Some Things To Do While Sheltering In Place

Hey there, long time no see! Sheltering at home has some advantages, my getting to things being only one of them.

UPDATE: Due to The Virus Troubles, The 10th Anniversary party for Touched by an Alien, scheduled for April 10 at The Poisoned Pen Bookstore in Phoenix, has been postponed. (You know, just like everything else.) We'll let you know when it's back on, but until then, here's other cool things you can enjoy from the safety of your own homes...

Want Some New Humorous Science Fiction & Fantasy? Good! So do we! The Kickstarter for the Unidentified Funny Objects 8 anthology is rolling and has a week to go to fund. So, now's a great time to check it out and make sure you get some more funny coming to you! As an added bonus, my story will be featuring the cover model. You KNOW you want to see what I'm gonna do with that. So don't delay, go support this anthology today!

Looking for something to listen to? Look (left) here for The Legend of Belladonna Book 1: Natural Born Outlaws by moi writing as A.E. Stanton...and (right) here for Alexander Outland: Space Pirate by moi writing as G.J. Koch. (And, also, see below for something else to listen to.)

Want something new with a kickass chick who's witty and fun? Then check out the latest from my friend, Kori David: Guarding Him.

Want to read about "my inspiration" and the inspiration of some other awesome authors? Check out the blog for a new anthology, A Dying Planet, featuring my story "The Last Day on Earth" by moi writing as Anita Ensal. (And, also, see below, for one of my constant inspirations.) 

Because I care: Let Henry Cavill Read "The Witcher" To You (Okay, yes, he can play Martini.)

That's it for today but, never fear, more's on the way. In the meantime, stay safe and healthy, remember we're all in this together, be kind to one another, give love and support to all those who are on the front lines in any capacity, and let's be readers out there. Peace out, my li'l gangstas, and I'll catch you on the flip side!

Love, Gini

It's a Valentine's Blog! (Don't Faint)

Happy Valentine's Day and I hope the shock of an actual blog post doesn't throw off your celebratory groove! Speaking of  a celebratory groove, I have some awesome news. Vicki K has come aboard onto Team Gini as my Communications Manager, to help ensure that you hear from me more than once in what seems like an epoch. So please give her a big Alien Collective Welcome (she's why this is actually showing up today)! Now, read on for all the news about all the things, including the exciting news that I'm leaving the Writing Cave in the Manse to make a personal appearance soon... Touched by an Alien turns 10! Hard as it is to believe, the 10th anniversary of the publication of Touched by an Alien, aka The Book That Started It All, happens this April. And I'm doing something sort of special for it...I'm heading home to party with my peeps. I'll be at The Poisoned Pen bookstore in Scottsdale, Arizona on Friday, April 10th, from 7pm to close, partying with the staff, the bookie wookies, and any of y'all that can join me! (There may be a LiveStream, so stay tuned if you're too far to come in person.) Yes, we plan to have a Food With Fans event prior, so watch this space, so to speak. Can't wait to see everyone and feel the desert air again! There's a big question it seems like all y'all have been asking me -- why has Aliens Like Us disappeared from everyone's preorders? And the follow-up question -- why isn't it yet BACK on everyone's pre-orders? The bookie wookie is still off the schedule so that I can make it the awesome book I see in my head and have described to my editor. And that's going a little slower than we'd all like, but it IS coming and before we're into a new decade, promise. (Hopefully before we're into a new year, too.) So, hang tough and hang tight -- Kitty and Company have not deserted you, and, despite how little you've heard from me in the past year or so, neither have I.  BTW...these days, pre-orders matter more and more, and I want to thank EVERYONE who pre-ordered only to get weird "coming in the year 3000" and similar notices. Please do your girl a solid and either keep your pre-orders of Aliens Like Us going, re-pre-order if you canceled in despair, either now or when it's once again scheduled (and anything else from me and your other favorite authors) from your favorite bookstore or online retailer. Kitty & Company will appreciate it, and so will I, particularly since my publisher really and truly cares about this, especially for books that are, shall we say, a tad or *cough* more overdue. Speaking of Valentine's Day, here's a little poem I share every year because it's true... Roses are red, violets are blue, my fans are the best, and I love all of you. Communications Manager Moment Hello! I'm Vicki K and I've joined Team Gini as her Communications Manager, helping Gini share all the news and updates we fans love to hear. Yep, I'm a fan too, and I'm delighted to be working with my favorite living author. Team Gini Forever! Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest Need More Things to Keep You Occupied Until I Get Aliens Like Us Over to DAW?   We've got you covered.   The Latest Anthologies Featuring "Pickman's Daughter" by moi writing as J.C. Koch Featuring "The Last Day on Earth" by moi writing as Anita Ensal, coming April 15, 2020 Featuring "Portal Pirates" by moi writing as Anita Ensal Featuring "Missy the Were-Pomeranian vs. The Lord of Time" Featuring "A Lawman, an Outlaw, and a Gambler Walk Into a Bar..." by moi writing as A.E. Stanton Featuring "The Three Assassins of Lord Slaughter" by moi writing as Anita Ensal Featuring "H.P. and Me", a Necropolis Enforcement Files prequel. Featuring "The Vampire's Apprentice"...one of Tangent Online's 3 Star Short Stories for 2018! So many bookie wookies, so much time to catch up on all of them while waiting for Aliens Like Us. Check out my Bookstore and Bibliography for all the things! Audio Books Official Selection HEAR Now: The Audio Fiction and Arts Festival 2018 By moi writing as G.J. Koch Because I know some of you are going to ask...we are still working to get the Alien series onto audio. As with so many things, hang tight, it'll happen (if we all clap really hard and believe a pixie can fly and all that jazz...). That's it for today but, despite all the evidence to the contrary, more's on the way. Have great weekends, whether you're going out with a special someone, a group, or just doing your own thing with your own bad self, stay warm and dry or cool and comfy, depending on where you are in the world, and let's be readers out there! Peace out, my li'l gangstas, and I'll catch you on the flip side! Love,  Gini

