It started as a short story. A simple idea for a contest. A tavern situated between two countries that are constantly at war. On a rainy night, the Bradbury Witch wanders into this mysterious watering hole and discovers its secret, which was just the beginning. The short story expanded into several, and now it’s a collection. I put all the stories together into this novella. It was a “passion project” because I loved bringing these stories to life as someone who got his start in fantasy playing Dungeons and Dragons.
Welcome to The Moonlit Black Cat Tavern, where humans, demi-humans, and monsters come together to laugh, drink, eat, sing, and find ways to get along. There’s no fighting, fussing, or killing. Only laughter, love, and companionship between the many races of Kralthorn and Ghelpher. On a stormy night, the Bradbury Witch pays an unexpected visit to the strange tavern and finds more than she bargained for. Follow her adventures within this unique lodging off the beaten path as she discovers more about this strange place.
Take an adventure into a magical place where wizards play chess, goblins make side bets to scrounge drinks, and you’re served by a delightful succubus. It’s a fun romp into the wildest pup you’ll ever walk into. You can pre-order the ebook at Amazon before its release on May 16.
By the way, thanks to Emy Joliaa (@Emyd_Rawz on Instagram) for the Book Trailer video!
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 Amazon and other booksellers. His fantasy steampunk novel, The Last Magus: A Clockwork Heart, is available through Lulu and other booksellers. The Moonlit Black Cat Tavern is a new collection of short stories available on Amazon.
Cross over The River of Souls in a fantasy novella, take flight in the steampunk historical fiction, Corsair and the Sky Pirates, the saga continues in The Last Magus: Dragonfire and Steel, his first YA fantasy, Gwen Iver and Pendragon’s Puzzle, and the epic fantasy The Prometheus Engine: Book Four of the Forever Avalon Series from Curious Corvid Publishing. A Dance of Darklings and Demons is coming in 2025 from Curious Corvid. Stay tuned for new fantastic stories from the imagination of Mark Piggott.
“Stephanie Drake and her three children were glad to be alive after a sudden storm slammed their boat onto an uncharted island, but it’s not where they think. They found themselves in another world, frozen in time. For more than 3,000 years, the magical island of Avalon remained hidden from the outside world. It was a place of eternal magic, where the descendants of King Arthur ruled over a land filled with magical creatures, wizards, Elves, Dwarves and dragons. On Avalon, Stephanie and her children were being hunted by bounty hunters, thieves and brigands. They found themselves caught in a power struggle between Lord Kraven Darkholm, a powerful wizard descended from the sorceress Morgana le Fay, and Lord Bryan MoonDrake, the Gil-Gamesh of Avalon. The people of this magical isle have been protected for centuries by the Gil-Gamesh, a descendant of Sir Percival Peredyr, the last Knight of the Round Table. But who is Lord MoonDrake and how does he know so much about Stephanie and her children? Now, it’s a race against time as the Gil-Gamesh must protect these Outlanders—as they are called—and get them home to the outside world. All the while, Kraven Darkholm continued his schemes against the people of Avalon, vying to achieve his ultimate goal of becoming ruler of this enchanted island.”
Mark Piggott | Fantasy & Steampunk Author 