Announcing Our Next Chapter
(Posted on Tuesday, August 9, 2022)
In 2003, Mascot Books began with the publication of a single book about the Virginia Tech mascot written by our CEO, Naren Aryal. Since then, we have worked with thousands of authors to publish books across a variety of genres, from novels to memoirs to cookbooks to picture books. We’re proud of our work over the last two decades and of our company’s growth. Today, we’re thrilled to share the exciting next chapter in our story: we have rebranded to Amplify Publishing Group (APG). APG represents the full spectrum of our work and brings our family of six imprints, including Mascot Books and Mascot Kids, together for the first time. With this initiative comes amazing additions to our leadership team, a new comprehensive company website, and upcoming changes to the look and feel of the Mascot Books website and bookstore. In the twenty years since our founding, we have published bestselling books by passionate writers; seen our titles featured in major news outlets such as the New York Times, Good Morning America, People, Thrive Global, and Buzzfeed; and established ourselves as a leading independent hybrid publisher. Though our company name might be changing, our dedication to our authors and to publishing incredible books will remain the same. You will still find news related to Mascot Books, Mascot Kids, and Subplot Publishing on this website and our Facebook and Instagram, and our Mascot bookstore will include all of the titles under these three imprints. Featuring titles under the Amplify Publishing, RealClear Publishing, and Tagged Publishing imprints, our new website is also home to information about our publishing process and comprehensive services and the many exceptional authors we work with. We’re looking forward to continuing to bring inspiring, game-changing books to life over the next twenty years and hope you will join us on this journey.What Our Staff is Reading in June
(Posted on Friday, June 10, 2022)
There’s nothing everyone loves more than finding a good book to read on your porch, the beach, or even your couch in the summer. And our staff is no exception. Everyone has been busy diving into new books outside of office hours, and this month we are sharing not only what we are reading but also some of our thoughts on our choices.
Our CEO, Naren, is currently reading The Power of Conflict: Speak Your Mind and Get the Results You Want by Jon Taffer. Taffer believes the key to a happy workplace is to embrace conflict and give it purpose. Though we consider our office to be a constructive and supportive environment, we look forward to Naren sharing Taffer’s toolkit with our staff.
To find out what the rest of our staff is reading, check out the list below.
Acquisitions
Ben didn’t have a theme for the books he read in May, but two of his favorites were A Very Punchable Face by Colin Jost and Billion Dollar Loser: The Epic Rise and Spectacular Fall of Adam Neumann and WeWork by Reeves Wiedeman. So far, he has finished 42 books this year and is well on his way to hitting his goal of reading 100 books in 2022. Jess just finished What I Was Doing While You Were Breeding by Kristin Newman, a travel memoir from a television writer that is equal parts hilarious and heartbreaking. Jess related to using travel as medicine and found it bittersweet to read the story post-COVID when travel remains very different. She would recommend it to anyone who is nostalgic about the early to mid-2000s or is a solo traveler looking for empowerment. Kortney is reading The Last Story of Mina Lee by Nancy Jooyoun Kim for her book club. She has just started and will share her thoughts next month!Production
Aditya is reading Burnt Sugar by Avni Doshi, a literary debut about mothers and daughters set in India, and If An Egyptian Cannot Speak English by Noor Naga, a novel about love as a weapon of empire.
Gillian is reading the The Summer I Turned Pretty series by Jenny Han, which is about a teenage girl growing up over the course of three summers. Gillian would recommend this series to people who want a quick YA beach read or who like watching TV show adaptations, as the series was just adapted by Amazon!
Jenna is leaning into summer thrillers and recently finished The Golden Couple by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanan, and is currently reading The Wife Between Us by the same authors. She is also currently reading Hooked: How Crafting Saved My Life by Sutton Foster, one of Jenna’s theater idols, who also attended her high school.
Tyler is currently enjoying Homesick For Another World by Ottessa Moshfegh. It is a collection of unsettling (and sometimes depressing or frustrating) short stories.
Graphic Design
Caitlin is listening to the audiobook edition of The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas and recommends it! “The characters feel real and authentic, and the story is incredibly eye-opening.” David is reading SMASH! Green Day, The Offspring, Bad Religion, NOFX, + the ’90s Punk Explosion by Ian Winwood and says, “If you love ’90s punk, you should definitely read this.” Matt is reading Scoundrels, Cads, and Other Great Artists by Jeffrey K. Smith and describes it as “almost like the art history version of TMZ.” He’d recommend it to art fans who want to learn more about the drama and wild lives of famous artists.Marketing
Caitie is reading Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo and Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi. She would recommend Six of Crows if “you like found families, heists, and a little bit of romance set in a fantasy world. I had a hard time putting this down!”
Heather just finished Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel. This “gem of a novel” weaves literary and speculative fiction together. Next on her list is Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead.
Kat is currently in “research mode” and is reading The Story of Egypt by Joann Fletcher. When she needs a break, she plans to read Once & Future by A. R. Capetta and Cory McCarthy.
Michelle is reading Just One Look by Lindsay Cameron and The Photographer by Mary Dixie Carter—two “weird, creepy stories about obsession.” She’d highly recommend The Photographer to anyone who’s a fan of disturbing psychological thrillers. “The protagonist is compelling, manipulative, unreliable, and a little unhinged, which I personally love in a book.” This was a page-turner that Michelle had a hard time putting down.
Sky is reading Alien Virus Love Disaster by Abbey Mei Otis. She bought it recently on a trip to Asheville, North Carolina, where she visited Malaprop’s Bookstore and Alien Virus Love Disaster was a blind date with a book! It ended up being perfect for her trip as the short stories made it easy to read in bits and pieces while she traveled. “The stories are strange, topical, and dark. Recommended for fans of Parable of the Sower, Margaret Atwood, Brave New World.”
Taylor just finished The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn. This is her fourth book by Quinn, and each read has been just as good as the last. She has a hard time putting these stories down and is constantly encouraging her friends, family, and you to read them.
Bookkeeping
Alison is reading The Forgetful’s Reminders On Love, Loss, Lunacy & Leaving by Tom Rush. It is a collection of song lyrics and poetry written by one of her friends from college. Emily has just finished a book and is looking forward to starting The Book of Cold Cases by Simon St. James! Helen is still reading The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien and loving it. She said, “It’s a wonderful story and has great detail. However, Tolkein can be a bit long winded in his descriptions.” And being the tome that it is, she has also started B is for Burglar by Sue Grafton for when she needs a break. We will see you next month with more books from the office. In the meantime, what are you reading? Leave your answers in the comments here or on social media! You can also see our June reads and past selections in our Bookshop store.What Our Staff is Reading
(Posted on Friday, May 6, 2022)
It has been a busy month for our staff as we continue to evaluate submissions, edit manuscripts, and market our incredible books. However, that work has not kept everyone from reading some incredible, thought-provoking books in their free time.
Our CEO, Naren, is continuing to expand his knowledge of the nonfiction space by diving into the bestseller Think Again by Adam Grant. To find out what the rest of our staff is reading, check out the list below. Some choices might surprise you…
Acquisitions
Ben deemed last month “Athletic April” and spent his time reading Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner, How to Beat a Broken Game: The Rise of the Dodgers in a League on the Brink by Pedro Moura, and Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley, and the Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty of the 1980s by Jeff Pearlman.
Jess is reading The Glass Queen by Gena Showalter.
Kortney is reading Life on the Rocks by Juli Berwald.
