Buckeye Friday

Happy Friday! Well, it may be the end of the week, but as my Hook Me Up! subscribers already know, it's not the end of the many ways to win! So, let's get to it without further delay, shall we? We shall.

Head over to A Buckeye Girl Reads and check out The Top 10 ways to tell if your best friend is a super spy. There's a giveaway, natch, where you can win your choice of Alien Tango, Alien in the Family, or Alien Proliferation, signed & personalized, with a set of cover magnets, cover postcards, and signed flyers. Open internationally.

Then head over to Silk Screen Views and see what they thought of Alien in the Family and Alien Proliferation. While you're there, remember that The Alien Contest is still going on so don't miss out on your chance to enter to win.

Speaking of winning, Kitty still needs your votes for the Supernatural Smackdown over at Dark Faerie Tales. The voting ENDS TODAY, so please get your votes in. The contest for 4 copies of Alien in the House and 1 copy of winner's choice plus swag continues through May 28, though, so don't miss out on getting entered there, either!

Other blogs where you still have time to enter to win include: Books-n-Kisses through May 20; Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell through May 21; Paranormal Haven through May 21; and I Smell Sheep through May 20.

That's it for today, but as always, more's on the way next week, including but not limited to Phoenix Comicon. So, have wonderful weekends and let's be readers out there! Peace out, my li'l gangstas, and I'll catch you on the flip side!

Love,
Gini

Smackdown in the House

Happy Hump Day! Kitty's in a contest and she needs your help. That's right, it's the Supernatural Smackdown over at Dark Faerie Tales and Kitty needs your votes to win -- and the voting is ONLY open until Friday!

And, to encourage said votes, there's lots of giveaways -- winner's choice of any book in the back list (Touched by an Alien, Alien Tango, Alien in the Family, Alien Proliferation, Alien Diplomacy, or Alien vs. Alien), signed and personalized, along with a set of cover magnets, cover postcards, and signed flyers. But that's not all. There's a chance to win several copies of Alien in the House, too! So get over there, cast your vote, and get entered to win! (Voting's only open until Friday, but you can enter to win through next week.)

A Cup of Joe by Anita Ensal (yes, that's moi) is now available in trade paperback as well as ebook. It's also available at these selected bookstores: The Poisoned Pen, Dog Eared Pages, and Mysterious Galaxy. All three bookstores have signed copies and all three of them ship to readers.

Next, head over to The Night Bazaar and see what I and some other Night Shade authors are doing, and don't forget to check out their books -- there's lots of good reading in this list!

That's it for today, but as always, more's on the way. So go vote for Kitty, enter to win, check out new books, and let's be readers out there!

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

Eclectic Collective

Happy Tuesday!

Well, here it is, the day before I leave for World Fantasy Con. And I'm totally calm! Ahahahahahahahahaha! *cough* Okay, maybe not THAT calm. And, for those keeping score at home, I'm way more packed than expected. Like 85% packed, maybe 90%. Be impressed. Really.

Of course, after yesterday, any update's gonna seem slim. But, as my Hook Me Up! subscribers already know, this one still has lots in it. So, before we go to radio silence (other than Twitter, where those who follow me - @GiniKoch - have a shot of hearing what's going on) until Nov. 2nd, let's get to it!

First up, head over to Muddy Colors and check out what Dan Dos Santos, aka the greatest cover artist in the world, is up to. Hint: talking about, and I quote, "What's fast becoming the coolest series I get to work on." Yes! Yes, he's talking about the Alien series! Woot! (Yes, my cover artist loving my series makes so very, very happy. It's the simple things you treasure, really.)

Then, check out what our "Alien Tango" ARC winner got in the mail! My Five Monkeys has a couple of great shots of all her Alien Swag.

Remember that the Spooky Legends event at Dark Faerie Tales and All Things Urban Fantasy is going on through the 31st. And, if you haven't hit my entry, check out Aliens on Earth, get entered to win, and leave a comment!

You'll want to have your eyes on my website come Nov. 2nd, btw. Why? Oh, no reason. Other than you may want to really check out the Deathless Prose page. I've heard a rumor that there could be some kind of excerpt or something there that day.

Last, but in NO way least...the first review of "Alien Tango" is up! Check out what Merry Genre-Go-Round has to say!

Well, that's it for today, and, therefore, that's it for a whole week. A WEEK! What WILL y'all do with your bad selves while I'm gone? Hopefully, hit all the links, re-read "Touched by an Alien" in anticipation of "Alien Tango", and generally show your Alien Collective coolness in all that you do. You know, routine.

