Vote for Alien Nation!

Greetings Members of the Collective! Congrats on navigating the first week of 2017 

The interwebs are talking and Alien Nation is back in the spotlight! It would be great if you could head on over to Critters Workshop and give your girl Gini a vote in the Science Fiction/Fantasy Category.

Help the world discover what you already know: Kitty and the gang are the best and the baddest around!

Voting is open for the next seven (from the 7th) days. 

Everybody Loves Coupons...

Howdy there people of the Giniverse!

Here's hoping you all made it safely through the after Thanksgiving shopping and that December's been treating you well so far.

In the hopes of keeping the holiday discount goodness going, Museum of Robots wants to extend to you a 15% discount. This covers the Gini Koch Collection as well as all the other wicked cool items on their site.

Just be sure to use GINI15 at checkout and enjoy more discount goodness this cyber shopping season until Dec. 31st.

Gini Returns to The Poisoned Pen for Alien Nation

Come see your girlfriend Gini and get the latest bookie wookie Alien Nation signed!

Don't miss out -- fun, prizes, and there could be cake!

December 7th 7 pm-10 pm 

4014 N Goldwater Blvd, Ste 101, Scottsdale, Arizona 85251

Need books? Call in an order and pick up at the party!

*There will be a Livestream of the book signing so attend virtually and share in the excitement! https://livestream.com/poisonedpen/events/6549131

The Hook Me Up! Crowd Is The Place to Be.

'Tis the season...and all that jazz.

I know you're making your "to do"and "to buy" lists (which include pre-ordering Alien Nation and Alien Education, right?), ducking relatives looking for a place to stay for that impromptu visit (ok that might just be me), cashing in that PTO for extra days off - ok, that might just be how I make it through being an employee...

Should the mood to hand out the exclusive goodness strike the Gini, though, I'd hate for you to miss out. (And I hear tell it's striking.)

Don't be like the sad pup. FOMO during the holiday season is to be avoided at all costs. 
Be sure to sign up for Gini's Hook Me Up!

- Ro

Subscribe to our mailing list

Win a Copy of Alien Nation!

The interwebs are still talking and you've got a chance to win a print copy of Alien Nation right now over at I Smell Sheep!

You've got 7 days to enter and win yourself (or if you're more generous than I, a friend) the next book in the Alien/Katherine "Kitty" Series. May the flip of the coin land on heads - assuming of course you called heads and if not well...you get the picture

-Ro

Alien Series Book Giveaway Happening Now!

You know someone's always keeping an eye out for what's happening around the interwebs that impacts the Giniverse...

Well, Urban Fantasy Investigations has a giveaway going on right now and for the next 6 days! Head on over and enter for a chance to win the first three books in the Alien/Katherine "Kitty" Series!

It's that time of year when you need to be thinking gifts. Nothing beats books. Take a chance, win some books and if you're all "booked" gift them to a friend who needs to join the Collective.

-Ro

Tucson Comic Con is HERE!

Happy Friday, the weekend is upon us!

TCC go-ers (and those still looking for a weekend activity) you'll find your author-shaped friend Gini in the Exhibit Hall meeting the folks, passing out the hugs, and selling the books of the Giniverse. Stop by, pick up some titles, get a signature or two. 

You can find Gini in Author's Alley at A-12. 

---

  Gini's Panel Schedule 

   Saturday, November 5th

4:00 pm: How to Get Your Story Idea Onto the Page
Where: Mojave Room & Maricopa Room (Celebrate)

with: Bruce Davis (Moderator), Tom Leveen, Joe Nassise, and James A. Owen

---

Color me doing my part to keep you in the know.

- Ro

Morning-ish all!

Just stopping by all quick like to let you know, there's new, easy way to subscribe to the Hook Me Up! Newsletter on the Gini Koch: Hairspray & Rock and Roll Facebook fan page.  If you take a look-see at the side menu, you'll now find a lovely Subscribe to Hook Me Up! option.

You know you want to get all the latest news and be ready for the return of the contests! Click the link, give Gini your email and enjoy Hook Me Up! for news and exclusives from the Giniverse.