Production
Gillian is reading The Club: How the English Premier League Became the Wildest, Richest, Most Disruptive Force in Sports by Joshua Robinson and Jonathan Clegg. 
Julia is reading The Hunting Wives by May Cobb.
Lauren recently finished White Noise by Don DeLillo and Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt.
Nina is reading The Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse.
Graphic Design
David just finished The Godfather by Mario Puzo and is now reading A Time to Kill by John Grisham.
Matt is reading The Color of Law by Richard Rothstein.
Marketing
Caitie is reading The Woman Outside My Door by Rachel Ryan.
Francys is reading The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris.
Kristin is reading The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix.
Michelle is reading This World is Not Your Home by Matthew Vollmer, one of her former professors at Virginia Tech.
Sky is reading Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell.
Taylor just finished Left of Boom by Douglas Laux and the second book in the Bridgerton series by Julia Quinn. She has picked up Persuasion by Jane Austen for the second time in preparation for the upcoming film adaptation.
Bookkeeping
Emily is reading Redwall by Brian Jaques and Love that Story by Jonathan Van Ness.
Helen is still reading The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien and has also started Cats Are Not Peas: A Calico History of Genetics by Laura Gould for when she needs a break.
We will see you next month with more books from the office. In the meantime, what are you reading? Leave your answers in the comments here or on social media!
What Our Staff is Reading
(Posted on Friday, April 8, 2022)
As a book publisher, our staff is filled with voracious readers and lovers of books and there is nothing book lovers enjoy more than sharing what they are reading and hearing what others are reading. One Friday every month, we will give you a little insight into the Mascot Books office and share what some of the staff is reading…of course, this is in addition to all of the incredible submissions we get as well as the books currently in various stages of publication.
Ben is a Senior Acquisitions Editor and might be our most ambitious reader, with a goal of reading 100 books in 2022! March was all about memoirs for him, and he read The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music by Dave Grohl, Comedy Comedy Comedy Drama by Bob Odenkirk, and Happy People are Annoying by Josh Peck.
Emily is our Administrative Assistant and is reading The Little Gentleman by Philippa Pearce.
Francys is a Retail Specialist and is reading Circe by Madeline Miller.
Gillian, a Production Assistant, is reading The Sentence by Louise Erdrich.
Helen, one of our Bookkeepers, is reading The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien.
Jess is the Director of Acquisitions and is reading The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas.
Julia, one of our Production Editors, is reading Dark Matter by Blake Crouch. She also tries to keep a rereading project on the side and is currently working her way through the audiobooks of Nancy Drew!
Kristin, our VP of Operations, and Sky, a Senior Marketing Manager, are both reading Dune by Frank Herbert.
Kortney is an Acquisitions Editor and is reading The Devil and the Dark Water by Stuart Turton. Turton also wrote The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle.
Lauren, a Senior Production Editor, is currently working on her master’s thesis in English Literature, so she is reading a lot about the Civil War, Reconstruction, architecture, and Civil Rights. A couple books she is reading now are Seizing the New Day: African Americans in Post-Civil War Charleston by Wilbert L. Jenkins and South to Freedom: Runaway Slaves to Mexico and the Road to the Civil War by Alice L. Baumgartner.
Matt, one of our Graphic Designers, is reading Why We’re Polarized by Ezra Klein.
Naren, our CEO, is reading Big Little Breakthroughs: How Small, Everyday Innovations Drive Oversized Results by Josh Linkner.
Nina is VP of Production and is reading The Husbands by Chandler Baker.
Taylor is our Social Media and Content Manager and just finished Russians Among Us: Sleeper Cells, Ghost Stories, and the Hunt for Putin’s Spies by Gordon Corera. She has started The Duke and I by Julia Quinn for something a little lighter.
We will see you next month with more books from the office. In the meantime, what are you reading?
Answering Your Most Burning Questions
(Posted on Friday, June 11, 2021)
It’s totally normal to come into the publishing industry with a hundred questions. There’s a lot to know! But at Mascot, we work diligently with our authors to give them all the information they need throughout the entire publishing process.
As a reference, our departments answered some of the most commonly asked questions that we get from authors. Read away and come back to us if you have any more questions!
Acquisitions
Do I need to copyright my book before sending it?
No! The electronic time stamp on your manuscript acts as your copyright until a book is published. You can always fill out a form on the Library of Congress website to obtain copyright before sending it, but it is not necessary to.
What does the submission process look like?
You can fill out a form on our website or email info@mascotbooks.com with a book synopsis idea. Once we receive your submission, an acquisitions editor will reach out to request a manuscript if we are interested in the book and a manuscript draft was not sent. We then review the title, provide feedback, and set up a phone call if we’d like to move forward with the project.
Are all books accepted?
Mascot Books does have a selection process for titles so, unfortunately, not all titles are accepted.
Is the acquisitions editor the main point of contact?
The acquisitions editor is your first point of contact and they handle the submission process and creating your contract. They become part of your team if you end up signing with us, but you are also introduced to a production editor as the main point of contact for that stage in the process.
Production
Board and Children’s Books
How will I find the right illustrator for my picture book?
Your production editor will guide you through the illustration process so that you can be matched with the best fit for the style and content of your book. By browsing through curated lists of artist portfolios and getting test sketches from different illustrators, you’ll be able to winnow down to a list of contenders from which you will ultimately pick your book artist! Your production editor will also work with you to come up with storyboard ideas so that when the time comes to begin the storyboarding process with the artist, you’ll already have a headstart on preparing descriptions and ideas for the artist (who will also bring their own unique spin and technique in conjunction with your own preferences).
Does it take longer to produce a board book than a picture book?
Yes! Because board books are made of sturdier paper stock, they take longer to print. On average, board books take about ~3 months longer at the printing stage than picture books or standard adult hardcovers and paperbacks.
Adult & Chapter Books
How long does production take/last?
Production can take anywhere from six months to several years, depending on the project! The average time is about a year, and depending on the length of the manuscript and other factors like cover design, layout, and editing, it can be pretty variable. The shorter and cleaner the manuscript, the faster it can go through the production process. For longer, complicated books with appendices and bibliographies, we project more than a year. It all depends, and every project is unique in its own way!
Can I work directly with my editor/illustrator?
We prefer to keep editing in-house, but when we do pull in ghostwriters, freelance copyeditors, or writing coaches, our authors can work directly with them for a customizable and interactive experience. Communication between authors and illustrators is usually mediated by your production editor, but you’ll always be kept in the loop and have your vision represented during the artist process.
Do I get to give feedback on my cover?
Absolutely! Our authors are always deeply involved in the cover process. We often ask for cover “mood boards” or “wishlists” to get us started, and we use our expertise, the content of the book, and your guidance to craft cover mockups that you will be able to review and revise.
Registration & Marketing
Why did I originally think my release date was earlier? What is the difference between book-in-hand and release date? Why does the release date have to be so far out?
Book-in-Hand date is the date when you will receive your own physical copies of the book. This stock is yours to do with as you please, whether that’s selling to bookstores directly, giving them away to charities, or handselling to customers who have contacted you. The retail release date is the date that the retailers and distributors Mascot works with can start shipping out copies of your book for online orders.
The 2-3 month gap between when you receive your books in hand and when they are officially released is needed to allow ample time for distributors to order, check-in, and prepare stock for online orders. Otherwise, we run the risk of your listings going live before the retailer is ready to fulfill orders.
Why won’t my listing appear on Amazon or another retailer site when I type in the title?
