goodreads.com giveaway, December 30 - January 8. One of 5-part giveaway of Tales of Midlandia books in the buildup to series release on 1/31. Illustrator signing of Tales of Midlandia series, featuring Evette Gabriel & Dion Williams. 100 copies of each book available: ALA Midwinter Meeting, Dallas, TX, January 22nd.

Twenty-eight year old Michael Scotto has worked as a filmmaker, a saxophone player and an engineer's assistant, but his true passion has always been writing. He earned a degree in Creative Writing from Carnegie Mellon University in 2004, and he received his M.F.A in Dramatic Writing there in 2007. Today, Mr. Scotto is the author of over twenty picture books for young readers. "Latasha and the Little Red Tornado" is his first novel. In his spare time, he enjoys cooking and photography. In 2011, Scotto was honored as one of the "Pittsburgh 40 Under 40," which recognizes difference makers in the Western Pennsylvania region. He currently lives in Pittsburgh, PA with his wife.