Corpse Pose, the first book in my new Mantra for Murder series, is officially out tomorrow — although frequent poster (and fellow Berkely author) Jenny…Good Lord, Jenny what’s the rest of your pen name?…tells me it’s already popped up on the shelves of various Barnes and Nobles. And I see it’s got an Amazon sales ranking (not that I pay attention to such things) although it is not officially for sale.

Not that I am objecting.

It’s a weird feeling having a new series. It’s sort of like remarrying. You wonder if the people who liked your first husband will take to the new man in your life. And you wonder if all those people who warned you about that bastard who walked out on you when you needed him most will now finally be happy with new guy in town.

It’s especially odd because I’m still married to the first husband — and before I get myself arrested for bigamy, let’s drop that particular metaphor; given the way rumors travel on the ‘Net — and seeing that I’ve actually only been married once.

Anyway, new series — and with it a whole new set of expectations along with the usual hopes and dreams. Mine, the publishers, and even readers. This series is lighter, funnier, and it’s got a more commercial theme. Okay, gimmick, if you insist. Poetry works as a theme, but as a gimmick it was found wanting alongside such popular motifs as knitting, baking, wine-guzzling…ice fishing, miniatures, candlemaking, drag car racing…come on, people. Help me. Throw me out some really insanely commercial motifs we could present as the next bestselling gimmick mystery?

But yoga…well, a lot of people do yoga. And a lot of people who don’t do yoga figure that they probably should. So…yoga looks promising. And yes, by the way, you should do yoga.

Personally I find a delightful irony in the idea of someone into yoga and all things healthy and harmonious finding body after body after body. But that’s part of the fun of this series. I write it from the view of the outsider looking in, because A.J., my series protagonist, like me, is slow to get into the healthy choices thing. She’s having it thrust upon her more than anything — but sometimes that’s the most effective way to bring about change: having the choice taken from you.

Which is sort of what happened with the Poetic Death series. Pocket dropped their cozy mystery line right about the time Berkely picked up the Mantra For Murder series. A door opens, a door slams on your foot. Happily, in the end, a new reputable indie press picked up the Poetic Death series (but that’s a whole story in itself — no pun intended — trying to resurrect a series you thought was over).

Anyway, tomorrow we see what happens next. Wish me luck!