Amazon’s search results are generated based on their SEO (search engine optimization) system, which is ultimately an algorithm that takes into account common products customers are searching with specific keywords. Your title has *this word* and *this word* in it, which is/are commonly searched words and most likely the main reason why the search results are showing a wide range of random products. As you begin to generate pre-orders and more people are searching specifically for your title, this will correct itself and you’ll begin to see your book higher on search results. It also makes a difference if customers are searching in a specific department or category versus through the main search bar. It’s very common for customers to try a few different searches by switching up keywords or departments if it doesn’t work the first time, so it shouldn’t affect too many customers specifically seeking out your product.
How do I get my book into retail stores like Target and Costco?
Some of our distribution partners onboard all of our book titles automatically once they’re registered, while others work on a pitch system. That said, we can only expect to have our titles on certain online retailer sites: Amazon and Barnes & Noble. If you want an in-store placement or an online listing with another retailer or independent bookstore, you would have to reach out to them directly.
What does pitching look like?
I’d first start with a pitch email that includes your retail price, market fit, ISBN, book description, distributor information/purchasing options, and a request to have a discussion via phone call or meet up. If you plan to meet with them, I would bring a sample copy of your book and all the information about your release date and registration. I’d also attach or bring any marketing materials, specifically the press release (since it formally announces your book) and one-page flyer (since it contains all the information they need straightforwardly and concisely).
What is NetGalley?
NetGalley helps authors promote digital review copies to book advocates, industry professionals, and readers from many walks of life (bloggers, librarians, members of the media, etc). This platform is a wonderful way to get your book discovered and recommended by a large audience, and get reviews!
Bookkeeping
Why does the shipping date keep changing?
Any shipping date that we receive from our printers is always going to be an estimate. Therefore, these can change by a few days or even weeks. If we give you an estimated ship date, we recommend that you don’t plan anything around it since there’s always a chance it can change.
What is included in the sales report? What about the royalty report?
The sales report, which can be generated any time after your book-in-hand date, shows every order from distributors and consumers who purchased through the Mascot listing. Please keep in mind that not all the numbers are a reflection of how many books have been sold since distributors order copies for their stock inventory. Distributors and retailers are not required to disclose sell-through numbers and have varying degrees of transparency. Many distributors do not release which retailers have ordered through them, so you can only see the distributor name on the sales report.
The royalty report, which is sent out quarterly from when your book arrived at our warehouse, summarizes your sales and earnings. This includes the net number of paid sales and returns, the individual paid sales and returns (similarly to the sales report), and the remaining unpaid sales from the author.
When will preorders be shipped? How long does it take after they’ve arrived at the warehouse?
Any preorders made through the Mascot website will be shipped once we receive stock. Usually, the warehouse needs a few days to check in and process the stock before they can start shipping orders. Then, it depends on the mailing address location and the number of books to determine how long shipping will take.
How many books should I have shipped to me, and how many should I keep for sellers like Amazon, Mascot, and Barnes & Noble?
Your audience, current events, geography, and all kinds of other factors affect this decision. Ultimately, if you plan on doing more events and signings, taking several hundred books in hand is a good start. However, if you plan to do mostly online sales, keeping the majority in the warehouse is likely the best plan. At the end of the day, you know your readers the best, and being able to get a sense of their purchasing reach is very useful.
Have any more questions for us? Contact us at info@mascotbooks.com or ask us on social media by tagging @Mascotbooks on:
Holiday Gift Guide for Your Favorite Book Worms
(Posted on Friday, December 11, 2020)
Andy Williams really couldn’t have said it better— it’s the most wonderful time of the year. However, Andy did leave out how stressful holiday gift shopping can be. Before the first snow falls, many of us are last-minute scrambling to find special gifts for our loved ones. The Mascot Books staff put together a gift guide for book lovers to make your shopping easier and your festive season jollier. After all, nothing beats sitting by the fire with hot cocoa and a good book.
Click on the book titles to head directly to the book’s Mascot listing!
Books to Be Your Best Self and Improve Life and Business Skills
Ignore the Impossible
By Dane Rauschenberg
Do you give up when faced with your limits? Dane Rauschenberg asks you to work through, move past, and, ultimately, ignore the impossible. Armed with his own life experiences and sharp wit, Rauschenberg explains how you can face your limitations and overcome your obstacles. He also shows you how to isolate the bad advice in your life, transforming “I can’t” into “I can.”
Ignore the Impossible is a collection of ideas, methods, and hints that can assist you in creating the best version of yourself. After all, the best way to find out how far you can go is to go further than you’ve ever gone before.
Ruling the Roost From the Hen House
By Arvey Krise
Do you feel like the tail is wagging the dog? It’s time to take control. Get the results you want by helping your team achieve the results they want. With this fun, down-to-earth guide, it’s easier than ever. Focus on results – effectively becoming a better manager while also building your dream team! Packed with amusing anecdotes, Ruling the Roost from the Henhouse shares Arvey’s secrets for winning, along with valuable lessons learned on her road to success. Not only will you add valuable lifelong skills to your management toolbox; you’ll learn to be a great leader in every aspect of life.
Guiding you to define your strengths and weaknesses, Ruling the Roost from the Henhouse helps you create your personal management style that will garner respect and build a confident loyal team envied by your peers. Learn to conduct the perfect interview yielding great hires, build a strong team while professionally maintaining delicate boss-friend relationships, and proven skills still the most effective among the latest management ideas. This engaging and vital workplace commentary will benefit anyone in management whether it be the corporate world, organizations—or your own kids! Master the modern world of management now—Ruling the Roost in your own Henhouse.
#ImpactMyLife: Being the Change
By Eric Godwin
This is a call to individuals who want to make a social change. The goal is to spread kindness and service across cities, towns, and communities around the world one social media post at a time. Join the movement to make a difference in the lives of others by doing tasks such as designing a kindness rock, donating seeds to an agriculture program, or reading to children at your local public library. Each week after you complete your task, you have the opportunity to reflect on the experience and share your adventure on your favorite social media platform.
Be the person who wants to give back to society. Be a role model for your friends, family, and community. Be a mentor to someone who needs it—that’s what the foundation of #IMPACTMYLIFE is constructed on. Be the change you want to see in the world and #IMPACTMYLIFE!
Max Out Mindset
By Larry Widman
Over the past twenty years, Larry Widman has worked with some of the best teams, coaches, athletes, and other high performers in business, sport, and life. When it comes to elite performance, Larry knows exactly what steps are needed to achieve this goal.
In Max Out Mindset, Larry outlines these steps by recounting stories from coaches, athletes, and teams he has worked with over the years to share his insight on how to max out when it matters most. Using the fifteen powers outlined within, you’ll learn how to prepare for battle, max out your mind, max out your emotions, and ultimately, max out your team.
Whether you’re a coach, athlete, or business leader, or just trying to improve your mindset for life, Larry’s stories highlight the struggles and accomplishments, the highs and lows, and everything in between that accompanies pursuing the edges of elite.
The Battle in the Mirror: A 30 Day Challenge That Will Change the Way You See Yourself in the Mirror
By Frederica Mercado
Our thoughts, feelings, and emotions have the ability to crowd out what’s most important in our lives.
If you’ve ever struggled with thoughts of self-doubt and emotions of insecurity, fear, anxiety that seem to weigh you down, you’re not alone. Many deal with those normal feelings daily, but what makes them ineffective is when we let them overwhelm and control us. Thus that negative self-talk we give ourselves when we’re in front of the mirror can be completely changed when we view ourselves the way God views us.
