Tag: self-published book

2024 Book Tour is underway and I am psyched to meet more readers this year

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I am excited to kick off my 2024 book tour with my first event, the Williamsburg Book Festival in Historic Williamsburg, VA. This event was great, and I would highly recommend it to any authors living in or near Hampton Roads. We had a great reception, myriad genres for people to choose from, and a chance to network with other authors and publishers for future events. We’re talking about potential author events at festivals, new brewery and distillery events, and new book festivals. This is a great time to be an independent author trying to make a name for themselves. The opportunities are endless. You must find them and get your feet wet in the river of possibilities!

So, what’s next for me? Well, you can find all my upcoming events listed on my Events page, but if you decide not to follow the link, let me tell you about it. Next is Awesome-Con, the biggest comic-con for Washington, D.C. (next to the clowns in Congress) March 8-10. First, the guest line-up is impressive (Hayden Christensen, Rosario Dawson, and Charlie Cox, to name a few). Then, it’s three days of pure, unadulterated geekdom, cosplayers, celebrities, and vendors. You can find me on Author’s Lane, B-24, to pick up one of my many fantasy and steampunk books, signed, of course. Visit awesome-con.com for more information.

We kick off April with two events, including the Annapolis Comic-Con at the Byzantium Center on Saturday, April 6, from 10am to 4pm. This is my first time attending this event, but I have had a great experience with the Southern Maryland Comic-Cons. I love these small cons for their intimate surroundings and small-town vibe. Plus, as a Navy Veteran, I can’t help but love the idea of going into the home of the U.S. Naval Academy. Visit mdcomiccons.com for more information.

My other April event is the kick-off to spring at 2nd Sundays Williamsburg, on Sunday, April 14, from 11am to 5pm, celebrating 20 years of bringing arts and music to Historic Williamsburg, Va. This is my first date for the 2024 season on North Beauregard Street, but the people of Williamsburg and the many visitors to this colonial town never disappoint. This is the first of several 2nd Sunday events I will be participating in this year. Visit 2ndSundaysWilliamsburg.com for a list of all the vendors and more information.

As always, I hope you will take the opportunity to dive into my fantastic imagination and read my carefully woven stories of fantasy and steampunk adventures. Head over to Buy My Books if you want to read more or visit my Events page to meet me at an upcoming festival or convention!

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.

Cross over The River of Souls in a fantasy novella, take flight in the steampunk historical fiction, Corsair and the Sky Pirates, and the saga continues in The Last Magus: Dragonfire and Steel from Curious Corvid Publishing. The Prometheus Engine: Book Four of the Forever Avalon Series along with his first YA fantasy, Gwen Iver and Pendragon’s Puzzle, are coming soon from Curious Corvid. Stay tuned for new fantastic stories from the imagination of Mark Piggott.

How much is too much for an indie author to spend on marketing? Beware of scammers!

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One of the major hurdles an indie author must overcome is marketing. As an independent author, you don’t have the “Mad Men” at your beckon call to promote the heck out of your new book release. So, the question remains, how much is too much or is it not enough?

My inbox is filled with offers of marketing opportunities at reasonable prices to thousands of readers. Seems easy enough, but looks can be deceiving. A lot of these sites look the same and offer similar marketing schemes. I can’t say for sure whether or not they’re legitimate, but most of them find their way into my junk mail folder.

Social media is the easiest and cheapest way to garner a simple form of marketing. Ads on Facebook, IG, Twitter (or “X”) and other platforms can help but they still cost for clicks and link follows. And you need followers to monetize your posts. Mind you, there are scammers there too. “Gain 15,000+ followers!” Sorry, but never pay for what people claim is a sure thing. You’re bound to get trapped.

There are some easy ways to market, primarily through social media, but “BookTokkers” are a rising faction on TikTok. They read and review your books, sometimes just by sending them a copy. Others, like some “bookstagrammers” on IG want to be paid for reviews. I have done that initially but not anymore. I don’t mind sending a FREE copy of my book to someone who wants to read and review it, but I won’t pay for reviews. Sometimes, it seems like some of the reviewers are cutting and pasting comments from other reviews, not really reading the book. I don’t mind if a review is good or bad. Feedback helps me grow as an author.

