Releasing the Research

Happy Tuesday! Yes, it's true! It's the official release day for Alien Research! I realize that half the world seems to have gotten this book early, but for those of you who haven't, today's the day!

Haven't gotten the book yet? Check out the PRR (Pre Review Ravings) at Bibliognome to tide you over. Or whet your appetite. Or both.

Team Gini swears that any pics you take of the bookie wookies in the wild will get up onto the Sightings page, and who are we to argue, especially since they've made it all pretty again? So, if you get some shots, please send them in! Speaking of the website, Free Stuff is updated, so check it out and see what new things you can get for, yes, free.

So, what will I be doing to celebrate Alien Research's release? I'll be getting a mammogram and a bone density test. (Because my life is just that kind of exciting.) But, honestly, the mammogram especially is an important test and I do one yearly (and this year's just happens to fall on release day). One of my BFFs didn't get one for years. Her husband spotted something -- and that something was very virulent breast cancer. She's a totally positive person and quite the fighter, and it looks like she's going to beat this. However, per her and her doctors, if she'd had regular screenings, this would have been caught before it was at the terrifying level. So, please, if you have the ta-tas, go get them squished for the safety of your health. And if you love someone with ta-tas, encourage them to get a yearly mammogram. Because losing even one Member of the Alien Collective is one member too many.

Medical stuff out of the way, this weekend and next week I'll be doing fun things, and seeing some of you at them!

--Saturday, December 7, Mysterious Galaxy San Diego, CA, Eat! Read! Party! Holiday Event, 3-5pm
--Sunday, December 8, Mysterious Galaxy Redondo Beach, CA, Holiday Party, 3-5pm
--Thursday, December 12, The Poisoned Pen, Scottsdale, AZ, Book Signing, 7-8:00pm

Hope everyone who celebrated had a wonderful Thanksgiving, is having a happy Hanukkah, that everyone had a great weekend, and that everyone has an even better week. See some of you in SoCal this coming weekend, and let's all be Alien Research readers out there! Peace out, my li'l gangstas, and I'll catch you on the flip side!

Love,
Gini

Happy Everythings

Happy Hump Day!

For those of us in the US, and those who are from the US but are elsewhere, tomorrow is Thanksgiving. Other countries do this, too, and something that's great about this holiday is that we try to stop and remember what we're thankful for. I'll get to my list in a bit, but before that, there's some things to catch all y'all up on, so let's get to those!

First up, the first review of Alien Research is in! See what Larissa's Bookish Life thought of it. (And it's still not too late to pre-order your copy, either online or from your local bookstore, including any bookstore I'm going to be visiting in the next few weeks.)

Next up, In Medias Res is doing a big, month-long giveaway that includes a lot of authors, including yours truly. Check it out and, good news, there are plenty of prizes that are open to international winners! Check every Friday in December for new authors (my giveaways will be on Dec. 20th) and more chances to win!

Speaking of winning, you still have time to enter to win an Alien Research two-fer from Project Paranormal. Don't miss out on this great contest!

Speaking again of winning, more winners were announced (in the blog entries below), so if you even think you've entered something, scroll down and check them out. And while you're wandering, the website has had some more things done to it (that's the technical term, per what Team Gini tells me), so check it out, too!

My ePublisher, Musa Publishing, is doing some huge deals over this coming week, so check early and often to see what great books you can get for even greater prices!

Alert Member of the Alien Collective in Very Good Standing Shawn spotted these two articles at Tor.com that I thought were quite interesting -- Sleeps With Monsters and Can We Stop Sorting Ourselves.

On to some things I'm thankful for. I'm thankful my house didn't burn down with everything I own, including everything I was writing, in it. But my friend, and Member of the Alien Collective in Very Good Standing, Beth Bartlett wasn't so lucky. She and her husband, and their pets, are all okay, but they have nothing left. If you are able to make any monetary donations to help, a fund has been set up for the family at Community First Bank through Karen Halper (479.253.0566), or directly to Beth via Paypal to egbartlett@earthlink.net.

What else am I thankful for? Many things, most of the usual -- family, friends, health, career. But I'm also very thankful for all of you. You're all, hands down, the best fans in the world, and I'm thankful every day that you all chose to come along on the wild rides that Kitty & Company, and all my other characters, like to take you on. Sure, I'd still do it without you, but it just wouldn't be nearly as much fun.

Peace out and Happy Thanksgiving to all my li'l gangstas who celebrate, happy rest of the week and weekend to everyone else, those who indulge in Black Friday madness enjoy yourselves, thanks to those who are working at whatever jobs tomorrow and this weekend, and let's all have a safe and wonderful end to November. Be happy readers out there, and I'll catch you on the flip side! And I leave you with this...a picture of Kitty's cat... ;-D

Love,
Gini

P.S. Happy Hanukkah! Yeah, yeah, I'm a bad Jew. I forgot. BUT I remembered BEFORE it started. So that's something, right? Right? Happy 8 Crazy Nights to all, from Sol, Angela, and Kitty & Company!

