Serena Robar

Fangs for Freaks in stores now!!

srobar — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 05:50:26 +0000

Yes, that’s right! Book 2 in the half-blood vampire series is officially out today! Head on over to your local bookstore or check online to pick up your very own copy. Don’t worry, it won’t bite!

Braced to Bite in Stores now!!

srobar — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 05:03:33 +0000

The wait is finally over! Many book sightings in the wild. Issaquah and Tukwila Barnes and Noble have signed copies (Seattle area) for those who are local. Be sure to ask your local library to pick up a copy and drop me a line to tell me what you think of the half-blood vampire series. Remember, Fangs for Freak (book 2) is out next month, followed by Dating for Demons (book 3).

Giving Up the V – Third Printing!

srobar — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 02:32:06 +0000

Giving Up the V just went into a third printing people! There is much rejoicing in the Robar household. Well, much rejoicing in my office as I ransacked the hidden Easter candy stash and partook of a smallish Nestle crisp bunny (never fear, I always buy a little extra for just this reason). Thank you all so much for loving the book and telling your friends.

Site Redesign

srobar — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 02:30:52 +0000

Yes! I had the site redesigned to match the book covers up my Half-Blood Vampire series reissue coming this summer. I think it looks pretty spiffy. I also added a journal page, so I could jot down my random thoughts as I think of interesting things to share.
Next week I am headed down to sunny Austin, TX for the wedding of good friend and fellow YA author Marianne Mancusi. with another friend and YA author Caridad Cerrer. I’ll be sure to post pictures of us enjoying the mid 70’s weather on the lakeside. Be warned the glare from my untanned skin will make me glow like an immortal. Relax, I haven’t turned into a half-blood vampire.

12/4/2009: REISSUE!!

srobar — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 02:39:10 +0000

I am very excited to announce the reissue of Braced to Bite, Fangs for Freaks and Dating for Demons in all new pretty packaging for June, July and August of 2010 respectively. Note the publisher has tweaked the names a bit by removing the number reference in a bid to make the books easier to find when searching.

New covers for Half Blood Vampire re-issue

Updated Procrastination Nation

srobar — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 20:21:52 +0000

I added a couple of games to Procrastination Nation under Fun Stuff. Both Bookworm Adventures and Plants VS. Zombies are complete and utter time sucks that I adore. I blame Felicia Day for twittering about Plants VS. Zombies and our friend Nick who made the original version of Bookworm.

Winners of the June 2009 free book giveaway

srobar — Sat, 30 May 2009 16:05:03 +0000

Winners of the June 2009 Giving It Away for Free! promo

Schedule

June 1-7, 2009 Simon Pulse Authors Giveaway
6-1 Giving Up the V by Serena Robar *WINNER* Nora W. from CA
6-2 What Would Emma Do? by Eileen Cook *WINNER* Debbie D. from TX
6-3 WAKE by Lisa McMann *WINNER* Krista P. from GA
6-4 Uglies by Scott Westerfeld *WINNER* Emily H. from MN
6-5 The Geek Girl’s Guide to Cheerleading by Charity Tahmaseb and Darcy Vance. BFF Bag Giveaway *WINNER* Joanna E. from MI
6-6 Giving Up the V by Serena Robar *WINNER* Jessica R. from NY
6-7 Two Way Street by Lauren Barnholdt *WINNER* Kristi H. from IL

June 8-14, 2009 More YA books
6-8 Gamer Girl by Mari Mancusi *WINNER* Iryna H. from Ontario, CAN
6-9 Giving Up the V by Serena Robar *WINNER* Denise J. from WA
6-10 Prada and Prejudice by Mandy Hubbard *WINNER* Katelyn D. from IL
6-11 Giving Up the V by Serena Robar *WINNER* Brittany T. from NC
6-12 Tap and Gown by Diana Peterfreund *WINNER* Elizabeth S. from Canada
6-13 Giving Up the V by Serena Robar *WINNER* Debbie W. from NY

June 15-21, 2009 Books, Boys, Buzz Week giveaway
6-14 Spring Breakup by Stephanie Hale *WINNER* Indigo R. from NY
6-15 Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles *WINNER* Cata A. from FL
6-16 Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols *WINNER* Aimee G. from MA
DAILY DOUBLE!!
6-17 Goddess Boot Camp by Tera Lynn Childs *WINNER* Samantha B. from NC
6-17 Lovestruck Summer by Melissa Walker *WINNER* Jessica L. from IL
6-18 Check out my Interview over at Books, Boys and Buzz and win a copy of Giving Up the V *WINNER* Erica H. from WI
6-18 Shrink to Fit by Dona Sarkar *WINNER* Miranda D. from OK
6-19 How to Hook a Hottie by Tina Ferraro *WINNER* Isabel B. from TX
6-20 Ghost Huntress: The Awakening by Marley Gibson *WINNER* Tiffany K. from AK
6-21 Tote Bags ‘n Blogs
Weekend Special
June 20, 2009 Boys, Books, Buzz Backlist Basket includes Revenge of the Homecoming Queen by Stephanie Hale, Oh. My. Gods by Tera Lynn Childs, How to Salsa In a Sari by Dona Sakar, The ABC’s of Kissing Boys by Tina Ferrar, The New Sisters by Marley Gibson, and How to Ruin my Teenaged Life by Simone Elkeles *WINNER* Ally C. from CA

