Easter Roundup

Happy Easter! Hope all who celebrate have and had a wonderful Easter Sunday, and that those who don't had a lovely weekend. It's been a long while with radio silence, but I'm home and back in action. So to speak.

As my Hook Me Up! subscribers already know, there's a LOT to catch up on, however, so we're gonna roll right into it. Get ready to click some links, 'cause boy, do we have a lot of eggs in this here basket!

But first, and the main reason I couldn't wait to send this out to you -- I checked when I got home and *drum roll, please* "Alien in the Family" hit the Barnes & Noble bestseller list, at #43, in its first week of release! *Let the happy dancing begin!* Thanks to all of YOU who made that happen!

Now, for the links. First off, let's check out the Yap and where it's been running, shall we? Hit DAW Books Community and check out the next Dueling Authors interview with moi and the ever-awesome Joshua Palmatier. Then head to 1st Turning Point for my latest rant, ah, OpEd piece. Missed the Yap Running Live over at Bookish Escapism? Fret not. The recording is up at Literary Escapism so have a listen! Yes, I do drop, if not spoilers, a variety of hints of things to come.

Now for the reviews. Lots of great new reviews have come in! Check out what Ramblings From a Chaotic Mind, Nancy McGregor's Big Bad Blog, and Cookies, Books and Bikes thought of "Touched by an Alien".

Then, check out what Ramblings From a Chaotic Mind has to say about "Alien Tango".

Last, but in no way least, go see what Tempting Persephone, The Bookaholic Cat, and Monsters and Critics have to say about "Alien in the Family".

Lots more coming, including my NYC roundup and related Hook Me Up! exclusive contest (because I went somewhere, so you knew there was gonna be a contest coming), but that's more than enough for now. For now, I need to go eat some ears off a chocolate bunny.

Love,
Gini

Another Manic, Yapping Monday!

Happy Monday! Remember how, last week, I told you there would be a lot going on this week? Yeah? Well, as my Hook Me Up! subscribers already know...I didn't lie. There's a ton, and much of it's on right now. So, let's roll into it, 'cause there's lots of cool stuff for you to check out!

First up, race on over to Ex Libris where the yap is large and in charge, and you also have a chance to win some cool Alien Collective swag.

Speaking of winning, this is the last day to get entries out for the Worth Your Weight contest; and tomorrow is the deadline to send your entry email in to me. You have through Sunday, March 6th, to leave a comment on my interview over at I Smell Sheep in order to win the cool A Sheepish Tango t-shirt. (The winning is just never-ending around here!)

Then, hit The Galaxy Express to see what a kick-butt SFR heroine should never go out without. (Three guesses for what I said, and the first two don't count. ;-D)

Head over to 1st Turning Point where the yap is running some MORE, this time about Effective Newsletter Creation.

Last but in NO way least, the first review of "Alien in the Family" is in! Check out what Worlds of Wonder has to say!

That's it for today, but stay tuned, more's coming in the near future!

Love,
Gini

Busiest Monday EVER?

You decide...'cause, as my Hook Me Up! subscribers already know, when I say busy, I MEAN busy. There's so much going on today it may take until tomorrow to get to it all. But we shall persevere! So, onward...

First up, the yap's running wild today! Check out the interview with moi at Dren's B-Spot. Not only do you learn new fun things about me, but she's also doing an awesome giveaway! Check out how to win a copy of "Alien Tango" with either a copy of "Touched by an Alien" OR a pre-ordered copy of "Alien in the Family". SUCH a deal!

Speaking of winning, Larissa's Bookish Life is doing yet another fab giveaway and this one, like the one Dren's doing, you do NOT want to miss. Larissa's giving away more than just "Alien Tango", though that's in the winning mix, so check it out!

Then leap over to 1st Turning Point where my OpEd piece on writer's blogs is both large and in charge and also generating a lot of responses from authors. Many of y'all represent the blogging public, and you all represent the reading public, so add your $0.02 into the discussion.

Next, check out my own beloved website if you haven't already. Hit some pages, check it out, 'cause it's had a little makeover in honor of the imminent release of "Alien Tango".

That's a lot right there, isn't it? But oh, we're nowhere close to done.

There's another fab review of "Touched by an Alien" over at 25 Hour Books. Check it out, leave some Alien Collective love, you know the drill.

Then check out Bibliotheca Discordia, The Life and Travels of Sullivan McPig, Ex Libris, and Ramblings from a Chaotic Mind to see all the interesting things that arrived in their mailboxes over the weekend.

Last but in no way least, check out I Smell Sheep for their latest contest wherein you can win an awesome Sheeped by an Alien t-shirt.

Now, THAT'S all. For today. Trust me...you want to fasten those seatbelts...this week's gonna be a wild ride, 'cause there's LOTS more to come!

Love,
Gini

The Yap Strikes Back, Part Deux

Happy Monday! Hope everyone had a fabulous weekend - I know I did! But now, we're back to the old bump and grind and all that jazz, so let's roll into today's update.

As my Hook Me Up! subscribers already know, and as promised, the second part of my two-part article, Promotion at Conventions, is up at 1st Turning Point. Check it out, and if you're an aspiring or newer author, check out the site; lots of good info there.

Around my site, Accolades and Sightings in the Wild have gotten minor face-lifts, Datebook has been updated as have the Bookstore and Deathless Prose pages, and I assigned my 7 Strange Winners at the Blah, Blah, Blah Blog -- check it out and see whose blogs made the Strangeness Cut.