So Much To Do...

...and so little time...

More info coming tomorrow. But I know people are (im)patiently waiting, so here's more prize news!

Kelli Ferguson, check your email.

All who entered the Lightning Round for the last copy of Alien Research, check the Researching Winners (below) blog comments to find out if you were the winner.

Both winners have until Wed., Nov. 27th to send me an email (gini@ginikoch.com) with your name, full mailing address including country, and how you want the book personalized (name, nickname, someone else, etc.), or the Gods of Random will show how capricious they can be (again, in one case) and snatch back the goodies.

That's it for today, but more's on the way, so let's be readers out there!

Love,
Gini

Researching Winners

Happy Thursday! Well, the Gods of Random have spoken and the winners of the advanced final copies of Alien Research have been chosen. If you entered, read on and see if you were one of the lucky ones.

If you didn't enter, read on anyway, because, as my Hook Me Up! subscribers already know, there's going to be a reason for you to continue on. Trust me. (Think: Lightning Round... ;-D)

But before then, we have a few other things going on. Head over to Slice of SciFi and see what I think of Season 2 of the Legend of Korra. 

Then remember to get entered to win an Alien Research two-fer over at
Project Paranormal.

Speaking of Alien Research, check out Deathless Prose where an excerpt (the opener and first chapter) is up to whet your appetite for the bookie wookie. (Releases Dec. 3rd -- and it's still not too late to do your girl a solid and pre-order your copy, either online or directly from your bookstore of choice!)

Speaking of the website, we have updates on Free Stuff and Sightings in the Wild -- yes, it's true, Team Gini got Sightings revised BEFORE the End of Days (don't faint). There's more coming on both those pages, and others on the website, so keep the eyeballs peeled.

We're down to the last few days to fund the Winter in the City Kickstarter anthology. If you haven't added in yet, take a look -- lots of cool authors are slated for this one!

And, because this just really resonated with me for some strange reason ;-D, check out 14 Ways to Tick off a Writer over at The Penguin Press.

And now, for what you're all really waiting for, Part 1. The winners of an advanced final copy of Alien Research, as chosen by the Gods of Random:

Beth Blanchard
Marybelle Gann
Chelene Ho
MandyMe
Barbara Elness

I loved all the comments all y'all sent in your emails and in the Blog comments, and it was really hard to choose who was going to score the extra prize. However, the Special Winner prize is going to the person who went above and beyond and assigned names and full on descriptions to Christopher's Patented Glares -- Melissa Katano

NOTE FOR WINNERS: You MUST send me an email with your first & last name, full mailing address including country, and how/who you want the book personalized (name, nickname, someone else, etc.) to by Sunday, Nov. 24, 2013. If I haven't heard from you by the end of the day on the 24th, the Gods of Random will demand a new sacrifice, the prize will be pulled back, and given to another entrant.

But wait...there's more. That's right, and this one's open to anyone OTHER than the 6 who just won today. Anyone, on Hook Me Up! or not, who answers this next question here, at this Blog post, is entered. There's one more copy of Alien Research, and it'll go to the person who gives the reply the Gods of Random like best to this question:

There were lots of really good ideas for which characters should get more in-depth stories about them in some way. So, you all get to vote. Pick who you'd most like to get a back, side, or extra story about (this is not a guarantee, btw, but we all know I write short stories and novellas all the time so...) from these options:

A) How Reader Met Gower
B) Angela Fiore, Teen SuperSpy
C) A Week in the Life of Malcolm Buchanan

This contest addendum is live through Sunday, Nov. 24th and the winner will be picked and announced on Monday, Nov. 25th. Be SURE that I have a way to contact you (leave your email address in your comment if at all possible), or else you'll need to monitor the Blog every day. As with the rest, yes this is open internationally, and same rules and restrictions apply, so check out the main contest post (below) for all that info.

That's it for today, but as always, more's on the way! So enjoy the downward slide towards the weekend and let's be readers out there! Peace out, my li'l gangstas, and I'll catch you on the flip side!

Love,
Gini

Extra Winning!

Happy Tuesday! Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend and that this week's started off well for all. We have a bunch going on, much of it related to winning things, so let's get to it!

First off, a reminder that the current contest to win a signed, early copy of Alien Research is going on now, but it ends TOMORROW (Wed., Nov. 20th) so get your entries in TODAY. But it's for Hook Me Up! subscribers only. Not on? Now's the time to fix that. Send an email to gini@ginikoch.com with "Hook Me Up!" in the subject line and you'll be in with the cool kids and get a copy of the rules sent right to you.

Speaking of winning Alien Research, Project Paranormal also has a contest going! So get entered over there, too! And theirs is a two-fer, so get entered to win today! 

