I’m feeling odd today. On the one hand, I know exactly what to do. After all, it’s release day for my sixth and final book in the Zodiac series, a day that really couldn’t come quickly enough for me (I was bursting at the seams to share this one with you all) and yet now that it’s here …

I have no idea what to do. My newsletter is out. My interviews are done. The book is clearly written. I’m kinda sitting in one space, not eating (though I am mainlining the caffeine), not really doing anything but staring out the windows, thinking, I’m done. Done.

Wow.

There is news, though. I’ll bullet-point it, since I’m feeling so spacey.

Giveaways:

If you haven’t already received your copy of THE NEON GRAVEYARD, Harper and SciFiChick are giving one away here.

Suzi at BookloversInc. is holding a contest as well.

Wicked Lil Pixie/Murder By the Book are teaming up to give away two signed copies of THE NEON GRAVEYARD.

(Warning: there’s a preceding convo in the post with THE NEON GRAVEYARD spoilers, but you can still skip to the bottom of the convo, and let them know how you feel about the Zodiac series ending (or how you feel about any series ending) to win. Contest ends June 6.)

Interviews:

If you’re wondering how I felt writing the end to Jo’s saga, BookloversInc.has the scoop, and some quick insight to augment your reading.

Waiting For Fairies has also interviewed me here (the support for this final book has been astounding. I really can’t say that enough).

And Geek Speak Magazine has an extensive interview here.

Reviews continue to roll in.

SciFiChick was satisfied.

GeekSpeak Blog has … well, spoken.

Heroes&Heartbreakers is too, too kind.

And this is insanely gratifying and humbling. The troublemakers (well, they are) over at the WLP blog have teamed up with infamous bookseller, John, to talk spoilers, spoilers, spoilers. If you’ve read the book, feel free to jump into the conversation here.

Appearances:

Thursday, in two days, I’ll be doing a day-long online event over at Bitten By Books to talk to readers extensively about the books … or whatever you want to talk about. So if you’ve read the book by then, we’ll be able to chat about it in the comments (as long as we give spoiler warnings). Until then … happy reading!

Friday, Las Vegas signing and informal/coffee klatch “tweetup” with readers.

Saturday, 1:00 pm, I get to sign at my “bucket list” store, Murder by the Book.

Next week: my longtime readers – self-appointed VPeeps – are organizing a live online chat. Time/place are still TBA, but again, it’ll be an interactive event and you can ask me anything about the series.

After all, with THE NEON GRAVEYARD on the shelves, there are no secrets now, are there?

So my Better Half and I were arguing this morning over … well, a couple of things, and one of them was the romance in my books. I contend that there has been a strong romantic subplot throughout the series. He give me the big blue fisheye, and says, “They’re not romantic.” (Couple those three words with a big faux Boston accent, and you should be able to understand why that’s so irritating over the first cuppa joe.)

“I’m fucking romantic!” I yelled, sloshing coffee.

His response? Same. As. Always.

So after I finish yawning, I said, “Jaysus. You turn someone inside-out once, and you never hear the end of it.”

Course, I needed more proof of my series’ romantic thread, more than mere indignation could supply anyway, and thankfully it came from a reader, Misty.

For those of you – like my alleged Better Half *koff* – who need proof that Hunter exists, or those who’ve wondered what exactly he looks like, I give to you …

Hunter.

Look at those piercing eyes! That leveled stare. That agile body ready to leap into action at any moment.

Okay, so it’s not exactly romantic. But, darn, he’s cute!

(Thanks, Misty!)

Not every book is going to appeal to every reader, however I can tell by the feedback I’ve been getting over the past few weeks that I’ve certainly found my tribe with the Signs of the Zodiac series, so on this loooooong weekend (BBQ, anyone?) before the final book’s release, I have to say (again), a very heartfelt, Thank you, Readers. It has been amazing hearing how much the series has meant to so many of you, that we really connected through the text (the true and humbling magic of writing, IMHO), and how much you’re going to miss Joanna. I’ll miss her, too … but as long as I have my tribe I think I’ll be all right, yanno?

Anyhoo, I apparently also connected with … a Geek! Now as someone who spends a lot of time locked alone in a room (not padded, thanks), talking to people in her head, I whole-heartedly consider myself a geek. I love meeting people, and can be as gregarious as anyone in the right circumstances, but I’m most comfortable alone, in my head, and thus the self-applied term, Geek, definitely applies to me.