June 22-28, 2009 Paranormal Week
6-22 The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan *WINNER* Kristin B. from CT
6-23 Evermore by Alyson Noel *WINNER* Megan B. from WI
6-24 Braced2Bite by Serena Robar *WINNER* Lindsey P. from NJ
6-25 Fangs4Freaks by Serena Robar *WINNER* Helen F. from IN
6-26 Zombie Queen of Newbury High by Amanda Ashby *WINNER* Jenal G. from MI
6-27 Dating4Demons by Serena Robar *WINNER* Carol R. from TX
Weekend Special
June 27, 2009 Coffin Basket includes Boys That Bite, Stake That!, Girls the Growl by Mari Mancusi, with Braced2Bite, Fangs4Freaks and Dating4Demons by Serena Robar
6-28 Giving Up the V by Serena Robar *WINNER* Grace L. from NY

Week June 29-30, 2009
6-29 Giving Up the V by Serena Robar *WINNER* Shelly B. from TX
6-30 Giving Up the V by Serena Robar *WINNER* Amanda J. from CA

EXTRA CHANCES TO WIN!!

Teensreadtoo *WINNER* Torrie D. from CT
LiyanaLand *WINNER* Cara A. from KS
I Heart Monsters photo contest
I Heart Monsters
Steph Su Reads *WINNER* Jenna W. from OR
The (Mis)Adventures of a Single City Chick *WINNER* Cheyenne T. from TN
Shannon McKelden *WINNER* Scottsgal

Blackmailing your brother into taking you to a party has never been easier…

srobar — Thu, 28 May 2009 17:29:37 +0000

Our first installment of Advice To Young Ladies is actually advice how to cajole one’s brother into taking one to the latest soiree. Imagine, if you will, the party scene circa 1840, where you, a lovely young lady, are wanting to get out of the house and see friends and perhaps dance with a cute boy or two. How do you go about this seemingly easy task (at least by today’s standards) and join in the festivities? You don’t drive (no cars) and a young lady isn’t allowed to flit about the evening without a proper (ie: parent approved) escort so how do you get to the hoppin’ cotillion? You get your brother to take you. Suddenly, your goofy older brother doesn’t seem like such a pain in the @ss, right? Except, brother has his own agenda for the evening (because, let’s face it, he’s a guy and 1840 is still very much a guy’s world of debauchery, partying and gambling-old school style) and accompanying his little sister around town to the cities tamer amusements is so not on his agenda.
Enter the invaluable advice of Mr. Author.

To do this, a young lady must consult the tastes of her brothers, and endeavor to take sufficient interest in the pursuits that interest them, as to make herself companionable…There is no surer way for a sister to gain an influence with her brother, than to cultivate all exterior graces and accomplishments, and improve her mind by reading, thinking, and observation. By these means…gives her a double power over him for good.

I boiled down his rather long winded diatribe to get to cut to the quick of the matter, which is, don’t be a pain in the keister and show an interest in all he wants to do and he will want to spend time with you. Mr. Author follows this advice with a tale about a brother who is being cajoled by his friends to ditch his sister and go out partying with them. Our virtuous brother refuses to break the promise to his sister and after much ribbing from his buddies, he is left in peace, but wondering if he did the right thing. Next morning, in the paper there is a story about how these same friends got drunk at a restaurant, picked a fight with the owner and a huge bar brawl ensued, resulting in the death of one of the boys and grave injuries to the rest. The brother’s heart is filled with love for his sister who saved him from such a fate. He becomes her devoted escort, where she is then trotted about town to any party she wishes by a grateful brother.

Wow. Gotta love those moral tales. Though I doubt predicting your brother’s imminent demise or unsightly scarring would be a truly effective escort tool, being the kind of person he likes to be around certainly makes hanging out with you more agreeable. A couple rounds of Rock Band will go a long way in securing a lift to the next party. So, be nice to your brother and smile politely when he talks about a) sports b) video games or c) video sports games and much can be gained when the weekend comes around.

Until our next installment. Ciao Bella.