I know that marketing is a subject I’ve talked about frequently, but it really does a number on indie authors. We are constantly taken advantage of by scammers trying to make an easy buck on desperate writers trying to make a name for themselves. I fell for more than one scammer in my 20+ years as an independent author. I am speaking from experience here. Don’t waste your money.

I’ve grown a simple following, a little over 5,000 on some platforms. I know some of those are probably “bots” but its nice to see people joining in the conversation. Mind you, it’s nothing to brag about but I’m still plugging away at it with daily posts and doing book signings, festivals and conventions. I could hire a marketing specialist to really plug away my books but that’s money I don’t have. I’m sure you don’t either.

Check out my Events link to keep track of all my book signing events or, if you can’t make it, head over to Buy My Books link to find the best deals online. You can follow me on all my social media for updates too! 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.

Independent authors seem to be a magnet for scams

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Do I have sucker written across my face? It seems that way when my email inbox and DMs on many of my social media accounts are full of offers for more followers, better sales, and dazzling artwork. On top of that, I get regular phone calls for book marketing, pitches for Netflix and other streaming services (from the Philippines no less) and discounts on book publishing services.

Since I became a published author, I have found that we (as a community) are subjected to numerous scam artists. They see independent authors as easy pickings for these vultures. From marketing to artwork, beta readers, book publishers and editors, people are trying to make a quick buck on false promises of sales, followers, etc. I spend more time blocking people, reporting spam and junk mail, and cleaning out unnecessary emails to start my day. It’s a nightmare to contend with.

It’s a regular thing on Instagram. Instead of feedback or other comments on my posts, I get “PROMOTE IT ON” messages, pushing me to another marketing scam. Now, I’m getting follows from people with AUTHOR in their name but they promote marketing instead of talking about books. These scammers are changing their methods to make it easier to get at us.

Even artists are being used for scams. I have hired plenty of artists in my time, using their brilliant artwork to help promote my books on social media. I hired an artist to do work for my new book, Corsair and the Sky Pirates. I won’t mention their name because I am currently fighting them for a refund via PayPal Resolution. I asked them to do a drawing based on the images she provided as examples of her art. However, the final result was something akin to a middle school art project. Then, following a reverse Google search on the artwork she provided as “examples” to me, I discovered they belonged to someone else. That’s called fraud. It’s disingenuous and disgusting.

The emails are the worse. My inbox gets clogged with thousands of offers from what seems to be an endless stream of book promotion websites. It’s crazy as to how many different venues are being created on a daily basis to hoodwink independent authors desperate to generate sales. Some are trustworthy and worth it (BookBrush, AllAuthor, and IndieBookVault to name some I am involved with) but not most. It is a constant barrage of offers that’s insane.

I especially hate the phone calls. Someone from overseas with an unusual dialect wants to talk about promoting your book to Netflix producers and yet they don’t know a thing about you or your book. Plus, it’s always a “paid promotion” service, money up front, like Vanity Publishing. Never a good thing to grasp onto, and yet some desperate authors will fall for it.

So listen. If you find yourself being scammed, let the community know. We all need to support each other in stopping these fraudsters from using us to increase the size of their wallet. We have enough struggles with deadlines, writer’s block, editing and writing our stories. We don’t need any further aggravation.

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—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. Stay tuned for more new fantastic stories from the imagination of Mark Piggott.

Summertime Blues sometimes equals Writers Block

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When the sun is high in the sky, the days are longer and the air is thick with humidity. All the while, the cool waters of the beach or swimming pool are calling you, what is a writer supposed to do? Sure, I can sit inside my air conditioned apartment and bang away at my keyboard, ignoring the possibilities of fun in the sun, but why? The oppressive heat and constant “air quality alerts” make going outside next to impossible. Still, it also makes it impossible to concentrate on writing.

Writer’s block is real! I’ve written maybe ten pages or less in the past month. It’s been hard to be inspired right now, especially after back surgery. It’s bad enough to sit behind my desk for my regular job, trying to keep moving to relieve pain in my back and legs. Then, sitting at night or on the weekends and writing is even harder. Plus, the heavy pain medications they have me on don’t help, either.

