CM Simpson: Writer & Gamer

First flash for the week...and for a very long time. An Act of Kindness  A cup of water. Who’d have thought it would matter now that the battle was lost, but it did…or Shiloh hoped it did. He dared to raise his gaze enough to catch his opposite number’s eye, and froze. Not because of the commander’s familiar features, but because of the markings on her armored breastplate. “Y…your majesty?” he managed, staying on his knees, and all too aware of the firm grip on his shoulder. The look she returned was implacable. “You showed me kindness,” she replied in hard tones, “and yet you have rebelled. Tell me why I should spare you.” “Spare my men,” Shiloh said. “Their lives were forfeit if they did not take up arms.” “And forfeit if they did,” she reminded him. “They have families…” Shiloh’s voice cracked, memory bringing grief. “Their lives…” His voice shattered, and he bowed his head, unable to continue. “So do you,” she said, but he shook his head. “Not anymore,” he r...

Here's a handy-dandy list of the videos posted for today: Readings are a little light, as I revamp my release schedule. Today, it's a piece of science-fantasy flash do with a mercenary company's unscrupulous recruiting techniques in a setting where starships and trolls coincide:       On the gaming front, we have:  A little cozy taverning: How to join the Fighters Guild in Elder Scrolls Online: More adventures in Auridon with Tamrain, our (soon-to-be) Master Crafter: And some undersea and overland island projects on a Coral Island:

 Meanwhile, on the readings channel, we have a short piece about a man hiding in the attic, hoping for the dropships to come: youtu.be/3hpTNPQZrOk  

With all that's gone on in the last month or so, I've missed a couple of important announcements, not least of which is that the anthology BOLTS OF FICTION has launched! It was released on June 15, 2024, on the UK's National Flash Fiction Day . All proceeds from this anthology go to the World Land Trust charity .  In the collection, you will find pieces of flash from writers across the world, including my piece, 'Unbinding the Past '. You can find Bolts of Fiction on Amazon in ebook or print form, or on the Devil's Rock Publishing site. Check it out, if you like flash fiction.

A s you may already know, I'm a member of th e International Association of Science Fiction and Fantasy Authors (IASFA), which supports authors of science fiction and fantasy, regardless of where in their career, they're at. And as you also might already know, the IASFA runs a promotion of free or 99c books every month, where they ask for a reader's first name and email address so they can add that reader to their newsletter mailing list. As an additional bonus for signing up to the IASFA newsletter as part of this month's promotion, you’ll get five free books in a variety of science fiction and fantasy genres. THIS month, from January 21-25, 2024, (ET), we have a tonne of urban fantasy titles either discounted to 99c (US) or for Free - and you can check out their authors and see if your next favorite is among them at this link, here : https://iasfa.org/jan24 .     One of those titles is Pixie Dust Dreaming, the seventh book in my C.M.'s Collections ser...

Today's flash fiction is an experiment in 6-word story-telling, to be found in the up-coming Another 366 Days of Flash Fiction. The Duality of Bells Bells ring for battle...then farewell.  

The first piece of flash for the year comes from the upcoming Another 366 Days of Flash Fiction . Complications in a New Beginning   “So,” Chalky asked. “We’re starting over?” “We’re starting over,” Anders confirmed, his eyes dark with determination. Chalky hefted her pack, and stepped toward. When Anders didn’t move, she glanced back. “You coming?” Anders looked at the hatch, looked at her, and shook his head. Chalky’s heart plummeted, and she tried to keep the disappointment from her voice. “But you sad ‘we.’” Anders nodded. “I did, but I didn’t mean we’d be starting in the same place. Point of the colony is exploration. We get dropped a distance apart. If we want to stead together, we need to find each other.” Hope surged through her. “So, we have a way of doing that, right?” Anders sighed, and hung his head. “Beacons and comms weren’t permitted, and all they’ll tell me is they’re dropping on the same continent in a grid.” Chalky’s heart fell, again, but she ...