Our Blog

It’s Valentine’s Day and a monstrous blizzard has descended upon Lovecraft Middle School, trapping twelve-year-old Robert Arthur inside the building! He and his companions have no choice but to spend the night—while snacking on cafeteria food, sleeping on the gymnasium floor, facing off against a sinister substitute teacher, and thwarting an army of abominable beasts.

This fourth novel in the Lovecraft Middle School series begins right where Teacher’s Pest ended—with more action, more adventure, and more outrageous monsters!

Cut two eyeholes out of a bed sheet, and BOO! You’ve scared yourself up a classic Halloween icon. But what does that ghost look like when he’s shy? Or in love? Or a pirate, a llama, a bond villain, or Russian nesting doll? 100 Ghosts explores every sort of spook in a series of whimsically haunting illustrations. It’s a delightful collection for adults, children, and anyone in need of a friendly fright.

When the days grow longer and the air gets crisp, it’s time to gather with friends for drinks that’ll put a rosy glow on your cheeks. In Winter Cocktails, María del Mar Sacasa and Tara Striano share more than 100 seasonal recipes for cold-weather cocktails, like Hot Buttered Rum, English Christmas Punch, Pumpkin-Bourbon Eggnog, Irish Coffee, Coquito, Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate, the Old-Fashioned (and the New-Fangled!), Mama’s Remedy, and the Kentucky Baby.

Detailed, in-depth chapters cover hot toddies, mulled wines, and mulled ciders; spiked hot chocolates, eggnogs, coffees, and teas; punches and pitchers for serving a crowd; and chilled winter cocktails that have a magical warming effect. Foolproof recipes for infused liquors, simple syrups, and from-scratch ingredients like Fresh Tomato Juice and Homemade Sour Mix make it easy to craft drinks from the bottom up. Plus, you’ll find ideas for elegant cocktail party bites that make pairing drinks and snacks a snap.

Party prep is a breeze thanks to guides to pantry and fridge basics, the well-stocked bar, must-have tools, serveware, and glassware, plus tips for sourcing local and hard-to-find ingredients. Beautiful and instructive step-by-step photos explain essential techniques like muddling, prepping garnishes, making ice molds, and opening champagne. Whether you’re throwing a party, lounging at a ski lodge, camping on a mountain, or just curling up with a good book on a blustery night, Winter Cocktails is sure to make the season bright.

Summer Cocktails is coming in April 2015!

A graduate of the International Culinary Center, María Del Mar Sacasa is a writer, food stylist, and recipe developer who has worked for Vogue, Lucky, and Cook’s Country. Her styling work has appeared in numerous print publications, TV commercials, product packaging, and cookbooks. She lives in New York City and Los Angeles.

Tara Striano is a native New Yorker and graduate of NYU. Her photography has been featured in publications such as House Beautiful, O, The Oprah Magazine, Garnet Hill, and Elle Décor. T

ogether, María del Mar and Tara share recipes, photos, and stories from their lives behind the scenes of the food industry on their blog, Cookin’ & Shootin’.

Whether they’re perking up your clothes, brightening your home decor, or bringing a rainbow of color to your next party, pom-poms are perfect wherever they pop up.

Each project in this book has oh-so-simple instructions and photographs that’ll have you whipping up homemade tufts in all kinds of eye-catching patterns, from speckles to stripes to polka-dots. And don’t worry about running out of yarn. You’ll learn how to put a new spin on poms with a host of fun materials like tissue paper, tinsel, coffee filters, and cupcake wrappers.

With 25 fresh and fancy takes on a classic, Pom-Poms! will give crafters of all ages a reason to cheer.

SARAH GOLDSCHADT is a Danish American craft book author and designer who lives in Brooklyn. She has worked for Food Network Magazine, Do It Yourself, and Kids' Rooms and freelanced for Better Homes and Gardens, Martha Stewart Living, and Architectural Digest. Sarah loves to make things, travel, and take pictures. Say hello and find new craft projects at Sah-rah.com.

LEXI WALTERS WRIGHT is a writer, editor, and sometime librarian whose work has appeared on family and home design websites such as CountryLiving.com, FreshHomeIdeas.com, and many more. She chases her toddler through the woods of Florence, Massachusetts. Visit her website at lexiwalterswright.com.

Here’s a guide to baking delicious desserts with a colorful twist: sprinkles! Of course you can scatter them over cakes and pies. But did you know that you can swirl sprinkles into waffles, “embroider” them on cookies, and bake them into pretty pie crusts?! Inside this book you’ll find dozens of creative, colorful, super-fun recipes, plus quick-and-easy projects (ideal for little kids), holiday treats, and party-perfect edible gifts.

Learn how to custom tint your own sparkling sugars, mix up sprinkles cocktail rims, and even craft your own sprinkles from scratch. When it comes to sprinkles, the possibilities are endless—and so much fun!

JACKIE ALPERS is an award-winning photographer who writes, cooks, and styles recipes in her sun-lit studio and documents food and travel adventures on location. She lives in Tucson, Arizona

You keep your action figures in their original packaging. Your closets are full of officially licensed Star Wars merchandise. You’re hooked on Elder Scrolls and Metal Gear but now you’ve discovered an even bigger obsession: the new girl who just moved in down the hall.

What’s a geek to do? Take some tips from The Geek’s Guide to Dating. This hilarious primer is jam-packed with cheat codes, walkthroughs, and power-ups for navigating the perils and pitfalls of your love life with ease. Geeks of all ages will find answers to the ultimate questions of life, the universe, and everything romantic, from First Contact to The Fellowship of the Ring and beyond. Full of whimsical 8-bit illustrations, The Geek’s Guide to Dating will teach fanboys everywhere to love long and prosper.