I’ve experienced writer’s block on more than one occasion. We are old friends and adversaries. We have dueled on the battlefield repeatedly, trading barbs and deleting poorly written sentences. Our conflicts have been bitter, nasty, and sometimes lasting for months or years. The struggle for The Dark Tides of 2012 still haunts me to this very day.

I still don’t have a cure for the evil of writer’s block. I’ve never been able to put it entirely behind me. All I can do is work through it or wait it out. Writer’s block is as unforgiving as a glacier moving through a chasm . . . slow and unrelenting. If you think about banging your head repeatedly into the wall, and never stop no matter how painful, that’s writer’s block.

All I can do is take it slow and work through the problems. I always say, “Writing a few sentences daily is progress in the right direction.” Keep doing that, and by the fall, I’ll have finished the chapter. Then, when cooler weather kicks in, and I’m feeling more like myself, with a pumpkin spice latte in hand, the words will start to flow again.

In the meantime, stay inside, and check out my Events page for upcoming book sales and conventions you can find me at.

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—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. Stay tuned for more new fantastic stories from the imagination of Mark Piggott.

A myriad of book festivals and other events and how to choose which one is best for you

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I always get asked this question by other indie authors . . . How do you find book stores and festivals open to do book signings? Well, a lot of it is just online searches, phone calls, and persistence. The events don’t come to you, you go to them. Sometimes it pays off with phenomenally great book sales and networking contacts, other times it’s a slap in the face as you get rejected. It’s a gamble that many independent authors like me have to go through.

First and foremost, start local! Hit your local area book stores, new and used books, discount booksellers, whomever you can find. Local stores love to promote their local authors so they will be amicable to letting you set up a table. Sometimes, they will take a cut, while others do it free and clear. Barnes and Noble do a lot to support local authors with book signings in store. Just find out who their event coordinator is and you can email them to inquire about an event. And if you have a hometown different from where you live, try there too. I’m originally from Phillipsburg, NJ, and I will doing a book signing at the Moravian Book Shop in Bethlehem, PA, on Saturday, June 3. It’s one of the closest book shops to my hometown and they have always supported me.

Next, find events within your genre! I am a steampunk and fantasy writer, so I trend toward steampunk festivals, renaissance fairs and comic-cons. A simple Google search will find you a compendium of festivals looking for vendors. The key is getting into the mix early. Some of these events have a juried selection for vendors, so getting in your application early helps. Also remember that travel may play a part in your selection. I try to stay within the Northern Virginia area, which is why I was able to get into the Tell-Tale Steampunk Festival in Baltimore, MD, the Ocean Renaissance Festival in Ocean City, MD, and Awesome-Con in Washington, DC. It’s not that far to travel and, in some cases, it’s a one day trip with no need for a hotel.

Now, last year I drove all the way up to Waltham, MA, for the Watch City Steampunk Festival, and I will admit it was a long drive for a great festival. I didn’t sell as many books to cover the cost of travel, hotel, food, etc., but it was an awesome event. There are plenty of festival and conventions like this that will require long travel on your part. It’s up to you as to whether or not it’s worth the trip.

Don’t forget to search for book festivals specifically! Although they can be far and few in-between from the regular fests and cons, there are plenty out there to support your indie authors. In Northern Virginia alone, there is the Imaginarium Book Festival in Washington, DC, the Gaithersburg Book Festival in Gaithersburg, MD, the Fredericksburg Independent Book Festival in Fredericksburg, MD, and the Williamsburg Book Festival in Williamsburg, VA. Now these events are often juried, meaning you have to send them your latest book to see if you fit into their event. I’ve been selected and not picked for some of these events, so be prepared. Sometimes, they have too many good authors to pick and choose from.

