Are you into epic, high fantasy? Are you looking for something new and exciting to read? Then, I’ve got an offer for you!
I have a new book coming out this Fall from Curious Corvid Publishing, A Dance of Darklings and Demons. It’s a story of a war veteran fighting to protect his family, friends, and home from the Darkling threat while fighting religious persecution in a world that considers him a demon. Canaan Treyhawke is an Alchemage, a shadow hunter and follower of Atua. His kind are necessary tools against the Darkling horde, but are considered heretics to the pantheon of Ard. As Canaan uncovers a plot that threatens all of Ard, he must fight to save the very people who despise his very existence.
If this and stories of steampunk and magic intrigue you, sign up in the JOIN MY EMAIL LIST link in the right-hand column ►►►►►! You will receive updates on my upcoming releases and other exclusive content! I promise, NO SPAM and NO SOLICITATIONS, only great news about my upcoming book events and releases!
Stay tuned for my cover reveal and release date for my next epic fantasy, A Dance of Darklings and Demons, coming this Fall from Curious Corvid Publishing.
Check out Buy My Books to pick out your next binge read!
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 fantastic worlds as he weaves through a myriad of flights of fancy in his tales.
Visit beekonnected.com to find your connections as both a reader and a writer.
I had the opportunity to interview with author Julia Heart of The Lit Lounge Author Group to discuss my latest release, The Prometheus Engine: Book 4 of the Forever Avalon Series. We talked about many aspects of my book as well as the writing process behind it. I enjoyed talking about being a storyteller and how I bring my characters to life within the story. I hope you enjoy talking to Julia so please check out Julia and her books at www.juliaheart.com.
Check out Buy My Books to pick out your next binge read!
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 fantastic worlds as he weaves through a myriad of 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 Amazonand otherbooksellers. His fantasy steampunk novel, The Last Magus: A Clockwork Heart, is available through Luluand otherbooksellers.
Checkout my Events page for all my upcoming book signing festivals and other in-person events!
Get ready for the 15th annual Gaithersburg Book Festival on Saturday, May 18, from 10 am to 6pm in Bohrer Park, Gaithersburg, MD. The Gaithersburg Book Festival is “a celebration of the written word and its power to enrich the human experience. Our mission is to foster an interest in reading, writing and literary conversation.” This is my first time to exhibit at the festival and I am looking forward to meeting and interacting with new readers.
Since its inception in 2010, the Festival has quickly become one of the nation’s top literary events, attracting hundreds of award-winning and best-selling authors, poets and songwriters from across the country to its beautiful park setting.
The event was conceived and introduced by Gaithersburg Mayor (then council member) Jud Ashman, with the support of the Mayor and City Council and the Cultural Arts Advisory Committee. The Festival is produced by a core committee comprised of city staff and a dedicated group of volunteers who donate their time and talent.
Funded in part by generous sponsors and supported by the City of Gaithersburg, the Festival offers programming for all ages, is free to attend and is open to everyone.
Find me with the other authors in the EXHIBITORS section!
Award-winning children’s, teen and young adult authors will take center stage at the Gaithersburg Book Festival celebrates 15 years of inspiring a love of reading and writing. The Festival’s Children’s Village will be the place where youngsters can meet their favorite authors – and discover new ones – during interactive presentations, readings and book signings. They also can take part in story times, activities and games, and expert-led workshops that encourage creativity.
Activities will include author appearances, discussions and book signings; writing workshops; a Children’s Village; onsite sales of new and used books; literary exhibitors and food, drink, ice cream and more. Admission is FREE, and free accessible shuttle service will be available from Shady Grove Metro and Lakeforest Mall. Visit www.gaithersburgbookfestival.org for more information.
Check out Buy My Books to pick out your next binge read!
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 fantastic worlds as he weaves through a myriad of 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 Amazonand otherbooksellers. His fantasy steampunk novel, The Last Magus: A Clockwork Heart, is available through Luluand otherbooksellers.
All I can say is WOW! This cover took my breath away. It is exactly as I imagined it. Special bug THANK YOU to Emily’s World of Design for creating an awesome book cover for my first YA fantasy, Gwen Iver & Pendragon’s Puzzle.
It captures the essence of the story, from the teenage heroine to the small Michigan town on the shores of Lake Superior to the magic of the Pendragon itself. It is enthralling to look at it and not wonder about the story within the pages.
Camelot Cove is a quiet village on the shores of Lake Superior in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Most people know it as a fishing town, but this sleepy little community has a secret. Camelot Cove is the home of the Fae—magical beings from myth and legend. From mermaids, dryads, and centaurs to ogres, elves, and dwarves, the community is a mixture of humans and Fae. They were brought together in this out-of-the-way place by the wizard Merlin and the mysterious Lady of the Lake under the protection of the Pendragon. The power of the Pendragon has passed from generation to generation through the descendants of King Arthur and Queen Guinevere. That power now waits to be passed to the next descendant to continue the legacy as the protector of the Fae.
