Tag: steampunk style

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.

Corsair and the Sky Pirates takes to the skies January 31 from Curious Corvid Publishing

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Corsair and the Sky Pirates is available for preorder on Amazon before its January 31 release.

It’s official! Corsair and the Sky Pirates, a steampunk historical fiction from award-winning author Mark Piggott and Curious Corvid Publishing, launches January 31! You can preorder your copy NOW at Amazon and reserve your spot in this amazing adventure! Plus, check out the AMAZING book cover by Mark Alexander McClish! Talk about steampunk pirate airship, he nailed my vision! Not only is he a talented artist but an award-winning author too!

What if history took a detour and our industrial revolution had a few more gears and steam powered machines? A few more alternative contraptions? A few more . . . pirates?

A brilliant inventor . . . A prolific writer. . . A chance meeting between Nikola Tesla and Jules Verne created a world powered by steam generated, not from any fuel, but a meteor fragment. A comet named Uriel rained pieces of these powerful meteorites across the globe. That led to an industrial revolution years ahead of its time—a steampunk revolution. 

While Tesla made his inventions to ease people’s day-to-day burden, 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. His exploits were legendary, his crew infamous, and his airship a vision of the future . . . Corsair and the Sky Pirates!

If you enjoy a historical fantasy novel that addresses hard topics in a fresh and interesting way, this might just be the read for you. Award winning author Mark Piggott takes on corporate greed, racism, and climate change while highlighting lesser known African American historical figures like Bessie Coleman, a brilliant woman pilot who dominated the skies prior to Amelia Earhart!

Ravven White, Founder, Curious Corvid Publishing

And the reviews from early readers are already adding to the buzz surrounding Corsair and the Sky Pirates!

“What I found most interesting was the way a corporation had such major control over so many people and the aspects of their lives. It had a direct connection to what is currently happening in our world. Piggott’s minor characters are just as well developed and essential to the story as the main characters and make for an incredible 4-D environment for the reader. The blending of historical facts with modern ideas from the characters was seamless.”

Jennie Rosenblum, Jennie Reads

Mark your calendar to be the first to pick up a SIGNED copy of Corsair and the Sky Pirates at my first events of 2023 . . . The Williamsburg Book Festival in Williamsburg, VA, on February 4 and the Tell-Tale Steampunk Convention in Baltimore, MD, on April 1-2. I’m excited for this book release and I hope you’ll joining me on this steampunk adventure!

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 my first fantasy novella from Curious Corvid Publishing and the steampunk historical fiction, Corsair and the Sky Pirates, coming in January 2023. 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.

Update on Corsair and the Sky Pirates includes great interior art and events lined up for 2023

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As December counts down to Christmas followed by the end of 2022, I am looking forward to kicking off 2023 with the launch of my next book from Curious Corvid Publishing, Corsair and the Sky Pirates. My steampunk historical fiction is the first of its kind, for me anyway, that’s taken me more than four years to see published.

This all began as a short story for a steampunk writing contest through Crystal Peake Publishing. I was one of the contest winners, but writing it got the “gears” turning that I could take my short story and turn it into a full blown novel. So, from that humble beginning, Corsair and this brave new steampunk world came to life.

It was one of the more intense writing experiences I’ve had, and a lot tougher than a fantasy story. In fantasy, you can make things up as you go along. There are no real boundaries when it comes to world building, characters, etc. That’s not the same for a historical fiction. In research alone, I had to delve into multiple different languages, cultures, locations and actual historical figures. Yes, I took some creative and historical license with them, but I still wanted a semblance of accuracy. I spoke with friends and fellow writers on topics from Native American culture, aboriginal slang words, and socially acceptable language between the 1900s and today.

You see, I wanted to use my book to talk about corporate greed, environmental responsibility, racism and inequality in the world today. Since it was set in the early 1900s, I could use that to my advantage as there was a hotbed of issues from that era, especially racism. So, I made the sky pirate crew quite diverse—a African-American engineer, a half-Asian first officer, an aboriginal pilot, and a Native American medic. That led to encounters with people who had a lower opinion of them. This of course, led me to demonstrate the strength of diversity in our own humanity, and I hope I did that. At the same time, I wanted to make sure I didn’t write anything that might offend someone.

For example, in that time period, people would use the “N” word frequently, but I am not comfortable with that. So, I tried to find other means of expressing their indifference. It’s not easy when your trying to show the ugliness of racism while at the same time showing how we can overcome it through strength, unity, and perseverance. I hope I did the various people and their race, culture, and creed justice in my writing.

While the cover is in progress (reveal coming soon) I did want to show off the great interior art by my friend Dennis Saputra (@elangkarosingo on Instagram). He is a talented artist from Indonesia. We were introduced through a mutual friend and I have used his work for many of my books. He did a great job in imagining the Galeru, Corsair’s airship, for my title page. He also did the chapter art as well. Dennis is a wonderful artist and I love his work as well as supporting him in his artistic pursuits.