The Battle in the Mirror is an honest but empowering 30-day challenge guide to help you focus on the value that God gives rather than the devalue others give. With applicable and personal examples, thoughts to consider, and Scriptures to lean on, this book gives answer to the questions we all face about what we truly see in the mirror.
Must-Read Memoirs
Can You See My Scars?
By Samuel Moore-Sobel
Can You See My Scars? is a story of trauma, adversity, healing, and recovery. Samuel, a young man about to begin his sophomore year of high school, accepts a job that culminates in a chemical explosion—leaving Samuel with severe burns on his face, neck, and arms. The tragic and sudden accident sets Samuel on an unpredictable journey of healing, recovery, and acceptance.
In the wake of the accident, Samuel endures grief, pain, and numerous surgical procedures for the scars on his body. He grapples with his appearance, faith, and the loss of friends. Through it all, he comes to view his scars as an unavoidable part of the human experience. Whether physical, emotional, or spiritual, we all carry scars—and it is simply what we choose to do with them that defines us. Samuel’s story allows us to see him for who he truly is, while also turning a mirror on ourselves.
Can You See My Scars? explores questions about identity, suffering, purpose, and ultimately, what it means to be uniquely human.
Mirror Mirror: Confessions of a Celebrity Makeup Artist 
By Trista Jordan
Mirror, Mirror: Confessions of a Celebrity Makeup Artist is the story of a single mom in Hollywood leading up to—and during—the #MeToo movement. Trista uses humor, grit, and her makeup brush to rise to the top…and deal with the high-pressure demands that whipsaw her between drama, deadlines, and disasters while working with some of the most colorful characters on the planet.
Viking Voyager: An Icelandic Memoir
By Sverrir Sigurdsson with Veronica Li
This vivacious personal story captures the heart and soul of modern Iceland. Born in Reykjavik on the eve of the Second World War, Sverrir Sigurdsson watched Allied troops invade his country and turn it into a bulwark against Hitler’s advance toward North America. The country’s post-war transformation from an obscure, dirt-poor nation to a prosperous one became every Icelander’s success. Spurred by this favorable wind, Sverrir answered the call of his Viking forefathers, setting off on a voyage that took him around the world. Join him on his roaring adventures!
And the Monkey Lets Go: Memoirs Through Illusion and Doubt
By Scott Hunter
Scott Hunter should be dead: Alcohol. Pot. Mescaline. Acid. Cocaine. You name it, he did it to excess. Like many young Americans who came of age in the 1960s, he told himself it was all part of life’s grand adventure. Truth was, he couldn’t face the secrets that were consuming him.
Beginning with pharmaceutical LSD at two seminaries, Scott searched for an awakening. His journey took him to Thailand, where he taught English as a Second Language and studied Vipassana meditation. He was an attendant at a Massachusetts State School for developmentally-challenged children, drove tractor trailers, farmed organically on a hippie farm, lived in a teepee, and studied mantra meditation. He became a vagabond (read: homeless) exploring politics and poetry.
Eventually, he found recovery from drugs and alcohol in the AA and NA programs, and uncovered the reasons for his addictions. In And the Monkey Lets Go, Scott writes about his life with clarity and humor, each milestone serving as an ultimately revelatory story about what it means to unearth the truth about yourself.
Books for Athletes
Running Wild: A Quest for Healing Across 7 Continents
By Bobby O’Donnell
After almost losing everything at the finish line of the 2013 Boston Marathon, O’Donnell, a nineteen-year-old college student, was left empty and broken. In the aftermath of the bombing he not only struggled with the trauma of the events, but also found that terrorism had stolen his passion for running. Unable to find healing in his conventional life, O’Donnell embarked on an inspiring and ambitious quest to run a marathon on all seven continents. His search for peace took him everywhere from dodging penguins in Antarctica to running under the shadow of Mt. Everest. Finding new love for his sport and seeing the good of humanity in all corners of the globe, O’Donnell experiences triumphs and unexpected tragedy in this beautifully described journey. A true testament to following your dreams, this adventurous story serves as inspiration for overcoming fear in the midst of overwhelming adversity.
Return to Center
By Rocky Snyder
The traditional approach to strength and conditioning has been all about getting bigger and stronger, but at what cost? Joint pain, tendinitis, bursitis, non-contact sports injuries, and lower back pain are just a few of the potential by-products. In Return to Center, Rocky Snyder takes a refreshing approach to improving human performance without the drawbacks of pain and reduced mobility. This new methodology bases each program on the individual, their posture, and their unique gait pattern. No two people have identical lives, so why should they have identical programs?
Becca’s Feat on Feet
By Becca Pizzi
Becca has been running since she was just six years old. She ran her first race with her dad by her side—and she’s never stopped. After years of competitive racing, including over a decade of Boston Marathons, she decides that it’s time to raise the bar and run in one of the toughest races on the globe: the World Marathon Challenge.
Seven marathons.
Seven continents.
Seven days.
Running in this challenge will push Becca to her limits—and beyond. From icy terrains to hot desert climates, Becca must brave the elements and run faster and harder than she ever has before. Will she be the first American woman to win? Join Becca on this incredible, odds-defying adventure that shows everyone just how much they can accomplish with hard work and dedication.
Extra Innings: Fred Claire’s Journey to City of Hope and Finding a World Championship Team
By Tim Madigan
Fred Claire was a longtime marketing executive with the team, widely admired for his character, work ethic, and ingenuity. But he was a former sportswriter with no experience in player trades and roster construction. Yet, just a year later, the Dodger team Claire built shocked the baseball world by winning the 1988 World Series.
But his greatest challenge would come long after he left the game. In 2016, skin cancer that began on Claire’s lip had spread to his jaw. With his life on the line, the former baseball executive found his way to City of Hope National Medical Center in the Los Angeles suburb of Duarte.
While Extra Innings recalls Claire’s remarkable baseball career, it also recounts the miraculous story of his cancer fight at City of Hope. Readers will be inspired by Claire’s unflinching decency and fortitude—and by the cutting-edge science and compassion that make City of Hope unique in the annals of American medicine.
Books for Young Animal Lovers
Skedaddle!
By Jacqueline Leigh
“Tonight, Nellie is definitely not getting any sleep…Or is she? Jacqueline’s clever and hilarious tale of nighttime misadventure is sure to please even the toughest nut!”
– Jonathan D. Voss, Author / Illustrator of the Hoot & Olive Series
Parker the Purple Penguin
By Marybeth Wishart
Parker, a very purple penguin, does not understand why he is not accepted by his peers. How can they not like him, especially when he loves to do all the same things they do? Why does he get excluded by all the other penguins just because of the color of his coat? What can Parker do that will make the other penguins become his friends?
Follow Parker’s adventures as he faces the challenges of being different. What finally changes the other penguins’ perception of Parker? Read the story and discover all the things Parker did and what it took for the other penguins to understand the truth.
Parker the Purple Penguin explores themes that are relevant to all children—and even adults!—such as accepting each other’s differences, empathy, and bravery.
The Fabulous Adventures of Oliver Taco
By Brianna House
This is the story of a special cat named Oliver Taco. He enjoyed adventuring with his Mom and being a part of every single aspect of her life. He lived a life very different than your typical cat. Some of his most important adventures are depicted in this book. This was his life, and we hope that you enjoy it.
Four Paws, Two Feet, One Team
By Connor Quinn and Mary Cortani
Four Paws, Two Feet, One Team is a book about a rescue puppy named Dakota that grows up to become a service dog. Dakota is found in a field with his brothers and sisters and taken in by a woman named Mary Cortani who runs an organization called Operation Freedom Paws. As Dakota grows up and dreams of becoming a service dog, he is eventually matched with a combat veteran suffering from PTSD. As they train together and bond, Dakota goes from being rescued to being the rescuer.