Catch you on the Flipside...

Ro

P.S. No I don't really sleep. Good for you, not so much telemarketers I talk to on extreme caffeine

Pre-orders...they're kind of a Big Deal

Calling All Alien Collective Members:

We need to have a family meeting - don't worry no one's in trouble so no need to fear hearing your full name during roll call...

*shudders at the internal echo of mom's stern voice*

I'm sure many of you've noticed the increased publicity blitz in anticipation of book releases on the interwebs. You've also probably noticed these book campaigns kicking off earlier and earlier. 

Why you ask? -- fine, so you didn't but I'm gonna throw some knowledge at you anyway.

Publishers, retailers, vendors, media sources - heck even other readers - not only want to know who's waiting with baited breath (alright that's probably an exaggeration) to get their hands on an author's next book but who's ready to put their money down right then, and there.  

ok it may be just me who gets like this when
I get a book release date notification.

The push is to coax readers to pre-order new books as soon (and as much) as possible. 

They know authors (hopefully) have faithful followers and they know these fans are a book-buying mad bunch of bibliophiles. 

Why does this matter so much you ask?  -- ok, you didn't but I'm still gonna put you in the know: 

Pre-orders are the great predictor, the magic eight ball, the magic mirror on the wall if you will - and their importance is greatly increased in the publishing world.   

As a writer Gini's gotta bring the words and the worldbuilding; as author with publishing deals, Gini needs to bring in the book pre-orders, too. 

Why else does it matter you ask? (obviously you sense my theme by now...)

Robust pre-sales can impact:

1. How may books a vendor initially orders and whether they make subsequent orders - print runs determine whether a title can make the USA Today or New York Times Bestseller lists...or not 
2. What format a publisher decides to make a book in - trust me getting a physical book is not guaranteed  
3. If an author gets a contract extension or even gets to complete their existing contract 

We want Gini's publisher to know we're excited about the next book so they keep the Gini writing giving us new books.  

Pre-order sales, along with the books sold at first release, count towards the first week sales numbers. 


Maximizing initial sales establishes bestseller contenders (wouldn't it be great to push Gini up on the lists?) and can impact the fate of future books. 

The next Alien/Katherine "Kitty" Kat book, Alien Nation, is set for release on December 6, 2016.  It is available for pre-order at major and independent bookstores and online book retailers now:

Amazon  
Barnes and Noble 

Books-A-Million
Mysterious Galaxy
Powell's City of Books 

The Poisoned Pen

Gini releases two books in the Alien series a year - that means the pre-order cycle can be fast and furious. So let's help her by getting those Alien Nation pre-orders in and to wave that banner to her publisher that the book's on our radar. 

We want the Giniverse to keep the lights on. 

Update To Begin All The Updates...

Howdy all, Ro here... new member from the land of Team Gini.

My mission (which I accepted prior to getting the "to do" list) is to try and catch up the Giniverse news so someone *ahem* can keep her butt-in-seat and focus on all that writing we do so love reading. Have no fear, The Gini is alive and sassy just like we like her. 

So without further ado, let's commence the updating...

Coming soon to (another) a Kickstarter campaign near you! 

"Submerged" by Justin Adams, Varia Studios

Zombies Need Brains launches the mother of all campaigns for THREE new sci-fi/fantasy anthologies on August 31st! Each anthology's set to feature 14 new stories from some of our favorite sci-fi/fantasy authors. That's right,  no reprints, no re-releases, all new stories for you to peruse.  

The picture featured to the right is the cover art for Submerged. The artwork for all three campaigns, including this piece, comes courtesy of Justin Adams of Varia Studios.

Gini's contributing stories to two of the anthologies: All Hail Our Robot Conquerors and Submerged. Just to keep everyone on their toes. Team Tuckerization, start your engines, and anyone else who wants to be in a story of hers (the Submerged story will be horror, the Robot story will be an Alien series short) get ready.  Check out the campaign page for further info. They're planning a serious mix of prize goodness, including ebooks from Gini, at various backer times and levels. Be an early backer...you know you want to. 