I hope to have some early reviews for you as I have already sent out my steampunk novel to some ARC readers for a test read. I am waiting with baited breath to hear what they have to say, although I can disclose that the editor (Corbeaux Editorial Services if you’re looking for a great editor to work with) thoroughly enjoyed the characters and the story as whole. Hey, if you don’t impress your editor, then you need to pack it up for a rewrite. In the meantime, I will be announcing the cover reveal shortly, hopefully it’ll be an early Christmas gift for all of us.

And I’ll be kicking off 2023 to debut Corsair and the Sky Pirates at the Williamsburg Book Festival, February 4, at the Stryker Center in Williamsburg, VA, followed by my first steampunk event of 2023, the Telltale Steampunk Festival, April 1-2, in Baltimore, MD, with more steampunk festivals to be added to my calendar of events as they come in. Stay tuned for more “gears and goggles” in 2023!

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 my first fantasy novella from Curious Corvid Publishing. Coming in 2023 from Curious Corvid—the steampunk historical fiction, Corsair and the Sky Pirates, and The Last Magus: Dragonfire and Steel. Stay tuned for more new fantastic stories from the imagination of Mark Piggott.

One question I get a lot . . . What is Steampunk?

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One question I get at a lot at all the events I attend is “What is Steampunk?” It is a defined genre but to me, it’s much more than that. There are two definitions of steampunk. One states, “a genre of science fiction that has a historical setting and typically features steam-powered machinery rather than advanced technology” while the others says, “a style of design and fashion that combines historical elements with anachronistic technological features inspired by science fiction.”

I always consider Jules Verne and H.G. Wells the godfathers of the steampunk genre. The created a modern view of technology using 19th century views. We steampunk authors use their influence to create our wild and fantastic visions bringing the future into the past.

Steamboy (2004) Japanese animated film

To me, one of the best movies to understand steampunk is the 2004 anime classic Steamboy. “England of the 1860s receives a technological remake in this animated adventure. Ray Steam is a brilliant young inventor who follows in the footsteps of his father, Eddie, and his grandfather, Lloyd Steam. After his grandfather sends him a mysterious mechanical ball that contains revolutionary power, Ray finds his world turning upside down. It seems a lot of people want that power, and not all of them have good intentions.” It has an all star cast (Anna Paquin, Alfred Molina, and Sir Patrick Stewart) and a cast of historical characters including Robert Louis Stevenson, the inventor of the steam engine. This movie is quintessential steampunk in every aspect of the vision it presents. There is also anime like Arcane on Netflix and The Mortal Engines movie are great examples of steampunk.

Airships, trains, mechanical beings powered by steam are the vision of tomorrow to a steampunk enthusiast. Goggles, backpacks, Victorian-era corsets with top hats and long coats are all part of the unique style of steampunk. It can be seen at conventions and festivals around the world and in books, television, and movies. Gears, open mechanics, copper pipes, leather, and Edison bulbs all represent the idea of fashion when it comes to steampunk.

A Clockwork Heart by Dennis Saputra

Although most things considered steampunk revolves around steam power, I also like to include it in magic-powered machines. In my novel The Last Magus: A Clockwork Heart, I combined magic with machines in this futuristic dystopia. This includes trains running on Magius engines, automail armor, and a clockwork heart. I also did a little of this in my novella The River of Souls, where I created a land cycle powered by an engine that pulled in ether from the air for fuel. Magic and machines are a fun way to take the steampunk genre in a new direction. Technology has a way of migrating into fantasy stories of one caliber or another. I would also include a bit of alchemy mixed in to make it even more interesting to include it in fantasy story writing.

However, steampunk is primarily a historical fiction genre, and my next novel explores into just that realm. Corsair and the Sky Pirates is coming out in January 2023 from Curious Corvid Publishing. Imagine if Jules Verne and Nikola Tesla met and collaborated. What kind of world would come from it? That’s the premise of my new steampunk historical fiction as the war between Tesla and Thomas Edison takes to the skies. Corsair and his sky pirates believe in Tesla’s vision for the future—a world where the people are free to use technology without bowing to their corporate masters in ERP (Edison Röntgen Parsons). Edison has plans for world domination and its up to Corsair and his merry band to discover the secrets of the master inventor. Take to the skies on the airship Galeru, from the ancient ruins of Egypt to the English Channel, the New York City skyline and the American Southwest.

You can find steampunk at various junctures around the world. If you want to dine in steampunk style, try The Edison restaurant in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Or if your travelling internationally, The Abyss Pub in Italy was inspired by the Kraken, or visit the Les Machines de l’Île Nantes, which is in the city of Nantes, France is an amazing artistic and creative steampunk wonderful. Mechanical animals roam, which is in the city of Nantes, France, is an amazing artistic and creative steampunk wonder as mechanical animals roam the streets. Here in the USA, there are plenty of steampunk festivals to catch your interest. Maybe I’ll see you there.

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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.

Get ready for The River of Souls fantasy novella from Curious Corvid Publishing. Coming in 2023 from Curious Corvid—the steampunk historical fiction, Corsair and the Sky Pirates, and The Last Magus: Dragonfire and Steel. Stay tuned for more new fantastic stories from the imagination of Mark Piggott.