The Tales of Scuba Steve: Honu’s Reef
By Steven Kamlet
The Tales of Scuba Steve: Honu’s Reef is about a young boy named Ben, an excited young camper returning to Camp Oneega at the start of summer. Ben quickly reunites with his camp friends, Oliver and Al, and their counselors. As the boys catch up, they begin to wonder whether this is the year they will finally be placed in Scuba Steve’s swim group.
With luck on their side, they are asked to join Scuba Steve’s group…and that’s when Ben and the gang are teleported to Hawaii, where they experience undersea adventures with Scuba Steve and the local turtle, Honu!
Dive right in and join the adventure!
Baby Books for New Parents
Baby’s First Business Book 
By Andrew Dorazio
Baby’s First Business Book is a fun
and exciting book for boys and girls
of all ages who may want to start
their own business someday. Share
the ABCs of key business terms with
your child and prepare them with
the grit and courage to strike out on
their own. Fortune favors the bold!
First Baby Book: Black and White Patterns Adventure 
By Caity Werner
For the first 0-9 months of their lives, babies respond well to simple black and white patterns. For short periods of time, high contrast black and white images support their visual development by stimulating optic nerves. Because babies’ retinas are not fully developed, the images teach their eye muscles and brain to coordinate, which also aids in developing their eyesight. First Baby Book offers a multisensory experience through strong black and white patterns that aid babies in developing the ability to focus their concentration and attention.
In Mommy’s Tummy
By Matthew E. Bass
In Mommy’s Tummy is a rhyming, lyrical tale told from the perspective of expecting parents. Intended to be read to a toddler audience, it walks the reader through the steps of pregnancy. From the excited moment of discovery, through the grand plans of clothes and nurseries, to sonogram pictures, debating over names, and the eager anticipation of birth, it is meant to help a young child understand how they became a part of their parents’ lives before they were born. It is also meant to help toddler siblings understand what’s happening with their parents before their baby brother or sister arrives. Artist and illustrator Ashley Bittner brings the expecting parents’ world to life with vivid, colorful, expressive imagery. The combination of simple text and luscious artwork helps children visualize their parents preparing for their arrival, while evoking the warmth and love with which we greet the newest members of our families.
Lucas Takes His Food Allergies to Daycare
By Megan Herr
Join Lucas as he discovers that food allergies don’t have to stop anybody from having fun! Even more, his story reminds us that our differences are what ultimately bring us all together!
Books for Young Readers with Messages about Self-Confidence, Embracing Differences, and Diversity
Maggie the Moomaid
By Rachel Terlop
Growing up, Maggie’s mothers always encouraged her to be true to herself, and helped her imagination grow as big as her heart. However, when bullies at school start to tease Maggie, she must find a way to overcome their taunts while standing firm in her own flippers! Join Maggie as she shows everyone what a little bit of creativity can do–and how much fun can be had in the process.
Coral’s Quest
By Zoë Williams
Once there was a hammerhead shark named Coral. Her skin was a silky grey, she had beautiful fins, and her eyes were a sparkly blue. Coral lived in the Caribbean Sea. Coral was a happy shark, but one day she noticed her home wasn’t as pretty as it used to be.
With this enchanting beginning, Coral’s Quest introduces us to an underwater world where sharks and ocean life are under constant threat from environmental destruction. This essential and timely book highlights the capacity of humans to pollute the planet – but also their ability to fix it, too.
When Coral accidentally eats a plastic bag, she has no idea that she is setting into motion a chain of events that will turn her into a human and force her to learn difficult lessons about what it means to be a global citizen. Blending magic with our real-life environmental issues, Coral’s Quest urges readers to think about how their actions affect all living creatures – both under the sea and on land!
Hope and Freckles: Fleeing to a Better Forest
By Bill Kiley
Hope, a white-tailed deer, and her spotted fawn, Freckles, are facing hunger and danger in their forest. Hope decides that they must leave their home and go in search of a better place where they will be safe. When they arrive at a new forest, Hope and Freckles face unexpected challenges that will force them apart. Will they be reunited?
After you have read the story of Hope and Freckles, continue to explore the stories of people all over the world who have to leave their homes because of danger or hunger. Let the tale of Hope and Freckles begin to teach you about the millions of people who face the same difficulties that this mother deer and her little boy face as refugees.
Demi the Different Donut
By Allie Lang Rolling
When choosing between fitting in and being 100% herself, Demi the Donut always chooses to be confidently unique. She challenges others to reject the status quo, and encourages those around her to dance in the chocolate syrup drizzles of life, pile on the whipped topping, and throw rainbow sprinkles around like confetti. In Demi the Different Donut, readers are dared to stand out and be themselves – because how boring would life be if we were all the same?
Freeda the Frog and the Two Mommas Next Door
By Nadine Haruni
In Freeda the Frog and the Two Mommas Next Door, Freeda and her family meet some new friends: Jessica and her two mommas, Morgan and Irene. The tadpoles have never had a friend with two mommas before, but they soon learn that it makes no difference. By getting to know Jessica’s parents, the tadpoles discover that families do not have to all look the same, and that all you need is love.
Inspirational Books
Voices of LGBTQ+: A Conversation Starter for Understanding, Supporting, and Protecting Gay, Bi, Trans, and Queer People
By Lynda Wolters
Why do so many in our modern society reject those who are different?
Though the mainstream acceptance of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, and Queer community has made leaps and bounds over the past few years, many pivotal groups within our modern society still respond to the LGBTQ+ community with an overwhelming, knee-jerk reaction of “us” vs. “them.” Despite the progress that has been made, misunderstanding, hatred, animosity, aggression, and violence still affect this community on a deep level. Lynda Wolters knows firsthand: a strong ally, she has come to know, understand, and have a deep respect for the community through her son, who is gay.
Including highly personal, real-world anecdotes, Voices of LGBTQ+ helps outline some of the most critical challenges the community faces today, with topical insights into:
• Homelessness
• Hate crimes
• Suicide
• Economic challenges
• Discrimination and lack of equality
• Religious and biblical conflicts
Though judgment and divisiveness still run deep in our society, Wolters highlights the first key distinction, among many others, that will help eradicate bigotry: those who are different are not choosing to be, they simply are, and it’s our differences that make us stronger. Voices of LGBTQ+ helps educate, dispel fears, and start positive conversations about what knowing, loving, or simply peacefully and positively coexisting with someone in the LGBTQ+ community really means. After all, there is no “us” vs. “them.” We are all human.
Raising John’s Boy: How to Be in the Moment and Effective While Raising Your Son
By Nijaah Howard
Raising John’s Boy is a raw, honest approach to how the author raised her son. The hope is that you take away practical tools to alleviate any concerns of successfully raising your boy into a good man, while aiming to change the stereotype that places limits on both of you.
A woman can only do but so much as she hears the silence of the loud dismissive cries from a young man raised without his father. Can you imagine how much easier it would be on the mother and the son if we STOP SAYING that “Women cannot raise boys into productive men” or “Only a Man can raise a Man”? What message are we sending young men who are growing up in a single parent household when they hear that?
It sounds like our mothers and boys are trying to fight a losing battle. This could be the very negative seed planted that is telling them both that they are not enough (and they will never be enough), which contributes to low self-esteem and an inability to perform at their greatest potential.