Gwen Iver is a fifteen-year-old girl starting her first day of high school. Surrounded by friends and facing off against her rivals, including Morgan Moor and her infamous Dreadmoor Gang, Gwen’s idyllic life is about to be turned upside-down. She begins a journey into a magical world of infinite possibilities when she attempts to unlock Pendragon’s Puzzle.
Check back here for more updates on the release of Gwen Iver & Pendragon’s Puzzle. And to my fellow authors, check out Emily’s World of Design if you’re looking for your next book cover design!
Check out Buy My Books to pick out your next binge read!
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 fantastic worlds as he weaves through a myriad of 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 Amazonand otherbooksellers. His fantasy steampunk novel, The Last Magus: A Clockwork Heart, is available through Luluand otherbooksellers.
Before I get into my post, I wish everyone a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a Happy New Year! I am about to embark on a Christmas vacation, my first in years, as my wife and I are off to Quebec, Canada, for a long overdue holiday. I will be absent from my social media and other online postings during my vacation, save for the occasional holiday selfie with Santa Claus. Now, on to other things . . .
Example of interior chapter art for Gwen Iver and Pendragon’s Puzzle, designed by art students from Phillipsburg High School, Phillipsburg, NJ.
I had an idea that came to a beautiful fruition. In high school, I was an art student. I wanted to be a graphic artist, maybe the next Jack Kirby, but I could never get it perfect. I pursue other avenues, hence being a writer instead of an artist. However, I wanted to give back to my alma mater and the future artists currently studying there. That’s when it struck me like a lightning bolt.
I have a new book coming out in 2024, my first Young Adult (YA) fantasy, Gwen Iver and Pendragon’s Puzzle. I wrote this book because I have great nieces and nephews who are becoming avid readers, and I want to write something they can read without question of parental content (hence, no spicy content). So, after writing the book, I thought what better way to kick off my first YA series is by having more young adults create the art for the book.
During my visit to my alma mater, Phillipsburg High School in Phillipsburg, NJ, for their annual comic-con, I saw some exceptional talent on display. After speaking with the teachers, we devised a plan to have the students draw the interior chapter art for my new book. I recently visited the school, got to speak to the book club and English classes, and saw firsthand the fruits of their labors.
You can see a selection of some of the finished art above. These young men and women are incredibly talented, and I am proud to support them by publishing them. They will spend the next few months finishing up the rest of the art in preparation for an early summer release for Gwen Iver and Pendragon’s Puzzle. Once I get parental permission, I will update this post with more images, photos, and all the students’ names.
Gwen Iver and Pendragon’s Puzzle takes you to the town of Camelot Cove, a quiet village on the shores of Lake Superior in Upper Michigan. Most people know Camelot Cove as a fishing town, but this sleepy little community has a secret. Camelot Cove is the home of the Fae—magical beings from myth and legend. They were brought together in this out-of-the-way place by Merlin and the Lady of the Lake under the protection of the Pendragon. The power of the Pendragon has passed from generation to generation as the guardian of the Fae for centuries. That power now waits to be passed to the next descendant of King Arthur. She is Gwen Iver, a fifteen-year-old girl starting her first day of high school. Surrounded by friends and facing off against her rivals, Gwen was about to begin a journey into a magical world of infinite possibilities.
I wanted to give back to my hometown, my high school, and the students whose imagination and talent will carry on into the future. You should return the blessings to the community that raised you and molded you into who you are today. This is my way of passing the torch to the next generation of artists and dreamers.
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 fantastic worlds as he weaves through a myriad of 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 Amazonand otherbooksellers. His fantasy steampunk novel, The Last Magus: A Clockwork Heart, is available through Luluand otherbooksellers.
For the 2023 holiday season, in celebration of the launch of my latest steampunk and fantasy novel The Last Magus: Dragonfire and Steel, I am offering a special contest to everyone out there to WIN signed copies of both books for the awesome readers out there.
Starting tomorrow, November 15, through the launch day of December 15, you can sign up to WIN signed copes of both Last Magus books. This is my holiday gift to you, my loyal readers. It’s simple and easy to enter. Just click on THIS LINK and fill out the form. The more of my social media you follow/subscribe to, the more chances you have to win.
The winner will be notified by email and asked to provide a mailing address to receive the books. This a great chance for you to end 2023 with some new books for your TBR pile.
