As I sit here in the quiet of early 2026, with the winter desert sun already warming the patio, I find myself doing what writers do best: taking stock. The turning of a year always prompts reflection—what worked, what didn’t, and where the path leads next. For me, 2025 was a year of momentum on the fiction front, and I’m carrying that energy forward with clear intentions for the months ahead.
The biggest milestone is the completion and publication of Seven Planets, the first volume in the Brightstar Trilogy. What began as a sprawling idea about exploration, loss, and the human drive to reach beyond our world has now found its form. You can find more about it on the site (click the links above).. Anticipating holding that finished copy reminds me why I persist through the revisions and doubts.
Once volume one is launched, the next logical step is diving into the second book, Two Dragons. The title hints at the conflicts and dualities that will drive the story forward, and I’m eager to explore those threads. The outline is solid, characters are restless on the page, and I expect to spend a good portion of the first half of the year building momentum. Progress will be steady rather than rushed. Show up consistently, letting the narrative breathe, and trust the process.
On the short fiction side, I’m committed to wrapping up and publishing my fourth collection of short stories before the year ends. I don’t have a title yet. These pieces often serve as laboratories for ideas that later find their way into novels, and I enjoy the tighter canvas they offer. Expect a mix of speculative tales that probe the edges of human experience—chaos, resilience, quiet triumphs.
Non-fiction isn’t taking a back seat. I have three or four previously published books lined up for second editions. These updates involve fresh research, tightened prose, perhaps new forewords or appendices to reflect what I’ve learned since their first releases. My goal is to have them revised and reissued—ideally by summer, though I’ll be realistic about the time editing demands. Details on those titles are available in the non-fiction section of the site: www.markusmcdowell.com.
I also continue to receive manuscripts from other authors for review or feedback. Three are already in the pipeline, and I make space for these as they arrive. Helping fellow writers refine their work feels like part of the ecosystem we all share. It’s not always easy to balance with my own deadlines, but promoting good stories from others strengthens the whole community, and is something I believe in .
Ghostwriting remains an open possibility—no projects are scheduled right now, but if the right collaboration arises, I’ll consider it. Flexibility is key in life!
Of course, the weekly blog posts will continue. You’ll see excerpts from works in progress, passages from already published books, and the occasional behind-the-scenes look at writing, editing, or simply navigating life as a writer. These posts are my way of staying connected with you, by sharing the unglamorous parts alongside the breakthroughs and inspirations.
And yes, there will be travel. I thrive when I change scenery: a new city café, a mountain cabin, the hum of an airport lounge. Movement sharpens focus for me, so expect dispatches from various corners as the year unfolds.
None of this happens in a vacuum. Thank you for being one of my readers. Your engagement, the comments, the messages, the feedback, fuels the work more than you probably realize. You are why I do all of this, and I appreciate every bit of it.
Here’s to a year of stories told, words refined, and connections deepened.