I can only imagine what the world would look like if more mother and son teams actually believed they were ENOUGH! Raising John’s Boy confronts these issues – and more – in this personal, essential book.
Michael’s Legacy: Transcending Life and Death
By Mark Judelson
On July 10, 2010, Michael Bovill, a twenty-three-year-old active duty member of the United States Coast Guard, suffered fatal injuries in a motorcycle accident. Days later, Michael’s heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys were donated to five strangers: Roxanne Watson, Scott Taffet, Diana Martinez Moran, Elijah Parker, and Zhou Yuan Li. His last act in this world was to give life to those in need.
Surgeons, physicians, parents, children, friends, clergy, and coworkers, along with the recipients of Michael’s organs, come together to reveal their pivotal roles interwoven in this true story exploring the nature of organ donation itself, and inviting the reader to reconsider their concepts of life and death.
From the Andes to Vancouver – A Stand for Justice
By Monica M. Lima de Lara
In Bolivia in the year 1940, citizen voting rights were restricted, along with the acknowledgment of rights in general toward the native First Nations. After a painful experience at age 7, Constantino, a native indio, makes the decision to stand up for his people. His journey begins in his tiny village up in the mountains and leads him through activism in the streets, jail, torture, and an outcome that would have never happened if it wasn’t for his courage.
Holiday-Themed Children’s Books
The Sasquatch Before Christmas
By Nathan Lee
‘Twas the night before Christmas,
When all through the wood,
A creature was stirring—
One misunderstood.
This richly-illustrated, darkly funny book takes a classic holiday poem in a new direction and answers the age-old question, “Does Sasquatch celebrate Christmas?”
The answer may surprise you.
Christmas Lights! Christmas Lights! 
By “Aunt Sandy” (Sandra Hanson)
Come experience the joy of Christmas with Aunt Sandy and her nieces and nephew as they embark on a night filled with dazzling colorful Christmas lights! See how, just like the different colored lights, we are more beautiful when we all stand together.
This lovely story is for all young people—and the child that resides in all of us—to appreciate for all time!
The Story of the Curious Elf (exclusively on Mascot’s site until 2021)
By Joan C. Yingling
One Christmas Eve, a little boy encounters a lost elf who let his curiosity get the best of him. Stuck far away from home, the elf doesn’t know if he’ll ever see Santa again!
Will he ever find his way back to the North Pole?
The Amazing Adventures of Super Dreidel
By Howard Eisenberg
Rachel and her brother Randy didn’t know when they built a Super Dreidel for Hanukkah that it would fly them thousands of years back in time and into the middle of a war. They didn’t know it would help the Maccabees win it. But then Super Dreidel crashed, and suddenly there was something else they didn’t know: how in the world they could ever get home to Mom, Dad, and their dog Spot.
A Write-Your-Own-Ending Book! With a Write-Your-Own-Ending book, you can be your very own author! Each book comes with blank pages perfect for you to write out how YOU’D end it.
Keeping Christmas Magic
By Anna and Gunnar Counselman
Shhhh, don’t tell! This is the secret, true story of Santa Claus.
Books for Teens
If you could give your life to save someone you loved, would you do it? Or would you let them die to save yourself?
Amanda Bishop is no ordinary high schooler—she’s a hunter who puts spirits to rest in her free time. Then the captain of the football team, Baran Messenger, catches her interest. As she begins to piece together that Baran isn’t all he appears to be, Amanda quickly finds herself caught up trying to juggle her supernatural hunting; her relationship with her friend, Oliver; and her normal school life all while trying to keep her feelings for the mysterious, otherworldly football captain in check.
When Baran reveals that he has been sent to Earth on a mission to locate a book that, in the wrong hands, would bring about a war to wipe humanity off the planet, it’ll fall on Baran and a small band of paranormal friends to destroy the book before it can be discovered.
18 Things College Students Need to Know
By Renée Bailey
Getting ready for college can be so exciting. You’re putting in applications and getting responses. You’re talking to your friends, making plans. Maybe you’re the first person in your family to go off to college and that amps up the thrill of the process. But here’s the thing: college itself is stressful. It can leave you emotionally spent, financially broke, and completely disillusioned with educating yourself, if you’re not careful.
You’re going to have stress. 38% of female college students and 27% of male college students report that their stress level is so high that it negatively affects their academic performance. The goal of 18 Things College Students Need to Know is to give you the tricks, hacks, and tools to handle your college stresses in a proactive way and make the best of the educational opportunity that college is.
Stillwater
By Mary Jo Hazard
UNDER THE SURFACE, DANGER LURKS…
Twelve-year-old Grace believes that all adults are trustworthy and good. So begins a coming-of-age story full of laughter and tears that takes place one hot summer in upstate New York in the 1950s.
On the surface, Stillwater seems an idyllic place, but danger lurks underneath. Grace and her best friends, Maggie and Louanne, grapple with divorce, domestic violence, and mental illness. Grace is devastated when she finds out her father committed suicide when she was eight. Several suspicious fires break out in the area, and Louanne’s schizophrenic uncle Tony, the town bogeyman, is accused of setting them. Grace believes he’s unfairly targeted because he’s mentally ill and convinces her friends to help her find the real arsonist.
Hazard weaves themes of loss and recovery in a story filled with quirky characters and invaluable lessons about love, life, and survival.
Double-Edged
By Dhriti Aiylam
Princess Kerra and Lavenderra come from two vastly different worlds.
With all the royal luxuries, the queen-to-be, Princess Kerra’s life seems perfect. But she is apprehensive about the future and doesn’t feel she is ready to take on the responsibility — until she meets Venx, a cave-dweller and former leader who has fallen from glory. Wanting to be different from the rulers before her, she’s determined to help him and his people win back what they have lost.
Lavenderra has worked on her family’s farm since she was a child. Lonely and growing weary of her repetitive lifestyle, her future seems to take a turn for the better when she meets Tan, a mysterious but kind boy who lives in utopia. The two instantly befriend each other. But their happiness is short-lived when a long-forgotten enemy emerges and is determined to seek revenge.
Embroiled in a brutal conflict, Princess Kerra and Lavenderra must fight both external and internal forces as they make difficult choices and realize that things aren’t quite as they seem.
Stocking Stuffer or Secret Santa Ideas
American Spirit: Wild Turkey Bourbon from Ripy to Russell
By David Jennings
The story of Wild Turkey is in many ways the story of bourbon itself. From the struggles of nineteenth-century immigrants, to the triumphs of the longest-tenured master distiller in the world, a bold, uniquely American spirit emerges.
American Spirit: Wild Turkey Bourbon from Ripy to Russell is a tribute to the perseverance of two families, each perfecting their passion through extraordinary circumstances. It’s a testament to Jimmy Russell and his sixty-five years of unmatched dedication to quality. And much like a glass of fine bourbon, it’s a journey – a personal reflection on something carefully crafted over time. This book is a love letter to Wild Turkey that all bourbon enthusiasts can raise a glass to and enjoy.
Love, Sex, and Friendship: In No Particular Order
By Farissa Knox
Before Farissa was a successful business woman, wife, mother, and mentor to young women all over the country, she was a 20-something trying to figure it all out. In her debut memoir, Farissa tells her story of navigating an early career in advertising, the journey of falling in love and making grown-woman decisions in her relationship, and the strength and courage true friendship brought her during this time in her life. In her conversational storytelling approach, Farissa takes the reader through the decisions, opportunities, and experiences that helped her become the confident 30-something-year-old woman she is today and creates a sense of “none of us are in this alone” for readers of all ages.
