What Have You Stopped Doing? / Happenings In The Outhouse 21-Aug-2026

A number of weeks ago, I stopped doing something.  I stopped doing something that I had been doing for a few years now.  Hours upon hours of time devoted to it.

What is it?

A game.  On my phone.

At first, it didn't take up that much of my time.  A little bit here and a little bit there.  But over time it started to consume more and more time . . . 

I've joked to my kids that I would be uninstalling the game app from my phone.  None thought I was serious.

Until one day . . . I had enough.  It started getting glitchy.  So I thought to myself, "What if I just uninstall this now?  What would I be better off doing anyway?"

The answer to the second question is easy: writing.

I did it.

I stopped doing it.  Stopped playing it.

Now I am spending more time devoted to other endeavors, including writing. 

Another Completed Novel In The Books / Happenings In The Outhouse 14-Aug-2026

A few weeks ago, I completed my latest novel.

Broken Roads - Kindle edition by Peterson, Mark S. R.. Contemporary Romance Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

"When Abby Lee, divorced mother of two, volunteers to organize the church's garage sale, she never expects to meet the man of her dreams.  But when Dean Korbin stumbles to the garage sale by accident, still drunk from last night's ordeal, he isn't looking for any kind of relationship.  But true love has a way of turning things around.

Broken Roads is a meet-cute contemporary romance that will tug at your heartstrings and will have you reaching for the tissues."

Check out my new novel Broken Roads on Amazon or wherever you purchase your favorite ebooks.

Broken Roads - Kindle edition by Peterson, Mark S. R.. Contemporary Romance Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

How Could I Forget? / Happenings In The Outhouse 07-Aug-2026

When you're working on your first story (or first piece of art or whatever you're doing for a hobby or business) it's easy to count the number of items you have created.  But as time goes on, that list begins to grow.

I highly suggest keeping a list of items you have created early on--very early on, in my opinion.  I have been keeping a list of stories I have written since I first started publishing, but truth be told I have written so much before that.

Over the past year I have been trying to be more organized.  I have a board behind me in my office that I have stories tacked onto.  Stories that are out making the rounds (i.e. Writers of the Future) and many that are works-in-progress.

Then, every once and a while or while I am going through folders (either physical or digital) I discover a story I either started or finished.  Or a story idea that was good at the time but did nothing with it.  Is the story still good?  Is it worth writing now?

I have three completed novels that I wrote long before I started publishing, and they are just sitting in the proverbial folder just waiting in the wings.  Two are horror novels and one is a large epic fantasy.  At last count I have well over 100 stories that I have either written/completed or have started to write.

And I am just getting started . . .

July Ending Strong / Happenings In The Outhouse 31-July-2026

Just a quick note for all of my readers out there.

July is starting out very strong on the writing front.  I am currently around the 45,000-word count for my work-in-progress.

My goal within the next few weeks is to complete it, do what needs to be done with it, and get it out to the world.

New Covers for Shadowkill Trilogy / Happenings In The Outhouse 24-July-2026

My Shadowkill Trilogy has been out for a while.  But boy oh boy did they need a bit of a makeover.

The Shadowkill Trilogy (3 book series) Kindle Edition

The Complete Shadowkill Trilogy (The Shadowkill Trilogy) - Kindle edition by Peterson, Mark S. R.. Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

Here are the updated covers:

And here is for the boxset of the complete trilogy.

I also updated the blurb (description) for each one.  These are so much better than the first ones.  More in line with what the stories are.

Starting Out Strong / Happenings In The Outhouse 17-July-2026

Hard to believe, as of this writing, that we are already in the middle of July.  It's been an interesting year so far.  Lots of stories being published, and lots of updates to older novels that just needed to be polished up a bit.

I am currently at work on a new novel.  I am roughly 26,000 words into it, and hope to get it out and published within a month.

My goal for the quarter is to publish two full-length novels.  I have other goals, but this one is a biggie.  I have a spreadsheet that I'm tracking my daily progress.  I have a daily, weekly goals, writing a particular amount of words in any given day and week to make that goal.

Two More New Short Stories / Happenings In The Outhouse 10-July-2026

Greetings again, fellow readers!

Once again, I have more tales for you to peruse at your leisure.  Two more short stories.  One is a science fiction story with a bit of a twist at the end and the other has elements of time travel to one of my favorite eras, the 1980's.

The first is Over The Cosmos.

Amazon.com: Over The Cosmos eBook : Peterson, Mark S. R.: Kindle Store

"Welcome to Hailey's Gate, the luxurious, elegant cruiseliner, as it gives the finest tours of the entire galaxy.  Your tour guide is none other than Alonzo Cupid.  No matter who you are, from the ultra wealthy to a young couple in love, Alonzo treats all of his guests with the utmost care.

Over The Cosmos is a quirky science fiction story that will keep you on the edge of your seat to the very end."

You may purchase Over The Cosmos here at Amazon Amazon.com: Over The Cosmos eBook : Peterson, Mark S. R.: Kindle Store or wherever you purchase your favorite ebooks.

The second book is Closed For Winter.

Amazon.com: Closed For Winter eBook : Peterson, Mark S. R.: Kindle Store

"Patrick Oakland has never been back to his hometown in over twenty-five years.  But on a chance meeting as he passes through town, he stops at a small cafe.  Across the street is an old movie theater that has been closed for many years.

What he finds inside not only brings back memories of his youth, it also transports him to a time when a young boy his age went missing.

Will he finally be able to unravel the truth behind the disappearance?"

You may purchase Closed For Winter here on Amazon Amazon.com: Closed For Winter eBook : Peterson, Mark S. R.: Kindle Store or wherever you purchase your favorite ebooks.

Enjoy!!