Universally Yapping

Happy Hump Day! The middle of the week is always nice -- the uphill struggle to get to mid-day on Wednesday, and then the lovely downward slide towards the weekend begins. But, as always, we have a lot going on, so let's hump on over to it.

For today's stop on the Universal Alien Top 10 Blog Tour, we have something a little different. Head over to Lu's Buchgefluester where there's a new interview with yours truly. She asks some new questions, too, so don't miss it even if you've read the yap before. As with all the other stops, you can win a copy of any one of the first 9 books in the Alien series, signed and personalized, and open internationally. This is a German blog, but the interview and giveaway portions are in English, so don't give up when you hit the first paragraphs (unless you also read and speak German, which many of the Alien Collective do, in which case, enjoy it all) and keep on down to the interview and contest entry information.

There are still more Tour stops to come, and you can still get entered to win at the prior stops as well. Some of the contests end SOON, so hurry up and get entered to win so you don't miss out!

Top 10 Blog Tour Stops
11-10 Pearls Cast Before a McPig, contest ends Nov. 28th
11-11 Larissa's Bookish Life, contest ends Nov. 18th
11-11 Feeling Fictional, contest ends Nov. 30th
11-11 Gizmo's Reviews, contest OVER, winner announced
11-12 A Buckeye Girl Reads, contest ends Nov. 18th
11-13 Bibliognome, contest ends Nov. 18th
11-14 boeklogboek, contest ends Nov. 25th
11-17 Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell contest ends Nov. 30th
11-18 I Smell Sheep, contest ends Nov. 25th
11-19 Lu's Buchgefluster, contest ends Nov. 28th
11-20 Under the Covers
11-21 Word of the Nerd
12-01 Books-n-Kisses
12-01 Readaholics Anonymous
12-02 Smart Girls Love Sci Fi

Speaking of contest ending soon, today is the last day to get entered for the fantastic prizes that awesome author Caris Roane (http://www.carisroane.com/celebrate/) is giving away for her big Celebration Event. Prizes are from a host of cool authors, including moi, Erin Quinn, Erin Kellison, and Jennifer Ashley, to name only about a 1/3 of the authors who have bookie wookies up for grabs. So don't miss out, get entered to win right now!

Sensational Six is available now, for the amazingly low price of $0.99, for a limited time, anyway. Yes that means it won't stay this price forever. So don't delay, get your set today! And remember, at this price, it's a great way to give someone a Thanksgiving or early holiday present that they'll love without killing your own wallet.

What's in the set? Six great stories from seven authors -- Six Gals and a Guy -- including The Night Beat, Necropolis Enforcement Files #1, along with an extra-long excerpt of Night Music, Necropolis Enforcement Files #2. And right now, this boxed set is the only place where you can get both The Night Beat and the Night Music excerpt, and since you can get them both AND five other awesome stories for less than a dollar, there's really no reason not to race out and grab them right now! And to make it easy for you, here are all the buy links ('cause I'm a giver, me).

Kobo
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Amazon Canada
Amazon Australia
iTunes
Barnes and Noble

Speaking of Night Music, and just to prove that it's really coming to you in early 2015, head on over to my Premieres page where you can see the worldwide unveiling of the cover! Yes, once you have a cover, you know it's real, and it's really real!

The Sensational Six Blog Tour is also in full swing. Details for all stops are here at the Blah, Blah, Blah, Blog (see posts below). Every stop has prizes and there's a gigantic grand prize, too, so definitely get entered to win. And if that's not enough, there's a big party on Facebook this Thursday, Nov. 20th, aka tomorrow, starting at 3pm EST. RSVP now so you don't miss out because, of course, there's going to be authors chatting and prizes being handed out the entire time!

Already got Sensational Six? Already read some or all of the stories in the set? Do all Six Gals and a Guy a favor and leave a review on Amazon, Barnes and Noble.com, Smashwords, Kobo, iTunes, or Goodreads. Review (like pre-orders) help books and authors tremendously, and right now, Sensational Six needs reviews!

That's it for today but, as always, more's on the way. So enjoy the beginning of the downward slide to the weekend, and let's be winning and reviewing readers out there!

Love,
Gini

Monday: Night Owl Yapping

Happy Sunday!