That’s why I’m so chuffed about Geek Speak Magazine’s review here. Not entirely complimentary, which is unnecessary as I don’t need compliments, but they got it, which is more important. And they encapsulated what I was trying to do with Joanna’s story … one that unexpectedly turned into a saga. In short, they call it: A fitting conclusion to a captivating, complicated and utterly confounding series.

At length, they add:

In the case of The Signs of the Zodiac, Vicki Pettersson’s paradigm-shattering Urban Fantasy series, I am somewhat torn. On the one hand, I think the concept is one of the most outstandingly original and utterly enchanting mashups the expansive subgenre has ever produced, and I think it a shame it has to be brought to a close. But on the other hand I just feel kind of wrong wishing for yet more books in the series.

I do like to believe myself not entirely sadistic, after all.

And that’s what it would be. Sadism. Sadism to want to read more in this series, since from the very first the overwhelming theme here has been the relentless torture and eternal suffering of our massively unfairly-treated heroine, Joanna Archer.

You can go here if you’d like to read more, and if you’d like to read the NEON GRAVEYARD interview I just did for them last week, that can be found here. It contains some questions I hadn’t been asked before – on origins, Jo’s traumatic past, evil fathers, regrets, Vegas, and so on — and it was great fun. I thank them for their time.

Remember, if you’re having a hard time waiting until Tuesday, you can still read the first five chapters here. And I still have poker chips left as freebies. They’ll go fast at my signings, so if you want to be sure to get one first – along with a signed bookplate – that info is here. If I’ve any left over I plan on giving them away in the same way I currently do my bookplates (SASE – info on the contact/comment page sidebar).

Now I’m going to bow out of the web zone for the day to work on edits. I didn’t get to touch them yesterday with giveaways and soul poker and mommying and such, so I’m itchy to do so.

Finally, Happy Memorial Day weekend to you all! Yeah, I admit my first thought is of the grill and the beach and the call-to-arms for vast summer travel … but it wouldn’t be possible at all without the call-to-arms met by the brave men and women who sacrificed their lives for this gorgeous, flawed, proud, troubling, ambitious and loved country of ours. And for all of us, who share the same attributes.

Thank you to all those who’ve served in the armed forces for your great, great sacrifices.

I gave an extensive interview to Nocturne Reads recently about ending the Zodiac series, closure for Joanna Archer, and what comes next. You can read it here.

They were also kind enough to take time to review the book (and series) and that, spoiler-free, is here.

Meanwhile, I am momentarily caught up on poker chip freebies*, and book giveaways, and even my workout and motherly duties (bam!), so you know what that means…

Enable Freedom software, and sink into a new story for another few hours. See ya on the flipside.

*One reader has contacted me after failing to receive her poker chip. If anyone else has been waiting for an inordinately long time, please let me know so I can look into it!

So I’m sending my sole copy of THE NEON GRAVEYARD out to one reader this morning – overnighted for some light *koff* weekend reading. Yet in going over the entries, I truly wish I could give each of you who wrote in to me a copy – in thanks for your kind words now, and for reading over the years. Most people are really invested in the series if they’ve stayed with me all the way to book six, so I’m really feeling the love.

Though this entry had me laughing aloud at my keyboard:

Your books have changed my life. Before, I was boring, slow-witted, fat, nearly 50 years old, and my wandering left eye scared small animals and young children. But by the time I finished your last book I was OVER 50! I don’t know how I would have done it without you! With undying thanks,
Paul

So, yes – feeling the love and the laughter. You guys really are the best.

So I’m drawing this by random number generator (right now, actually) and the winner is … 28 …

heidilour! Oh, this is funny, too. Heidi said:

Not sure how you’re choosing this lucky weekend reader, so I’m going to spare you from my ass-kissing efforts and just let you know that I friended you on facebook and would love to be considered!

Let it forevermore be said that there is no ass-kissing required or allowed or encouraged around these *koff* parts!

Again, I’m sorry I couldn’t send this book to each of you. Your enthusiasm makes me feel that everything I’ve put Jo through has been worth it.

Of course, that’s easy for me to say. I still possess most of my soul.