New Novel Completed - But Did I Fail? / Happenings In The Outhouse 19-June

I had a goal to complete two novels during the second quarter of 2026.

Needless to say, I did not complete that goal.  I wrote only one novel instead.  Yes, you read that correctly.  I wrote a novel within the last few months.

I had other goals for this quarter, but this one was by far the largest and most daunting (and can I say fun?).

Do I consider myself a failure for not completing two novels in 90 days?  Heck no!

When I look back at my output (I entered all of the word count data on a spreadsheet) I am immensely happy.  Now I know I can write a novel in 90 days.  It is a 75,000 word mystery novel (I had planned on at least at 60,000 word novel so maybe if it happened to be shorter I could've accomplished more?) and when I look at the days I committed, I had a great output.

But can I still do two novels in 90 days?  Let's see what the third quarter of 2026 has to offer?

Another One Bites The Dust / Happenings In The Outhouse 12-June-2026

 

Yup!  It happened again!

First, I am going to link back to these two blog posts, one from two years ago and the other back from 2017.  Here they are:

Views From The Outhouse: The Toxic Mix of Politics And Entertainment Creators / Happenings In The Outhouse 01-March-2024

Views From The Outhouse: The anatomy of a jerk / Happenings In The Outhouse 27-Jan-2017

Well, it happened again.  A few weeks ago now as I write this (I typically write these a few weeks in advance, although the posts I've done lately on the short stories were done over a series of months) someone in the music industry now came forward and dishearteningly made a statement on them not participating in an event to celebrate . . . well, let's put it this way, instead of writing on the nose about this one and publicly stating who it is, let me just share that it's a leader of a band that I have been a huge fan of, and follower of, for decades.  Yes, decades!

All the way back to the mid-1980s rock scene, mind you.  Probably one of my favorite bands--if not my favorite.

Not any longer.

I unfollowed them.  Everywhere.  From all social media and even Spotify.

Am I being petty?

Maybe.  But as other entertainers have stated lately, entertainers entertain.  That's it.  Like me.  I'm a writer.  I write.  I write to entertain.  That's it.  Do not ask me my political opinion.  I will not state it publicly.  I do have views, I do have values.

I am just not going to share it.  There are better things to do.

When Ideas Spark / Happenings In The Outhouse 05-June-2026

I have always been amazed at when a story idea presents itself to me.  Some ideas come fully formed, like a thousand-piece puzzle tossed into a table.  A number of pieces do fall on the floor, but they're all there.  I just have to put them together.

Then there are the stories that I search and search to uncover, like sifting through an archeological dig.  One never knows what you'll find, but you'll know it when you see it.

Last month my wife and I went to visit her parents.  On Sunday, we go to their church (my father-in-law is the pastor, and his sermons are always an inspirational joy to listen to) and during the prayer at the beginning of the service, an idea struck me.  It was from the prayer that was said, and I envisioned a story.  Almost in its entirety.  Remember, there are a few pieces of the puzzle that fall on the floor, get brushed into the corner.  It's great fun to put all of the pieces together, to see what it becomes.

Then, just the other day, my wife told me about a dream she had and thought it would make a great story.  This was another thousand-piece puzzle moment, where the story seemed like it was all there.  All I needed to do was put them together.

Distractions And Focus / Happenings In The Outhouse 29-May-2026

There are a lot of distractions keeping you from achieving your goals.  Social media.  The news (is 24/7 news media really necessary?).  Politics.  Global events.  The stock market.  Funny videos/reels.  Online browsing, looking for deals.

You name it, it can distract you.

That is, if you let it.

I recently read a blog post (geared toward writers) about distractions and "how the world is right now" blah, blah, blah . . . 

Again, let me repeat: IF YOU LET IT.

What separates those who achieve their goals and those who do not is getting things done?  Finishing that novel.  Building that website.  Setting up that newsletter.  Submitting that proposal to whatever gatekeeper you name.  Finishing something, whatever that may be.

