Friday's Winning Roundup

Happy Friday! Are you ready for the weekend? I sure am, but before we get to that, can't leave you without all the latest news.

First off, contest reminders. The Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger Blog Award contest is going strong. If you haven't tagged in yet, hit Win Stuff, get the instructions, and go to town. I think a Fight the Fuglies Starter Kit AND an ARC of "Alien Proliferation" are worth fighting for, so have at it!

The Daddy Crazies contest is in full swing over at the Alien Collective Virtual HQ. Check it out and check in, get entered to win some more cool prizes!

Musa Publishing has their grand opening tomorrow! In addition to your being able to get "The Royal Scam" immediately, there will also be prizes and such being given away, so be sure to drop by.

Also, a reminder for all German and German-reading Alien Collective Members in Very Good Standing -- "Aliens in Armani", the German language version of "Touched by an Alien", will release from Piper Fantasy tomorrow as well. Get your copies, and someone let me know how it reads! :-D

Speaking of how things read, we have another early review of "The Royal Scam". Check out what Absorbed in a Book had to say about Book 1 of The Martian Alliance Chronicles.

Then, head on over to My 5 Monkeys, and check out her Top Ten Books to Reread and her shout out to Musa.

Then hit The Galaxy Express where they're doing an interesting series on Adventures in Sci-Fi Romance.

That should keep y'all busy until Monday. And believe me, you want to be paying attention on Monday. Trust me. You'll be glad to be paying attention on Monday. (Hint: another contest is starting on Monday, and it's for Hook Me Up! only. Wait, you're not on Hook Me Up! yet? Rectify now! Send an email to gini@ginikoch.com with "Hook Me Up!" in the subject line so you'll be all set for the next awesomeness.) So, until then, have a wonderful weekend, get down with your bad selves, and let's be readers out there!

Love,
Gini

It's a New Battle Royale!

Happy Hump Day! As mentioned on Monday, there's some new excitement (yeah, in addition to yesterday's excitement...hey, it's an exciting week, so sue me, LOL) coming. So check your blogs.

Why? Because there's a new contest, a new Battle Royale in honor of Kitty Katt and her standard (and quite new) skills that show up in Alien Proliferation -- to see who's worthy to be the best of the best and win the ultimate Harder, Faster, Better, Stronger Award.

Hit Win Stuff and see what it takes to be Harder, Better, Faster and Stronger. I'll wait while you check out the prizes (scroll down past the pink asterisks). Yeah, that's right -- the winner of this fight will end up with a Fight the Fuglies Starter Kit, which includes a signed, limited edition Gini Bag, a Touched by an Alien pen, and an Alien Collective baseball cap. AND a signed,
personalized ARC of "Alien Proliferation". Truly a prize worth fighting for. And with four consolation prizes up for grabs, too, this is a contest you want to be a part of!

Not nominated yet and can't wait for someone to tag you into the ring? For my blog readers only, grab the Battle Button from Win Stuff, follow the rules, and you can be in for Team Blah. (Be sure to advise me that you tagged in from the Blah, Blah, Blah Blog when you let me know that you're in Battle Royale and list which blogs you've nominated.)

Yes, you can enter more than once, by nominating five (5) new blogs. So you can spread the love and increase your chances at the same time. But be sure you're not nominating a blog that's already proudly wearing its Battle Badge -- get new blood into the ring -- it's more fun that way!

There's more winning coming this month, and more great stuff coming this week, so stay tuned!

Love,
Gini

Breaking News

Short and very sweet today. Sure, I could have waited until tomorrow or something, but that would mean waiting, and we all know that's wrong, right?

But, enough ado about something! As my Hook Me Up! subscribers already know, I just got off the phone with my awesome agent and...

*drum roll, please*

...I can confirm that DAW Books has purchased Book 7/Alien in the House for publication in April 2013 and Book 8/Alien Collective for publication in December 2013!

Kitty and Company are thrilled. I'm pretty happy about it, too, of course. Now, back to writing Alien vs. Alien, 'cause deadlines wait for no man, woman, or announcement!

Love,
Gini

Royally Scammin'

Happy Monday! Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. Mine was filled with lots of things, most focused on writing "Alien vs. Alien", and prepping for the releases of "Alien Proliferation" and "The Royal Scam".

Speaking of which, the first review for "The Royal Scam" is in! Check out what A Buckeye Girl Reads thought of it. Then head over to Musa Publishing and pre-order your copy -- Musa officially launches Oct. 1st, aka this Saturday.

Then check out Concept Art World where they're featuring some of the awesome Daniel Dos Santos' works in all their beautiful glory.