Go me for late notice and all that, but I wanted to advise all y'all that I'll be live chatting -- along with awesome authors Erin Quinn, Erin Kellison, and Caris Roane, aka The Paranormal Romance Dream Team -- over at Night Owl Reviews this Monday, October 6 at 5pm Pacific / 6pm Mountain / 7pm Central / 8 Eastern. International attendees are encouraged to join us, too!

The chat room will appear on the scheduled chat day (like magic, apparently). Chat Schedule, all times Pacific, is:
(5:00 PM) Erin Quinn
(5:15 PM) Gini Koch
(5:30 PM) Caris Roane
(5:45 PM) Erin Kellison

Oh, and, lest we fear it's all just yap, there will be prizes, too. Knowing the four of us, lots of prizes.

You will need to RSVP by 4pm Pacific on the 6th in order to be entered for prizes. Details for how to RSVP are on the event page.

Hope you're all having great weekends and I also hope to see a bunch of you at the Night Owl Reviews chat on Monday evening!

Love,
Gini

Last Days of Winning Disco

Happy Friday! Well, the weekend is upon us, but before we get to go relax, party, and run a zillion errands, let's do a short and sweet catch up on some things going on all over.

First up, check out a love letter from Martini to Kitty, as envisioned by Julie from My 5 Monkeys over at Vampire Book Club. So cute!

Remember that the Erin Kellison Spotlight interview along with a book giveaway is live right here at the Blah, Blah, Blah Blog (click the link or just scroll down). If you haven't read Erin yet, get entered to win and find a new author. If you have, get entered to win a book of hers you might not have yet. It's a win-win all the way and open to anyone, international included!

Speaking of winning, we're in the last days of the Tidy My Office contest. But, as most of my contests are, this is for Hook Me Up! subscribers only. Not on? Send an email with "Hook Me Up!" in the subject line to gini@ginikoch.com and you'll be added on and get the rules sent right out to you so you can get in on the win!

Speaking of fun, you know I've been talking about Arizona Dreamin'. Well, someone else is talking about it today over at StephsBookRetreat. My half-price tickets are gone, but even at full price of $79 for the weekend, this is a great deal. You'll get to hang with moi, our Spotlight author Erin Kellison, Erin Quinn, Amber Scott, Caris Roane, and 15 other amazing authors. Lots of access, lots of fun, so make your plans to join us now!

For those wanting to see the me before May and June, you're in luck, because Tucson Festival of Books is next weekend (how did it get here so quickly?). Come to the 4th largest book fair in the country and see me, a lot of those Arizona Dreamin' authors, and a ton of other cool and famous authors for a weekend at a book lover's Disneyland.

Well, that's it for today, but as always, more's on the way. So everyone have a wonderful 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

Pinning Moi Down

Happy Hump Day! This is coming out a little late because, well, there's so much going on it took me a while to gather it all. (Yes, that's my story -- versus "I was up late and got up late and am just running late, late, late" -- I think "so much going on" sounds way better, don't all y'all?) So, let's roll! (Yes, I know, I sound so gangsta when I say that. ;-D)

First up, head over to RT Book Reviews where they've totally done me the honor of including me in their Recommended Science Fiction Romance list! I'm there with some other awesome authors, so check it out and grab some reads you may have missed!

Romancing the Genres has a nice listing of some cons worth attending, including Arizona Dreamin'. I still have one half price ticket available for this year's AZD con, so if you want it, let me know ASAP. It's a great opportunity to hang out with moi and 19 other awesome authors, including Erin Quinn, Erin Kellison, and Caris Roane.

Speaking of Erin Kellison, tune in tomorrow, because she's our featured Spotlight guest. And yes, in addition to learning fun things about her, you'll also have a chance to win one of her excellent books.

Next up, see who Larissa's Bookish Life chose as her Favorite Female Book Characters. Then see what books My 5 Monkeys can't wait for. Then hit Gizmo's Reviews and see who her Top 10 Auto-Buy Authors are.

My awesome assistant Colette (aka She Who is Saving What's Left of My Sanity) has dragged me kicking and whining (but not screaming, so there's that) onto Pinterest. So, check out my Pinterest boards, pin away, and follow me so I can follow you back! In addition to series pins, I have a board for pins from the Alien Collective, recipes and food ideas from the Alien Collective, and pins so you can See The Characters (which I promise to fill in as much as I can :-D) as I do in my mind, or at least, close to.