The phrase "how the world is right now" threw me for a loop because it all comes down to perspective.  Sadly, for many, their world revolves on who is sitting in the White House.  If "their person" is in there and "their people" are in Congress, then life is peachy.  If not, then it's all gone to hell.

For me, I don't like discussing politics (even with my wife, we don't like to discuss it, and we hold the same values and voted for the same) and don't like discussing politics with people who also hold our same values.  There are other things to talk about.  Family.  Dreams.  You name it.

Keep an eye on what is distracting you.  If it is demanding more and more of your time (there is a certain game on my phone that does that, and I am more purposeful on what time I devote to it) then you might ask yourself, "What's important to me?"

Is it your dream?

Or the distraction?

New Story - Unmistaken Identity / Happenings In The Outhouse 22-May-2026

 Amazon.com: Unmistaken Identity eBook : Peterson, Mark S. R.: Kindle Store

Boyd Wheeler loves to tinker.

When he befriends a TX-class assassin robot in the middle of a junkyard, he knows his life isn't going to be the same.  He soon discovers a conspiracy that has global and historical implications.

Unmistaken Identity is a science fiction story filled with wonder and intrigue.

Purchase here on Amazon Amazon.com: Unmistaken Identity eBook : Peterson, Mark S. R.: Kindle Store or at your favorite ebook retailer.

New Story - Air So Cold It Hurts / Happenings In The Outhouse 15-May-2026

 Amazon.com: Air So Hold It Hurts eBook : Peterson, Mark S. R.: Books

Erica Wickstrom never expects to find her grandmother's brooch.  At a rummage sale of all places.  But there it is, next to a dozen other pieces of vintage jewelry.  Her grandmother was last seen wearing it the day of her husband's funeral.  Over twenty-five years ago.

The day she disappeared.

Will Erica finally discover the truth about her grandmother?  Or will she uncover a sinister evil that lurks in the shadows of her beloved small town home?

Purchase the ebook on Amazon Amazon.com: Air So Hold It Hurts eBook : Peterson, Mark S. R.: Books or at your favorite ebook retailer.

New Story - Pocket Change / Happenings In The Outhouse 08-May-2026

 Amazon.com: Pocket Change eBook : Peterson, Mark S. R.: Kindle Store

After the tragic death of his wife, Kenny Rodgers returns to a roadside diner for a bit of peaceful nostalgia.  Suddenly, a breaking news release about a pair of thirty-year-old cold cases has Kenny feeling the heat.  Has his past finally caught up to him?  Did his late wife finally give the police the missing link they've been searching for?

Pocket Change twists and turns in this suspenseful mystery that will keep you on your toes to the very last page.

Purchase it here on Amazon Amazon.com: Pocket Change eBook : Peterson, Mark S. R.: Kindle Store or at your favorite ebook e-tailer.

New Story - A Vintage Fit / Happenings In The Outhouse 01-May-2026

 Amazon.com: A Vintage Fit eBook : Peterson, Mark S. R.: Kindle Store

For Marty Crystal, walking into his late grandfather's house was like taking a step back in time.

But Marty's grandfather Wally had a secret.  One that he passed on only to Marty.

A Vintage Fit is a whimsical tale of one man, dealing with grief, and discovering a brand new world filled with wonder and magic.

Amazon.com: A Vintage Fit eBook : Peterson, Mark S. R.: Kindle Store

Find this tale on Amazon or your favorite ebook e-tailer.

New Story - More And Moore / Happenings In The Outhouse 24-April-2026

 More And Moore - Kindle edition by Peterson, Mark S. R.. Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

Deputy Kathy Dahl has one job and one job only: to transport a dirtbag of a con artist from a jail at the far corner of southern Minnesota to their jail in northern Minnesota. Literally. How hard can it be?

