California Dreamin'

Happy Hump Day! Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend, a lovely Easter for those who celebrated, and that the week's been treating you well. I'm heading off to SoCal -- WITH my holiday gift from the hubs of a brand new laptop that is not running no longer supported OS (farewell, XP...we barely knew ye) -- for a family reunion and related activities. But before I go I wanted to catch you all up on the latest stuff.

First off, the annual Brenda Novak auction for diabetes is starting May 1st, and I've got a super item in the auction -- an Alien Pack. The winner will get all 9 books so far in the Alien series, an exclusive, limited edition totebag to hold them all in, and more. Bookmark the site and my bid section so you can bid to win! All proceeds go to a great charity, and there are tons of amazing things to bid on, so take a look and get ready to go crazy!

Have you gotten Touched by an Alien in audio format yet? Well, if not, join the party! Available from Audible, Amazon, Tantor Audio, and other fine retailers all over.

Even the news media is talking about my Early Release Party for Alien Collective over at The Poisoned Pen on Saturday, May 3rd, from 2:00-3:00pm. There will be prizes, lots of fun, moi, and the happiness of getting Alien Collective days earlier than anyone else will -- don't miss it!

BTW, it's not too late to pre-order Alien Collective from any bookstore. But if you pre-order from The Poisoned Pen or Mysterious Galaxy you can get the book signed and personalized, too -- they're just cool that way.

Speaking of pre-orders, May is just around the corner -- have you pre-ordered Clockwork Universe: Steampunk vs. Aliens yet? In addition to a ton of other cool stories, it will contain the first ever Alien series short, "A Clockwork Alien", aka The One That Started The Craze.

Speaking of The Craze, have you bought your subscription to Penumbra eMagazine yet? If not, what are you waiting for? The story all y'all have been waiting for -- when Reader met Gower -- will be in the May issue. "Alien on the Runway" will be only one of the great stories in Penumbra's May issue, but I have two more shorts coming in this year. And, sure, you could just buy each issue separately for $3.99 each.

However, 'cause I'm a giver and so is the editorial staff at Penumbra, there's a special deal going. Right now, you can get The Gini Special -- instead of paying $3.99 an issue, you'll get a year's subscription for just $24.00; that's half price. But there's more! You'll also get the Best of Penumbra 2012 AND 2013. That's a full year's subscription for half price plus two free Best Of collections and three Alien series shorts that will only be available in Penumbra...as long as you use this coupon code (exactly as shown here) when you order: 2014Gini This offer is good only through August 1, 2014, so don't miss out and get your subscription going today!

That's it for today, but as always, more's on the way, but it'll be next week, seeing as I will be reunioning for the next few days. 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

Collective Partying

Happy Friday! Hope everyone had a wonderful week, Happy Belated Passover to all those who celebrated, and I hope those who had good weather (like we did) got to see the Blood Moon. I know -- last week, I'm all over the place and this week...silence. Hey, I've been busy, what can I say? (Taking crappy pics of the Blood Moon with my phone took EFFORT, darn it!) But, while I've been busy, lots has been going on, so let's get to it, shall we? We shall!

First up, we have the next early reviews of Alien Collective! See what Pearls Cast Before a McPig and Larissa's Bookish Life thought of it. Then see what Sporadic Reads thought of Touched by an Alien. And last but in no way least, see what The Nameless Zine thought of The Night Beat. Then head back over to Larissa's Bookish Life see which books always make her laugh out loud.

May's going to be a busy month. Have I mentioned that I'll be having an early release party for Alien Collective at The Poisoned Pen  on Saturday, May 3rd? I have? Have I mentioned that it's a rare occurrence? Or that the Pen had to get Special Dispensation from Penguin to do this AND that any copies of Alien Collective not sold on May 3rd have to go back in their boxes to wait for Tuesday, May 6th? So it's extremely special. And have I perhaps mentioned that they ship all over including internationally meaning that you can get a signed, personalized book regardless of where you happen to live?

How about this? Have I mentioned that it's gonna be a PARTY, and that I'm going to be giving out prizes? Well it is and I am. So, let's make all the maneuvering and begging the Pen had to go through worth it and pack the house! Party is from 2:00-3:00pm. Come a little early to see what the prizes will be, and stay a little late to hang out.

Have you ordered your year's subscription of Penumbra eZine yet? If not, what are you waiting for? In addition to a whole magazine of great fiction, May's issue brings the short story all y'all have been waiting for -- how Reader met Gower. "Alien on the Runway" is coming in May, but it will only be the first of three Alien series shorts that will be in Penumbra this year.

