Yapping for the Win!

Hey there! Hope everyone's had a wonderful past couple of weeks. Yes, I'm kind of slow on the updates right now because I'm still recovering from surgery, but never fear, I'm always thinking of all of you, promise!
And so you can see how I'm thinking of you, head on over to Books-n-Kisses to check out the latest yap about writing AND a contest! Contest is open internationally, there will be not one, not two, but three winners, and it runs through the end of the month. There's lots of winning over at B-n-K, so check it all out while you're there!

After that, head over to awesome author T.L. Smith's page, Shooting Stars and Bad Guys. Why? She's at Hawaii Con right now and plans to bring back a lot of goodies, that you could win! Just tell her who you think are the best female science fiction authors and you'll be entered to win! Contest is open through Sept. 17th.

Speaking of awesome authors, and since I didn't really give all y'all much of a CopperCon recap, check out what Marsheila Rockwell and Sharon Skinner have to say about it, complete with pictures.

After that, check out what Pages of Forbidden Love thought of Alien Proliferation. After that, see what Piers Anthony -- YES, THAT PIERS ANTHONY -- thought of UFO3/Unidentified Funny Objects 3, which he's in along with moi and a host of other cool authors.

Next up, some science. CNET shares the awesomely cool news that astronomers have mapped our address within gigantic superclusters of galaxies. It's extremely cool to see this the way ACE, Algar, and the Superconsciousness Collective see it. It also kind of looks like the Tree of Life in the Thor movies and comics. Science = proving fiction every day!

Heading to the movies this weekend? Head over to Slice of SciFi and see what I thought of The November Man. Staying in and reading comics instead? Then hit It's Comic Book Day and check out my review of Big Trouble in Little China #1, which I got for the hubs at San Diego Comic-Con ('cause it's his favorite movie of all time and always makes my Top 10). And feel free to join in and share your thoughts on the movie or the comic, or anything else, over at both sites!

Have you gotten Clockwork Universe: Steampunk vs. Aliens yet? If not, why not? It's now available in trade paperback as well as on all eformats, and it features the first Alien series short I ever wrote, "A Clockwork Alien", plus other great stories from a bunch of cool authors.

And, last but not least, there's some exciting news coming next week, from Zombies Need Brains, aka the same folks who brought us Clockwork Universe. What is it, you ask? Why, a new Kickstarter anthology featuring yet another new story by moi. There will be prizes and extras galore, along with the opportunity to get tuckerized in my story, so don't miss out on supporting Temporally Out of Order Anthology (SF&F)! This Kickstarter should go live on Monday, September 15, so check early and often, because the tuckerizations and other cool extras tend to go quickly. And check out this beautiful cover artwork for the anthology by Justin Adams of Varia Studio.

That's it for today, but as always, more's on the way. Hope you all 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

Return of the Rant

Happy Friday! Just a short one today. And yes, for those who've been following me a really long time, it's true -- It's Time for a Rant is back.

As mentioned and promised on Wednesday, there's been a lot of brouhaha going on and going down over a variety of things related to SFWA and scalemail bikinis and more. My views on this are now live over at both Slice of SciFi and It's Comic Book Day, replacing this month's review column.

Comments welcomed and encouraged at both sites -- the editors really appreciate knowing that articles get read, etc., and we'd all like to hear your thoughts on the subject.

That's it! Have fabulous weekends and let's be readers of whatever we want out there. Peace out, my li'l gangstas, and I'll catch you on the flip side!

Love,
Gini

Names and Other Strangers

Happy Hump Day! Well, Arizona Dreamin' was a lot of fun, and coming right after Phoenix Comicon means I was also a lot of tired. LOL But I'm done with cons until San Diego Comic-Con next month, so revving back up. My con wrap up is coming (still), but there's again so much going on that it'll have to wait while we get to all the new!

First off, head over to Shadowhawk's Shade where the yap is large and in charge, talking about names and how I create and use them.