But Mother Nature has other plans. A severe blizzard strikes when she is halfway through her return trip home, with the talkative con artist handcuffed in the back seat. They soon discover both of their paths are linked more closely than this single trip

More And Moore - Kindle edition by Peterson, Mark S. R.. Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

New Story - Sight Unseen / Happenings In The Outhouse 17-April-2026

 Amazon.com: Sight Unseen eBook : Peterson, Mark S. R.: Books

Bethany McDaniel is not happy with her parents’ plan to move across the country, from suburban Virginia to small town Minnesota. She is even more upset to discover the house sits across from a creepy cemetery.

But once Bethany meets Bert Foss, a boy her age, they are inseparable.

There is something different about Bert. No one in town seems to know anything about him or his family.

Sight Unseen is a romantic paranormal short story with an air of suspense and mystery.

Please check out the new story Sight Unseen at Amazon or at your favorite ebook e-retailer.

Amazon.com: Sight Unseen eBook : Peterson, Mark S. R.: Books

New Thriller Novel - Degrees Of Deceit / Happenings In The Outhouse 10-April-2026

Degrees Of Deceit - Kindle edition by Peterson, Mark S. R.. Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

Justice finally has a name.

Driven by the untimely death of their daughter Samantha, the Larson's take the law into their own hands.  They blend in the shadows, hunting the predators who are seeking out innocent victims to prey upon.  They are a criminal's worst nightmare

They are The Unnoticeables.

Degrees of Deceit is an exciting thriller novel that will keep you on the edge of your seat, twisting and turning to the very end.

Pick up this exciting new novel, in a brand new crossover series, at Amazon or wherever you get your favorite ebooks.

Degrees Of Deceit - Kindle edition by Peterson, Mark S. R.. Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

New Focus for 2026 and Beyond / Happenings In The Outhouse 03-April-2026

For the past few years, my focus has been on improving the craft of writing and publishing stories that I had already been written.  As you can tell from the last several months' worth of blog posts, I have done just that.

But what does the future bring to my writing?

One word: business.

I will be turning my focus of my writing toward the business side of publishing.  Learning more about copyright, contracts, trademark, and a whole host of other topics surrounding the business side.  I will continue to strive for improvement in the craft (I will always continue to push myself in that regard) but will be added the element from the business side now too.

New Story - Darkness, Alive / Happenings In The Outhouse 27-March-2026

 Amazon.com: Darkness, Alive eBook : Peterson, Mark S. R.: Kindle Store

"Caleb Simmons is certain he is the last person alive.

He is also certain that there is something in the darkness.  Something that took everyone else.

But what it is, he doesn't know.

Darkness, Alive is a gritty, searing, post-apocalyptic novelette that will keep you reading to the very end."

Pick up your ebook copy of Darkness, Alive on Amazon or wherever you purchase your favorite ebooks.

Amazon.com: Darkness, Alive eBook : Peterson, Mark S. R.: Kindle Store

New Story - An Odorous Affair / Happenings In The Outhouse 20-March-2026

 Amazon.com: An Odorous Affair eBook : Peterson, Mark S. R.: Kindle Store

"In the realm of Vigil Falls, all children are expected to work in the family trade.

But Barney Scraps doesn't want to work in the family's thriving blacksmithing business.  He wants to be in business for himself.

By chance, he partners up with a local merchant to collect excrement to resell as fertilizer.  It's a smelly business, but someone has to do it.  Right?  Until he discovers a secret and bravely goes up high in the mountains to prove himself, not only to himself but to his family.

An Odorous Affair is a heart-warming, gut-wrenching epic fantasy novelette."

Pick up a copy of An Odorous Affair from Amazon or wherever you get your ebooks.

Amazon.com: An Odorous Affair eBook : Peterson, Mark S. R.: Kindle Store

New Story - Jeepers Creepers / Happenings In The Outhouse 13-March-2026

 Amazon.com: Jeepers Creepers eBook : Peterson, Mark S. R.: Kindle Store

"Keith Jeepers needs to take some time for himself.  After the passing of his wife and his father, there is no better place than the old hunting cabin.
But Keith isn't alone.  With his new companion, Lady, a former cadaver police dog, he receives an unexpected visitor.
And, quite possibly, a clue to a mysterious disappearance that has haunted the area for twenty years.

