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!!

A Pair Of Romance Stories / Happenings In The Outhouse 03-July-2026

Fellow readers, here are two romance short stories that may have you tugging at your heart strings.

The first is Giant Among Legends.
Giant Among Legends - Kindle edition by Peterson, Mark S. R.. Literature & Fiction Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

"Colton James and Denise Schwartz have a bond few can fathom.  A bond that goes beyond simple friendship.

For as far back as they can remember, Colton and Denise have been best friends.  They share so many interests and dreamed of one day being astronauts, of building a colony together on the moon.

Giant Among Legends is a cute teen romance short story that will have you reaching for the box of tissues over and over again."

Here's the Amazon link Giant Among Legends - Kindle edition by Peterson, Mark S. R.. Literature & Fiction Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com. or you can also find it wherever you purchase your favorite ebooks.

The second story is Cashing In.  It is set in my Short Order Cop Cozy Mystery series.

Amazon.com: Cashing In eBook : Peterson, Mark S. R.: Kindle Store

"When Carla Deere learns that her new client is Kevin Stubbs from the Charity Police Department, she wonders if it is the same Kevin Stubbs she went to high school with.  They were supposed to go on a date their senior year but they had to cancel due to an unexpected blizzard.  Is it finally time, after all these years, for a second chance at a first date?

Cashing In is a cute meet short story in the Short Order Cop Cozy Mystery series."

Here is the link to Amazon to purchase Amazon.com: Cashing In eBook : Peterson, Mark S. R.: Kindle Store or wherever you purchase your favorite ebooks.

Here is the link to the cozy mystery series: The Short Order Cop Cozy Mystery Series (1 book series) Kindle Edition

New Mystery Novel / Happenings In The Outhouse 26-June-2026

Page Turner (Tad Wellstone Mysteries Book 1) - Kindle edition by Peterson, Mark S. R.. Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

"It is the one case Detective Tad Wellstone hopes to solve before retiring.  Twenty years ago, a young lady disappeared without a trace.  Only a single drop of blood on a cell phone was found.  He soon discovers, written within the pages of a bestselling novel, as if the story is ripped right from the headlines, a detailed path leading to her body.

But that isn't all.

Page Turner is a suspenseful mystery that will keep you on the edge of your seat, guessing to the very end."

Check out this new novel on Amazon or wherever you purchase your ebooks.

Page Turner (Tad Wellstone Mysteries Book 1) - Kindle edition by Peterson, Mark S. R.. Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

And be sure to check out the two short stories, Along Came The Bodies and A Sense Of Place, also in the same series. Tad Wellstone Mysteries (1 book series) Kindle Edition

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?