Goodbye, Mr. Old Year

Happy New Year's Eve, New Year's Day, and 2011! While we bid farewell to Mr. Old Year of 2010 and say Hey Sailor to Mr. New Year of 2011, as my Hook Me Up! subscribers already know, I have some reflections going on. (Don't faint. I do, occasionally, reflect, and not just in mirrors or shiny surfaced.)

But first, head over to RT Book Reviews and check out the Women of Urban Fantasy article, featuring our girl Kitty and Jace of the Bloodhound Files series by DD Barant!

Then, let's check out others' 2010 Best Of reviews. Head over to The Book Pushers, Tigris Eden, Nice Girls Don't Read Naughty Books, Mark of the Stars, Birdstar, Yolanda Sfetsos, Opinions of a Wolf, and Love To Read For Fun to see what they liked best in this last year.

Now, it's my turn. 2010 has been quite the year for me, almost all of it chronicled through Hook Me Up! emails and the Blah, Blah, Blah Blog. So, what were the highlights?

Well, obviously, having "Touched by an Alien" debut, and debut well, was awesome. That "Alien Tango" has gotten the same kind of love was a double win. Short stories sold into anthologies, conferences, Comic-Con, speaking engagements, contests, new friends, DAW buying Books 3-6, even Catfest 2010...all of that was great in its own way.

But what I'm most appreciative of, and what I'll really remember 2010 for, is all of you.

From the first fans to ever send me an email praising "Touched by an Alien" (*waves madly to Carien and Erin*) to the folks who listed "Touched by an Alien" and/or "Alien Tango" on their Best Of lists; from the first folks who loyally read the Blah, Blah, Blah Blog when I mostly had nothing of too much import to report (*waves madly to Willie and Adrian*) to those who stumbled upon it today; from the first people to join Hook Me Up! I didn't know personally (*waves madly to Tessa, Wendy, Pam, and Jo*) to the folks who just joined five minutes before I started writing this; from all of those on Hook Me Up!, to all my Twitter followers and Facebook friends -- you guys have been both the biggest surprise and the most joyous part of this roller coaster ride.

To the book review bloggers who've told the world they loved my books and encouraged so many to read them; to those who've interviewed me or had me do guest blogs, have given my books away in contests, as gifts, as "you gotta read this" pass-alongs; to those who've told me my books made you laugh, made you happy, made a difference in your lives; to the fans who came, many times more than once, to see me at a con or a signing; to the other authors who helped, encouraged, pimped my books as much as their own, and supported me -- to all of you I say thank you, for making such a huge, positive impact in my career and my life. You've made all of these things sparkling diamonds in my memories of this year.

Yes, I'd write without all of you. I'm a writer, it's what I do. I've said it before and I know I'll say it again, but that's because it's true -- I'd do it without you all, sure, but it wouldn't be nearly as much fun without my beloved Alien Collective. You, truly, complete me. You bring the process of writing and publishing full circle and make me want to write even more than I thought I did already.

So to you and yours I wish that 2011 will bring you joy, strength, health, contentment, success, and especially love. You absolutely have all of mine.

Love,
Gini

A Quieter Day...Sorta

Well, as my Hook Me Up! subscribers already know, it IS sort of quieter today, though not silent by any means. Tomorrow will be crazed again (as in crazy good -- you don't want to miss what's going on tomorrow!). And next week? Wow. Um. There's a LOT going on next week. But it's all good, exciting stuff! And I'm not just talking about the imminent official release of "Alien Tango". So let's get to it.

First off, a reminder that the Hook Me Up! Exclusive Combo-Con Contest is going strong. All info on it is up at the Win Stuff page. If you're not on Hook Me Up! now's the time to rectify that situation. Send an email to gini@ginikoch.com with "Hook Me Up!" in the subject line. You'll get all the news first, and access to this exclusive contest, and more. So don't delay, register today!

Next up, Pearls Cast Before a McPig has a new review for "Alien Tango". And, not to be outdone, Livre De Amour (Books of Love) has a new review of "Touched by an Alien". Check them out, leave some Alien Collective love, you know the drill.

Bibliognome has some pics of "Alien Tango" for her Wish List. We've also got the "Alien Tango" Sightings in the Wild page going, so take those pics as you spot it, and send 'em in for the book wall! And Love 2 Read for Fun has her November wrap up, so check out which books were her ultimate faves.

BTW, as many in the Alien Collective have told me, "Alien Tango" is on the shelves already in a lot of places. So, if you're near a bookstore this week, stop in and see if it's already there. I mean, why wait if you don't have to?

Love,
Gini

Monday Roundup

Happy Monday! We have much in store for you today, but first, a PSA that's somewhat near and dear to my heart. In more ways than one.

I had my annual mammogram today. I know, I know, TMI and ugh, right? Well...maybe. But I love each and every one of you, and breast health is vital for women, meaning all of you who are women and all of you who love the women in your lives need to make sure that you and they get this exam on a regular basis. And by regular I don't mean once a decade. Is it painless? Well, I can tell you for certain that breast cancer is more painful. Is it kind of icky? Can be, but again, early detection saves much icky in the future. So, do your check ups and take care of your bad selves, because the Alien Collective would be greatly lessened by the loss of any of you, and we can't be havin' with that!

Now, PSA over and we're on to the far more fun stuff! First up, and as my Hook Me Up! subscribers already know, we have a new review of "Touched by an Alien" from Love 2 Read for Fun. Check that out, then head over to The Book Addict where we have another early review of "Alien Tango"!

Next up, if you're on Goodreads, the nominations are open for Book of the Month for December and if you wanted to vote for "Touched by an Alien", which is one of the nominees, well, I wouldn't tell you not to. ;-D

After voting, head to Ordinary Day and see what she bought with her paycheck. Then hit The Qwillery to see all the December releases, including "Alien Tango" in a nice little listing.

In Person Event Reminders:
December 8, 2010 -- Writer's Workshop Wednesdays at Borders Waterfront, Scottsdale, AZ, 7PM-8:30PM; I'll be presenting "Walking the Line in SFR" as well as signing "Alien Tango", "Touched by an Alien" and, as Anita Ensal, "Love and Rockets".
December 11, 2010 -- spotlight author at the Mysterious Galaxy Holiday Party, San Diego, CA, 6PM - 8PM. Come get your copies of "Alien Tango" and "Love and Rockets", get them signed, and hang out with yours truly at the coolest bookstore around.
March 12 & 13, 2011 -- Tucson Festival of Books, Tucson, AZ; Panel & Book Signing on Sunday, March 13, 1PM-2:30PM
April 2011 -- it's confirmed, I'll be in NY/NJ/PA from April 9th through the 21st. If you're in the area, let me know and we'll figure out how to meet up. Yes, a book signing will be happening, just not sure when or what date(s) yet.

New Swag: We have 2011 calendars available now, up at the Alien Collective Depot. Check 'em out, they're pretty cool, in my totally unbiased opinion!

That's it for today, but I promise there's more coming (like a Combo Con Contest...say THAT 5 times fast -- but only if you're on Hook Me Up! 'cause it's a Hook Me Up! exclusive) so hit the links, leave the Alien Collective love, and count down the days 'til "Alien Tango" hits the shelves and eReaders all over -- what's that, in 14 days? Wow. Two weeks. That's nothing. The time'll fly by. I promise. And if not, well, hey, there is that contest coming to keep you occupied...

Love,
Gini