I Love You More Than Coffee
By Melissa Face
Are you trying to balance raising a family with maintaining your own identity?
Have you ever been so exhausted that you showed up to a meeting carrying your baby’s diaper bag instead of your briefcase?
In her debut collection, I Love You More Than Coffee, Melissa Face writes about the emotions we all experience as parents: anticipation, joy, fear, guilt, and worry. Whether you are a new or seasoned parent, you will find common ground in Melissa’s heartfelt, humorous, and authentic stories of her life with two young children.
If you love coffee a lot and your kids (a little) more, this book is for you. Fill your mug with your favorite brew and settle in with I Love You More Than Coffee.
363 Days of Tea
By Ruby Silvious
363 Days of Tea is a coffee table book Ruby Silvious. Follow the author’s 363-day journey across the world as she creates artwork using tea bags.
Books for Young Professionals
No Such Thing As Off the Record: A Survival Guide for Public Speaking and Media Engagements
By Andrea Devaux
From the boardroom to the newsroom, nearly every job requires speaking in front of a group. In this age of political correctness and viral social media moments, “winging it” can be a risky business. It’s no wonder that three out of four people suffer from speech anxiety.
No Such Thing as OFF the Record is your survival guide for effective public speaking. It will arm you with the skills to navigate tricky Q&A scenarios and avoid unexpected pitfalls—like commenting off the record to a trusted source.
Whether you’re just looking to improve your elevator pitch or preparing for a national media campaign, No Such Thing as OFF the Record’s step-by-step coaching provides a complete checklist for how to say what you came to say and not be led off-topic…even under fire.
Service is a Superpower: Lessons Learned in a Magic Kingdom
By Louie Gravance
In Service is a Superpower: Lessons Learned in Magic Kingdom, Louie Gravance uses his signature combination of humor and personal experience to narrate his journey through the realm of customer service. Part memoir, part self-help manual for businesses big and small, Gravance interweaves his tales of life at Disney theme parks with practical guidance gleaned during the course of a thirty-year career in the service and entertainment industries.
Gravance teaches us that the importance of delivering the finest service experiences possible is not just crucial for the livelihood of a company—it also leads to developing a culture of respect and responsibility that is so coveted in the corporate world today. Throughout the book, Gravance crafts an intriguing tale that demonstrates how working at Disney theme parks changed the way he viewed customer service, and elucidates the transformational effects it can have on those who provide it.
Service is a Superpower is a personal history and guidebook of best industry practices, offering a unique spin on a tale as old as time, all presented in the tone and style that only Gravance can deliver. From entertainer to training designer for the Disney University in Orlando, Florida, he shares the stories and lessons that inform his central philosophy: great service serves the server first!
How to Survive Your 20s
By Portia Ingram
How to Survive Your 20s is a gem-packed reference guide for teens and young adults that provides transformational and down-to-earth tips on how to understand the transition into adulthood. The book discusses empathy, our unique pathways, and healthy relationships. Whether you are a skimmer and need a good word, or someone in need of greater support, How to Survive Your 20s introduces themes that are emotionally difficult and shares years of experience and insight to encourage those tackling the idea of adulthood.
Caffeinate Your Soul: 52 Monday Mantras
By Erica Gwynn
Mondays can be the worst. Some weeks it seems like the only way to get through the day is a gallon of coffee and a prayer. Instead of drowning that start-of-the-work-week-bitterness in endless cups of caffeine, pour yourself a cup of encouragement with Caffeinate Your Soul, an insightful guide to making Mondays more manageable and meaningful.
This collection of short, but impactful, “Monday Mantras” will guide you through a year of Mondays, meeting you where you are and then walking you step-by-step to where you want to be. Erica Gwynn provides a year’s worth of lessons, in sip-sized segments that will teach you how to:
• Step out in courage and carry on after hardship
• Grow through what you go through
• Give yourself grace and give up the personal guilt trips
• Get comfortable being UNcomfortable
• Act on your dreams and do hard things
• Clear out the clutter in your life, say no more often, and fail forward
Rooted in faith, and packed with practical takeaways, Caffeinate Your Soul will leave you feeling uplifted, energized, and ready to take on your day, just as any good cuppa coffee should.
Books for Little Chefs in the Family
The Little Baking Book: A Collection of Yummy, Kid-Friendly Recipes!
By Julia Meschter
Former Nike designer Julia Meschter brings you The Little Baking Book, a collection of yummy recipes designed to bring creativity to your kitchen! Bake with a friend, your family, or on your own—there’s a sweet treat for everyone!
Foodie Tales: A Family Cookbook Inspired by Classic Children’s Literature
By Desirée Moore
Inspired by the wonderful worlds of classic and contemporary children’s books, Foodie Tales takes you on a delicious journey through many of your favorite stories, from hungry caterpillars to magic tree houses to far-off galaxies and beyond. The Foodie Tales recipes are perfect for young chefs and great for the whole family. Dive into your favorite children’s stories in a whole new way, and ignite your imagination in the kitchen and in the library!
Recipes include:
Bowl Full of Mush, inspired by Goodnight Moon
Grilled Cheese for Gruffalo, inspired by The Gruffalo
Giving Apples, inspired by The Giving Tree
A Chance of Spaghetti & Meatballs, inspired by Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs
Secret Garden Greens, inspired by The Secret Garden
Hunny Cake, inspired by Winnie the Pooh
“We’re All Mad Here” Tea, inspired by Alice in Wonderland
Freckle-Faced Foodie: Journey of a Young Chef
By Marlin Adams with Ariel Fox
Fourth-grader Ariel’s weekend is turning out to be a disaster. Her friends are coming over for a sleepover on Saturday night and a movie on Sunday, but she can’t get it together to write her homework essay about heritage and cultural traditions that is due on Monday. Her two best friends know everything about their cultures, but Ariel knows nothing about her own. As she reflects on the maze of changes surrounding her after her parents’ divorce and her mother’s remarriage, she reminisces about her early years in Colombia, her summers spent in Hawaii and the Pacific Northwest, and her current life in the Monterey Bay beach town where she now lives with her mom and her new dad. From her Caribbean grandma’s patacones to her Pacific Northwest grandma’s blackberry pie, Ariel discovers that food keeps emerging as a theme in her life. It’s a theme that helps her gain a stronger sense of self, and one that just might save her before the Monday morning deadline.
Be a Superhero in the Kitchen
By Donna Glass
All parents know the struggle of feeding a picky eater. Some evenings feel like war. Nerves are frayed, and a nice, peaceful dinner can swiftly be bursting with tears, tantrums, and occasionally, a battle of wills. It is my goal that this book tips the scales in our favor. I’ve learned that one reliable way to get my picky eaters to eat is to allow them to help make the meal. After all, food tastes better when you have helped create it. Allow your kid to try their hand with the recipes in this book. A kid who becomes the superhero of suppertime is one who eats super well.
Which book did you get as a gift? Let us know by contacting us at @MascotBooks on:
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September Book Releases
(Posted on Tuesday, September 1, 2020)
We have seven new books just for you! Make some of these (or all of them) the last of your summer reads.
September’s Featured Title: I Love You More Than Coffee 
By Melissa Face
Are you trying to balance raising a family with maintaining your own identity? Have you ever been so exhausted that you showed up to a meeting carrying your baby’s diaper bag instead of your briefcase?