Follow the adventures of Marcus Gideon, The Last Magus of Attlain, as he journeys across this strange yet wonderful world of magic and machines. Left for dead at a crossroads, Gideon survived thanks to a clockwork heart powered by his own magic. He becomes an apprentice Magus, legendary warrior/wizards who once thrived as the guardians of magic but now live as outcasts. His journey takes him from the magical forest of Ponshu to the city of Le’Arun and the Basilon Magical Academy. Now, he travels to the frozen north to the forgotten city of Plodoro to fulfill his master’s last request before heading to the capital of Celestrium. Gideon plans to enter the prestigious Helios Arcanum Magical Arts Competition in hopes of winning the hand of his true love, Wren, first princess of Attlain. However, the Ulbrecht Domo, Shadow Lord of Ishtar, has dark plans for the Last Magus in hopes of conquering Attlain.
The Last Magus: A Clockwork Heart and The Last Magus: Dragonfire and Steel
This is my Hanukkah/Kwanzaa/Christmas gift to all the wonderful readers out there who support me and my stories. CLICK HERE to sign up for your chance to win! You can also pre-order your copy TODAY at the Curious Corvid Shop! Thank you for your continued love and support of this indie author.
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 fantastic worlds as he weaves through a myriad of 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 Amazonand otherbooksellers. His fantasy steampunk novel, The Last Magus: A Clockwork Heart, is available through Luluand otherbooksellers.
I’ve had my Fan Fiction page up and running for some time now, but I decided to finally include some of my short stories in there. There are stories for contest that I’ve entered, some won, others did not, but I wanted to be able to share them with all of you.
These are stories that mean a lot to me and come from both my imagination and my heart. They were not just written for competition but rather inspired by a heartfelt twang. For example, I wrote The Clock Tower after my sister passed away two years ago. My niece took her death very hard, so I wanted to immortalize her in my writing. My sister loved Disney World so I turned her into a princess in her own magical kingdom. It’s an adventure in itself.
The Chalice came from a nightmare I had. I woke up one night after dreaming of being attacked by a witch in a dark alleyway. This was my first venture into horror, not something I’m used to writing, but I needed to do this to purge myself of this nightmare.
The last one, The Moonlit Black Cat Tavern, came from not only a dream but an idea. What if there were a place where monsters, humans, and demi-humans could come together and work out their differences? I worked from that idea into a fun like any Dungeons and Dragons campaign.
There’s also a link to all the fun Log Horizon anime fan fiction I wrote last year. I binged on the third season of that anime and it inspired me to write my own fan fiction based on the characters and story.
I will be adding new short stories as they come along so please take a look and read them. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I did writing them.
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.
As a writer or a reader, have you ever wanted to just talk to one of your favorite characters? Just the chance to sit and converse, not as part of the story but rather as something casual and informal to get to know them better. Well, I had the opportunity to do just that with Corsair, the infamous sky pirate captain from my award-winning steampunk historical fiction Corsair and the Sky Pirates thanks to Segilola Salami.
One of the many services she offers to independent authors is to post a one-on-one interview with a character from your book. This allowed me to further delve into the mind of my dashing yet mysterious sky pirate. You can read the whole interview HERE.
I’ve had the great opportunity to work with blogger, podcaster, and all around bookworm Segilola Salami over the past few years. She is a great supporter of independent authors like me, helping them talk about their books, WIPs, or just about their career as a writer and author. Check out the links below to see the range of services (both paid services and FREE) that she offers that might be suitable for your marketing needs:
BUSINESS SERVICES
Click here to submit a guest post for FREE. I prefer educational posts that educate the reader. This service is suitable if you are trying to build links to your website.
She also offers an email blast to her more than 6,000 subscribers to garner much needed book reviews to independently published authors. You can find out about all these services on her website or follow her on Facebook and Instagram to find out more about Segilola Salami! You can listen and subscribe to her podcasts on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
You can pick up your copy of Corsair and the Sky Pirates at Amazonand otherbooksellers. You can get a signed copy at my upcoming book signing events, McKay New and Used Books in Manassas, VA, on Saturday, April 29, and Barnes and Noble Potomac Yards in Alexandria, VA, on Sunday, April 30. I hope to see you there!
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 Amazonand otherbooksellers. His fantasy steampunk novel, The Last Magus: A Clockwork Heart, is available through Luluand otherbooksellers.
Cross over The River of Soulsin a fantasy novella and the steampunk historical fiction,Corsair and the Sky Pirates fromCurious 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.
The first awards for Corsair and the Sky Pirates have arrived! The BookFest Spring 2023 book awards recognized Corsair with two 2nd Place trophies—Fantasy – Gaslamp and Science Fiction – Steampunk. This is the first book awards for my steampunk historical fiction and its a great honor for me an Curious Corvid Publishing.
