Mascot Blog

By Emily Evans-Miller Here at Mascot, we think it’s high time to recognize the unsung heroes of the publishing community: illustrators and editors. We have an extensive network of freelance professionals who do fantastic work for our authors. This month, our featured freelance publishing professional is editor Kristin Clark Taylor. Kristin sat down with us to discuss what she loves about writing and editing, her favorite projects, and her biggest pet peeves. Check out her answers below! How did you get into editing books? What made you decide to pursue this career? Not to sound overly dramatic, but I … read more

Winter is officially setting in at the Mascot Books office. As everyone’s been preparing their holiday treats, the team here has been hard at work on our latest batch of releases. This month, we’re featuring a guide to help you recover from burning out, tales of prairie dogs and their misadventures, and picture books perfect for getting in the holiday spirit. Check out the full list of titles releasing this month below. Self-Help Broken Pieces By Toviaz Sly “Many who are broken feel as though there is no use in fixing the cracks because they automatically assume they … read more

Every month we feature a title that we think really shines. This month’s featured title is by Dr. Joseph Maroon, releasing December 4th. Why We Love It We can all use guidance on leading a healthier life in the new year, so we’re eager to share the newest edition of Dr. Joseph Maroon’s . In this guide, Dr. Maroon details his journey to rebalance his life after falling into a serious depression. He boasts an impressive resume as both a neurosurgeon at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and the team neurosurgeon for the Pittsburgh Steelers, proving that … read more

By Emily Evans-Miller With Contributions by Jordan Latham The holiday season is a great time to give back and support causes that make a change in your community. In recent years, there has even been a movement to give back after the busiest shopping weekend of the year on Giving Tuesday. This day of donation may have already passed, but there’s always a way to give. Consider buying one of our books that supports a charity when shopping for your loved ones this holiday season. Check out the list below of some of our titles whose authors donate proceeds or … read more

By Susan Roberts With Contributions by Emily Evans-Miller and Daniel Wheatley Here at Mascot, we know children’s books. From our first book,  to our runaway hit, Bo: Commander in Leash, to the hundreds of diverse projects we’ve brought to life for our authors, we know what makes these unique projects succeed. While all of our production editors are experienced in the genre, PE Susan Roberts is our in-house expert on all things children’s books. We asked for her best writing advice and she had some great wisdom to share. Susan’s Checklist for Writing a Successful Children’s Book:   … read more

By John McEveety Woodruff *Note: The following contains spoilers for The War at Home series* , like many projects, started out as a completely different concept. When folks ask me how long the trilogy took to write, I usually say ten years, and in its current form, that is the truth. But it really goes back twenty-five years. At that time, I was busy courting my now wife of nineteen years. And as happens in courtships, lovers tell each other their lives. In the first courtships of one’s life, the stories cannot be very many; by middle age, however, the process can … read more

By Emily Evans-Miller With Contributions by Jordan Latham It’s not every day that you hear “the movie was better than the book.” As lovers of books, we asked around the office to see what favorite movies did their book counterparts justice, at least according to the Mascot Books staff. Check out the full list below: Acquisitions Jess Cohn Pride and Prejudice (2005) by Jane Austen   Kate McDaniel The 13th Warrior (1999) based on “Eaters of the Dead” by Michael Crichton Scott Parker The Godfather (1972) by Mario Puzo Ben Simpson The Shining (1980) by … read more

Happy November! Here at Mascot, we’re thankful for all our authors and all our readers. Be sure to check out the full release list to find your next favorite book.  This month, we’ve got everything from alien fiction, to illustrated political satire just in time for the midterms. Don’t forget some adorable children’s books featuring monsters and disappearing socks! Fiction Lost Children of Andromeda: Zosma By Jason Primrose In this tale of dramatic conflict and high-stakes action, Allister Adams, a young superhuman, searches for an intergalactic refugee whose otherworldly energy source promises the planet’s salvation. But at what … read more

By Emily Evans-Miller Here at Mascot, we think it’s high time to recognize the unsung heroes of the publishing community: illustrators and editors. We have an extensive network of freelance professionals who do fantastic work for our authors. This month, our featured freelance publishing professional is illustrator Stephanie Fliss! Stephanie discussed her process and what she loves about being an illustrator. Check out her answers below! How did you get in to illustrating?  What made you decide to pursue this career? Except for a short period of time when I dreamed of being the first female NFL football … read more

By Emily Evans-Miller There’s only a few days left until Halloween! Here at the Mascot Books office, we’re eager for the big day–especially so we can see Bowie in an adorable costume. It’s a tradition! In preparation for everyone’s favorite mischievous time of year, we’re sharing our favorite spooky books to get you in the spirit. Alphabots

by The Impossible Winterbourne The Impossible Winterbourne has just finished another clever and captivating collection of contraptions–the AlphaBots! From AquaBot to ZombiBot, these whimsical works of wonder come to life in this beautifully illustrated alphabet book that is sure

… read more