Next up, see what Larissa's Bookish Life thinks are the best books to read on vacation. Then, see what Bibliognome and Gizmo's Reviews got in their mail.
 
After that, head over to Slice of SciFi and see what I think of Sleepy Hollow, 5 Episodes In. Agree or disagree? Join the conversation over at Slice!

That's it for today, but as always, more's on the way! So enjoy the rest of the week ahead, and let's be readers out there!

Love,
Gini 

Alien Research Advanced Copy Giveaway!

When rumors of a new super-drug surface, the FBI comes to Jeff and Kitty Katt-Martini for help. It becomes quickly apparent that the drug is merely the tip of a deadly iceberg and a much more insidious plan is underway involving Titan Security, Gaultier Enterprises, and YatesCorp.

As newly discovered A-Cs and hybrids begin to surface, each with expanded and deadly talents, more and more signs point to a new evil genius who’s using the A-Cs and their enemies both as guinea pigs.

Then Area 51 and the Dulce Science Center go silent while Alpha Team, Airborne, and most of the worldwide A-C Security team are there for training. And if that’s not bad enough, Centaurion Division is hit with more bad, and deadly, news: Chernobog the Ultimate, isn’t a hacker myth, he’s a real person -- and he’s on the bad guys’ side.

Now Kitty and company must find the real Dr. Feelgood and stop him or her before the latest version of Surcenthumain hits the streets and more people they love are harmed, or worse.

But when the inconceivable happens, Kitty’s focused on two things only: reviving the ACE entity before their enemies realize Earth’s best protection isn’t actually active…and revenge.

ALIEN RESEARCH GIVEAWAY
FOR HOOK ME UP! SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

DAW has sent me many shiny, final, early release copies of Alien Research, and that means I'm giving them to you! I have not one, not two, but FIVE (5) copies to give away. I know! It's too happy to be true! But true it is!

So, Hook Me Up! subscribers, answer this question: If you had to research more about any one character from the series, who would you choose and why?

LEGALESE
Contest will run weekly from Wednesday, November 13th through Wednesday, November 20th. Winners will be announced Thursday, November 21st. Winners will have until the following Sunday, November 24th, to check in -- any prize not claimed by then will be pulled back by the Gods of Random and a new winner(s) will be chosen.

This an international contest -- as long as you're on Planet Earth, you can enter and win. You must have a deliverable address, though - no P.O. boxes. Prize may take 2-4 weeks to ship; it may take 6-8 weeks for international or longer. (Yes, I'm hoping you'll have the books before December 3rd -- but because the A-Cs aren't doing the delivery, I can't guarantee it.)

Not on Hook Me Up! yet? Rectify! Send an email to gini@ginikoch.com with "Hook Me Up!" in the subject line and you'll be in with the in-crowd and also get the entry rules sent to you.

So, best of luck to all, and let the contest begin!

Love,
Gini

It's Time...

Time for what, you ask? Read on and find out...

I know, again I've been quiet and non-communicative, at least, so to speak. But I've been busy with Alien Collective, my short for Clockwork Universe: Steampunk vs. Aliens, and more. So let's get to the more, shall we? Because there's a surprise at the end I know you're going to want in on...

First off, check out my latest reviews for Slice of SciFi's 5 Episodes In series -- Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Arrow. Agree with my views? Disagree? Join the discussion on Slice!

Speaking of Clockwork Universe, a Member of the Alien Collective in Very Good Standing has written a cool little blog about The Music of Steampunk.

Speaking of stories in Kickstarter anthologies, I'm in another one. Check out, and fund if you're able, Winter in the City, where there will be stories from moi and a host of other awesome authors.

Then, head over and see what The Nameless Zine thinks of A Cup of Joe by moi writing as Anita Ensal, reviewed in their Book Nook section.

Last but not least, I woke up to some happy news yesterday. Alien in the House is up for the RT Book Awards in the Science Fiction Romance category! There are a ton of awesome authors and excellent books nominated in all the categories, so take a look and see where your favorites landed!

Okay, okay, that wasn't totally "last". This is. And I know you won't find it "least", either. Penguin is no longer doing ARCs, so I no longer have ARCs to give away. However, and before we all start sobbing, I do have something else to give away in the place of ARCs, because DAW understands your pain. That's right -- the contest for signed, personalized, EARLY copies of Alien Research is about to start!

BUT...it's for Hook Me Up! subscribers only. Not on? Now's the time to GET on, because this contest is going to be short and fast so the winners get their books BEFORE release day! (At least, that is my plan.) Send an email to gini@ginikoch.com with "Hook Me Up!" in the subject line, then you'll be in with the in-crowd and the rules for entry will be sent to you.

Beyond all that, enjoy the downward slide to the weekend, and let's be (winning!) readers out there! Peace out, my li'l gangstas, and I'll catch you on the flip side!

Love,
Gini