Debbie Bishop releases second Pillywiggin fantasy novel

Award-winning author Debbie Bishop has published Pillywiggin: Awakening, the second book in her fantasy duology, with the complete two-book arc available now. The series centers on divided worlds, vulnerable young protagonists and a story Bishop says speaks to today’s fractures and the power of unity.

Why it matters: - Pillywiggin: Awakening completes Debbie Bishop’s two-book fantasy arc. - The duology leans into themes of division, resilience and unity that Bishop says feel especially relevant now. - The first book in the series already earned genre recognition, which raises the profile of the full story.

What happened: - Award-winning author and entertainment industry veteran Debbie Bishop released Pillywiggin: Awakening, the second book in her epic fantasy duology, on July 1, 2026. - The release completes the story of stray kids who grow into warriors in a world that is not built for them to survive. - The full story arc, Books 1 and 2, is available now as Pillywiggin: Awakening and Pillywiggin.

The details: - The series follows a fractured world shaped by engineered divisions, including light against dark and one side against another. - The young characters learn those boundaries were built for control, not truth. - Bishop said the story reflects a moment when old divisions are breaking and the people who benefited from them are afraid of what happens when opposing sides meet. - The books center on thriving against the odds, courage, friendship and resilience. - Bishop described the most dangerous person in a divided world as the one who can unite it. - Early reviewers have praised the duology for subverting fantasy tropes and for its morally complex rebellion. - Reviewers also singled out the series’ vulnerable teenage protagonists as authentically drawn, rather than idealized heroes. - The first book, Pillywiggin, won First Place in Epic Fantasy at the BookFest Awards and received the Literary Titan Gold Award. - Bishop’s broader credits span more than 30 years in entertainment, including work in acting, production, creative direction and agency leadership for Disney, Lionsgate, Warner Bros., Universal and Paramount. - Bishop also co-founded a printing and manufacturing company serving entertainment and retail clients. - Her published works include Black Tide, War Eagles, Pillywiggin, YOU, The Fairies of Bladderwhack Pond and The Pre-Fab Cookbook - with Dish & Flo. - Bishop hosts the By.Storytellers podcast and the AI & Human Roundtable series. - An audiobook edition of Pillywiggin: Awakening is in production and will be narrated by Debbie Bishop, Connell Sullivan and Ty Tierney.

Between the lines: - Bishop is positioning the duology as more than a fantasy release; the message is about social fracture, identity and who gets to define truth. - The emphasis on imperfect, fearful teenagers suggests the series is aimed at readers who want character-driven fantasy with emotional stakes. - The awards for the first book give the sequel a built-in credibility boost as the complete arc reaches readers.

What's next: - Bishop is developing her literary properties for media adaptation. - Review copies and author interviews are available through Black Château PR. - Readers can also follow @debbiebishop_ on Instagram or visit more information.