My interview on Ognian Georgiev's blog

I was recently featured on Ognian Georgiev's blog, interviewing me in regards to my latest novel Killzone: Book 1 of the Shadowkill Trilogy.

The link can be found here: http://ogigeorgiev.wordpress.com/2014/09/26/mark-peterson-a-wide-range-of-study-make-your-stories-more-interesting/

Check it out, and be sure to also check out Ognian's fascinating book The White Prisoner

Happenings In The Outhouse 26-Sept-2014 / The silent approach

Aside from the authors who publish one book and, when they do not see any grand success from it and quit, authors can be (somewhat) divided into two camps:

1) publish one book and promote the hell out of it

2) publish one book, then another, then another, then another . . . leaving the marketing promotion machine to simply function as a funnel from one story to the next

It irrirates me when I see authors go gangbusters on a first novel, ranking in the top ten in several categories, only to have nothing else to follow it up with.

I am in the second camp.  I call it the silent approach.  I don't suggest publishing the way I have been, stories in several genres with no clear funnel from one to the next.  But I am changing it, and am in the process of creating several products to do just that: to lead readers from one to the next.

Also, I have a surprise for you.  I am adding something to Beholder's Eye.  I'll share what that is shortly.

I am around the 15,000 word count in the sequel to Beholder's Eye.  It's coming along great.

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Happenings In The Outhouse 19-Sept-2014 / Do not try this (with your writing)

Let me warn you.  Do not try this with your writing, unless you are prepared and see no other way.  Well, first of all, if you see no other way, you haven't thought enough about the problem.  I have.  I am experimenting with something.

Industry experts (i.e. successful authors) warn newbies (i.e. unpublished writers or newly-published authors) not to do this.

But I'm going to give it a shot.

Wish me luck.

I have realized lately that I spend an awful lot of time editing.  Editing and not writing more new material.  This is not good.  Especially when I have so many stories to tell.

Here's my experiment: I will be writing new material in the mornings, when I typically work best, and during the way (at the day job) I will be editing.  Right now, I am several chapters into the new novel, so I'm not editing the pages I just wrote.  One day soon I hope to be.

That's what the experts say not to do.

But I'm going to do it.  I'll make a good run at it.  I'll keep you in the loop as to how it's working.

I am currently around the 14,000 word mark of the new novel, book two of the Central Division Series.  I also concluded an e-mail interview with a gentleman who has a website/blog where he features other authors.  My interview will be up soon, and I'll share the link with everyone when it goes live.

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8 ways to get into the mood (to write)

Artists, especially writers, talk about "finding the muse" which means finding the inspiration or motivation to create something from nothing.

Someone recently told me they were having troubles starting their daily writing, like for the first 10 minutes or so.  They wanted some advice.  Now, I gave it to them, and I want to expand on that notion here.

Here is a list of things you can do to help get the juices flowing:

1) just write - even if it's crap, sitting down to write anything is better than nothing

2) go for a walk

3) go for a drive

4) read the last few pages you had written the previous day, to get a feel for where the story is going

5) drink a cup of coffee (or tea)

6) meditate

7) take a cold shower

8) exercise

This list is by no means complete--lists typically never are.  This is just what I could come up with off the top of my head.

Feel free to comment on how you get the creative juice flowing.

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If Walls Could Talk: A Terrifying Short Story Collection is published today!

If Walls Could Talk: A Terrifying Short Story Collection is published today!  (And for those who pre-ordered it, a huge thank you!)

"An epidemic in the Minnesota northwoods breeds an unspeakable horror. A golfer’s nasty slice uncovers the mysteries surrounding a childhood terror. A mother, fed up with an abusive, controlling marriage, gives her child the one gift she’s been asking for—and frees herself in the process.

From the barren Mars landscape to the northwoods of America.

Seven terrifying tales.

One collection."

It's currently listed for $1.99 at several ebook markets: Amazon Kindle, Smashwords, Barnes and Noble Nook store, Apple iBooks store, and Kobo Books, just to name a few.

Here's a link that will take you to my site, where it lists BUY buttons for several ebook retailers.

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Happenings In The Outhouse 12-Sept-2014 / Getting children to read ebooks

A few nights ago, I asked my youngest daughter (she's eight), "Have you ever read a book on the Kindle?"

She looked up at me and shook her head.

Now, she plays games and watches Netflix on the Kindle all the time.  So why not read ebooks?  We have a number of children's ebooks from Bookbub, so I opened one up for her.

It didn't take long before she read an entire ebook.  She had some troubles swiping to turn the pages, but once she was halfway through the ebook, she was turning it with a bit more finesse.

Children can read ebooks.  We just have to open up the world for them and let them give it a shot.

I'm currently at the 10,000 word count on the next novel in the Central Division Series.  Straight Razor is coming along nicely, even after a brief hiatus to publish Killzone and my short story collection If Walls Could Talk.  I'm shooting for publication by the end of the year--a bold, ambitious move, but one I have to make nonetheless.

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Find my books on Scribd.com

Do you have a Scribd.com account?

If you do, you're in luck.  A number of my books can be found there.

Scribd.com is a subscription-based site, almost like a Netflix for books.  Currently, it appears the monthly subscription is $8.99.

Here's a link to my books on Scribd.com

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New short story collection, If Walls Could Talk, is available for pre-order

On September 15th, my new short story collection If Walls Could Talk: A Terrifying Short Story Collection, will be published.

And right now it is available for pre-order.

Here is a link to the book page on my marksrpeterson.com website, which has links to where it's available.

What it's about: "An epidemic in the Minnesota northwoods breeds an unspeakable horror. A golfer’s nasty slice uncovers the mysteries surrounding a childhood terror. A mother, fed up with an abusive, controlling marriage, gives her child the one gift she’s been asking for—and frees herself in the process.

From the barren Mars landscape to the northwoods of America. Seven terrifying tales. One collection."

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Happenings In The Outhouse 05-Sept-2014 / testing the pre-order waters

Beholder's Eye is currently in a $0.99 Kindle Countdown deal - if you haven't picked it up yet, now is your chance.

My latest short story collection is complete.  Early next week, I'll share links to where it can be purchased for pre-order.

The publication date is set for September 15th.

I'll be publishing on all platforms, from Amazon to Smashwords to Kobo.  Through Smashwords, I'll get into the iBooks store, etc.

Here's a sneak preview of the cover for the short story collection If Walls Could Talk:

I had to go through a few artists to get the cover I wanted.

Which brings me to a point when it comes to cover artists.  It's a good idea to have more than one.  Unless your cover artist is a complete rock star at what he or she does, it's wise to juggle between a few.

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Laboring on Labor Day

That's right.  I'm laboring on Labor Day.

As an artist setting the course of our own destiny, we need to take each day as it comes and make the best of it.

Even if it is a holiday.

Stephen King writes 365 days a year, including on Christmas and his birthday.

You should too.