Remember that this is the last week of the Tidy My Office contest, and the marked up galley for Alexander Outland: Space Pirate by moi writing as G.J. Koch is up for grabs. But it's for Hook Me Up! subscribers only. Not on? Now's really the time to get on. Send an email with "Hook Me Up!" in the subject line to gini@ginikoch.com, and you'll be in and get the rules for entry sent right to you.

Speaking of which, it's time to announce the winner of the marked up galley for Alien vs. Alien. So, without further ado, here's who the Gods of Random liked this week:

Kathryn Willadsen

Note to our winner: You have until Sunday, March 3rd to check in by sending me an email with your name (first and last) and your full mailing address. If I don't hear from you, the Gods of Random will demand a sacrifice and a new winner will be chosen.

That's it for today, but more's on the way. Enjoy the downward slide to the weekend, and let's be readers out there! See you tomorrow for a stellar Spotlight, and peace out, my li'l gangstas!

Love,
Gini

Spotlight: Caris Roane

As promised, we have a treat for you today, because awesome author Caris Roane is visiting to take her time in the Spotlight. She's also got a ton of goodies to give away, so it's like an early Christmas or right on time Hanukkah present, too! But before we roll into that, let's get anyone who doesn't know her up to speed on the magic that is my friend Caris.

Caris Roane has published over fifty Regency romance novels and novellas under the pen name, Valerie King.  In 2005, Romantic Times gave her a Career Achievement award in Regency Romance.  Having had a long-time love affair with vampires, Caris tackled the paranormal genre and built a unique vampire world based on ascending dimensional earths.  Her series is called Guardians of Ascension. 

Her most recent self-published project, The Blood Rose Novella Series, launched in May of 2012 with the first title:  Embrace the Dark. 

Currently, Caris is working on a new vampire series set to launch in the Fall of 2013:   WARRIORS IN CHAINS with the first novel, BORN IN CHAINS.

Caris lives in Phoenix, Arizona, with her two cats, Sebastien and Gizzy.

So, without further ado, Caris, welcome to the Blah, Blah, Blah Blog!

CR: Hi, everyone!  I want to thank the BLAH, BLAH, BLAH BLOG for having me today as part of my WARM UP YOUR WINTER BLOG TOUR.  On the tour, I’m including excerpts from GATES OF RAPTURE (12/24) and today is no exception!  I also have goodies for you to win, details to follow!

But first, Gini asked me a bunch of questions and since she’s holding a gun to my head, a Glock without a safety – private joke – I must obey her!

GK: Yes, you must, you truly must! So, let's roll, babe. What prompted you to become a writer? Was it voices in your head, a burning desire to tell a story, or just too creative for your own bad self?

CR:  Oh, definitely too creative for my own bad self, lol!  Although ‘bad’ might be the right word. You only have to read my books to find out how bad I really am!  As for what prompted me to become a writer, it’s kind of cliché:  I was standing in a book store many moons ago, staring at a bunch of romance novels, and I thought, ‘I could do that’.  So I did…sort of…just not right away.  It took me 9 years to hit my stride. It’s been a fabulous journey.

GK: What was the first book or piece that you wrote and why? Is it published, being shopped, on the shelf waiting for you to get back to it, or in a heap of ashes at the bottom of the fireplace?

CR:  I started and completed my very first novel a long time ago, mostly to prove to myself that I could start with ‘Once upon a time’ and finish with ‘The End’.  I hold onto the fact that I was able to finish that major project especially when I hit a low spot in the course of a writing day, week, month, or even a year.  I did it once.  I can do it again.  But that book remains as a personal testimony only to myself and is buried somewhere in my house, and no, I don’t have a clue where it is, a scary fact all by itself.

GK: Give us a funny story about writing your latest release. It’s okay if your funny story involves a nervous breakdown as the deadline loomed, btw.  I like to relate to my guests.

