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Our first middle grade title (and the first in our new series), Professor Gargoyle: Tales From Lovecraft Middle School, hits shelves everywhere later this month. We're excited about the series and we're eager to get it into the hands of young readers everywhere. 

So we're giving away some copies.

Are you a school teacher working with kids in Grades 4 through 7? Well, we want to send you a FREE copy (or two!) of Professor Gargoyle: Tales From Lovecraft Middle School for your classroom library! Just email [email protected] with a little bit about yourself and your school, and we'll talk! 

This is while supplies last, so act quickly! US and Canada only, please. We can't wait to hear from you! 

Another year, another con. San Diego Comic Con 2012 was another resounding success.

The booth looked great. We sold a ton of books. We had a successful book signing. We spotted some celebrities. And, saw some pretty great costumes. See the gallery below for a bunch of our photos.

After teasing us with that single, incredible still photo back in April (above, via the Huffington Post), the trailer for Ang Lee’s film adaptation of Life of Pi has finally hit the Internet. And oh my… it looks beautiful.

What do you think?

There are hundreds of podcasts out in the ether these days, with a range of audio quality from one guy in a basement with a computer microphone to company-sponsored full-cast performances. Finding programs to listen to while you’re in the car, going for a jog, or just hanging out at home is largely about trial and error, starting with a topic that interests you and downloading the usually free shows until you find the voices that suit your tastes.

One of the great things about the growth of podcasts as a means of expression is that modern technology can connect people from across the country for a chat, and the content is one hundred percent up to the creators.

Here we’ve compiled a list of some great podcasts that tackle books, authors, publishing, and everything in between.

I never thought so much would happen to that quirky little novel I was working on a few years back.

I mean Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, of course.

I had high hopes for my first novel, which maxxed out at more than a few thousand people buying it, not racking up too many scathing reviews, and being afforded the opportunity to write another one. But a funny thing happened on the way to the remainders bin, and the superlatives Miss Peregrine has racked up since it was published just over a year ago seem so absurdly overblown when compared to my modest expectations that I'm almost embarrassed to list them. (Almost.)

The book debuted on the bestseller list, hit number one a few times, and has yet to be dislodged, 53 weeks and counting later. 20th Century Fox optioned the film rights and Tim Burton — Tim effing Burton — said he wants to direct it. I didn't get so many scathing reviews after all, and even several nice ones, in papers that aren't published in my hometown, which my relatives still clip out and mail to me when they appear. I've toured the country doing readings.

Best, most astoundingly of all, are the emails and letters I get from readers. I'm knee-deep in writing the sequel to the book right now, and it seems like whenever I have a tough day of it (they happen now and then) I get a sweet, encouraging email from someone I've never met, saying how much they liked the book and that they can't wait for the next one, and all my enthusiasm comes rushing back.

So thanks, everyone, for helping to make this one of the most unexpected and amazing years of my life. You've made me a happy mutant.

Now — back to the keyboard! Whip noise!

Amidst the summer’s comic book and sci-fi blockbuster movies, Pixar has nestled what is sure to be a gem: Brave, the animated tale of an impetuous girl growing up in the Scottish Highlands during the 10th century.

The film has been described as a fairy tale in the tradition of Hans Christian Anderson and the Brothers Grimm. That’s vaunted company to keep, but we wondered, what are Brave’s Scottish literary forebears.

To that end, here are 6 pieces of Scottish literature that we recommend to supplement your mid-summer viewing of Brave.