The dog ate my manuscript...

So my book is due today...and...it's so not done. I have been working on another project, a secret project. Okay, it's not so secret 'cause I'm gonna tell you what it is. Marianne Mancusi and I are doing a joint promotion this summer called (what else?) Summer Bites. We both have teen vamp series coming out and thought it would be fun to pool our resources and energy. Then we thought, that's just not enough and we started pitching a YA paranormal writers blog to our favorite authors and we are going to launch that at the same time. We will offer contests, guest bloggers, polls, etc. We are totally on fire with this idea.

So, I have been creating a new website, soliciting authors, gathering promo stuff and content for our new site www.summerbites.com and have been completely neglecting the third book in the vampire series that prompted the need for our summer bites promotion in the first place. Hmmmm, when I put it that way, that doesn't sound too smart of me, does it? Well, miSTAKEn isn't released until May 07 so I have a little time to get it done and this way, you all get to see a way cool new site with seriously talented writers.

No, I'm not going to spill who they are yet but I will soon. We are hoping to launch the site in mid February so stay tuned for our big announcement. Ciao Bella.

I'm in Buffy Baby!

So, the ever delightful and talented Susanna Carr (you remember the Twister incident, don't you?) mentioned in our last email that she noticed Berkley is launching Braced2Bite with print media in the Buffy magazine. I, of course, was all HUH?! What?!? You see, no one tells the author anything.

Anyway, according to the booksellers catalog that Penguin puts out, they mention they will be backing the launch of my book with print advertising in Buffy magazine as well as offer counter display (which is a huge big deal for a debut book).

So, I couldn't help but run out and look in the latest Buffy on the stands and couldn't find an add. But that's okay. The next Buffy is on the stands March 28 and that is their April/May edition so I *know* my book will be there.

It's like my publishing house is telling the world, if you like the work of Joss Whedon, then you'll love Serena Robar. And that my friends, is the single highest praise I could ever get as a writer. It just makes me so darn happy.

Oh yeah, and the sun is out again in Seattle and the Seahawks are going to the SuperBowl. How awesome is that?!

Not feelin' the love

We are going on 30+ days straight of rain in the Seattle area and I am definately feeling the 'season disorder' euphoria such weather conditions can promote. I've had a hard time getting out of bed, not motivated to write (despite a looming deadline) and I don't even have an appetite (which should be ringing huge alarm bells for anyone who knows me). I even went to the doctor and had some blood tests run to see if maybe I was low on iron or something to account for my lack of motivation. Nope, they came back fine.

Then it struck me. I'm not feeling the love. I haven't had any feedback on my last book from my editor. I turned it in five months ago and she has not been able to read through it (in her defense she is an amazing editor and so busy, I'm surprised she has time to breathe). But alas, its hard to get into the next book of the series without that little bit of praise. I need the love. I'm high maintenace. Duh, like that's a secret. Sigh.

Fendi, Ferragamo and Fangs wins

And thank goodness because the others were really gunning for VAMP and that got no votes, lol. A special thanks to CA for our new title. She is the queen of titles. Really. You need a title? Ask CA. She can come up with it. She has the title gift, I tell ya.

So, I now have a name for my anthology with Julie Kenner and Johanna Edwards. Sweet. I have galleys to review today for Braced2Bite and miSTAKEn is due at the end of the month. I have a lot to do. So, of course, I am procrastinating by cleaning out my refridgerator. :)

What do you do when deadlines loom?
-Serena

Vote on a Title

Here it is. The entry you've all been waiting for (yah right). Vote on the one you think is the best title for my anthology coming in 2007.

Premise of the anthology is three girls are picked across the US to become models in NY for the summer. While doing the model thing, they are partying every night, being followed by paparazzi and generally living it up when WHAM! They get changed into vampires. Stay tuned for the real title name.

What title do you like best?
	New York Bites
	VAMP
	Fendi, Ferragamo & Fangs
	The A negative List
	Vamps Gone Wild
Free polls from Pollhost.com

Titles

I don't like to brag but I'm pretty good with the whole title thing. I mean, I think I am able to come up with a catchy title that captures the spirit of the book and the readers attention.

After all, I've sold three books and all three got to keep their original title. Considering titles are changed about 50% of the time, I was feeling downright cocky about my titling expertise.

Until book 4, that is. Book 4 mocks me. Maybe because its an anthology and I have a new editor and a couple other fingers in the pie, all of us having to agree on a title or maybe my first three titles were flukes, but now all my suggested titles have been rejected (echo, echo, echo).

I even pulled out the big guns and queried my writer friends and they gave me terrific titles. Well, actually CA's title suggestion is currently holding second place if the first title fails to live up to its duties by the copy department.

So, as soon as this title situation is worked out, I will post it with my top three suggestions and you get to vote on the one you think is the title. It's time to put my title talent to the test. How will I do? Stay tuned.