Anatomy Of A Cliffhanger / Happenings In The Outhouse 19-Dec-2025

My wife and I watch a lot of movies and shows as we wind down each night (if we're not playing games, of course).

Most shows, obviously, if done well, have scene breaks that leave you hanging . . . wanting to stay until the scene returns.  In some cases of the old TV cable days, it would be a commercial break.  Not for us.  We severed the TV cable a few years ago and have not regretted it.  At this point in the show, I usually point at the TV and say, "Cliffhanger."

My wife has now caught on to what a cliffhanger does--not that she didn't know before, and more than likely did except maybe didn't quite know the word for it, but being married to a writer, I'm prone to this type of thinking of how a story is set up.

Whether your story is in written or visual form, cliffhangers are set up to . . . well, leave you hanging, wanting to either keep reading or watching.

Check out your favorite movies or books, and see if you can spot the cliffhangers.  More than likely, now that you know what to look for, they'll be easy to spot.

New Story - A Sense Of Place / Happenings In The Outhouse 12-Dec-2025

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I keep publishing short stories left and right.  Here is another one for your reading pleasure: "A Sense Of Place."

"Every so often, Detective Tad Wellstone comes across a dead body that appears natural or accidental but his instincts tell him otherwise.
When he finds the deceased Garrett Phillip Martinez at a new construction site, all signs point to a diabetic seizure.  And Tad knows much about diabetes.
Could it be natural?  Or is something more sinister at work?
“A Sense Of Place” is a modern mystery with twists and turns, and will keep you guessing until the very last page."

Amazon.com: A Sense Of Place eBook : Peterson, Mark S. R.: Books

Above is the link to the Amazon Kindle page.  It is also available in other ebook retailers.

To Each Their Own / Happenings In The Outhouse 05-Dec-2025

There are times when people (usually authors) say or do things that make me shake my head.

Over a month ago, I came across a social media post by a local author.  This author stated that they had been chipping away at their next book (this author only has one book self-published) while starting school full-time to finish their bachelor's degree, volunteering at their church, being a parent to four younger children, and running a campground.  This author also wrote a weekly column for an area newspaper.  Quite busy, I get it.  Been there, got the T-shirt.

Then, this is the part that made me shake my head: this author had a conversation with one of their professors and, based on said conversation, decided to try the traditional route for publishing rather than self-publishing on the next book.

Pause . . . 

No, I did not comment.  Nor did I select an appropriate reaction to their post.  I just . . . moved on, all the while shaking my head in bewilderment.

To each their own.  If it works, I wish them the best of luck.

Deep down, I know this person will spend years regretting their choice.

New Story - Good Bones / Happenings In The Outhouse 28-Nov-2025

Once again, I have another short story that I have published: Good Bones.

"As a retired detective, Doug Fields spends his days flipping houses.  What he looks for in a house are good bones.  An easy fix.  An easy flip.

As a retired cadaver dog, Mick loves to accompany Doug.  What he seeks out are old bones.  Closing a cold case.  Justice prevailing.

Every once and a while, both of their worlds collide.

Good Bones is a modern mystery story that will keep you reading to the very last page."

Amazon.com: Good Bones eBook : Peterson, Mark S. R.: Books

Above is the link to the Amazon Kindle page.  It is also available in other ebook retailers.

New Story - Footprints In High Places / Happenings In The Outhouse 21-Nov-2025

Here is another short story that has been recently published.  This one earned me my second honorable mention from the Writers of the Future contest.  It is called "Footprints In High Places." 

"Huck Slaughter is the most cunning bounty hunter in the galaxy.

His brother, Gage Siphon, is a brilliant genius.

But when their paths cross in a high-stakes encounter, will justice finally prevail?

Footprints In High Places is a gritty, high-stakes science fiction story.  It received an honorable mention from the Writers Of The Future contest."

Amazon.com: Footprints In High Places eBook : Peterson, Mark S. R.: Kindle Store

Above is the link to the Amazon Kindle store.  It is also available at several other ebook retailers too.  Enjoy!

Always Keep Learning / Happenings In The Outhouse 14-Nov-2025

No matter your age and experience, it is always important to keep learning.

I listened to a training video by bestselling author Dean Wesley Smith who has been in the publishing business for over 50 years.  Yes, five decades!  One of the points he made in the video (well, truth be told, he makes many great points but I'll limit to just one right here) is to keep learning.  Always.  So many authors came onto the self-publishing scene 5, 10, 15 years ago, and . . . where are they now?  They stopped learning.

Even many traditionally published authors seemed to have vanished.  Not all, but many who were considered the greatest at the time, have now gone bye bye.

Why?

I can only speculate, but it's possible that they also stopped learning.  They stopped reading and expanding their knowledge.

I learn more with each and every story that I write, no matter if it's a short story or a large novel.  There is so much to learn that I yearn to stretch myself even further.

What are you doing to expand your knowledge?

What are you practicing on to get better and better?

New Story - Along Came The Bodies / Happenings In The Outhouse 07-Nov-2025

A few weeks ago, I published another short story (I have a lot in the pipeline to line up, so this will be a frequent feature for a while.  It is titled "Along Came The Bodies."  It is a mystery story, set in the Fargo, ND, area.

"After twenty-five years, Detective Tad Wellstone wants to retire.

But first, he has to train in a new detective.

Then a call comes in. Right at the end of his shift. Two bodies. In a nearby farmhouse.

Will this case be the end of his career?"

Amazon.com: Along Came The Bodies eBook : Peterson, Mark S. R.: Books

Above is the link to the Amazon Kindle ebook store.  It can also be found on several other ebook platforms.