Love,
Gini

Yet Another Manic Monday

Happy Monday! Well, as my Hook Me Up! subscribers already know, it's crazy time over here. I'm loaded with things to do -- like packing -- before I leave for World Fantasy Con (on Wed. morning much earlier than I like to get out of bed, but then again, since I'd like to stay in bed until at least noon every day, that's not really telling you much), and we're loaded with things going on in the blogosphere, too. So let's get to it!

First up, if you missed it yesterday, it's not too late to catch it today. Catch what, you ask? Why my entry into the Spooky Legends event going on at Dark Faerie Tales and All Things Urban Fantasy. Check out Aliens on Earth, leave some Alien Collective love, get entered to win a signed copy of "Touched by an Alien".

Next up, Locus Magazine has an interview with the greatest cover artist in the world, aka Daniel Dos Santos. Check it out, learn some more about Dan and his process.

Then, head to Babbling About Books and check out which upcoming covers are getting babbled about. Then, hop to another good review of "Touched by an Alien" over at What If Books. Then, check out what came in the mail for Thrifty Reader.

Catch your breath, and then head to Dark Wyrm Reads where he highlights some of the nominees for the Bookie Awards, including yours truly. Dark Wyrm also has a great contest going on right now that you'll want to enter, so after you check out his highlighted nominees, skip over to the Spooktacular Book Giveaway and get entered to win!

Speaking of the Bookie Awards, if you'd like to see all the categories and nominees, check out Authors After Dark. Congrats to everyone nominated and good luck to all, too!

Whew! I think that's all for today. So enjoy blog-hopping and I'll catch you on the flip side!

Love,
Gini

Spooky Sunday

Happy Sunday!

As I've mentioned and as my Hook Me Up! subscribers already know, it's Spooky Sunday time! Well, okay, it's not gonna be THAT spooky. But my guest blog for the Dark Faerie Tales and All Things Urban Fantasy Spooky Legends event is large and in charge over at Dark Faerie Tales.

So, check out Aliens on Earth, leave a comment, get entered to win a signed and personalized copy of "Touched by an Alien" ('cause I don't have copies of "Alien Tango" yet, that's why).

So, have a fun read, share some Alien Collective love, and enjoy all the spookiness abounding!

Love,
Gini

Friday Fun

Happy Friday! One big flurry on Monday and then...silence? What's up with THAT? Well, prepping and packing up 12 awesome prizes and then heading them to the Post Office takes a lot out of a girl. But as my Hook Me Up! subscribers already know, we have lots of fun stuff to get to today, so let's roll!

First up on today's hit parade is the announcement of the winners from the Janice Hardy interview and giveaway. The Gods of Random have made their choice, and here are the two lucky winners who get to pick which of her two awesome books, "The Shifter" or "Blue Fire", they want:

*drum roll, please*

Lisa Dovichi and Becky Boyer!

Ladies, respond on the blog or send me an email to confirm and I'll be sending you Janice's email address. Just tell her which book you want and she'll get it out to you!

Next, check out what Parajunkee's View is waiting for (hint: I think it starts with "Alien" and ends with "Tango"). Then bop over to My 5 Monkeys for her Friday fun...don't worry, she doesn't rub in TOO much that she's the winner of the "Alien Tango" ARC.

Have you been reading the cool, fun takes on all sorts of urban legends for the Spooky Legends event going on at Dark Faerie Tales and All Things Urban Fantasy? If you have, keep going, the event doesn't end until Oct. 31. If you haven't, check 'em out! And remember, my take on the UFO rumors goes up at Dark Faerie Tales on Sunday, Oct. 24. You don't want to miss it, especially since there's a contest attached to win a copy of "Touched by an Alien". (The giving ABOUNDS this month, dunnit?)

Event Reminders:
I'll be doing a table topic for my Desert Rose RWA chapter on Characters and Characterizaion at Macayo's Depot Cantina in Tempe, AZ on Tuesday, Oct. 26, starting at 5:30. I'll be at World Fantasy Con in Columbus, OH from Oct. 27th through Nov. 1st. And I'll be at TusCon in Tucson, AZ from Nov. 12-14.

Any aspiring or beginning authors in the Greater Phoenix Metro Area should plan to attend the Desert Rose Writers Workshop on Saturday, Nov. 20th. It's an all day event, with published authors as the only speakers, and...it's FREE. Even readers who are interested in the publishing industry and how writers write will find something for them, and again, it's FREE. This is the best deal around, so if you're in the area, make plans to attend.

That's it for today, I think. But no worries...there's always more coming, right? Of course right!

