I am in the midst of a massive editing cycle as I am on a deadline. Last month, I received edits and comments from my book editor Anna Corbeaux (I definitely recommend her if you need a firm yet understanding editor). Now, I am in full edit mode to finish the sequel to The Last Magus: A Clockwork Heart ready for its December release. Get ready to experience Dragonfire and Steel!

And bonus, you will get the full COVER REVEAL in the next issue of the Magpie Messenger literary magazine from Curious Corvid Publishing. Once again, the cover was done by Anna Lena Spies and she really captured the true essence of Marcus Gideon and his journey as The Last Magus of Attlain.

This story started with a simple premise . . . a man with no memories left for dead at a crossroads finds purpose when he’s given a second chance at life thanks to a clockwork heart. The Last Magus defines my love of steampunk and fantasy, as magic and machines come together in my story. This is not some mega-series spanning decades. I have four books planned to tell the story of Marcus Gideon, Dragonfire and Steel, will be released in December 2023.

The saga of Marcus Gideon, The Last Magus of Attlain, continues in Dragonfire and Steel. The Magus were legendary magic casters/warriors, able to cast spells and wield powerful magical weapons. They were the guardians of magic in Attlain but were cast out and feared for their power. Marcus Gideon was trained by The Last Magus, destined to restore the dignity of the order. 

 After graduating from the Basilon Magical Academy, Gideon sets off for his master’s homeland. Plodoro is an isolated city in the far north of the Skjem-Tur mountains. Surrounded by giants and blanketed in an endless winter, Gideon travels to the far-flung region to fulfill a final request of his master and return a sacred weapon to his people. He must finish this task to return to his true love, Wren.

 The First Princess of Attlain fell in love with Gideon during their time at Basilon. Now, to win her parents’ approval, Gideon must win the Helios Arcanum Magical Arts Festival. This celebration showcases the best magic casters in Attlain, and Gideon is the first Magus to compete in over a hundred years. As he fights for his life and reputation, the dark shadow looms over him as the Ulbrecht Domo―the Shadow Lord of Ishtar―has other plans for The Last Magus.

To be honest, this is one of those funny stories of how writers change their minds. When I first wrote The Last Magus: A Clockwork Heart, it was a massive manuscript, nearly 200,000 words. I wrote to much, so I decided to split it in half and tell two stories. The hard part was finding a dividing point and adding a bit more to the story so it carried over from one book to the next.

As for the cover, there was not a single doubt in my mind that I would continue using Anna Lena Spies to express the story within the pages in a single cover. I really want all the books in this series to feel like they belong together and her dynamic book covers help that. I am looking forward to the book cover reveal in the Halloween issue of the Magpie Messenger literary magazine from Curious Corvid Publishing. You can subscribe or purchase a single issue but its a great magazine full of independent authors like me, plus puzzles, poems, and spooky holiday fun. Visit www.curiouscorvidpublishing/magpiemessenger for details.

Stay tuned for more details on my upcoming book signing Events and future book releases in 2024 from Curious Corvid Publishing. Thanks for your continued support.

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 as he weaves flights of fancy in his tales.

The Forever Avalon fantasy book series—including Forever Avalon, The Dark Tides, and The Outlander War—are 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 from Curious Corvid. Stay tuned for new fantastic stories from the imagination of Mark Piggott.