The BookFest Awards honors authors who create outstanding works of fiction and nonfiction. Books are judged in categories based on genre, theme, and aesthetics. Entries will be vetted by an initial team, then the final places will be determined by an elite team of experts in the literary and entertainment world.
Awards are assigned based on first, second, third and honorable mention, according to their score. This means that sometimes not every category has a first place, second and/or third place winner. If no books in that category rated appropriately, then no award was granted in that place. Likewise, several books sometimes tie for first place, second and third place. Much like getting a letter grade in school, sometimes there are more “A”s in the class because there are outstanding students who warrant that grade. Books are similar. Sometimes there are several outstanding books deserving of their place in The BookFest Awards.
“The goal in the judging process is to highlight books in niche or often unrecognized genres as well as books that sometimes can dominate top-level genres. At The BookFest, we feel it is important to give niche or often unrecognized genres a chance to shine, too.”
A brilliant inventor . . . A prolific writer . . . A chance meeting between Nikola Tesla and Jules Verne created a world you could never imagine. A world powered by steam generated not from coal or fuel but from a meteor fragment. Tesla discovered a comet named Uriel was raining pieces of these powerful meteorites across the globe whenever it passed near the Earth. That led to an Industrial Revolution years ahead of its time—a steampunk revolution—but even progress had a price. While the rich and powerful lived in luxury in this industrial new world, the everyday people groveled beneath the boot of their corporate masters.
One man brought hope to the people as he pursued Tesla’s dream. His exploits were legendary, his crew infamous, and his airship a vision of the future. Corsair and the Sky Pirates flew across the globe, carrying out deeds that spurred the imagination. The swashbuckling Corsair was as handsome as he was cool, calm, and calculating. His crew was a diverse assortment of renegades many authorities considered lowlifes and criminals. Still, they were all dedicated to Corsair’s mission, working with Tesla to end the corporate rule strangling the planet. They came from every corner of the globe . . . From the outback in Australia to the American Southwest and the rough streets of Harlem in New York City, across Europe, and to the Far East. The crew of the airship Galeru, so named for a mythical rainbow serpent, never faltered and never wavered.
You can pick up your copy of Corsair and the Sky Pirates at Amazonand otherbooksellers. You can get a signed copy at my upcoming book signing events, McKay New and Used Books in Manassas, VA, on Saturday, April 29, and Barnes and Noble Potomac Yards in Alexandria, VA, on Sunday, April 30. I hope to see you there!
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 Amazonand otherbooksellers. His fantasy steampunk novel, The Last Magus: A Clockwork Heart, is available through Luluand otherbooksellers.
Cross over The River of Soulsin a fantasy novella and the steampunk historical fiction,Corsair and the Sky Pirates fromCurious 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.
My second audiobook is now available for download. The award-winning steampunk fantasy The Last Magus: A Clockwork Heart is an audiobook available on Audible and ITunes. Narrated by voiceover artist Melissa Barnes (www.melissabarnesvo.com) The Last Magus: A Clockwork Heart tells the story of one man’s journey from near death at a crossroads to forging his destiny at the Basilon Magical Academy.
Marcus Gideon awoke at the crossroads outside the border town of Armändis. Lost, with no memory of his past life, he was left for dead by brigands… Stabbed through the heart. His life was saved by a blacksmith’s kindness who replaced his damaged heart with a mechanical, magical miracle—A CLOCKWORK HEART. The gears turned, the motor spun, and his heart was beating again, powered by his magical energy.Gideon was alive, but his savior was no ordinary blacksmith. Henry Botàn was a Magus, hiding out in Armändis to protect the weapons within his magical armory. The swords, spears, and other-worldly artifacts were potent in their rights, some cursed and even forbidden to wield. His responsibility was to protect these weapons from falling into the wrong hands, but he was old and past his prime. He needed an apprentice, and Marcus Gideon may be the one he waited all these years. Now begins a new adventure, as Gideon searches for clues to his past, looking ahead toward his future in Attlain as THE LAST MAGUS.
The Last Magus: A Clockwork Heart, winner of three book awards: 2022 The BookFest book awards, 3rd place for Fantasy-Myth and Magic, 2022 AMG Indie Book Awards Grand Prize for Fiction, and 2021 Firebird Book Award winner, 1st place for Steampunk.
I am offering a promo code for a FREE audiobook download via ACX. All you need to do is comment below and I will reply to your post with your free promo code. Get yourself a new audiobook and join in the adventure with The Last Magus: A Clockwork Heart.
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 Amazonand otherbooksellers. His fantasy steampunk novel, The Last Magus: A Clockwork Heart, is available through Luluand otherbooksellers.
Cross over The River of Soulsin a fantasy novella and the steampunk historical fiction,Corsair and the Sky Pirates fromCurious 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.
Mark Piggott | Fantasy & Steampunk Author 