You’re in for a treat this weekend at the Seafarer’s Carnival! Head to the beach in Ocean City, MD, for pirates, mermaids, gears and goggles. Ocean Renaissance 2023 is the annual oceanfront festival bringing steampunk, sea life, and fantasy under one roof. This year’s festival is being held at The Carousel Oceanfront Hotel and Condos. Daily passes are available at the door or special weekend passes can be purchased online at www.oceanrenaissancefoundation.org.

The Circus of the Seas brings musicians, magicians, jugglers, stilt walkers, aerialists, fire artists and other performance artists to dazzle you both indoor and out!

The Circus Siren Pod is a group of professional water artists that offer far more than your average mermaid show. Based out of Mid-Atlantic region, Circus Siren Pod members have performed across the country and even internationally. From the beaches of Hawaii, to the Aquariums of New York, to the resorts of Jamaica, they bring a magical show to audiences of all ages.

Swashbucklers and Scallywags of East Coast Pirate Entertainment will be there to plunder and perform on stage and wandering throughout the event.

Over 70 artisans and makers collected from all over the country during our many travels will converge to provide some of the most beautiful and unique handmade goods, clothing, accessories, art, and much more! Of course, you’ll find me there with all my steampunk and fantasy books for sale. You can pick up a signed copy of any of during the long weekend.

Mark Piggott is an award-winning independent author of several fantasy/steampunk novels and short stories. A 23-year U.S. Navy veteran, his stories will take you from the shores of eternal Avalon to a dystopian steampunk future and other worlds.

The Forever Avalon fantasy book series—including Forever Avalon, The Dark Tides, and The Outlander War—is available online at Amazon and other booksellers. His fantasy steampunk novel, The Last Magus: A Clockwork Heart, is available through Lulu and other booksellers.

Cross over The River of Souls in a fantasy novella and the steampunk historical fiction, Corsair and the Sky Pirates from Curious Corvid Publishing. The Last Magus: Dragonfire and Steel and The Prometheus Engine: Book Four of the Forever Avalon Series, are coming soon. Stay tuned for more new fantastic stories from the imagination of Mark Piggott.