CR:  GATES OF RAPTURE (12-24) was an absolute roller coaster writing experience from start to finish – many highs, many painful lows.  I wrote three different major drafts of this novel, which isn’t exactly funny, but it had to happen because my pub house shifted direction mid-stream.  Mucho angst followed.  By the time I’d turned in the third draft and my editor approved it, I had no idea if I’d written a good novel, or something that readers would be throwing against the wall!  One HUGE fear I had was focused on the review that would eventually come from Romantic Times Magazine, because those reviews matter.  In the end, I hoped to at least get a 3 rating because I couldn’t tell about this book, not even a little!  When the review came in, I was stunned:  a 4 ½ , and TOP PICK, no less!  And I do mean I was stunned!  So, you never know with a book.  In the end, I’m just hoping that my fans enjoy GATES OF RAPTURE.  It will be very interesting to see what the they have to say!

GK: Having been in those situations, and also gotten an RT Book Reviews Top Pick, I truly know what you mean -- it's a great feeling. And you totally deserve it, too! And I know your fans are gonna love it! So, in a related question, what’s your most and least favorite things about being an author?

CR:  There are three things that are my favorite, and yes I know it’s not possible to have three favorite things, but I don’t care.  FIRST, I love the written word.  Period.  SECOND, I adore my writer friends, like you, Gini!  I admire you tremendously, more than you know.  THIRD, and maybe this is my fav-favorite, I love hearing from readers that my books have touched their lives.  Okay, YOU choose among those three things!  I dare you!  As for least fav, that’s easy:  I don’t like editing.  The job has to be done and I embrace it, but I much prefer the creative process.  If I could hire someone to take my first draft and edit it, believe me, I would!

GK: I love editing, but then again, I'm with DAW and they believe that less is NOT more. LOL But I agree with all your faves, and we are not control freaks here -- three faves is a-okay with the Alien Collective! (And btw, having someone you look up to say they look up to you is now on my fave things list. Just sayin'. :-D) Moving on from our Happy Mutual Admiration Society, what’s one fact about you that someone who didn’t know you well or hasn’t read this blog wouldn’t know? Make it juicy, my readers expect. 

CR: When I was a tour guide at Disneyland, in those days when I was young and innocent, a photographer asked if I would like to pose for him with some off-the shoulder looks.  I wasn’t sure if I should do this, but being polite I said I would be happy to discuss this with him at his studio.  Yeah, yeah, super naïve, but I was young!  Anyway, when I arrived at his small, dark, work-space to talk things over, he showed me all these prints of completely nude women.  I still remember standing by his desk and thinking, “Uh, say what?”  I hightailed it out of there, but honestly, could I have been more naive!  Sheesh!

GK:  ROFL, i think far more of us have been that naive than we'd care to admit. But, onward! Let's have an excerpt, shall we?
CR: We shall! This is from the sixth book of my vampire series called, GATES OF RAPTURE (coming 12/24) with the hope that you might get to know my Guardians of Ascension, my most beloved winged vampire warriors.  I know the covers have wings on them, but the books aren’t about angels AT ALL…just vampires…with wings.  

GATES OF RAPTURE is the sixth installment of Guardians of Ascension and features Warrior Leto, a famous, ancient Warrior of the Blood, six-six, long straight black hair, piercing blue eyes, and built to battle death vampires for centuries, not to mention drive the ladies crazy!  So yummy!  Romantic Times Magazine gave GATES OF RAPTURE a 4 ½ Star, TOP PICK review!  I couldn’t be happier!

Here’s today’s excerpt taken from Chapter 15:  Leto and Grace are in the middle of a fight for their lives and for the future of their world.  In all the books of this series, I’ve tried to show the complete scope of human and vampire existence.  In this brief excerpt, you’ll see Grace expressing her spirituality and Leto, his commitment to her.

Destiny, I have found, is one of the strangest phenomena in any dimension, for it consistently works against common sense and every practical goal man can conceive.

Memoirs - Beatrice of Fourth

Chapter Fifteen

The next morning, Grace slipped on a simple white linen gown, something she’d made for herself while on Fourth Earth.  Leto snored, a sound that pleased her more than she could say.

She left the room and crossed the narrow hallway to a second guest bedroom.  The sun rose on the opposite side of the house, so as she dropped to her knees in front of the window, the very tops of the White Tank Mountains were lit in a rosy glow.  Militia Warriors still patrolled, a constant, slow, vigilant movement back and forth.