The magazine sells for $3.99 an issue, but right now, you can get The Gini Special -- instead of paying $3.99 an issue, you'll get a year's subscription for just $24.00; that's half price. But there's more! You'll also get the Best of Penumbra 2012 AND 2013. That's a full year's subscription for half price plus two free Best Of collections and three Alien series shorts that will only be available in Penumbra...as long as you use this coupon code (exactly as shown here) when you order: 2014Gini  This offer is good only through August 1, 2014, so don't miss out and get your subscription going today!

That's it for today, but as always, more's on the way. Enjoy the weekend, wishing a very Happy Easter to all those who celebrate, and let's be chocolate bunny eating readers out there! Peace out, my li'l gangstas, and I'll catch you on the flip side.

Love,
Gini

Just Can't Hide It

Happy Friday! Hope everyone's had a wonderful week and has an even better weekend in store! It's been busy over here, but that's good, right? Of course right! There's lots going on, but first, as my Hook Me Up! subscribers already know, we have a big announcement, and I'm so excited about it! (Points to those who now get the point of the headline.) (Extra points to those who got it before reading this paragraph.)

The votes are in for the RT Book Reviews Reviewers' Choice Awards and guess what won Best Futuristic Romance? Go on, guess! Oh, I can't wait for you to guess -- it's Alien in the House! I'm extremely thrilled that it won, especially considering the awesome books it was up against. Check out all the winners and nominees in all the categories -- there's a lot of great reading there!

Speaking of great reading and the Alien series, I'll have 3 Alien Series short stories in Penumbra eMagazine this year; the first one comes out in next month's/May's issue. The magazine sells for $3.99 an issue, and I suppose you could just buy the three I'll be in. But, each month there are great stories, and Penumbra has a special offer for you, all because of moi. 'Cause I'm a giver, me.

Right now, you can get The Gini Special -- instead of paying $3.99 an issue, you'll get a year's subscription for just $24.00; that's half price. But there's more! You'll also get the Best of Penumbra 2012 AND 2013. That's a full year's subscription for half price plus two free Best Of collections and three Alien series shorts that will only be available in Penumbra...as long as you use this coupon code (exactly as shown here) when you order: 2014Gini

This offer is good only through August 1, 2014, so don't miss out and get your subscription going today!

Speaking of the Alien Series (no, we haven't really stopped), check out the Table of Contents for Clockwork Universe: Steampunk vs. Aliens. Should be coming in May (could be delayed due to printer issues, but the publisher is still hoping for May), and it contains "A Clockwork Alien", which is the first Alien Series short I've ever written (and the story that started the craze, so to speak).

Clockwork Universe: Steampunk vs. Aliens Table of Contents
Introduction by Patricia Bray
“The Cavorite Job” by Ian Tregillis
“Gracie’s Fire” by Leah Cutter
“Quinta Essentia” by Bradley P. Beaulieu
“When Comrade Ekaterina Died for the Motherland” by J.R. Hargenrader
“A Clockwork Alien” by Gini Koch
“Heart of the Empire” by Jason Palmatier
“The Red Queen and the White” by C.B. Pratt
“The Wizard of Woodrow Park” by Jean Marie Ward
“Of War and Wings” by Tansy Rayner Roberts
“Airship Down:  A Sound and Fury Adventure” by Gail Z. Martin & Larry N. Martin
“Steamsuit” by David J. Fortier
“Fingers of Steam, Veins of Gold” by Brad Hafford
“Heart of Clockwork” by S.C. Butler
“Lady Antheia’s Guide to Horticultural Warfare” by Seanan McGuire

Don't those all sound great? Yeah, I can't wait for this book, either! If you weren't part of the Kickstarter campaign, you can pre-order from Zombies Need Brains to be sure you get your copy!

Speaking of not waiting, see what Bibliognome is going to be reading this weekend. And then, check out the first review of Alien Collective over at boeklogboek! After that, see what Word of the Nerd thought of Alien Diplomacy. Finish up over at my Deathless Prose page, where you can get the prologue and first chapter of Alien Collective for your teaser reading pleasure!

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

Love,
Gini

Word is the Word that You Heard

Happy Hump Day! As promised yesterday, there's big news today! So let's get right to it, shall we? We shall!

As shared by Word of the Nerd, the audio rights for Touched by an Alien have been sold and the audiobook will be available a week from today, April 16, 2014! So, all of you who've asked me over the years when the audiobook would be available, the answer is -- this month!

