of disbelief. Again, he ignored them. “She was with another. He was accompanied by a many-legged serpent.” “A … dragon?” The words were carefully spoken, almost devoid of the mockery they usually brought. Dragons had not been seen in the Lianreida since shortly after the elemental gods had withdrawn their magic from the world. The commander shook his h...

Tanalir blinked, pushing himself to his feet and nocking an arrow to the bow. He pushed warily clear of the bushes sheltering him and stepped onto the scorched ground. The heat radiating through the soles of his boots made him step back onto uncharred soil. The smoke was all too real. With a sweep of his hand, Tanalir commanded his soldiers to halt their advance. Some, he noted, had drawn their swords while others held bows, half-nocked, like himself. A lone, man-shaped figure walked through the smoke. It was accompanied by a many-legged serpent. Both looked impervious to the heat. As the elves watched, a second figure joined the man and his beast. The sweet scent of her perfume twining through the drifting haze to reach his nostrils, and making him stare in disbelief. Fianrei? Again he caught the drift of her perfume. This time he lowered his bow and sank to one knee. “Lady of light?” Tanalir was unaware he had spoken aloud until the soldiers around him turned to face hi...