She saw a fainter movement past the tree line that separated the desert-like mountains from the traditional villa landscaping.

She extended her vision and saw that the same doe waited patiently for breakfast.  She smiled, lowered her head, and closed her eyes.  By long habit she ran through a litany of prayers most of which she had constructed throughout the centuries.  They eased her heart and mind and seemed to settle something deep within her so that she could move forward with the day’s enormous challenges. 

Today she would practice once more with the women and at eight o’clock, the spectacle event would take place. Because she hadn’t put any blocks in place, she felt Leto rise from his bed and when he found her, he didn’t speak but sank to the carpet behind her, joining her in her meditation.

She continued to pray until her soul felt at ease. 

Her last thoughts were a basic giving of thanks for the simple gift of life.

When she opened her eyes and turned, she found Leto still on his knees behind her, one hand shading his face, his shoulders bowed.  She saw in an instant the weight that he carried as a powerful ascender, as a warrior, as a trainer of Militia Warriors, as a gifted leader.  She had often seen this same demeanor in Thorne.

Leto, she sent, thank you for joining me.

He lowered his hand and met her gaze.  He pulled her back toward him and cradled her, his head bent over her shoulder and nuzzling her face.  He smelled so beautiful, of the forest.

She shifted in his arms and put her hand on his face.  “What is to become of us?”

He kissed her and rocked her.  “I will love you, I will work hard for you, and I will do everything I can to bring the stars down for you to hold in your hands.  And I will strive to make this world a finer, better place for you.”

His vows, he was speaking his vows to her.

CR: I hope you enjoyed the excerpt!  I’ve had an extraordinary time creating and writing this series!  Let Guardians of Ascension be a new journey for you.  GATES OF RAPTURE releases on December 24^th. 

To Learn More about Gates of Rapture and to read the opening chapter:  CLICK HERE!!!

To Pre-Order GATES OF RAPTURE   Amazon   Barnes & Noble  iTunes    

GK: Wasn't that great? Now, tell us about the awesome giveaways that are going on!

CR: Here are the giveaway details (all international with appropriate compensatory prizes as needed):  On each stop of the tour, I’ll be giving away the same awesome collection of prizes as listed on the Rafflecopter form, so be sure to stop by each blog on the tour for a chance to win at each blog.  Be careful to follow the directions on the Rafflecopter form at each site.  And be very careful of the dates!  The contest at each site will last 3 days only, and those dates will be listed on the Rafflecopter form as well!!!  

For links to all the other blogs on the tour:  CLICK HERE!!!

The Grand Prize Drawing - VERY IMPORTANT:  to be eligible for the Grand Prize drawing of the Nook with Glowlight, you must leave a comment at the bottom of this blog (as well as at all the sites on the tour if you want to go to every site and enter that many times—totally up to you!  But comments must be left!)  The grand prize drawing will be selected by random.org in the following manner.

On January 18^th, three days after the tour ends, I will enter the number of blogsites into the random number generator, which will deliver up the winning site.  I will then go to the winning site, count up the comments one by one, and enter that number into random.org.  Random.org will then provide the Grand Prize winning number matched to the comments on the winning blogsite.  This means, that if you travel to all the blogs on this tour, you can enter the GRAND PRIZE contest on every single blog you visit by leaving a comment at each blogsite!  Good luck to all! 

The Goodies as listed on the Rafflecopter form are:  a $10 gift card to Barnes & Noble (or similar for International);  a replica, antique typewriter key bracelet that spells ‘dream’; a signed copy of ASCENSION (the first novel in the Guardians of Ascension series); Romance Trading Cards; and bookmarks.    

The Grand Prize drawing for a Nook with Glowlight, will take place on January 18^th, three days after the tour officially ends!  Good luck! 

For links to all the other blogs on the tour:  CLICK HERE!!!

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TO FIND CARIS ROANE ON THE WEB…
Website Home Page:  www.carisroane.com
Blog:  http://carisroane.com/journal/
Twitter handle:  @carisroane
Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/caris.roane
Goodreads:  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3500801.Caris_Roane
Email:  carisroane@gmail.com

a Rafflecopter giveaway