Festival Roundup

Well, as my Hook Me Up! subscribers already know, I'm back from Tucson. Okay, okay, I was back on Monday. But, you know, things got busy. But, never fear, the Tucson Festival of Books Roundup is coming. But first, let's get to the latest news.

First up, head over to Fictitious Musings and see what they thought of Alien Proliferation. Then head to Book Talk with the Woodridge Public Library and check out which books they've enjoyed so far this year.

Check out the nice things Spacetrawler has to say about the series -- and check out the fun, funny, and cool comic strip while you're there. Then head over and see the interesting things awesome author June Kramin has to say over at Romance Lives Forever.

Now, for the TFOB Roundup! First off, much love and many thanks to all of the Alien Collective who came by to see me (and especially to Koren for the DELISH cookies and The Bookpushers for the awesome Festival Survival Kit!) at panels and at my signing at the Mysterious Galaxy booth. It was great seeing all of you, and I wish we'd had more time to hang out and visit.

But the Festival is always busy and jam-packed with things to do! Among the things I did was panel with some awesome authors -- Lorelie Brown, Karen Hawkins, Dennis McKiernan, Robin Hobb, Sam Sykes, and Maxwell Alexander Drake. (Some of you will recognize Drake from my first Comic-Con contest, as he provided several signed flyers and posters. And yes, he's still a cool, fun dude.) I also got to hang out with the ever-awesome Erin Quinn. So it was a fabulous event all the way around.

Next up for me is the Jambalaya Writers' Conference in Houma, LA, which is about an hour outside of New Orleans. It's not only a great chance to see me, but also see a lot of other awesome authors, like Heather Graham and Rick Bragg, and the cost is beyond reasonable. So, if you're in the area on March 31, be sure to come on by! I'll be the one in the pink sparkly cowgirl hat. You know, like always.

Everyone have a fabulous weekend and enjoy a fun and safe St. Patrick's Day weekend. I'll catch you on the flip side, and let's remember to be readers out there!

Love,
Gini

The Dazzlers Explain it All For You

Hey there, everyone! All caught up from yesterday's Mass O' Links? Great! 'Cause as my Hook Me Up! subscribers already know, we have more for you today! Oh, not that many (okay, yes, really, that many), but still, things you don't want to miss.

First up, head over to Fictitious Musings where the first Dazzlers Only interview is large and in charge. (While there, don't forget to sign up for their Gratitude Giveaway.)

Then which authors My 5 Monkeys would like at her Thanksgiving dinner table.

Next, hit RT Book Reviews and see which series they're looking forward to.

Remember to cast your votes for your fave books in the 2011 Goodreads Choice Awards. Yes, "Alien in the Family" is up for best science fiction, so please show it some Alien Collective love. And also remember to get entered to win one of five copies of "Alien Proliferation" over at the Alien Collective Virtual HQ.

In Person Reminder: I'll be in San Diego, at Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore for their Holiday Party on Saturday, Dec. 10th, from 3pm-5pm. If you're in the Greater San Diego Metro Area, please come on by and get your bookie wookies signed by moi and the other awesome authors who will be there!

Now, for our TusCon recap. First off, yes, yes, more swag has come home just waiting for me to have a chance to parcel it off into prize packs and start the heralded ComboCon Contest (say it once, say it twice, say it three times). But I do owe y'all a recap. So here goes...

Got to panel with some very cool authors including Patricia Briggs, Jeff Mariotte, Marsheila Rockwell, Carol Berg, David Lee Summers, Emma Bull, Janni Lee Simner, Sam Sykes, and the Lovely Miss Yvonne Navarro. Plus there were tons of other awesome authors and artists there. And a good time was had by all. In particular, a good time was had at dinner. At a specific dinner, to be exact.

I give you: My Dinner With Patty.

Patty Briggs and her cool hubby, Mike, invited me and Marcy Rockwell to join them at dinner on Saturday night. Before you get too impressed, we went to the Denny's close to the conference hotel. But hey, still fun, right? Right. Most of the gang going walked over, but Marcy and I had panels later in the evening so we drove. We drove, but got there last. Hey, I had to go to the room and change shoes. These things happen.

As any of you who've met me at a con or a signing know, I tend to wear my favorite cowboy hat during in person events. My pink, sparkly cowboy hat. Don't believe me? Check out Extra Me! and call me a liar.

So Marcy and I trot into Denny's, me in my hat. We see Patty and company nowhere around. But before we can look for them, a waitress barrels up to us. "Ma'am," she snarls, "you can't come in here wearing that hat."

I stared. Marcy stared. "Excuse me?" I mean, what else do you say, right?

"You can't wear that hat in here!" She's dead serious. In fact, everyone around her -- busboy, other waitresses, customers -- all look dead serious, too.

Honestly, my first thought probably wasn't what everyone else would think. I'm from the Mean Streets, and my first thought was, 'What kind of gangs do you HAVE around here?' The only time I've ever been or seen someone tossed out because of headwear is due to gang signs.

Marcy and I exchange the classic WTF look. "Um, what? You're saying that I can't wear a cowboy hat in here?"

