Robert Beatty is a successful author of children's fantasy/mystery novels, best known for his Serafina series. Prior to his career as a novelist, Beatty was a pioneer in cloud computing and a successful entrepreneur. He founded Plex Systems, one of the earliest companies in the cloud computing industry, and co-founded Beatty Robotics. Additionally, he served as the CTO and chairman of Narrative Magazine, an online literature periodical. In 2007, Beatty was named an Entrepreneur of the Year.
Beatty's love for storytelling was inspired by his desire to create tales featuring heroic young girls for his three daughters. His first novel, Serafina and the Black Cloak, was an instant success, debuting on the New York Times Best Sellers list in its first week and remaining there for twenty more weeks. The series, which includes Serafina and the Twisted Staff, Serafina and the Splintered Heart, and Serafina and the Seven Stars, has become a favorite among young readers and adults alike and is being taught in over a thousand classrooms nationwide. Beatty's latest novel, Willa of Dark Hollow, was published in May 2021.
Born and raised in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Asheville, North Carolina, Beatty now lives there with his wife and three daughters. He loves to explore the Biltmore Estate and the darkened forest trails that provide the backdrop for his novels. Beatty is dedicated to his writing, having left his successful career in technology to focus on his passion for storytelling. His unique background in technology and his love for his family have come together to create the imaginative and thrilling world of Serafina and Willa.