Come out to pick up some great reads at the Book Fiends Readers Festival in Manchester

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One thing I realized after attending my first steampunk festival last month is how much they love to read. When you consider classic authors like Jules Verne and H.G. Wells are considered the Godfathers of Steampunk as we know it today, this much true. The steampunk genre revolves around everything from science fiction to romance, historical fiction to fantasy. But for some, its an obsession, and as an author, I want to encourage that type of obsessive behavior in people.

One of those groups is the Silk City Steampunk and Oddball Newt from Manchester, CT. They are hosting their third annual Book Fiends Readers Festival on Saturday, June 25, from 11am to 5pm at Cheney Hall, 177 Hartford Road, Manchester, CT. It is a celebration of steampunk, science fiction, fantasy, horror, mystery, supernatural, paranormal, and poetry authors. The event is FREE and open to the public.

Besides meeting some great authors (including yours truly) and artists, there will be sword fighting demonstrations, food trucks, author panels, and BYOTC (Bring Your Own Tea Cup) for the Tea Cup contest. There will be a VIP meet & greet after the festival from 5pm to 7pm (tickets $10 per person). Visit Oddball Newt Productions for more information and for future steampunk events in Connecticut.

Events like these are great opportunities for you, the readers, to meet the authors of your future favorite books and pick up some great bargains to add to your summer reading list or to your bookshelf. Let’s help each other out in this endeavor. If you’re in the New York/New England area, I hope you take the time to come to the festival. I look forward to seeing you there!

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Mark Piggott is an independent author of the Forever Avalon fantasy book series and other fantasy/steampunk novels and short stories. Forever Avalon is available for purchase as a paperback/ebook at Amazon and as an audiobook from Audible and iTunes. The Dark Tides: Book 2 of the Forever Avalon Series is available as a paperback/ebook at iUniverse Publishing,  Amazon, and other booksellers. The Outlander War, Book Three of the Forever Avalon series, is available as a paperback/ebook from Austin Macauley Publishing and at Amazon and other booksellers. His latest fantasy novel, The Last Magus: A Clockwork Heart, is available through Lulu and other booksellers.

Get ready for The River of Souls fantasy novella, coming soon from Curious Corvid Publishing along with the steampunk historical fiction, Corsair and the Sky Pirates. The Prometheus Engine: Book 4 of the Forever Avalon Series and The Last Magus: Dragonfire and Steel are future installments of his current fantasy book series, plus so much more coming soon.

Watch City Steampunk Festival will turn gears and heads in Waltham, Massachusetts, May 7

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With the Easter holiday weekend, I’m postponing the next installment of my Log Horizon fan fiction to let you know about an upcoming book signing event. I’ll be in Waltham, Mass., for the Watch City Steampunk Festival on Saturday, May 7, from 10am to 5pm on Waltham Commons, next to Waltham City Hall at 610 Main Street. The event is FREE and open to the public, rain or shine.

“Steampunk” is a literary and artistic movement that combines elements of Industrial-Revolution-era history and fashion with modern technology, science fiction, and whimsy. “What did the Victorians think the future would look like, and what if that’s the future that happened? What if everything that H.G Wells and Jules Verne wrote about came true?” said the Festival’s lead organizer, Melissa Honig.

This year’s event will feature multiple stages with music and performances; childrens’ activities; historical presentations; food trucks; and over 60 vendors bringing unique wares to Waltham the day before Mother’s Day. The Festival’s finale will feature rock band Celtica Nova. Just listen to them—bagpipes, violins, and rock n’ roll—they are amazing!

I’ll be there with my 2021 Firebird Book Award winner for Steampunk, The Last Magus: A Clockwork Heart, as well as my books in the Forever Avalon fantasy book series. If you’re in the New England area, please stop by and say hello, buy a book, and be transported to a world of magic and machines. It’ll be a great time for all!

And just a little programming note, I will have the next chapter of my Log Horizon fan fiction next week. In the meantime, you can catch up on the story in its entirety on my fan fiction page!

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Mark Piggott is an independent author of the Forever Avalon fantasy book series and other fantasy/steampunk novels and short stories. Forever Avalon is available for purchase as a paperback/ebook at Amazon and as an audiobook from Audible and iTunes. The Dark Tides: Book 2 of the Forever Avalon Series is available for purchase as a paperback/ebook from iUniverse Publishing and at Amazon, and other booksellers. The Outlander War, Book Three of the Forever Avalon series is available for purchase as a paperback/ebook from Austin Macauley Publishing, and at Amazon and other booksellers. His latest fantasy novel, The Last Magus: A Clockwork Heart is available through Lulu and other booksellers.

Get ready for the steampunk historical fiction, Corsair and the Sky Pirates, coming soon from Revolutionary Press; and The River of Souls novella, coming soon from Curious Corvid Publishing. The Prometheus Engine: Book 4 of the Forever Avalon Series and The Last Magus: Dragonfire and Steel are future installments of my current fantasy book series, coming soon.