Next, head over to The SF Site and see what they thought of Alien vs. Alien.

Others have managed to get their Phoenix Comicon recaps done. So, head over to I Smell Sheep for some fun con pics, to They're Biodegradeable for Marcy Rockwell's take on things, and to More Geek Than Gay  for a full blown (2.5 hours!) worth of podcast mostly about the con, complete with clips.

Some of you have asked, and Team Gini has answered. There's now a complete, easy-to-read Bibliography  at the website, linked off of the Bookstore page. So, check out what deathless prose of mine you might be missing.

Change to the information on DarkCon -- I was told the wrong dates, so here are the REAL dates for this con: January 9-12, 2014. SO, please alter the plans made and make plans to attend -- I'm the Local Author Guest of Honor and it's gonna be a big party you don't want to miss!

And now, for something kind of completely different. Two somethings, really. First, for those of you who've been asking me when the next Alexander Outland book would be coming, I direct you to Media Bistro and A View From Corona for the explanations of why there's been no sign of Book 2 and why I can't tell you when Book 2 will be coming. But I do plan on writing at least two more books in the Alexander Outland series...I just can't yet tell you when to expect them.

Second, there's another kind of drama going on related to SFWA. For a good recap, check out this article at Adweek. Then check out the plethora of author responses, nicely collected by author Jim Hines. Then...I wasn't going to actually participate in all of this, feeling that Kitty and Victoria and my other female characters already speak my thoughts clearly, but author Stuart Sharp has pulled me into it, with the Huffington Post coming down firmly on the side of women authors being allowed to write whatever they want, and Sharp giving his rebuttal of same.

My response to this will be my June column at Slice of SciFi/It's Comic Book Day!, going up somewhere in the very near future, just as soon as my editor there can find the appropriate beefcake and women in uniform shots.

That's it for today, but as always, more's on the way, hopefully but not limited to my con recaps. So, enjoy the downward slide towards the 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

Bitten by Aliens

Hey there! We've got a short, sweet, but action-packed one for you today, so let's get rolling!

Well, first off and as promised, today's the day over at Bitten By Books, where we're celebrating the release of Alien in the House. You can chat with me, check out the Top 10 Reasons to Read the Alien Series, and enter to...wait for it...win a book! I know! What were the odds?

This time you can win any of the books 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. Open internationally. You can also enter to win below, via the Rafflecopter form.

After you've entered to win over at BBB, head on over to It's Comic Book Day and check out my May column (which, like everything else for me this month) went up a little late.

Then check out what Bibliognome felt were her favorite lines out of Alien in the House.

That's it for today, and since Phoenix Comicon is on the way, probably it for this week. So, see some of you at the con, hope all of you have wonderful weeks and fabulous weekends, Happy Memorial Day to all, and let's be readers out there! Peace out, my lil' gangstas, and I'll catch you on the flip side!

Love,
Gini

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Winning Catch Up

Happy Hump Day! I know, I know, it's like I've fallen off the face of the Earth. That's what deadlines do, gang, and yes, I'm still on deadline for Alien Research. But, as my Hook Me Up! subscribers already know, there's so much going on, including the announcement of the winners of the Advanced Final Copies of Alien in the House, that I just had to stop and catch everyone up. So let's get to it!

First up, my April column for It's Comic Book Day! is live, so check it out and see what I do, and don't, recommend this month.

After that, head over to Medusa's Library where she's discussing gateway drugs -- for science fiction, that is.

Then check out what Gizmo's Reviews and Bibliognome are excited about. And check out Bibliognome's Bon Jovi Concert photos while you're there!

Speaking of excited, check out what Pearls Cast Before a McPig thought of Alien in the House. Then see what Silk Screen Views thought of Touched by an Alien and Alien Tango.

I'll be visiting the Goodreads group Girls, Guns and Grimoires later this month to yap about the Alien series, so if you want to join in, join the group!

Speaking of my running around and running the yap, it's time for another roundup of In Person Events -- where you get to come see the me and have a good time while doing so!