Rights for the rest of the series have not been bought yet, so if you want to hear all the books "live", you need to do your girl, and yourselves, a solid and support this one. It will be available for download from Audible and iTunes, and available for CD and MP3 purchase from most major retailers. The Word of the Nerd article has all the current buy and pre-order links. And yes, requests to your local libraries to stock copies are as greatly appreciated as purchases. Get the word out so we can, um, get the words out!

Speaking of words, see what Word of the Nerd thinks of Alien in the Family and Alien Proliferation.

After that, head over to see what Gizmo's Reviews has stacking the shelves. Then hit the Spacefrieghters Lounge and cast your vote for covers with or without shirtless heroes. I confess to being on the side of shirted heroes, and NOT just because Alien Tango is one of the covers supporting that side. But it helps.

As many of you have reminded me, Alien Collective will release in less than a month. I know many of you are also bitter that you didn't win the flash contest. However, once my author copies arrive, I promise another contest will be on the way. But, if you aren't willing to risk it all on the Gods of Random, a reminder that I'll be at these fine bookstores in early May, so don't miss your chance to see the me and get the bookie wookie signed and personalized and all that lovely jazz! (And remember that all 3 bookstores take pre-orders, will get the books signed for you, AND will ship to you. So if you can't be there in person, you can still get your book signed by moi.)

Mini Book Tour Dates:

Saturday, May 3rd, 2:00-3:30pm
ADVANCED BOOK RELEASE PARTY for Alien Collective -- it's rare to get your publisher to allow you to release your book in advance of official release day, but the Pen and I did it, so make sure you make your plans to come party with us! And get YOUR book DAYS before everyone else!
The Poisoned Pen
4014 N. Goldwater Blvd., Scottsdale, AZ 85251, 480-947-2974/888-560-9919

Saturday, May 10th, 10:00am-5pm
Signing Alien Collective & all the other bookie wookies
My spotlight will be at 1:00pm with official signing immediately after (and after that there will also be...CAKE!)

Mysterious Galaxy Birthday Bash 

Mysterious Galaxy San Diego
7051 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., Suite #302, San Diego, CA 92111, 858-268-4747

Monday, May 12th, 7:30-8:30pm
Signing Alien Collective & all the other bookie wookies
Mysterious Galaxy Redondo Beach
2810 Artesia Blvd., Redondo Beach, CA 90278, 310-542-6000
That's it for today, but as always, more's on the way. Peace out, my li'l gangstas, and let's be listening readers out there!

Love,
Gini

Flash Winners Announced!

Loved everyone's suggestions for who to team Kitty up with outside of the Kittyverse. There were some really inspired ideas! So, you're all winners in my book.

But of course, there are only 2 winners of THIS contest. There's lots more news (some of it big) coming, but I figured no one wanted to wait any longer. So, without further ado, the winners of the Flash contest for 2 copies of Alien Collective are:

Sharon
and
armacleod

NOTE FOR THE WINNERS: You have until Thursday, April 10th, to send me an email with your full name, physical address, and the name you want the book signed to (name, nickname, someone else, etc.) If I don't hear from you by the deadline, the Gods of Random will demand a new sacrifice, snatch back your prize, and choose another winner.

That's it for today, but, trust me, more's on the way. So congrats to our winners and let's be readers out there!

Love,
Gini

Captain Contest

Happy Friday! Now that the weekend is here, what should do with it? In my opinion, and as promised, you should read my review of Captain America: The Winter Soldier over at Slice of SciFi and plan accordingly.

Planning to stay home this weekend? No worries. Check out my review of Star Wars: Clone Wars, Season 6 also over at Slice of SciFi to see if you should choose it for your Netflix binging pleasure.

And if you just want to hang out and listen to all things geek, check out the latest installment of More Geek Than Gay. Then, check out what's on Bibliognome's TBR pile. Speaking of which...

What else shall we do with this weekend's time? Well, I have a couple of books that a couple of people might, you know, want. That's right, it's time for a Flash Contest! Yes, you read that right. There are two copies of Alien Collective up for grabs. There will be another contest coming (when I get my other copies in), but since DAW saw fit to toss a couple extras to me fast, I'm seeing fit to do the same for all of you. Yes, it's open internationally. All you'll need to do is answer THIS question: If you could pair Kitty up with any superhero not in the Kittyverse, who would it be and why?