BTW, December's just around the corner...have you pre-ordered your copy of "Alien Tango" yet?

Love,
Gini

The Yap Runs Wild

Happy Thursday, one and all!

As my Hook Me Up! subscribers already know, it's another short one today. Well, short for me, anyway. I know, I know, that's probably not short in normal terms, but it's my blog and I'll yap if I want to.

Considering the title, when I share that the yap is running again, it's unlikely to shock any of you. This time, though, it's educational yap. Because she's an Alien Collective Member in Very Good Standing, Amber Scott convinced me to become a columnist at 1st Turning Point, a site dedicated to helping authors learn the ropes of publicity and promotion. The first of my two-part article, Promotion at Conventions, is up right now. Part two airs on Monday. (Don't worry, of COURSE I'll remind y'all about it.)

Another one of our own Alien Collective Members in Very Good Standing has an interview up, and since she gave "Touched by an Alien" such a super shout-out, I have to return the favor. Check out the For What It's Worth interview with Stella - Ex Libris. (SIX languages? Girl! Wow...)

That's it for today. But don't worry, there's more to come soon, because the yap never sleeps...

Love,
Gini

New Spotlight Interview!

As my Hook Me Up! subscribers already know, we've got an action-packed week for you here in Gini Land, so fasten your seatbelts, it's gonna be an exciting ride.

First up, we've got a new interview with wicked cool author Deborah LeBlanc. Head on over to my Spotlight page and check it out!

For those of you who missed the Weekend Update, our own ALPHA Reader has an interview with moi live and kicking. She's also giving away a copy of "Touched by an Alien" to one lucky blog follower. So stop on by and give her blog some Alien Collective love! And if you or someone you know doesn't have a copy of "Touched by an Alien" yet, start following her blog, post a comment, and you'll be entered to win.

And, a reminder that an informative blog post from yours truly (I know, I know, what were the odds?) is up at 1st Turning Point and our own Amber Scott's got "Touched by an Alien" paying forward via her P.P.I.F. Launch Party, so stop by and give those some Alien Collective attention, too!

Is there more? By golly, there's more! On Thursday, May 6th, I'll be interviewing awesome author Erin Quinn right here on the Blah, Blah, Blah Blog about her latest release, "Haunting Warrior", which hits the shelves tomorrow. There will be something special going along with all the yap, so plan to stop by, say hi, ask those probing questions we authors love, and find out what all the fuss is about!

And...the Hook Me Up! Exclusive Contest is going to start next week. So, if you're somehow still not on Hook Me Up!, now's the time to get hooked up. Just send an email to gini@ginikoch.com with "Hook Me Up!" in the subject line, and you'll be all set to have a chance to score an exclusive prize...maybe more than one prize...

Love,
Gini

Another Friday = More Yap

Happy Friday to one and all! As my Hook Me Up! subscribers already know, it's a cheerful, and busy, Friday over here in Gini Land! Let's get right to it!

The Yap Runneth Again, over at 1st Turning Point, where authors teach other authors. See what I have to say about Generating the All-Important Buzz and feel free to offer up any tips yourselves.

After you check that out, race on over to The Amber Scott Project where she's got the P.P.I.F. Party (Project Pay it Forward) on the launch pad. See what's happening with the copies of "Touched by an Alien" that are heading out into the world. And, for those of you who've already joined in, please share what you've done with the copy/s you've sent out into the wild. This is such an amazing and awesome thing -- I'm thrilled with the idea itself, and beside myself that "Touched by an Alien" was chosen to be the inaugural book, so please share some Alien Collective love and all your various stories!

But wait, there's more. The polls are still open on the official Badge of Honor for the Alien Collective and we need all your votes coming in! Option 2 is only slightly ahead of Option 3 this morning, so if you love one more than the other (or just like one more than the other), please cast your vote ASAP. Do it on the Blah, Blah, Blah Blog, on my Facebook Fan Page (Hairspray and Rock 'n' Roll), or by sending me an e-mail (gini@ginikoch.com). Because we're in a dead heat, polls will likely stay open throughout the weekend, but the sooner you vote and we have a clear winner, the sooner I can announce the NEXT cool stuff coming down the pike. So, see? There's some incentive for you!









Haven't checked out the latest reviews? Well, what are you waiting for? Give Hanging with Bells some Alien Collective love (and, you know, while you're there, she puts up some LOVELY shots of hunks on a very regular basis...just saying'...), and give the DAW Books Discussion on "Touched by an Alien" some love and support.

And that's not all! Check out the Bookstore for an awesome quote about "Touched by an Alien" from my new most favorite bookseller. Then, after refreshing your pages (trust me, if you can't see what I'm saying, refreshing is your friend), check out the two NEW pages -- Accolades and Free Stuff. Not much there yet, you say? Well, just wait...we're going to be busy at Team Gini, and those pages are going to be filled with stuff, and that soon!

Not on Hook Me Up! yet? You just don't want to have a shot at exclusive contests, offers, and info? Well, for those who DO, just send an email to gini@ginikoch.com with "Hook Me Up!" in the subject line and you'll be all set. And you want to do it soon...'cause the Hook Me Up! only contest is just around the corner.

There's more, so much more, but I'm going to make you wait until next week for it, just 'cause I can.

Love,
Gini