Short Story Workshop -- I'll be teaching how to write short stories, and why that can be both harder and easier than novels, Saturday, May 4, 2013, 11:00am-3:30pm, Queen Creek Library, Queen Creek, AZ. Space is limited, so reserve your seat today!

Book Signing -- for Alien in the House, Wednesday, May 8, 2013, 7:00pm-8:30pm, The Poisoned Pen, Scottsdale, AZ. This is my only signing event in Arizona before Phoenix Comicon, so don't miss out!

Mysterious Galaxy 20th Birthday Bash -- signing Alien in the House and eating cake all day, Saturday, May 11, 2013, 10:00am-5:00pm; I'm in the featured Arizona Authors Spotlight with awesome authors Jeff Marriotte and Marsheila Rockwell from 11:00am-12:00pm, San Diego, CA. This is my only Southern California signing before San Diego Comic-Con, so don't miss out!

Phoenix Comicon -- May 23 to May 26

Arizona Dreamin' -- May 31 to June 2

San Diego Comic-Con -- July 17 to July 21

DarkCon 2014 -- January 9 - January 12, 2014, I'm the Local Guest of Honor and DarkCon is hosting GiniKon on Sunday the 12th;  hotel reservations are now open! Get registered today, this event's gonna be huge!

I know you're all wondering who won the latest contest. And the time to find that out is now! So, without further ado, here are the lucky winners of an advanced final copy of Alien in the House:
  
--Marlise Perkins
--Bananas in the Void
--Clara Miller
--Silk Screen Views
--Ratkin

Special Mention Winner, who also gets an advanced copy of Alien in the House, chosen because she supported my "not awarding for grossest story" statement (hey, I'm capricious that way): Write With Butterfly Wings

NOTE TO THE WINNERS: You have until Sunday, April 21st, to send me an email with your name, complete mailing address, and any requested personalization -- any prize not claimed by then will be pulled back by the Gods of Random and a new winner(s) will be chosen.

That's it for today, but as always, more's on the way. More of me furiously writing Alien Research, true, but more of other things, too. So, enjoy the downward slide towards the weekend and let's be readers out there! Peace out, my li'l ganstas, and I'll catch you on the flip side!

Love,
Gini

It's Another Winning Day!

Hope everyone's had a good start to the week and all's going well. I'm girding my loins (what DOES that actually mean, anyway?) and prepping for this weekend, aka the Tucson Festival of Books. I'm all over the place, so don't miss your chance to see the me, hear the yap, and get bookie wookies signed! Yes, I will be the one in the pink, sparkly cowgirl hat. Yes, that actually does make me impossible to miss.

But before the weekend we have a lot going on, so let's get to today's installments! First off, the Tidy My office contest is over, and I'll be announcing the winner of the Alexander Outland: Space Pirate marked up galley in just a few moments. I'll also be sharing who won the Honorable Mention prize, so it's two winners today!

Speaking of winning, there's still time to get your entries in to win any ebook from Erin Kellison, so don't miss out -- click the link or scroll down a bit and get your entry in! Contest closes tomorrow, March 6th.

And speaking of tomorrow, in honor of one of my booth mates at the Tucson Festival of Books, who also happens to be a good pal of mine, we'll have the creator of the "Spacetrawler" comic, Christopher Baldwin, as tomorrow's Spotlight guest. And yes, there will be a giveaway. I know! We are just ALL about the winning this week!

Next on the hit parade, check out my latest column, The Ides of Meh, over at It's Comic Book Day. Then hit Larissa's Bookish Life and see who her favorite book duos are -- and they're not necessarily romantic.

Back at the website, don't faint, but we have a new Playlist up, Newsy Stuff has somewhat new news, and to answer a burning question a whole lot of you have asked me recently, YES, there will be more Creation Agent coming, I swears it upon the memory of the Big Fella and Dementia Kitty. (We now know I mean it.) Team Gini also swears that Sightings in the Wild will be updated before Alien in the House releases (but they didn't swear it on anything, so I remain somewhat skeptical...hopeful, but skeptical...).