In her debut collection, I Love You More Than Coffee, Melissa Face writes about the emotions we all experience as parents: anticipation, joy, fear, guilt, and worry. Whether you are a new or seasoned parent, you will find common ground in Melissa’s heartfelt, humorous, and authentic stories of her life with two young children.
If you love coffee a lot and your kids (a little) more, this book is for you. Fill your mug with your favorite brew and settle in with I Love You More Than Coffee.
18 Things College Students Need to Know
By Renée Bailey
Getting ready for college can be so exciting. You’re putting in applications and getting responses. You’re talking to your friends, making plans. Maybe you’re the first person in your family to go off to college and that amps up the thrill of the process. But here’s the thing: college itself is stressful. It can leave you emotionally spent, financially broke, and completely disillusioned with educating yourself, if you’re not careful.
You’re going to have stress. 38% of female college students and 27% of male college students report that their stress level is so high that it negatively affects their academic performance. The goal of 18 Things College Students Need to Know is to give you the tricks, hacks, and tools to handle your college stresses in a proactive way and make the best of the educational opportunity that college is.
Can You See My Scars?
By Samuel Moore-Sobel
#ImpactMyLife: Being the Change
By Eric Godwin
This is a call to individuals who want to make a social change. The goal is to spread kindness and service across cities, towns, and communities around the world one social media post at a time. Join the movement to make a difference in the lives of others by doing tasks such as designing a kindness rock, donating seeds to an agriculture program, or reading to children at your local public library. Each week after you complete your task, you have the opportunity to reflect on the experience and share your adventure on your favorite social media platform.
Be the person who wants to give back to society. Be a role model for your friends, family, and community. Be a mentor to someone who needs it—that’s what the foundation of #IMPACTMYLIFE is constructed on. Be the change you want to see in the world and #IMPACTMYLIFE!
Yuri Was Very Brave
By Jason Cranford Teague
Yuri Was Very Brave is the tale of Yuri Gagarin, the first person to ever leave the earth. We follow Yuri from the launch pad, into space, around Earth, and back to the ground. Along the way, we hear what he thinks about the earth and space.
A Boy Named Penguin: Different is the New Perfect
By Aaron LaPedis
Logan and his friends find themselves in a fix when their classroom zoo is let loose and the hallway are jammed with hopping and fluttering critters. Even the powers of Super Penguin may not be enough to save the day—unless Logan and his friends can prove that “Different” truly IS the “New Perfect!”
A Boy Named Penguin: Finding Happy
By Aaron LaPedis
Logan (also known as Super Penguin) is on his toughest and most important mission of all. A little boy named Nick is feeling the pressures of life and runs away. Super Penguin needs to find him and then help him understand, through the love of his parents and friends, how Finding Happy is just around the corner.
What Do We Look for in a Manuscript Submission?
(Posted on Wednesday, May 13, 2020)
Sending a book to a publisher to review can be a nerve-wracking process. They’re reading your work and deciding on whether or not they can publish it. Cue the nail biting! To make submitting your book a little easier, we’ve compiled a list of things that our acquisitions team looks for in a manuscript submission.
Children’s Books
For children’s titles, we’re looking for projects that will make a positive impact in a kid’s life. These titles have great messages and touch upon topics that are not always seen in the children’s book world, like the loss of a parent or immigration. We love diverse titles that talk about different cultures and ones that represent kids from all walks of life. Children’s books do not have to rhyme and they do not need to have illustrations in order for us to consider them. We love seeing what you have and figuring out a way to turn your idea into a child’s next favorite bedtime story. 
Fiction
Fiction books are a lot of fun to read! Each one is an adventure and it is always wonderful to be introduced to new characters. There are certain aspects that we gravitate toward with this genre.
The first thing we look for is author voice. We want to be hooked from the first chapter and immersed in this new world. Next up is dialogue. Is it strong in that it dives into who the characters are as people, or is it small talk that doesn’t propel the plot further along? To help answer that question in your own writing, check out this article from NY Book Editors. Lastly, we look at the overall plot. Stories that are unique and haven’t been overdone (i.e. vampires), are ones we’re looking for. If your title matches hundreds of books that you see in bookstores, it may be time to revisit the text and put some extra spice in it—your unique personal spin. Above all else, we’re looking for an exciting, new read that will capture an audience when it’s on store shelves.
Nonfiction
Titles that are categorized as nonfiction can be business books, memoirs, self-help, sports titles, etc. The only area of nonfiction titles that we do not handle are textbooks since those require different distribution channels. A lot of our business titles fall under our imprint Amplify. For the other subcategories, we want to hear your story. We look for books that are inspirational and can empower others. We want to know what makes your book stand out from similar titles and why it’s important for readers. How will it help them and meet their needs? Providing a solution in a book (like a financial advising title or marketing strategies) is a great way to capture an audience.
Author voice is essential for nonfiction titles as well. Whether the book is chronicling a moment in time, someone’s full life, or providing tips, an author’s words need to make an impact.
Other
We publish many other genres that aren’t listed above such as cookbooks, coffee table-style books, early chapter, and poetry. While we don’t have as much specific criteria for those genres, we still look for a great read that will inspire and engage readers. An acquisitions editor will review your submission and provide feedback whether or not we are the right fit for your publishing journey.
Not sure if your manuscript fits our criteria? Send it on over! We’re happy to take a look and provide suggestions for your publishing journey.
Roles at Mascot Books
(Posted on Wednesday, June 12, 2019)
There are many names and faces here at Mascot Books and we are always growing. Today we wanted to share a closer look into all the various roles on our team and give more insight on the tasks and responsibilities of each one. Each position is unique and important to the process of helping authors share their books with the world.
Acquisitions Editor
“I’m an acquisitions editor, which means that I bring in books to publish. I review manuscript submissions and conversations with authors about our publishing process. My day is made up of emails, phone calls, and chats with the different members of production and marketing. I also create publishing proposals for the books we’re interested in and figure out what might work best for an author’s specific title. As an Acquisitions Editor I’m a main point of contact and I stay with my authors throughout the entire publishing process. It’s so much fun to see a book take shape from an idea to a physical copy!“ – Jess Cohn
Production Editor
“I serve as a senior production editor here at Mascot Books. That means it’s my responsibility to guide books through the twists and turns of the publishing process. I work primarily on children’s books, so for me that means a lot of manuscript editing, working with illustrators, and coordinating with our in-house graphic design team to make sure everything comes together beautifully. I also serve as the liaison between the various parties who contribute to the book and the author of each book so I can ensure everything is going as planned and is in line with the author’s overall vision. On a daily basis, you can find me editing (a lot!), reviewing illustrations, working with our design team and the other PEs, reviewing printer proofs, and, of course, sending lots of emails.” – Susan Roberts
Graphic Designer
“As a graphic designer, I wear many hats here. I design the layouts from adult novels to children’s books, from cover all the way down to the spacing between letters. I also design the marketing materials, like bookmarks, flyers, posters, postcards, and book trailers. My strengths are photo compositing (bringing several images together to appear like it’s always been one image; think fantasy books), retouching (fixing errors in images), and every now and again, I get to digitally paint an entire cover!” – Jasmine White
Marketing Manager
“I’m a marketing manager, and I work specifically with Marketing Plus and Premium authors. I help authors get their book out into the
Bookkeeper
“I am an assistant bookkeeper here at Mascot Books. I have a variety of responsibilities, including processing daily orders for distributors and retailers. I work directly with authors to collect payments, coordinate shipping arrangements, monitor sales, and make sure they receive their royalty reports every quarter.”
– Abby Simpson
By Nelia Dashiell