Thanks to everyone for the ’grats on the new site, and for the mounting excitement re. the release of the final book of the Zodiac series, THE NEON GRAVEYARD (May 31). It hasn’t gone unnoticed that more than one reader has expressed sadness at the end of the series, to which I say with all sincerity: that makes me so happy. It really does. I’d much rather you rue the successful ending of the series than rue its continuation, and I was more afraid of the latter happening if I continued driving Joanna so hard and fast on her journey through the Zodiac underworld. Start strong, end stronger – that’s my motto (that I just made up. ).

The truth is, I’ve been watching Joanna closely for the last couple of books, knowing she was both getting fatigued and wondering when she’d get a breather (if not a happy ending), and the sixth book is in response to that. My hope is that after the events in THE NEON GRAVEYARD, you’re going to feel like you’ve stumbled home at dawn after a long night out with great friends, and are more than ready to rest up for a new day. Because that’s where I am with Joanna and co. We’ve had our fun (What? Fun is relative, right?), we’ve each gone home, and we’re done talking for now.

Now if you want to know why Jo’s done talking to me … well, you’ll just have to read the book. [← Insert melodramatic and villainous authorial cackle here. ]

Off to scribble.

Welcome to my new website! Isn’t it kewl? I hate to gush so openly about something that is mine, mine, mine but as I can take absolutely no credit for it, I’m gushing anyway. The fine folks at www.austindesignworks.com* worked their tails off to give me an online home that I hope will be comfortable for both my readers and me. I needed a central and effective way to get all the latest information on my books to you, and you need a way to get the information you want in the fashion you want.

So you can now choose between RSS feeds, Facebook, Twitter, my forum *waving to the VPeeps* or my contact/comment page (which is new to me, so bear with me while I work out the kinks. I’m excited, though, because I think we’ve found a way for you to get your comments to me quickly and efficiently and for me to be able to respond in kind).

In any case, I couldn’t be happier with the results. I get twitchy when I visit websites with too much going on, but let me know if there’s a missing feature you’d like to see. The goal is to make this an interactive home base where you can feel free to pop in and out, or kick up your feet and lounge. I’m also now able to easily shoot off breaking announcements and news, as well as offer book excerpts, snippets, and giveaways, starting with the final book of the zodiac, The Neon Graveyard.

So mark it, post it, tweet it, store it – and have a look around, too. Cyber-cupcakes to the right. Champagne to the left. Oh, and I’ve dropped a couple of crumbs around the site about the new series I’m working on, too – which, of course, I’ll be talking more about in this space later.

*I really can’t say enough wonderful things about my web designer. If anyone out there is looking for a smart, friendly, efficient and affordable site/update, this is the place to go.