Last but not least, look outside the box! Don’t focus on book festivals, comic-con’s or other book-related events. Try anything and everything from craft fairs to music festivals. They all have vendors and having an author there is something different for that audience. Two years ago, I got turned on to 2nd Sundays Williamsburg in Williamsburg, VA. It’s a monthly arts and music festival held March-December in Colonial Williamsburg. I have my own spot and I set up there all the time. It’s a regular event for me where readers of my books (in the Hampton Roads area) can always find me to see what’s coming out next. Between my regulars and tourists, I have a steady stream of readers stop by my booth.

So, it is up to you to find that sweet spot of festivals, fairs, conventions, and book stores to sell you and your books to new readers. There is always someone looking for a new author or series to latch onto. It could be you, but you have to work for it. These things don’t just fall into your lap.

And be sure to check out my Events page to see where I’ll be in the coming months. My schedule is changing and updating on a regular basis, so STAY TUNED!

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.

Get a promo code for a free download of The Last Magus: A Clockwork Heart audiobook

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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.

Excerpt from The Last Magus: A Clockwork Heart

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 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.

Come out to the Tell-Tale Steampunk Festival this weekend for ravens, gears, and goggles

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I will be attending the Tell-Tale Steampunk Festival this weekend at the Delta Hotels Baltimore Hunt Valley, April 1-2. Tell-Tale Steampunk is Baltimore’s first Steampunk Convention. It is a weekend long event and will feature workshops, vendors, entertainment, music, and educational panels. This years theme is based on the writings of Baltimore’s own Edgar Allan Poe’s. Registration opens at 10:30am on Saturday and Sunday.

There will be workshops from a Cabinet of Curiosity, assorted leather work, steampunk hats, exquisite needlework, making your own tea blend, and more. Check out the full schedule of events for the weekend.

Fantasy Steampunk Author Mark Piggott at the Williamsburg Book Festival, February 2023

I will be there all my steampunk and fantasy books, including my new steampunk historical fiction Corsair and the Sky Pirates from Curious Corvid Publishing and my three-time award-winning steampunk fantasy The Last Magus: A Clockwork Heart. I will be selling and signing my books, and let me announce here about a special I’ll be running—Buy TWO books, get one FREE! Look for me in my full steampunk regalia in the hallway just past the registration table near the main entrance. I’ll have some freebies with me so please stop by!

A brilliant inventor… A prolific writer… A chance meeting between Nikola Tesla and Jules Verne catapulted the world into a new kind of power. Using meteor fragments from a comet named Uriel, they created a world powered not by combustion but by steam. The incredible inventions that followed launched the world into an industrial revolution ahead of its time… a steampunk revolution.

While Tesla’s inventions were designed to ease people’s day-to-day burdens, Thomas Edison’s ERP Corporation used their power and influence to ensure people paid for their modern miracles. One man brought hope to the people as he pursued Tesla’s dream of invention for the everyday person. His exploits were legendary, his crew infamous, and his airship a vision of the future . . . Corsair and the Sky Pirates!

Corsair and the Sky Pirates from Curious Corvid Publishing

The Tell-Tale Steampunk Festival was the brainchild of Kolleen Kilduff (Design by Night Accessories) and Donna McClaren (The Baroness). These two wonderfully talented woman are working together to create a different kind of steampunk event that focuses on the guests being more actively involved within the event itself. This would include more make/take style workshops, physical show/tell panels, active participation games & entertainment (including new mini events with teas in mind). If you have any questions, you can reach them by emailing: info@telltalesteampunk.com.

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.

Indie Authors need to check out The Segilola Salami Show for marketing needs

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I’ve had the great opportunity to work with blogger, podcaster, and all around bookworm Segilola Salami. She is a great supporter of independent authors, helping them talk about their books, WIPs, or just about their career as a writer and author. Please 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 needs:

Business Services

  1. 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.
  2. Click here now to book any content writing and online marketing services. I can write a press release for your business and distribute it. I can also write articles for your blog or your website copy.
  3. Click here to book your slot to appear as a guest on The Segilola Salami Show. I offer a range of marketing services to ensure that your appearance on my podcast gives you tangible results (depending on your needs).

