NEW BOOK! The Magnificent Piglets of Pigletsville: Our Present-Day Plight Wrapped in a Fairytale

“The things I believed most then, the things I believe most now, are the things called fairy tales.” - G.K. Chesterton

September, 2021. Lying in the intensive care unit, I could barely move. Or breathe. An oppressive omen lingered over me, painting the sterile walls in shades of death. I was in a void. Devoid of family or friends. Various beeps and mechanical sounds taunted me, discordant notes adding to an ever-growing cacophony orchestrated by some malevolent maestro waving his macabre baton over the planet. Wearing a crown. Pretending to be on the throne. 

I became aware of the battle. And lived to tell about it.

The Magnificent Piglets of Pigletsville: Our Present-Day Plight Wrapped in a Fairytale (purchase here) is an invitation to embark upon an extraordinary journey over the lush pastures of Pigletsville. Here, an ominous darkness casts its shadow. Deep Pen, a syndicate of wolves, and their puppet, Joe Wolf, have cunningly infiltrated this quaint town by masquerading as piglets. To advance their diabolical bacon-making enterprise, they have appropriated the Piglet Nirvana Network (PNN) and the New Pork Times to deceive the otherwise noble and kind-hearted populace into accepting a social order called Sizzilism. Their nefarious plot involves spread of their manufactured Wuham Virus, and selling the brainwashing elixir, Sqweak Sauce.

At the heart of this captivating saga is Willie, a diminutive orphan piglet who embodies the spirit of Pigletsville's defining myth, the Ballad of Sagelia. Forged in the convivial bonds of the elderly and wise Bourby Gambit Guild, united with the revolutionary Shatterglass Scallywags, the fate of Pigletsville rests in his capacity to reach a wealthy and charismatic nemesis of Deep Pen residing in New Pork. Don Hairdo is beleaguered and yet bolstered by Narcissyndrome.

This may be a fairytale, but don’t make the mistake in thinking it is not real. It is very real. And consequential. In the shallows you will recognize present-day political personalities and circumstances; in the depths you will encounter our common aspiration for authentic belonging and becoming. Which happens on a battlefield. Involving formidable forces. Not simply for the likes of passing presidents, but transcending all ideologies. Therein lies a timeless tale of profound wisdom and poignant beauty, reaching the depths of every soul. This is our present-day plight wrapped in a fairytale. 

Released on March 19, 2024 (the Feast of St. Joseph), Magnificent Piglets quickly became a #1 New Release on Amazon. Currently rated on Amazon at 4.9, these notable reviews capture the reader experience:

"In a cultural moment where anxiety, depression, and fear are on the rise, Schlueter's fictional work, The Magnificent Piglets of Pigletsville, shines like a beacon in the dark to reveal the path to hope. Through the journey of Willie, a seemingly ordinary piglet, symbolism is masterfully utilized to convey profound themes of courage, selflessness, and the transformative power of belief."

"Very creative & scary story based on our current reality! Such a great idea to add “Questions for Conversations” at the end, which makes it very easy to start a book club with friends and family!"

"Schlueter's book is a clever, insightful, and impactful reflection on today's divisive and secular world. His characters are cleverly drawn, bursting with personality, and (in the case of the story's protagonist), loads of heart. I recommend it for anyone wondering how the world has deteriorated so much so quickly, and how we can chart a path forward. I often read multiple books at a time, switching between them. This book become my single reader. It captivated me, especially the twist near the end that was difficult to read, but critical to the overall story."

"Take your own journey to Greg Schlueters Pigletsville and you will enter into a magnificent, fun, creative and wonderfully insightful world. I was taken by the enchanted writing and captured by the fresh life -like characters, all of whom somehow were created to image people in my own past. The work is delightfully entertaining and profoundly insightful about the modern human condition."

As for my hopes and dreams in writing this, I offer this:

"Dedicated to our children and their generation of whom it will be said: They were not deceived by the allure of Everywhere, and certainly, not Anywhere, but were drawn into a passionate pursuit of Somewhere. Guided by the whisper of Someone. In Whom they discovered and lived their magnificence. And in doing so, changed the world.

Enter the enchanting world of Pigletsville at Squigglesprout.com where you can view the short movie-video trailer. Purchase hardcover, paperback, Kindle, or Audible versions of The Magnificent Piglets of Pigletsville: Our Present-Day Plight Wrapped in a Fairytale here.

“You were there. As was I. And I am now here. And will forever be.”
- Whisper of the Unseen