I know I mentioned an upcoming combo-con contest. That'll still be happening. But something else has arrived and will, therefore, have to, just have to, go ahead of it. What could possibly move ahead of a con-related contest? Guess you'll have to stay tuned to find out, but trust me, it'll be worth it.

So until next time, when the mystery of the next contest will be revealed, peace out, li'l gangstas!

Love,
Gini

Friday Follies

Happy start o' the weekend! No, we don't really have Follies going on. I just like the word. But as my Hook Me Up! subscribers already know, we do have a fun short and sweet one for you today.

Head over to the Alien Collective Virtual HQ and check out who won the Cravings contest. Then join the fun and get your bad selves entered into the Daddy Crazies contest.

I've also sold two more series to Musa Publishing under my Anita Ensal pen name -- The Neighborhood Series and The Asteroid Belt Series. So yes, there's more, so much more, coming.

But right now, what's coming is the weekend. Have a blast, be readers out there, and I'll catch you on the flip side!

Love,
Gini

Tuesday Roundup

Hope everyone's weekend and dreaded Monday were great. Mine was busy -- writing, editing, more writing. So you know I loved it! But business is afoot, so let's get caught up.

First up, a head's up. I got a lovely box o' swag from my awesome agent. What will I be doing with it? Giving it away, of course! Another Combo-Con contest is in the making, as always for Hook Me Up! only. Not on Hook Me Up! yet? Rectify by sending an email to gini@ginikoch.com with "Hook Me Up!" in the subject line. Do it now, because details about the next contest will be coming in the next few weeks. Will this contest include swag from at least 3 cons? It will! Will it, if my deadlines overcome me and it launches more than a couple weeks away, also include books from World Fantasy Con? You even have to ask?

Then check out what Bibliognome and My 5 Monkeys had in their recent mail. Yes, they were both winners in my Comic-Con 2011 contest. Yes, the Combo-Con contest will also be loaded with cool goodies. I know, I know, I'm a giver, me.

Next on the hit parade, check out what Reading the Paranormal and Feeling Fictional had to say about "Touched by an Alien".

Penumbra Magazine's first issue is on pre-order now. I, of course, suggest getting it. But I suggest getting Penumbra Issue 2 even more. Why? A story by one of my (many) pen names is in it -- "Field Trip", by J.C. Koch. J.C. writes horror, so pre-order the mag and get a taste of the creepy.

Speaking of pre-orders, don't forget to pre-order "Alien Proliferation" and "Alien Diplomacy" anywhere books are sold. While you're at it, head over to Musa Publishing and pre-order "The Royal Scam". (Hey, trust me, the pre-orders matter.)

Next on the In-Person docket:
Foxy Dahlings Book Club - Wed., Sept. 21, Gilbert, AZ
Mysterious Galaxy Books - Wed., Oct. 26, San Diego, CA
World Fantasy Con - Thurs., Oct 27-Sun., Oct. 30, San Diego, CA
TusCon 38 - Fri., Nov. 11-Sun., Nov. 13, Tucson, AZ
Fall Writer's Workshop - Sat., Nov. 19, Scottsdale, AZ
Mysterious Galaxy Books Holiday Party - Sat., Dec. 10, San Diego, CA

That's it for today, but more's to come on the horizon. So have yourselves a wonderful week, and let's be readers out there!

Love,
Gini

Friday Wrap-Up

Happy Friday! It's been a busy week over here. What's been going on, you ask? Well, as my Hook Me Up! subscribers already know -- lots! So let's get to it!

Team Gini's been particularly busy. Check out the new live links at the Author Splash page, the Extra Me! page has been revamped including a new question (and answer!) under Ask Gini!, and Newsy Stuff has new news.

But wait -- there's more! Pre-orders are open for "The Royal Scam" over at Musa Publishing. It releases October 1, 2011, and now that the cover's premiered over at the Alien Collective Virtual HQ, check it out even larger and more in charge at my Ta-Daaaa! page.

Also, the Powers That Be have been kind and granted me an intern. Will he last? We can but hope. So, for however long, help me welcome Chris who has already started saving tiny bits of my sanity. (No, he's not "that" Christopher, though he said it was okay if y'all thought of him that way. ;-D) Check out Blogging with Badger where Chris shares his untold joy with his new position, particularly with his introduction to the Canine Death Squad. (Okay, that may just be how I'm choosing to see it, but it's my party and I'll fantasize if I want to.)

That's it for this week, though there's lots more coming on the horizon. So, get down with your bad selves, have as much fun as possible over the weekend, and I'll catch you on the flip side!

Love,
Gini

Start the Week with the Creation Agent

Happy Monday! Hope everyone's weekends were lovely and we're all ready to roll into another week.

To get it started right, and as my Hook Me Up! subscribers already know, the next installment of "The Creation Agent" is live over at Expanded Universes. Have a read and enjoy!