"That's right. It's DENNY'S POLICY." She's still snarling. The busboy is indicating he's ready to toss us out if we don't immediately comply and I take my hat off. Marcy and I exchange another WTF look. She's thinking there's no way in the world I'm exposing my hat hair to the world (true 'nuff). I'm thinking that we're not going to get to eat because I have no strong belief the restaurant is going to serve us due to my evil gang affiliations, no matter where the hat goes from here.

I turn back. "But it's a cowboy hat." I have nothing other than stating the obvious at this point. "You're saying I can't come in because I'm wearing a cowboy hat in TUCSON?"

At this point, I'm wondering if I can find the gang I supposedly belong to and get them to do some kind of protest here -- we of the Pink Sparkly Hat Gang will not be denied, sort of thing -- when the waitress starts laughing her head off.

"No, no! I'm just fooling with you. Your friend told me to do it." While she and the rest of the restaurant gang crack up, she leads me and Marcy back to where Patty, Mike and the others are. "She fell for it!" the waitress shouts to Patty. "You should have SEEN their faces!"

At this news, Patty and the others start busting their respective guts with laughter. Yes, it's true -- I was punk'd by Patty Briggs and a Denny's with the best actors on the planet working there. Patty's the coolest, isn't she? Ashton Kutcher's got NOTHING on Patty Briggs! And seriously, if any of those Denny's folks are reading this, you're wasting your talents -- head to Hollywood, pronto.

It was a really great con.

Love,
Gini

It's Just Another Clucky Monday

Happy Monday! Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. I had a great time at the Fall Writer's Workshop, running the yap and listening to the wonderful Amber Scott and Caris Roane, and it was great to see some of you there as well! It's a short (in the U.S.) but busy week, though, so enough of the past, let's get back to the future!

First up, Kitty, Martini, Christopher and Chuckie are all sharing secrets over at ALPHA Reader that you don't want to miss. Check it out, leave a comment, show some Alien Collective love. (Oh, and as my Hook Me Up! subscribers already know, you WILL have to read the interview to find out how my subject line actually makes sense.)

Then, head over to see what Bibliognome, one of the lucky ARC winners, has to say about "Alien Proliferation". Then check out the review of "Alien in the Family" from Book Spot Central.

Next up, Fictitious Musings has some great things in their mail. They'll also have a character interview tomorrow (and not with who you'd expect). In honor of this, they're re-running their reviews of "Touched by an Alien" and "Alien Tango", and you can also find their review of "Alien in the Family" as well. They also have quite the Gratitude Giveaway going strong, so if you haven't entered for that, do it now!

Speaking of awesome things to win, the Alien Collective Virtual HQ is offering not one, not two, but FIVE copies of "Alien Proliferation" in their latest contest. Check out the Alien Proliferation Extravaganza and get entered to win today! Swept Away Again also has a nice little listing of some cool things to win.

Speaking of winning and all that jazz, "Alien in the Family" is in the semifinals at the 2011 Goodreads Choice Awards for best science fiction. The competition is tough, so take a moment and vote for it again, please and thank you, so it has a chance to make it to the next round.

Speaking of "Alien in the Family" and voting and such, All Things Urban Fantasy is running a cover art contest for best cover of 2011. I've been alerted that some members of the Alien Collective have already nominated "Alien in the Family" to be in the running, so if anyone else feels like tossing their votes in as well, I'm sure Kitty and Company, not to mention the amazing Daniel Dos Santos, would be most appreciative.

Is that it? Not quite! Check out who Larissa's Bookish Life thinks are the best hero and heroines of 2011.

I know I owe you all a TusCon recap (and boy, do I have one!), but that'll have to wait for tomorrow. So, until then, be good and enjoy all the blog and website hopping!

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

Humping Towards the Weekend

Happy Hump Day! Hope everyone's weeks are going well. As my Hook Me Up! subscribers already know, it's still bedlam as viewed from the air over here, but I did want to stick my head up out of the pile to update you on the latest. So let's get to it!

First off, keep your eyes on the website, since, with all the recent new sales, things are adding on all over the place. Playlist, Accolades, and Author Splash have all been updated, and there's more to come!

Next, head over to Fictitious Musings and check out what they're waiting on.

I'll be at CopperCon this weekend. If you're nearby, stop in! I'm on panels, doing a reading, doing a signing, and running the Sidekick Smackdown. Truly, you don't want to miss it!

Other upcoming appearances:
Sept. 13 - Queen Creek Writer's Group, Queen Creek Library
Sept. 21 - Foxy Dahlings Book Club
Oct. 27-31 - World Fantasy Con
Nov. 11-13 - TusCon 38
Nov. 19 - Desert Rose Fall Writer's Workshop, Scottsdale Civic Center Library
Apr. 27-29 - Desert Dreams Writer's Conference

Last days to enter the Cravings contest over at the Alien Collective Virtual HQ. Don't miss out on the overall Big Arrival contest, because there are lots of awesome prizes to be won!

Both "Alien Proliferation" and "Alien Diplomacy" are available for pre-order. Yes, pre-orders matter, a lot, so do your girl a solid and pre-order both today.

Enjoy the downward slide towards the (long in the U.S.) weekend, and let's be readers out there!

Love,
Gini