Google has launched a Google Maps API blog to keep developers better informed about changes to the API, plus, they say (because there’s only one post so far), tips and so forth. Via Google Maps Mania.

But if the API is too much for you, you could always try a third-party service like Wayfaring (via Cartography and Google Maps Mania). There are other services out there that simplify building a map with the Google Maps API, aren’t there? (They may be lost in my notes somewhere for all I know.)