June's READ THIS! BotM & Con Season Begins!

Happy June!

We're at the start of summer in these parts which means a lot of heat and humidity but, hey, it keeps things green, right? RIGHT? *sobs the sob of one who prefers dry heat*

I'm also at the start of my main con season, so lots of goings ons for moi, and therefore, all y'all, including the next READ THIS! selection! So let's get to it, shall we? We shall!

Read Out Loud! Do you have your copy of the Touched by an Alien audiobook yet? If not, don't wait! Grab yours today and start your year right!

READ THIS! A Book Club by Moi for All Y'all Welcome to READ THIS! A Book Club by Gini Koch. This is my chance to introduce you to some great authors that I love and know you will, too. Every month I'll spotlight a book and, even better...every month I'll host a live discussion with the author, that all y'all can join! I know, it's too happy to be true, but true it is!

June 2023 READ THIS! Selection

The READ THIS! Selection for June 2023 is:  Starcrossed Bride By Meg Lead Gini's Take: A fun and sexy SFR with a spunky heroine, a brooding and sexy hero, and some of the most excellent world building you'll find. About the Author: Meg Leader has been a published writer of nonfiction and fiction with major New York publishers for more than 30 years in a variety of genres and using various pen names. Her fiction is primarily in romance, science fiction, and urban fantasy. n nonfiction, she’s written everything from technical articles and textbooks on neural networks to memoir to popular science books for publishers like MIT Press and Oxford University Press. She has a new series of writing books available on Amazon, the Page-Turner Fiction books on topics including how to set up your novel, how to write great scenes, story tropes for any genre, and a comprehensive book on world-building for any genre. megleader.com

June 2023 READ THIS! Author Q&A

So, you've read the READ THIS! selection and you want to share what you thought with the author, hang out with them and Gini, and generally talk books for an hour. Well, guess what? You can! The third Thursday of every month will be READ THIS! Author Q&A time. The event will be held utilizing Discord, and the invitation to Gini's READ THIS! room will come out in the week prior to the chat. And that's not all! Near the end of each Q&A session, we'll be doing a raffle and one lucky winner will get a copy of the next month's READ THIS! selection! (You must be present in the Q&A to win. Physical book prizes will be U.S. only. Ebook prizes will be worldwide.)

June's READ THIS! author Q&A with author Meg Leader will be on Thursday, June 15, 2022 from 9pm-10pm Eastern. Access to Discord is available worldwide, and everyone is invited to attend!

July's READ THIS! Selection   And Remember: One Lucky Q&A Participant can win it early!

The READ THIS! Selection for July 2023 is:  “The Substance of My Lives, The Accidents of Our Birth” By José Pablo Iriarte

Because I get asked this daily (often multiple times daily)... Yes, Aliens Like Us IS coming, but... No, Aliens Like Us still isn't ready for Prime Time, but... I'm on Version 5 of the rewrite process. Does every book take me this long? No. Will all the others in the series take this long? Likely no. Life has tossed a lot at me and mine and that's made some things a struggle, but... Kitty is always with me, and she's not going to let the bad things win, in any universe. So...Watch this space for more updates as I have them. And keep those digits crossed for the hope that my shouting "the end!" comes sooner as opposed to later. P.S. I am definitely heading towards the end game. I realize that's vague, but it means that I think we'll be shouting "hurrah" somewhere in the nearish term. Digits crossed, at any rate... P.P.S. Watch this space, I'm hoping to share happy news soon.

SEE THE ME! It's my current con schedule for the rest of this year. This list is definitely subject to change, with schedules to come and other events added on. So make your plans to come see the me! LibertyCon 35 Chattanooga, TN June 23-25, 2023     Friday, June 23 2:00pm, CC - Mtg Rms 9 & 10 -- What is the better genre: Traditional Romance or Paranormal Romance? 4:00pm, M - Plaza Ballroom B -- Weird Wild Westerns 5:00pm, CC - Ballroom E -- Opening Ceremonies 6:00pm, M - Plaza Ballroom C -- Arrgh! There Be Pirates! 8:00-11:00pm, Plaza Ballroom Mezzanine - Authors/Artists Alley -- Sellin' the Bookie Wookies and handing out hugs Saturday, June 24 11:00am, CC - Ballroom F/G -- Autograph Session: Gini Koch, David B. Coe, Les Johnson 10:00pm, CC - Mtg Rms 9 & 10 -- Writing Humor and Satire in Modern Science Fiction and Fantasy Sunday, June 25 1:00pm, M - Signal Mountain Room -- Reading: Gini Koch and Kelle Z. Riley   San Diego Comic-Con 2023 San Diego, CA July 19-23, 2023 I'll be doing signings and panels and will be at Booth C-03 in the dealers hall most of the time, so be sure to come get your signed bookie wookies and hugs! DragonCon 2023 Atlanta, GA August 31 - September 4, 2023 I'm an Author Guest this year AND we'll be back in the booth, so lots of ways to see the me! GenCon 2023 Indianapolis, IN August 3-6, 2023 I'm a Symposium Author again this year, so make your plans to make it to this fun con now! All Symposium activities other than signings will be at the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown.   Thursday, August 3 12-2pm, Atlanta - Finding Your Voice Workshop, Part 1, Atlanta Room Friday, August 4 12-2pm, Atlanta - Finding Your Voice Workshop, Part 2 5-6pm, Ballroom 4 - Writing Comprehensive Intimate Scenes Panel 7-11pm, Ballroom 1 - Special Event: D&D With Writers Saturday, August 5 11am-12pm, Boston - Humor in Speculative Fiction 1-2pm, ICC, Back Wall by Artists Alley - Signing Gini Koch & Bradley P. Beaulieu Sunday, August 7 9-10am, Ballroom 3 - Worldbuilding: Entertainment at the End of the World Panel World Fantasy Con Kansas City, MO October 26-29, 2023

So many bookie wookies, so much time to catch up on all of them while waiting for Aliens Like Us and the next READ THIS! selection. Check out my Bookstore for all the things!

That's it for today but, never fear, another Update, including the Discord Q&A chat invitation, will be arriving in a couple of weeks! 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