And now for what many of you have been waiting for...the winner of the marked up galley of Alexander Outland: Space Pirate by moi writing as G.J. Koch is:

Elizabeth Vrabel

Note to our winner: You have until Sunday, March 10th 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.

And now, for our Honorable Mention Winner. While all participants made me laugh or go awww, and some of you were darned creative in your various answers, this Member of the Alien Collective in Very Good Standing went out of their way to consistently make me snort tea out of my nose through all seven weeks. Said winner will get a choice of one signed and personalized book of any of the 7 offered this week, a totebag with the cover of any of the 7 titles offered this week on it, OR an I Heart the Poofs T-shirt (size 2-1XL). 

So, ratkin, baby, come on down and tell mamma what to send in the Care Package to The Home!

Well, that's it for today, but as we know, there's more on the way. So peace out my li'l gangstas, and I'll catch you on the flip side!

Love,
Gini

Slicing Up the Public Appearances

Happy Hump Day! The winner of the marked up Alien in the Family galley has been chosen, and we'll get to that in a bit. But first, live(ish) from the Slice of SciFi studio, it's time for Geek Nation Tours: 2013, featuring moi as a guest commentator. Check it out, and leave comments on the Slice website and/or call in (206-339-8735) -- the Slice gang love both! (Calls or comments mentioning how much you love that new girl guest commentator especially appreciated. ;-D)

But wait, there's more! Just in, yet another webcast over at Slice, this one featuring a lot of  moi yapping about Comic Book Biz Bashing. Check it out and add your thoughts or call them in!

Speaking of Slice of SciFi, my February column is up at It's Comic Book Day!, so check it out and, again, leave comments if you're so in the mood.

Next up, my "con season" is about to start, so we all know what time it is, now, right? Right! It's time for a Public Appearance Roundup!

Tucson Festival of Books: Saturday & Sunday March 9 & 10, 9:00am-5:30pm both days, Tucson, AZ. I'll be signing at the Mysterious Galaxy/Penguin Booth (Main Area #301-302), the Poisoned Pen Booth (Main Area #230-231) -- times and date TBA -- and at the Arizona Dreamin' Romance Books Booth (Main Area #125-126, 131-132) whenever I'm not at MG or PP or on panels. My panels are -- SF/F: Romance, the Last Frontier, and Rom: It's not all Demons, Death and Destruction. My panels will be on Saturday the 9th, but times are still in flux and will be announced later. This is the 4th largest book fair in the country, so don't miss out!

Mysterious Galaxy 20th Birthday Bash: Saturday, May 11, 10am-5pm, San Diego, CA. Come see the me and a ton of other awesome authors and get Alien in the House and all your other bookie wookies signed!

Phoenix Comicon: Thursday-Sunday, May 23-26, Th. 4:00pm-9:00pm, Fri. 9am-7:00pm, Sat., 8:00am-7:00pm, Sun. 9:00am-5:30pm, Phoenix Convention Center, Phoenix, AZ. Still the best little convention that could -- big enough to draw huge names, small enough for you to be able to meet them all. Great panels, awesome exhibit hall, and moi. What more incentive do you need? Panels, signings, and exhibit hall location TBD.

Arizona Dreamin': Friday-Sunday, May 31-June 2, Chandler, AZ. Heavy duty reader focused event that gets you up close and personal with a lot of cool authors including moi. Keep the eyeballs peeled -- I'll be offering special ticket deals starting next week. Final schedule TBD.

San Diego Comic-Con: Wednesday-Sunday, July, 18-12, San Diego Convention Center, San Diego, CA. Don't miss out on seeing the me at the granddaddy of them all! Panels and signings TBD.