Jeepers Creepers is a chilling mystery that twists and turns right to the end."

Pick this book up at Amazon or wherever you love to purchase your favorite ebooks.

Amazon.com: Jeepers Creepers eBook : Peterson, Mark S. R.: Kindle Store

New Story - On An Open Fire / Happenings In The Outhouse 06-March-2026

Amazon.com: On An Open Fire eBook : Peterson, Mark S. R.: Books

"Valerie Fay misses her murdered sister.
But the man, Harvey Klaus, brought to trial for her murder has been found not guilty.
Why then would Valerie, on a blustery Christmas Eve, bring homemade goodies to Harvey’s house?
On An Open Fire is a suspenseful mystery that will keep you guessing to the very last page"

This mystery short story is found on Amazon Amazon.com: On An Open Fire eBook : Peterson, Mark S. R.: Books as well as other ebook retailers.

New Story - Seven Knocks / Happenings In The Outhouse 27-Feb-2026

Seven Knocks - Kindle edition by Peterson, Mark S. R.. Literature & Fiction Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

“Where do you get your ideas?”

Authors have been asked this for a long time.  It is the one question they all dread to answer.

But what if there was such a place that handed out great ideas?

Meet Casey A. Waters.  Aspiring author.  His greatest dream is to be on top of the bestseller list.

For years, he has tried to get published.  Only to be rejected over and over again.

Until one day he stumbles upon the mysterious secret to publishing success.

Or is it?

Seven Knocks is available on Amazon and other ebook retailers.

Seven Knocks - Kindle edition by Peterson, Mark S. R.. Literature & Fiction Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

New Story - A Peeling Passion / Happenings In The Outhouse 20-Feb-2026

 Amazon.com: A Peeling Passion eBook : Peterson, Mark S. R.: Kindle Store

"Meet Will Bunting.  As the man in charge of waste management on the starship vessel Passion Sun, his job would be easy if he didn’t have two prankster robots on his team.

Meet George and Fred.  The two prankster robots who will do just about anything for a laugh.  They will also do just enough to keep themselves from being jettisoned into the far reaches of space or decommissioned to a planet penitentiary cleaning sewers.

One day Will finds himself in the middle of a security breach investigation.  Is it another joke by his pranking duo?  Or will the investigation lead to a more sinister adversary?

A Peeling Passion is a funny science fiction mystery story that will entertain you to the very end."

Amazon.com: A Peeling Passion eBook : Peterson, Mark S. R.: Kindle Store

A Peeling Passion is available on Amazon and wherever you get your favorite ebooks.

New Story - Like A Bad Case Of Friendship / Happenings In The Outhouse 13-Feb-2026

 Amazon.com: Like A Bad Case Of Friendship eBook : Peterson, Mark S. R.: Kindle Store

"Have you ever had that one person in your life that you can never get rid of?

That is what Casey Struther’s life is like, ever since Hazel Watson enters her life.  Hazel is always there.  Like a cancer that never goes away.  Hazel also seems to know everything about Casey.  But Hazel’s life is a mystery.  Until Casey makes the bold decision to escape.  To the moon."

Like A Bad Case Of Friendship is a science fiction novelette that will have you on the edge of your seat to the very last page.

Amazon.com: Like A Bad Case Of Friendship eBook : Peterson, Mark S. R.: Kindle Store

Like A Bad Case of Friendship can be found on Amazon and other ebook retailers.

Update on WIP / Happenings In The Outhouse 06-Feb-2026

My current work-in-progress is probably one of the most difficult novels I have ever worked on.  And that's saying something because I have written some very large, epic fantasy novels with a word count of several hundred thousand words.  Even my first two novels that I had written were over 1,000 pages on my Brother word processor.