Author Services

  1. Click here to submit an interview featuring a character from your book of fiction for FREE. Honestly, I love reading interviews featuring the characters in a book and my blog followers do too. A link to your book page on Amazon will be included in the post
  2. Click here to submit an excerpt from your fiction or non-fiction book for FREE. I normally recommend about 300 – 500 words from your most engaging chapter to pique the interest of the reader. A link to your book page on Amazon will be included in the post

As both services are free, you have nothing to lose. I for one submitted my steampunk novel Corsair and the Sky Pirates for these author services. I can’t wait! Visit her website or follow her on Facebook to find out more about Segilola Salami! You can listen and subscribe to her podcasts on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

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.

My interview on The Gary Gulluh Radio Show

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I was honored to be interviewed on The Gary Gulluh Radio Show via It’s Gorgeous Radio tonight. Gary was a great host, totally down to earth and such a joy to talk to. We talked about my life growing up, my naval career, and my work as a writer-editor, and my books as an independent author.

We talked about the pitfalls of self-publishing, what inspires me as a writer, my favorite authors, and even got into it about how Hollywood remakes old movies and television shows instead of tapping into the unlimited potential of independent authors.

Gary has a foothold in the entertainment industry and understands the ups and downs of bringing new material to life. I have to admit, he was very interested in learning more about steampunk through my books The Last Magus: A Clockwork Heart and Corsair and the Sky Pirates. I even got to read an excerpt of Corsair on the show. Click on the link below to watch the show in its entirety. Don’t miss the opening segment with actor Keith Gaffney and his new movie, “Say Less” coming out on April 2.

I gave Gary signed copies of all my books to thank him for inviting me to his show. I highly recommend subscribing to the channel on YouTube and Facebook to keep up on future episodes.

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.

Check out a great new sci-fi novel “The Dark Without” from fellow indie author T.K. Toppin

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I have to give a big shout-out to my friend and fellow author T.K. Toppin! I count T.K. as one of my many independent author friends in the online community. She is one of new generation of science fiction authors and her latest release is no exception.

THE DARK WITHOUT is her new release, available TODAY on Amazon, and she continues to amaze me with her attention to detail, world-building, and creative science fiction writing.

“Humankind is always doomed to fail. It has fallen many times before, and many times we have intervened to ensure it stays on the correct course. Earth is salvageable, but if you had continued along the path you were on, it would not have been. You have billions of years more to exist before your planet’s final destruction. We are only making certain it survives that long, and ensuring your survival until the ultimate end. At times you progress too fast, but such is humankind’s way. So we had to accelerate this current failure sooner in order to restart. As we have done before, a guide with a better objective and understanding of how to protect your world, will be inserted…”

But why did they care what humans did with their lives? They were aliens—beings from another dimension! Earth wasn’t their home.

Esme Serrano’s predestined encounter with the trans-dimensional anthropomorphic Aakehollats sends her on a multi-pathed journey spanning ten thousand years. A journey riddled with lies, manipulations and untold layers of deception. She guides Earth as the Sibyl, a powerful and mystical leader, and brings the dying world back from the brink of death. She helps the Aakehollats, and ensures that Earth survives until its ultimate destruction in the cosmos.

But her one true goal is, and always will be, to kill the Aakehollats.

I had the privilege to be one of T.K.’s ARC readers so I got an advanced copy of her sci-fi novel. Here is my review:

Science Fiction prophecy has been a part of our culture for decades. Science Fiction writers find a way to take what is happening in our world today and figure out what is coming next. This book is another great example of that heritage. After reading the first few chapters of THE DARK WITHOUT, I saw our world today–political upheaval, climate change, skyrocketing food prices, rolling blackouts–all of these things are affecting us today. T.K. blends the reality of our world with the possibility that life exists out there, watching over us. It’s a powerful story of a world controlled by a single doctrine, forged from the story of one person setting humanity on its destined course, but what if they got the story wrong? Can humanity survive knowing the truth? These questions boggle the mind but it keeps you enthralled with every page. T.K. belongs with the science fiction prophets of the past, giving us ample warning about our future.

Do yourself a favor and check out T.K.’s other offerings, including Jax Marlin and RAQ. They are just what you need for a great sci-fi read, and it supports a fellow 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 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.