DarkCon 2014: Thursday-Sunday, January 16-19, 2014, Mesa, AZ. I'm the Local Guest of Honor at this one, and they've already declared Jan. 19, 2014 the official day of GiniCon. It's gonna be HUGE! So you need to start saving the money now, get the time off work now, and get it all scheduled in now, so that next January we can party like it's 15 years after 1999!

As always, as more events add in, you'll be the first to know. But now, let's get to what you want to know today -- who won Alien in the House's galley.

Our winner is:

Shrouded Heart

Note to our winner: You have until Sunday, February 10th 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.

The contest for Alien Proliferation's galley is going on now. It's for Hook Me Up! subscribers only, so if you're not on, now's the time to change that. Send an email with "Hook Me Up!" in the subject line to gini@ginikoch.com and you'll be in and sent the contest rules.

That's it for today, but as always, more's on the way. So enjoy the downward slide towards the 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

Comical Monday

Happy Monday! It's the last day to enter to win the marked up galley of Alien in the Family, so if you haven't entered yet, now's the time. It's for Hook Me Up! only, of course, so if you're not on, get on now. Send an email with "Hook Me Up!" in the subject line to gini@ginikoch.com and you'll get the deets for how to get your win on. But there's more going on than just winning a galley with my scribbles on it, so let's roll!

First off, head over to It's Comic Book Day where my latest set of pop culture reviews are large and in charge. Remember that the folks there and at Slice of SciFi love to get comments on the posts at their site, so don't be shy, share your thoughts!

Check out who My 5 Monkeys lists as her favorite bloggers and authors. Speaking of My 5 Monkeys, she's taking part in Vampire Book Club's Character Love Letters 2013 and penning her take on a letter that Martini would send to Kitty, going live on Feb. 28. Sounds like a fun month over there, so check out all the entries! Then see what Into the Dreaming thought of Alien Tango and Alien in the Family.

Alert Member of the Alien Collective in Very Good Standing Shawn pointed out a cool article over at Tor.com, where Sleeps With Monsters asks Where Are the Older Women? Chime in with your fave older heroines. (Shawn picked Angela Katt...and I do, too. LOL)

I'm excited to announce that The Royal Scam won a SFR Galaxy Award for Best Misdirection by a Shapeshifter.

That's it for today, but as always, more's on the way. So enjoy a happy start to the week, and let's be readers out there!

Love,
Gini

Happy Nerd Year!

Happy 2013! Hope everyone had a safe, fun, and happy New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. I personally can't believe 2013 is here already, but here it is, and with it, as my Hook Me Up! subscribers already know, lots of goings ons, so let's get to them!

First up, my first ever guest column at Slice of SciFi/It's Comic Book Day! is large and in charge, so check out my Happy Nerd Year! column and enjoy my recommendations for what to pick up or keep your eyes open for that you might have missed.

Then, the yap keeps on running over at SF Signal, for today's True Confessions Mind Meld: The Books We Didn't Love. While you're there, share the books you don't like that everyone else feels you should.

After you discover my secret reading shame, head over to The Ranting Dragon and see what their top 50 anticipated novels of 2013 are.

Next, see who won The Orange Handcuff Awards of 2012 over at Larissa's Bookish Life. And if you've somehow missed it, check out the cover for Alien in the House over at Books-n-Kisses.

Jim Hines' Cover Posing for a Good Cause is done, for now, but we raised over $15,000 for the Aicardi Syndrome Foundation! More challenge poses are being posted regularly, so keep on checking back. Trust me, Jim's version of Alien Diplomacy is not to be missed!

Speaking of Alien Diplomacy, voting for the Predators & Editors Readers Poll is still going on over at Critters Writers Workshop and Alien Diplomacy and I need your votes in the Science Fiction and Fantasy Novel and Authors categories. Voting's open through Jan. 14th.

That's it for today, but as always, more's on the way. Now, I need to get back to writing Alien Research, Alexander Outland: Space Avenger, and Night Music, so peace out my li'l gangstas, and let's be readers out there!

Love,
Gini