Love,
Gini

Random Ramblings of a Meaningful Kind

Happy Monday! I know what you're all waiting for, at least, what all my Hook Me Up! subscribers are waiting for...but as they already know, there's business to attend to first. And, you know, I like to draw it out. So, let's roll. (I know, I sound so street when I say that.)

First up, we have another great review of "Touched by an Alien" over at Panic in the Lingerie. Head over, have a read, leave some Alien Collective love, you know the drill.

Next up, as the avatar on the Blog has indicated, I'm taking part in a super-cool event -- Spooky Legends at Dark Faerie Tales and All Things Urban Fantasy. Lots of awesome urban fantasy and paranormal authors are all taking an urban legend and writing about it from their characters' viewpoints. Lots of your faves, I promise you. LOTS of them.

So you know what that means, right? You don't? It means Kitty's taking on the Aliens on Earth rumors. And, you know Kitty -- she likes to share the fun, so I can guarantee there'll be more than her over there *coughMartinicough*. My piece will be up at Dark Faerie Tales on Sunday, Oct. 24th. But the event starts today, so get over and have a cool read...every day through the end of the month! Here's an overview of what's to come at Dark Faerie Tales and at All Things Urban Fantasy.

Reminder: There's still time to get a comment in and so be eligible to win one of two books from Janice Hardy, either "The Shifter" or "Blue Fire". Contest ends Oct. 19th, so scroll down or jump to the Interview with Janice Hardy and get your comment in today!

There's also a meme blog post for those of you who want to get even more insights into what makes me tick (um, rock and roll and good looking leading men, but seriously, the meme asked different questions than that, so...). Scroll down and check it out on the blog post just under this one. Have a question for me? Send it to me with "Ask Gini" in the subject line, and I'll not only answer it, I'll post it on the Extra Me! page.

Speaking of winning...(oooh, I can just SEE some of you actually leaning closer to your monitors and screens)...yes, the votes are tallied and the Gods of Random have made their decisions in the "Alien Tango" ARC Giveaway.

But, I'm not gonna tell you yet. Nope, I'm gonna tell in a little while. Why? *cough* Um, 'cause I like to torture, of course! I mean, c'mon, that seems obvious to ME. So, check back a little later today...winners will be posted a little while.

But I'll give you this much. In addition to our three Gator Pack winners, the comments were so awesome that I decided to give out not one, not two, but NINE Honorable Mention prizes. So, that means we'll have twelve winners, not just three. Will you be one of them? Do the Gods of Random love YOU? Find out...soon...

Love,
Gini

Better Late Than Tomorrow

Well, as you can tell, this is posting REALLY late. (Hey, I was busy. And not actually by any computer for most of the day.) For some of you, it'll be so late that it's EARLY. (That's my spin and I'm sticking with it, thankyouverymuch.)

First off, as my Hook Me Up! subscribers already know, winners of the latest Hook Me Up! exclusive contest, Deck the Walls, are announced on the Blah, Blah, Blah Blog, just below this post. Scroll down and either squeal with joy or offer your begrudging congratulations.

Next up, we have a lot of "Touched by an Alien" activity going on. First off, Bibliognome has a great review up. In addition, our Alien Collective Member in Very Good Standing has created a really cool Chapter First Lines Sneak Peek. So head over, check it all out, leave some love, you know the drill.

Next up, The Book Addict is guest posting at The Book Vixen -- say that three time fast -- and has her Top 10 Didn't Know I'd Love It Books listed. Check out to see where "Touched by an Alien" falls (today, anyway ;-D). Then head over to Melting Before Your Eyes and learn a fact about me I'd wager most of you didn't know.

Now for something a little different -- a preview of sorts. Head over to Dark Faerie Tales and check out their upcoming event, Spooky Legends. Why? Well, in addition to it being all kinds of fun, I'm on the docket...and you'll get to hear from Kitty and Company about their (and my) favorite urban myth. Coming in October, but check out the line up now!

Finally, a reminder that my interview is still up and going strong at Larissa's Bookish Life. The chance to win a signed copy of "Touched by an Alien" ends September 20th.

So, it's better to get late than to receive never, right? Right? (Of course right!)

Love,
Gini

Archetypes, Stereotypes & Cliches

As my Hook Me Up! subscribers already know, I was invited to do a guest blog over at the totally cool Dark Faerie Tales website (http://darkfaerietales.com/guest-post-author-gini-koch.html#respond). Topic is my take on Archetypes, Stereotypes & Cliches.

So, head on over there and have a read, and, while you're there, check their site out. It's wicked in all the good ways!

Love,
Gini