My new book will be out from Peachtree Publishers in the spring of 2012!

"Summer on the Moon" is set in this instant in America. The economy is tanking… People are scared… But for Socko Starr, and his mother, Delia, being worried about money is just business as usual. They are living in a cramped city apartment, Socko trying to dodge the notice of the local gang leader, Rapp, when Socko’s great grandfather makes them an offer. “The General” will buy them a house if they agree to take care of him so he doesn't have to go into a nursing home. “The General,” who Socko has never met, turns out to be a crotchety, bossy old man, who thinks it is a great joke to “play dead” to shake up his great-grandson—and that isn’t the only surprise when the mother and son start their new life.

The house Delia buys seems like a great bargain. What she doesn't know is that “Moon Ridge Estates,” the half-finished subdivision the house is in, is going bankrupt. When Delia, Socko and The General move in, they are the only people who live there.

So, what is it like to be the only kid in a sprawling subdivision of unfinished houses? It's great! Socko suddenly has turf of his own—far more than the gang leader, Rapp, could ever imagine. He turns the empty swimming pool into his own personal skate park, skeletal houses become giant jungle gyms. Then Livvy and her family move in. Livvy says she "owns" Moon Ridge Estates. It is her father's project. But who knows what will happen if Moon Ridge goes bust? Livvy, Socko, and an odd assortment of adults have to pull together to save Moon Ridge.

Things look like they’ll be okay—and then Rapp, the nightmare Socko thought he had left behind, comes after him.

How does it end? All I'll say is that it ends with a splash (like a car makes when it flies into a swimming pool)!

Another one from the neighborhood:

Have you been missing Cass, Jemmie, Ben, Justin, Cody and all the kids in the neighborhood? I know I have.

This time, the main character is a hat. A hat that belonged to Ben and Cody's mysterious and missing Uncle Paul. When Cody puts it on, something happens. Is it magic or just imagination? Whatever it is it only works for Cody. Is that because he and his uncle share a birthday and a name although reversed: Cody Paul and Paul Cody? With that shared birthday only a week away strange things are happening.

Note: if you read "The Big Nothing" and have been wondering whether or not Jemmie "likes" Justin you'll get your answer in this book.