New Novel - Missing Pieces / Happenings In The Outhouse 25-Sept-2026

I did it!

Missing Pieces, my latest novel, has been published!

Amazon.com: Missing Pieces eBook : Peterson, Mark S. R.: Kindle Store

"Like two ships passing in the night, Zack and Ellen Perkins are just going through the motions.  They appear to be the perfect couple, successful in their careers, successful in their marriage, with three great kids.

But both are self-proclaimed workaholics who have devoted themselves entirely to their careers at the risk of their on the rocks marriage.

As their twenty-five-year wedding anniversary nears, the unexpected happens and they find themselves reliving their younger years.  Will they finally rediscover the reason they are destined for each other, rekindling the romantic fires that bonded them as soulmates?  Or will those fires die out as they seek out love in other places?"

Please check out "Missing Pieces" on Amazon Kindle ebook store or wherever you purchase your favorite ebooks!

Amazon.com: Missing Pieces eBook : Peterson, Mark S. R.: Kindle Store

Changes In The Last Quarter Of 2026 / Happenings In The Outhouse 18-Sept-2026

I am looking ahead to 2027.

Really, Mark?  2027?

Yes, really.

In doing so, I need to set myself up for success.  This quarter, my main goal was to write and publish two full-length novels.  One is done and the other is so close, it will be by next week.

Although I will not share what I have in store for the last three months of 2026 to lead into 2027, rest assured that it'll be good.  I will still be publishing stories in the last three months of 2026, but I will not have a major challenge like I did for this quarter.  I do have a story in mind to write.

Stay tuned.  It's going to be a fun ride!

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.

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.

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 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.

Mission Accomplished! Goals Achieved!

I did it!

Over the weekend, I finished publishing a horde of short stories to accomplish my 4th quarter goal of publishing a short story a week.  I will be posting a separate blog post for each story over the next number of weeks.

Now, I am in the process of starting on my next 5 things for the first quarter of 2026.  I still have a goal of publishing one story a week, whether it's a short story, novella, or novelette, and I have enough inventory to accomplish this.

What did 2025 look like for you?

What will you accomplish in 2026?

Pipeline For 2026 (And Beyond) / Happenings In The Outhouse 26-Dec-2025

As 2025 winds down, I've spent a lot of time brainstorming ideas.  Not only for the upcoming quarter, but also for 2026 and beyond.

First, as I review the last three months of my "Next 5 Things" I have almost completed all 5 of my big tasks.  This is huge!  I have struggled to complete even 2-3 items on the list in the past, but almost all 5?  Amazing!  The last item to complete was to publish a short story a week, and honestly I almost made it.  I do not consider it a failure either even if I don't.  As you can tell from previous posts, I have published a LOT of short stories lately.

And there is quite a bit more too.

Then, I'll start compiling these into collections.

Fun times!

So, what is in the pipeline for 2026?

Aside from submitting a story each quarter to the Writers of the Future contest and getting more short stories out, I am in the middle of writing a vigilante thriller novel.  I am around the 17K word mark.  I have other short stories that I haven't finished either.  However, they may take a back seat as I may shift my focus toward getting more novels out there.

Lots to do.  Loads of fun!

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.

Stealth Publishing Revisited / Happenings In The Outhouse 12-Sept-2025

I wrote this post back in 2018 about stealth publishing.

And it still holds true today.

Let me share what's happened in the seven years since I wrote that blog post.

I have 14 completed and published novels, 7 shorter novels (called novellas or novelettes, depending on the length), and close to 4 dozen short stories.  And those short stories will, over the course of months, will be published one at a time, and I will be putting some nifty collections together too.

I'm also brainstorming some nonfiction books with my blog posts as content.

And I am still learning new things . . . 

What are you doing today to further your craft?  It doesn't have to be catastrophic in nature.  Start small if you have to.  But, as the philosopher El Nike says, "Just do it."  Do it today.

Not A Dollar Store / Happenings In The Outhouse 05-Sept-2025

There are a lot of changes on the horizon.  So much so that I am excited for what the future is going to bring.

I am currently taking an online course taught by Dean Wesley Smith and Kris Rusch about creating your own short story market, and one of the things I learned in the very first week was about pricing your stories.

One trend I have noticed lately (and this may be purely psychological) are the number of books in the $1.99 range.  Short stories, despite them being short, should never be $.99.  It makes your work look and feel cheap.  So the starting point for short stories should be at $1.99 (the exception would be if you were a massive bestselling author, where you could start at $2.99).

Over the next few months, I will be reviewing all of my stories and pricing them accordingly.

Don't sell yourself short by selling cheap.  Cheap never wins.

This also works the other way too.  Don't price your work too high either.

The List / Happenings In The Outhouse 29-Aug-2025

As I was thinking about this the other day, I pondered how many stories I had written so far.  I used to compile this list at the end of each year, but, as I can tell, it has been a while.  Here it is:

14 published novels

7 published novellas/novelettes

42 short stories (roughly half are published, while the others are making the rounds in the short story markets)

1 published short story collection

2 published box sets

2 published non-fiction books

What else . . . ?

Many, many works in progress.  I have three completed novels not on the initial list (so 17 completed but only 14 are published): two horror novels and a large epic fantasy novel.

Keep in mind, this seems like an impressive list.  But this has been worked on for several years, decades even.  This didn't happen overnight.