After getting your CA fix, head over to Bibliognome and check out who's made the cut for her Top 5 Favorite Book Boyfriends (hint, one you know very well).

Next, go see what Swept Away Again and Book Spot Central have to say about "Alien in the Family".

Then check out what The Galaxy Express has to say about the Nature of Courtship in Sci-Fi Romance.

Last but in no way least, you can pre-order "The Royal Scam" from Musa Publishing right now. (BTW, the word count is showing as 4,000, which is incorrect; it's actually 8,100 words, because you know how hard it is for me to write short.) Hit my Author Splash page and take a look around...there's more coming in the very near future! And love, {HUGS} and *smootchies* to all of you who've pre-ordered "Alien Proliferation" and "Alien Diplomacy". As always, the Alien Collective ROCKS!

Love,
Gini

Kitty Needs YOU!

Happy Friday! Are you ready for the weekend? Or, more importantly, are you ready to rrrrrumble? I'm hoping for both, 'cause Kitty needs your votes!

Head over to Dark Faerie Tales and vote for Kitty in this round of the Supernatural Smackdown. Kitty's championing for all the regular gals and guys out there who have to use their "normal" skills to triumph, so a vote for Kitty is a vote for everyone! (Or something like that.)

There's also a contest, and three lucky winners will get a copy of "Alien in the Family".

So, please go vote for Kitty, have a great weekend, and I'll catch you on the flip side. Peace out, my li'l gangstas!

Love,
Gini

CopperCon Recap

I'm back! Yeah, I know, I was back Monday night. But, um, well...I was busy. Unpacking, checking the new swag that'll be part of the next Hook Me Up! exclusive contest, and generally collapsing, in between writing and editing like a fiend.

But, couldn't leave you without the CopperCon recap, now, could I? Okay, yes it's me. I could. But I won't. See how good I am to you?

This is a smaller but quite engaged and engaging con, with a lot of fun panelists and attendees. After Comic-Con, which is so huge and frenetic, it's nice to hit CopperCon and get to hang out, relax, and just do it. (No, I couldn't resist the Frankie Goes to Hollywood tie-in. Sue me.)

The word of the con (per my posse, at any rate) was: Mollusks. This was especially fun on the Writing Erotic Fiction panel.

I got to run the yap quite a lot, which we all know I live to do. I also got to panel with some awesome authors and one musician. In no order of their awesomeness, I rocked and rolled with: Marsheila Rockwell, Jeff Mariotte, Jacqueline Lichtenberg, Carrie Vaughn, Janni Lee Simner, Emily Devenport, Janeen O'Kerry, David Lee Summers, Chris Swanson, Jack Mangan, and Darren Reale.

Also got to see and hang with some awesome Alien Collective Members in Very Good Standing (waves madly to Anna, Penni, Raul, Terry, and Vaughn) and got to meet new friends and teach them the Alien Way. All in all, a lovely con, even if I didn't get enough sleep by far.

In other news, check out the latest releases and sales in SFR over at The Galaxy Express. Then check out Liz Writes who's giving away a ton of Comic-Con swag, including something from moi.

More coming before the week's out. But until then (um, you know, tomorrow), have fun and let's remember to be readers out there!

Love,
Gini

Coppery Friday

Are you ready for the weekend? I am! I'm heading off to CopperCon 31 in a few hours, but, as my Hook Me Up! subscribers already know, before I go, wanted to share the latest with all of you.

First up, head over to Fictitious Musings and see what they have to say about "Alien in the Family".

Then, hit the Alien Collective Virtual HQ, where they have the world premiere of the cover of "The Royal Scam", my upcoming release from Musa Publishing. There's also a discussion thread in the Forum.

All the winners have checked in for the Comic-Con Swag Packs, but never fear. I'm going to a con this weekend, remember? So you KNOW that means another contest is on the near horizon. Plus, I have that nifty first-in-a-new-series release coming and I'm sure I'll have to have a contest in its honor.

Trying to pick one con to go to? Wondering if there's one that'd be worth the time and money? Hit this year's TusCon 38, Nov. 11-13 -- you'll get me AND Patricia Briggs, plus a host of other awesome authors. You can't go wrong with this one!

If you're an author and looking for a good writer's conference, come to the 2012 Desert Dreams Writer's Conference, April 27-29. Tons of published authors, agents, and editors will teach, review, take pitches, and more. The networking alone is worth it, and you'll get a ton out of this weekend, no matter what writing level you're at.

Once again, enjoy your weekend, and those Alien Collective Members in Very Good Standing in the U.S., enjoy your long weekend! I'll catch you on the flip side, so peace out, my li'l gangstas!

Love,
Gini