Yes, this one requires a specific Blog comment in order to enter. Contest runs through Monday, April 7. Winners announced on Tuesday, April 8. Because it's a flash contest (get it? Flash? Heh, oh, I slay me) so it's gotta go FAST. As always, if the winners don't claim their prizes fast, as in by Thursday, April 10, the Gods of Random will snatch back the prize and choose a new winner. Because they're more like Loki than Thor, that's why.

That's it for today, but as always, there's more on the way. So let's be pop culture consuming winning readers out there! Peace out, my li'l gangstas, catch you on the flip side, and may the Gods of Random smile upon you.

Love,
Gini

Covering the Runway

Happy Hump Day! Hope the first half of the week has been treating you well and that the rest of the week looks to be a nice, easy slide into the weekend. I've been busy over here, because there's lots of things going on. Today, let's just focus on some upcoming coolness, though, shall we? We shall!

First up, as we all know (or we all SHOULD know), Alien Collective releases in May. Have you pre-ordered your copies yet? If not, do your girl a solid and rectify that right away. Pre-orders matter, a lot. And you can pre-order from both the usual online suspects (Amazon and B&N) but you can also pre-order from your favorite local bookstore. Don't have a local bookstore handy? Pre-order from either The Poisoned Pen or Mysterious Galaxy. As you'll see in a bit, I'll be at both bookstores for my book tour, and they both will get you signed copies, and they ship everywhere, including internationally.  

But you know what else is happening in May? Many OTHER releases are happening in May. Including short stories in various anthologies. Including one in Penumbra eMagazine that's a story most of you have been waiting for -- when Reader met Gower. "Alien on the Runway" will premiere in Penumbra's May issue, but that's not all! I have two more Alien Series shorts coming in Penumbra later in the year. You could just buy each issue ($3.99 each). OR you could take advantage of this killer deal: Right now, you can get The Gini Special -- instead of paying $3.99 an issue, you'll get a year's subscription for just $24.00; that's half price. But there's more! You'll also get the Best of Penumbra 2012 AND 2013. That's a full year's subscription for half price plus two free Best Of collections and three Alien series shorts that will only be available in Penumbra...as long as you use this coupon code (exactly as shown here) when you order: 2014Gini

This offer is good only through August 1, 2014, so don't miss out and get your subscription going today!

Have you gotten your copy of my newest release, Random Musings from the Funny Girl yet? It's a great way to learn the inner workings of my mind and laugh at the same time. Honest. Get your copy today from Amazon, B&N, or Smashwords. Or get a copy from me at one of these:

Upcoming In Person Events
Saturday, April 19th, 12:00-2:00pm
Phoenix Writer’s Club presenting The Simple Plan for Writing Consistently
Bluewater Grill, Phoenix, AZ

Saturday, May 3rd, 2:00-3:30pm
ADVANCED BOOK RELEASE PARTY for Alien Collective -- it's rare to get your publisher to allow you to release your book in advance of official release day, but the Pen and I did it, so make sure you make your plans to come party with us! And get YOUR book DAYS before everyone else!
The Poisoned Pen
4014 N. Goldwater Blvd., Scottsdale, AZ 85251, 480-947-2974/888-560-9919

Saturday, May 10th, 10:00am-5pm
Signing Alien Collective & all the other bookie wookies

Mysterious Galaxy Birthday Bash 

Mysterious Galaxy San Diego
7051 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., Suite #302, San Diego, CA 92111, 858-268-4747

Monday, May 12th, 7:30-8:30pm
Signing Alien Collective & all the other bookie wookies
Mysterious Galaxy Redondo Beach
2810 Artesia Blvd., Redondo Beach, CA 90278, 310-542-6000

Thursday, June 5th through Sunday, June 8th, all day and all night
Running the Yap & Signing Books at the Signature Pop-Culture Experience of the Southwest -- Now with NATHAN FILLION! (Well, we'll be AT the same event, and it's just LIKE being together, right? Right?)
Phoenix Comicon
Phoenix Convention Center, Phoenix, AZ
Panels and other events to come

Wednesday, July 23rd through Sunday, July 27th, all day and all night
Running the Yap and Signing Books at the Granddaddy of Them All -- San Diego Comic-Con
San Diego Convention Center, San Diego, CA
Panels and other events to come

Monday, October 6th, 4:30-6:00pm Pacific Time
Live Chatting at Night Owl Reviews
URL to Come

That's it for today, but more's on the way, including my review of Captain America: The Winter Soldier. So until next time, peace out, my li'l gangstas, and let's be readers out there!

Love,
Gini