What makes this one so different?

First, there are so many competing points of view, and so much going on that I can't keep it all straight in my head.  Not that I should.  I normally keep a written record of each chapter--something simple, like what happened in 1-3 sentences--but for whatever reason I have not done that.

Until now.

I have over 30,000 words into it, and probably close to the halfway point.  I think.  Who knows with me when I start getting into a story.  It's still fun, but when I spend time going back to see what happened and where I'm going, it bogs it down.

New Story - Fragile Legacy / Happenings In The Outhouse 30-Jan-2026

Fragile Legacy - Kindle edition by Peterson, Mark S. R.. Literature & Fiction Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com. 

"Russell Caine has a secret.  A secret he has kept for seventy years.  Not even his wife Evelyn knows.

But Russell has a problem.  Who can he trust to keep the legacy, to pass on the secret.

Fragile Legacy is a fun, quirky, mysterious story that will keep you turning the page right to the very end."

Fragile Legacy - Kindle edition by Peterson, Mark S. R.. Literature & Fiction Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

Fragile Legacy is available on Amazon and on other ebook retailers.

New Story - Chasing Best / Happenings In The Outhouse 23-Jan-2026

 Amazon.com: Chasing Best eBook : Peterson, Mark S. R.: Kindle Store

"Dax Best is the best at what he does.  He steals.  Legally, of course.

But even Dax has morals.

When Dax refuses a job that could have global implications, he quickly finds himself stuck between life and death.

That is, until he finds help in the most unlikely of places.

Chasing Best is a high-stakes thrill ride that will keep you reading to the very last sentence.  It received an honorable mention from the Writers Of The Future contest."

Amazon.com: Chasing Best eBook : Peterson, Mark S. R.: Kindle Store

This is the Amazon Kindle version, and it is available on other platforms for ebooks as well.

New Story - Catastrophic Assembly Required / Happenings In The Outhouse 16-Jan-2026

 Amazon.com: Catastrophic Assembly Required eBook : Peterson, Mark S. R.: Kindle Store

"Kirk Sterling loves his wife.  He loves his dog.  He loves his house.

He also loves to draw.  Without tooting his own horn, he’s very artistic.  His drawings are very lifelike.

But as he gets older, his artistic talents take a back seat to the daily grind of adulthood.

That is, until one day he receives an unexpected package in the mail.

 Catastrophic Assembly Required is a fun, quirky tale of mystical intrigue, of a heartfelt romantic."

Here is the link to the Amazon Kindle version: Amazon.com: Catastrophic Assembly Required eBook : Peterson, Mark S. R.: Kindle Store

This book is available on other ebook platforms too.  Enjoy!

New Story - Birdhouse Diaries / Happenings In The Outhouse 09-Jan-2026

 Birdhouse Diaries - Kindle edition by Peterson, Mark S. R.. Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

"For Dennis Trunk, life in the quiet suburbs of the Twin Cities of Minnesota is a far cry from his previous life on the East Coast as a hitman for an outlaw motorcycle gang.

Until one day, his world is suddenly turned upside down when he receives an FBI Wanted poster in the mail, with his face on it, and a threatening message: “I know who you are.”

Who in the world would want to blackmail a former hitman?

Birdhouse Diaries is a suspenseful tale with several twists and turns along the way."

Birdhouse Diaries - Kindle edition by Peterson, Mark S. R.. Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

This is the Amazon Kindle link, but it is available on other ebook platforms too.

3rd Honorable Mention from Writers Of The Future / Happenings In The Outhouse 02-Jan-2026

First, this blog post is my 1200th post!  I honestly can't believe I have been posting so much, and for so long.

Late November, I received news that I achieved my third Honorable Mention from the Writers of the Future contest!

Writers of the Future 4th Quarter Winners Announced for Volume 42 | Writers & Illustrators of the Future

This, of course, is huge news and I am so honored!