Mark S. Knoke

It all started with a calendar. Way back in college, I enjoyed realizing that 4 * 7 * 13 equals 364, almost a whole year. I related it to a deck of cards (four suits/seasons, seven days in a week, thirteen cards in a suit, 52 weeks in a year/cards in a deck). I further realized that 4, 7 and 13 are part of a number sequence where each number is (2n-1) of the preceding number. Thus the sequence continues with 25, 49 and 97. I combined this number sequence into a cyclical calendar of four days in a fourday, seven fourdays in a month, thirteen months in a year (plus an intercalary day), 25 years in a Cycle (plus intercalary days) and 49 Cycles in a Great Cycle (plus intercalary days). For many years, I kept a physical version of this calendar and spun the dials every day. In college, I also was interested in languages. During my senior year, I created a language where the phonemes were linked to the calendar. There were seven consonants and four vowels, forming 28 possible syl...

For my novel, The Soldier, the Wizard, the Lady and the King, I wanted a scene of King So‘osolopo playing a strategy game with his advisors. I did not, however, want to copy an existing game like chess or go. I therefore designed, built and play-tested my own board game, “The Knights of Tékazara”. The board is circular, comprised of small hexagon spaces (30 spaces in diameter). The game can be played by two or three players. Each starts with either four, seven or thirteen knights (the players agree to the same amount). The goal of the game is to capture the opponent’s weakest knight. Each knight is ranked. When a knight is moved onto an occupied space, the stronger knight always wins and the weaker knight is removed from the board. A tie would go the defender. The basic board is blank, but roads and terrain can be added. I took an actual map of one of the counties of Tékazara (near the border with Nyıkãgo and Dænkíchı) and recreated the hills, forests and roads into secti...

Would you like to know more about my books, my characters, my writing plans and other random stuff? Of course you do! Please use the form below to sign up for my irregularly scheduled newsletter, with early previews, various thoughts and other special tidbits. ...

Along with being an author, Mark S. Knoke is an experienced architect (a real architect, not a software architect), a “travel and landscape” photographer with “an extensive collection” (according to Google Gemini), and a halfway-decent pickleball player. He has combined his long-time interests in geography, flags, calendars, languages, history and mythologies to create a realistic world in which his characters live. His decision to write fantasy rather than science fiction stems from a single decision in the 1990s, when he began to develop this world.

If you'd like to contact me, please use this form: Name Email Address Favorite Deity Select a deity... Kérasa, High Goddess of Water Sozho, High God of Air Zhíanoso, High God of Fire Nuvíní, High Goddess of Earth Hívo, God of Clean Water Rakazhazhíní, Goddess of Clean Air Voro, God of Hearth Fire Nokí, Goddess of Food Huívítoví, Goddess of Rain Sorosotuzho, God of the Upper Atmosphere Vuzhí, Goddess of Life Korutuzho, God of Agriculture Zhaké, God of Rivers Rana, Goddess of Clouds Zhoro, God of Heat Rézhíní, Goddess of Plants Vasataté, God of Oceans Hérazhahívo, God of Humidity Píríuso, God of the Sun Kara, Goddess of Soil Ríhíví, Goddess of Hot Springs Néhété, God of Pestilence Rívorí, Goddess of Wildfire Rékaré, God of Stone Vítí, Godde...

The Soldier, the Wizard, the Lady and the King Everyone’s the hero of their own story. Contained herein are four interwoven tales from the kingdom of Naraka during their war against the kingdom of Kràơz. Manío is a professional soldier with dreams of leaving the army.  When his squad is attacked by soldiers who won’t stay dead, he must fight for his life and fight to save the love of his life. Laví is a wizard in hiding, afraid of being discovered by enemy gods or the populace at large.  Nevertheless, she strives use her powers to enact the will of her god and save the soul of the kingdom. Lady Kérasí is an unlanded noblewoman who faces marriage to a man she does not love.  She struggles to find her place in society and become a woman that her goddess would respect. King So‘osolopo is a monarch with plans to expand his kingdom, leave his mark on history, and keep a secret that could imperil his reign.  He must defend his crown and kingdom from those with contrary schemes. J...

Chronicle of the Cosmos Within this chronicle, gods and heroes love, fight, save the world, and achieve universal balance.   Life within the Cosmic Tree is full of struggle, but the farmers, herders, and kings must persevere and obey the will of the gods and goddesses.  If they disobey, the punishment will be severe. This book is an epic collection of intertwined myths and folktales stretching from the beginning of the universe to the lives of mere mortals.   The deities are always watching. Available for purchase on Amazon. After writing The Holy Book of the Gods , I decided to delve into the religion and folk tales of the nearby lands. This is the culmination of that process. It is a collection of interconnected short stories that doesn't need to be read in order, necessarily, but there's an order for a reason. The cover photo is my own, taken during the 2017 solar eclipse while backpacking in the Oregon Cascades.