It's A Bird, It's a Plane...No, It's A Blog, Finally!

Hey there, long time no hear from me! 

I know, I know...what were the odds that it would only take me 8 months to do an update? (I know that, too -- the odds were ever in favor of that.) 

But an update is (finally) here, and there's a lot to it (including a link to a brand new humor short, so keep the eyeballs peeled for that). So let's get to it, shall we?

First up, the big question, issue, and concern -- why has Aliens Like Us disappeared from everyone's preorders? Well, as many of you know and as most of you may have guessed by the lack of my actually managing to keep in regular touch, the last 2-3 years have been one thing after another for my family, and the move across the country was merely one in a long line of "things" that caused stress, and I was getting later and later with everything and buckling under the pressure. Plus, I'd written a lot of words that my editor and I both felt weren't good enough. So, the bookie wookie has been pulled from the schedule so that I can make it the awesome book I see in my head and have described to my editor. What does this mean? Aliens Like Us is still coming (as are Books 18, 19, & 20), but I have to rewrite it first, so I can't tell you WHEN it's coming. But it WILL be back on the schedule and all the book it's meant to be. And the moment I know you guys will know, too. BTW...these days, pre-orders matter more and more, and I want to thank EVERYONE who pre-ordered only to get weird "coming in the year 3000" and similar notices. Please do your girl a solid and pre-order Aliens Like Us when it's once again scheduled -- and anything else from me and your other favorite authors -- from your favorite bookstore or online retailer. Kitty & Company will appreciate it, and so will I. So, what have I been doing to fill the hours in between rewrites? Lots of things, really. So read on and read all about them! As always, I have so many things going on at TG Geeks! So, check out all my various yaps, and then all the rest of the coolness over there! Because, you name it, we ALL talk about it! And remember -- we love your comments on pretty much everything, so if you have thoughts on the reviews and so forth, share them...you might end up with your comments shared and discussed on the podcast. Old Classics? Newly Reviewed! Bringing Up Baby School For Scoundrels The Hidden Eye Kismet Dr. Doolittle The Third Man My Fair Lady North By Northwest King Solomon's Mines His Girl Friday Mystery Movie aka The Worst Live-Action Disney Film of All Time Double Feature -- Dick Tracy 1945 & 1990 Double Feature -- The Awful Truth & My Favorite Wife  Christmas Classics The Man Who Invented Christmas The Nightmare Before Christmas, Sing Along Version Bachelor Mother for the Holidays The Santa Clause Office Christmas Party Home Alone Trading Places Reindeer Games Double Feature -- RED & RED 2 Double Feature -- Die Hard & Die Hard 2 Binging My Life Away The Time Tunnel  Three Episode Thoughts The Rookie Magnum, P.I. (2018) Social Saturdays The English Beat at City Winery Atlanta  Miscellaneous Moi Holiday Memories -- This is a BRAND NEW humor piece (don't faint)   You say: Gini, I'm all caught up on all the fun stuff over at TG Geeks. Now what? I say: Scroll on down... It's A Book Club! As I hope all y'all know, I write horror as J.C. Koch and am a member of the Horror Writers Association. Since getting to Atlanta, I've become a charter member (and, somehow, President) of the HWA Atlanta Chapter. And we have a Book Club. Every month, we spotlight a different book from one of our members and encourage everyone we know to buy them, read them, and review them (and, yes, we accept reviews that are less than 5 stars because not everyone loves everything and we know it). The Book Club has been active for a while, so here's what we've featured so far...so join our Club and get to reading! The Book Club Selection for February 2019 is Frightful Fables, Vol. 1, by D.C. Phillips. We started 2019 with January's selection of The She-Wolf of Kanta by Marlena Frank. December 2018's selection was I Never Meant to Start a Murder Cult and Other Stories by Darrell Z. Grizzle. November 2018's selection was Zombie Road (1) by David A. Simpson. I strongly suggest you check it out, and the other 5 books in the series, for REASONS I will be sharing with you soon... October 2018's selection was All Those Broken Angels by Peter Adam Salomon. Peter's also the one who created Dark Poetry Day, which was inaugurated in 2018 as well! September 2018's selection was Bring Her Back by Jeff Strand.  