CM Simpson: Writer & Gamer

This week’s verse moves from a horror fantasy poem about defeating subtle evils to a science fiction verse about a race that lives within the planet's depths. It is taken from 366 Days of Poetry , a collection of mixed-genre poetry released in 2016. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------   Life Within the Planet's Depths We dwell within the planet’s depths, far beneath the crust of dirt and plant and earth and rime, where the world-heart beats as slow as time, where the world-heart’s drum is steady, strong, where the world’s life-blood sings soft its song. We dwell within the planet’s depths, protected from the outer rage, protected from the rolling change, that each season brings, but our safety, it comes at a price; we are the first to sacrifice, when of danger does the world-blood sing. We dwell within the planet’s depths, rising to its ...

This week’s short story takes us from the science fiction tale of one rogue's attempt to save his world against long odds to another science fiction story of adventure involving Odyssey's agents, some artifacts and a very close call. Welcome to Miss Delight's Mistake . People are disappearing on the close archaeological world of Jehornak, including an Odyssey operative’s sister, but that’s not why he’s there. It seems other people have gone missing, too, people with relatives rich enough to pay Odyssey to discover exactly what is happening in the mysterious cavern known as The Ballroom. However, when things go south on the mission, can Agent Delight keep her reputation, and make sure her operative comes out alive? Miss Delight's Mistake is available as a stand-alone short story at the following links: books2read.com/u/3kZpvL . You can also find Kristine Kathryn Rusch's latest free short story over on her blog: kriswrites.com . Why don't you...

LAST WEEK, Simone revealed that Odyssey was hiding something from her. This week, Tiger says FedExplore caught up with him. Chapter 13 Excerpt – In a Bind Hi Simone, I’m sorry things are going dark on you. I’d send you back your luck if I could, and I’d add a good measure of mine, too, but I can’t. I think I’ve used up all the luck you sent, and any luck I might have had left after escaping from two alien attacks. FedExplore caught up with me. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- The complete series is available as short, individual ebooks, and will become available as an omnibus, later this year. In the meantime, you can find them on this blog, until one week after the last chapter in the last book of the series has been posted, at which point this series will be taken down, and a new series serialised on site. books2read.com/u/4Awrze books2read.com/u/mgrxdR ...

This week’s verse moves from a fantasy poem about the end of a war to a horror fantasy poem about defeating a subtle evil. It is taken from 266 Days of Poetry , a collection of mixed-genre poetry released in 2016. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------   Demons in the Dark A hand at my hip, a demon at my side, a monster in my closet, where our worlds collide. A whisper in the dark, warm breath upon my neck, a presence walking with me, fear haunting every step. An arm cross my shoulders, tucks me close to another’s side, a firm grip keeps me standing from where I’d rather run and hide. The monsters in our minds, the monsters ’neath our beds, the monsters in our closets are the fears that feed our dread. So I brush away that hand, bid that presence firm adieu, disentangle that iron grip, tell the monster we are through. And i...

This week’s short story takes us from the science fiction tale of a colony investigator discovering that not all legends are made equal to a rogue going the extra mile to save his world against great odds. Welcome to Miguel Unmade . Captured by the space wolves and held aboard their battle cruiser, Miguel doesn’t think things could get worse—and then he discovers he’s sharing his cell with the very two psychopaths he’s been trying to avoid. Dragged into their next deadly scheme, he faces two choices—do what they want and live as their captive, or save Earth and die horribly as a result. Either way, he loses. Just how much he loses is up to him. Miguel Unmade is available as a stand-alone novella-length short story at the following links: books2read.com/u/4jawWl . You can also find Kristine Kathryn Rusch's latest free short story over on her blog: kriswrites.com . Why don't you go and check it out?

LAST WEEK, Tiger said he was going to try to sneak aboard an Odyssey cruiseliner. This week, Simone reveals she's been moved into more 'secure' quarters by Odyssey, and that they're hiding something from her. Chapter 12 Excerpt –Lotsa Luck Good Luck, Tiger! Break a leg, and all that kind of stuff. And take care. I’m glad to hear you’re all right, and I hope you made it off the ship you were hiding on, and onto a cruise liner, although no-one’s told me you’ve made it, yet, so I can’t wait for news. Seems to be the story of my life, waiting. I’m still waiting to hear from my parents. I thought they were with Odyssey, but Odyssey has gone really quiet about them, so I’m hoping for them, too—hoping that nothing has gone wrong between Odyssey getting them off-planet, and getting them here. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- The complete series is available as short, indiv...