New way to keep in the loop on the Alien/Katherine "Kitty" Katt series news AND MORE: 

Gini's publisher for the Alien/Katherine "Kitty" Katt series, DAW, launched a new newsletter.

 The DAW newsletter features: new releases, e-book and back-list promotions, giveaways, especially exciting media hits DAWthors have in the preceding month, and other most excellent news. 

To take advantage of this direct from the publisher way to add to your Giniverse news stream, SIGN UP, then watch your inbox!  

Swag from the Giniverse: 

If you haven't had a chance to swing by Museum of Robots  and check out the collection of items available from the multi-verse of Gini you're totally missing out!  

You know you need a Poof tote. ...just look at it. 

I won't lie, I waved the Poof in many a person's face at SDCC this year. It's not my fault Mous-Mous felt feisty. I just facilitated the attitude. I mean, who am I to deny a Fluff Baby?

                                                                                                                 

Interviews around the Interwebs: 

As you're aware, Gini's been out and about this summer. All that go-go-go equals plenty of interviews to be found online.

In May: 

In betwixt holding court and signing all the things, Gini took a timeout during the Mysterious Galaxy birthday bash to sit down with geekitude to chat about the goings on in the Giniverse.

Gini also spent some time with Creative Play and Podcast chatting about "her writing trials and tribulations," her book, Plush Life, and the Kickstartered anthology MECH: Age of Steel.


 
If you've not had a chance to meet the Gini in the wild (or even if you have), here's the video of her full talk during the signing for Camp Alien at The Poisoned Pen on May 23rd:

and then comes...July: 

If you ever had a question you wanted to ask Gini but didn't feel you could (although, let's face it you can always ask...and you know she always answers) check out a her interview Q and A from Writerly Things. Mayhap author Tristan Vick already asked it for you. 

And to give you a wee taste of the goings-on from SDCC 2016, watch the video from the Worldbuilding panel wherein Gini and her fellow authors: Jon Skovron, Claudia Christian, Seanan McGuire, Brandon Mull, and Scott Sigler, with moderator Cindy Pon, discuss how they build a living, breathing environment for their characters.

Early August feature: 

Since the Giniverse transcends borders (and time...) check out this interview with Zwartraafje. (Yes, it's in Dutch, but don't worry -- there's an English translation included. Just scroll down...all the way down...and it'll be there.) The interview celebrates all things Gini and, who knows, you may learn something you'd yet to discover.  Gini guarantees that you will, since there were some very new questions asked.

∞

I know, you're wondering if any movie-going or TV watching went on in the time of silence; this is Gini, so OF COURSE movies happened. If you missed any reviews head on over to  Slice of SciFi and Pop Culture Geeks check out what she thought of: 

• Warcraft
• Finding Dory 
• The Legend of Tarzan
• The Secret Life of Pets
• Ghostbusters
• War Dogs

And now a few for moments in SCIENCE: 

This week at NASA we reexamine when a supernova actually happened in our galaxy. Give it a read and see why their findings stripped away the exploded planet's connection to an event previously recorded by the Chinese, thereby kicking it from the annuls of history. 

For those of you following all things Planet Nine (I still say we're up to planet ten because number nine is Pluto now and forever-My Very Educated Mother Just Served U Nine Pickles!- yes, I hold a grudge against Pluto Killers dangit), I hope you caught the Science Alert piece on what Physicists think Planet Nine really is back in June. 

∞

I'd hate for you to be tired of me all in one go so I think that's it for now. Have no fear there's more to come ( I didn't even get to the part where I clue you in to the things coming [back] to the Giniverse (there's this Instagram account just SITTING there...) or all the latest places you can find reviews and commentary on the works of Gini around the webisphere or who she wants to shout out and support. 

Leave me a comment below, let me know what you'd like to be kept up-to-date about or things you'd like to see added to the news blasts.

So stay tuned, more to come, and I'll catch you on the flip side (I do hereby solemnly swear I used this phrase before ever meeting Gini, talking to Gini or reading her blog...blame Rocco from Boondock Saints).

Ro