The inaugural Book Club selection for August 2018 was The Night Beat, by Moi. If you somehow haven't read it yet, now's the time! And check out this lovely review from author Marlena Frank: "This book is an incredible roller coaster ride of action, monsters, and special guests." The March 2019 selection will be Will Haunt You by Brian Kirk. Want to share what you thought with the authors directly? Head over to our Facebook page -- Horror Writers Association Atlanta Chapter -- and talk all things books with us! In regards to Valentine's Day, a little poem to share how I feel about all y'all... Roses are red, violets are blue, my fans are the best, and I love all of you. Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest So, there's this odd new site that many of my author pals have discovered, and apparently I'm there, too. Sort of. There are so very many things wrong here (not all, just most) that I can't figure out why anyone bothered or how they aggregate the information. BUT, because I'm a giver, me, I share VIP FAQ with you because, well, someone has to, I guess.  Need More Things to Keep You Occupied Until I Get Aliens Like Us Over to DAW?   We've got you covered. From Zombies Need Brains Featuring "The City Under the Sea" by moi writing as J.C. Koch. Featuring "A Kitty-Bot's Tale", an Alien Series Short that takes place during the events of Alien Education. Featuring "Missy the Were-Pomeranian vs. the Masters of Mediocre Doom". Featuring "Alien Epilogue", an Alien Series Short, taking place right after the events of Universal Alien. From the Independent Collection My humor collection. Yes, really, all the stories are true... Standalone romantic suspense with humor and alligators. The first three Martian Alliance novellas ("The Royal Scam", "Three Card Monte", and "A Bug's Life") in one collection. Meet Mattie. She sees dead people. But they're cool. Mostly... Book One of The New West series, by moi writing as A.E. Stanton Book Two of The New West series, by moi writing as A.E. Stanton  From Baen Books     From UFO Press Featuring "H.P. and Me", a Necropolis Enforcement Files prequel. Featuring "The Vampire's Apprentice"...one of Tangent Online's 3 Star Short Stories for 2018! So many bookie wookies, so much time to catch up on all of them while waiting for Aliens Like Us. Check out my Bookstore and Bibliography for all the things! I mentioned Tangent Online up above...here are their reviews of several of the anthologies I've been in that you might want to check out if you've missed them. Unidentified Funny Objects 7/"The Vampire's Apprentice": "Excellent overall." The Cackle of Cthulhu/"H.P. and Me": "An action-driven romp." Unidentified Funny Objects 6/"Alexander Outland: Space Jockey": "...fast paced with a lot of action..." Unidentified Funny Objects 5/"The Problem with Poofs": "...this is a great read..." Unidentified Funny Objects 4/"Support Your Local Alien": "...entertainingly preserves "Miss" and "Missus" in the age of warp travel..." Unidentified Funny Objects 3/"Live at the Scene": "It's a clever satire on television reporting..." Tangent Online Recommended Reading List 2014 -- "Live at the Scene" awarded 1 Star Tangent Online Recommended Reading List 2018 -- "The Vampire's Apprentice" awarded 3 Stars There's a cool story about one of my brothers from another mother, Jeff Twohig, and what he's been doing in Digital Print for on demand comic books over at Xerox. (And, do a Where's Gini and see if you can spot me in one of the pics. :-D) The Science Fiction Romance Blog gave Touched by an Alien a nice recommendation: "This novel is a madcap caper that should appeal to fans of Men In Black." Check out the full review! That's it for today but, despite all the evidence to the contrary, more's on the way. Have great weeks, stay warm and dry or cool and comfy, depending on where you are in the world, and let's be readers out there! Peace out, my li'l gangstas, and I'll catch you on the flip side! Love, Gini