Who's Worthy?

Happy Hump Day! As my Hook Me Up! subscribers already know, it's going to be a VERY happy day for a few folks. Why? Because the Battle Royale is completed!

The Gods of Random have cast their votes. The battles were mighty. But in the end, there was only one standing atop the pile. Who won? Oh, you know I'm gonna drag it out.

So, as we did for the "Alien in the Family" ARC contest, and in honor of the just past Oscars...here's James Franco!

Oh. No. Sorry. My bad.

It's time to hand out the Worth Your Weight in a Gator Battle awards!

Winner of Consolation Prize #4/Alien Collective Tote Bag & Pen:
The Book Addict - Patty Spinney

Winner of Consolation Prize #3/Alien in the Family Tote Bag & Pen:
Fade Into Fantasy - Theresa Cole

Winner of Consolation Prize #2/Alien Tango Tote Bag & Pen:
Cafe of Dreams Book Review - April Pohren

Winner of Consolation Prize #1/Touched by an Alien Tote Bag & Pen:
Excelsior - George H. Sirois

And...the winner of the Battle Royale, receiving a signed, personalized copy of "Touched by an Alien", "Alien Tango", "Love and Rockets", "Boondocks Fantasy", AND the "Alien in the Family" ARC is...

*drum roll please*

*with extra flourish 'cause we love to draw out the suspense*

The Battle Royale Winner Representing Team Hook:
Absorbed in a Book - Marnie Walski

Thanks to all the fabulous bloggers who took to the octagon in this awesome battle, and congrats again to all the winners!

NOTE: Winners need to send me an email with their addresses in order to claim their prizes. Winners have until Wednesday, March 9th, to claim, or their prize will go back to the Gods of Random for another drawing. (And winners, you KNOW you don't want that to happen!)

Love,
Gini

It's Gator Time!

Hey there, Gator Lovers! As my Hook Me Up! subscribers already know, we've got a lot going on this month and a lot of it's very gator-centric. How gator-centric, you ask? Well, I'm glad you asked, so let's get right to it!

First up, head over to Pearls Cast Before a McPig for the exclusive interview of the year, where Sullivan interviews the real stars of "Alien Tango" -- Alliflash and Gigantagator.

Then, check your blogs, because there's a new contest in town, and it's a Gator Battle Royale. Find out if you have what it takes to be Worth Your Weight in a Gator Battle. I'll wait while you check out the prizes. Yeah, that's right -- the winner of this fight will end up with a signed, personalized copy of "Touched by an Alien", "Alien Tango", "Love and Rockets", and "Boondocks Fantasy". AND a signed, personalized ARC of "Alien in the Family". Truly a prize worth fighting for. And with four consolation prizes up for grabs, too, this is a contest you want to be a part of!

Not nominated yet and can't wait for someone to tag you into the ring? Explain why you should be a part of the Battle Royale in the comments and, if Alliflash and Gigantagator find you worthy, you could find yourself in the octagon!

There's more winning coming this month, so stay tuned!

Love,
Gini

Merry Catmas

Happy Monday! As my Hook Me Up! subscribers already know, we have a lot going on today, but first, a word from today's sponsor -- Stress.

The chicklet has discovered she's become allergic to cats. This is sad news because she and I both worship cats. It's sadder news because we have 2 cats and she has 2 kittens.

Or rather, she now has no kittens, and we have a feline war of epic proportions going on.

The Canine Death Squad are handling the new additions just fine. They LOVE cats and want to snuggle with the new ones. The Killer Kitties, however, have not yet decided if they've got two new enforcers to add to the mix, or if they have a new contract to search and destroy on their paws.

All in all, not exactly what I was expecting to find under the mistletoe, but I'll channel Gloria Gaynor and survive.

Okay, Stress and its related Whine Commercial are off! What's now on? Well, lots and lots!

First off, we have more great reviews of "Alien Tango" large and in charge! Check out A Buckeye Girl Reads, then jump to What If Books. What If Books will also have a new interview with moi going live on Wednesday, so stay tuned.

After that, hit Larissa's Bookish Life to see what her top 5 best book series were this year! Then check out what Aria's Dark Musings would like to get in her stocking and under her tree. There's a contest connected to it, so don't miss out!

Speaking of contests, head over to The Galaxy Express where the massive SFR Holiday Blitz has begun! You can win tons of great books from a host of great blogs! In fact, you can win a copy of "Love and Rockets" from Spacefreighters Lounge, and a copy of "Touched by an Alien" from Lisa Paitz Spindler. There are scads of books up for grabs, so hit all the blogs for your chances to win!

Speaking of winning, the Gods of Random have chosen the winners of the Combo-Con contest! They'll be listed on the Blog later today. So if you entered, be sure to check back regularly.

I'm sure there's more, but I hear a cat fight starting in one room and a crash in another, so I'll leave you with the knowledge that your lives are currently less frenzied and hectic than mine. Bask in the warm glow of someone else's bedlam, my Alien Collective...bask in the warm glow.

Love,
Gini

Here's the hand drawn card I got from the I Smell Sheep gang. Check out whose book hasn't fallen out of the sleigh. ;-D

Release Day! Release Day!

Happy Release Day! Yes, as no one who knows me could have possibly missed, today is the day "Alien Tango" AND "Love and Rockets" release. Both are available in all book stores and online so be sure to get your copies today!

But that's not all we have going on today. Oh no, far from it! Head on over to Fiction State of Mind for a new interview and an international giveaway -- your choice between "Touched by an Alien" or "Alien Tango"!

Then hit the Penguin Community for today's blog from moi. The newest post *should* be up and if not up right now, then soon.

Speaking of new releases, The Qwillery has a nice listing of what's coming this week.

The Combo-Con Hook Me Up! exclusive contest is still going on. Registration is open until the last day (Dec. 15th), so if you're not on Hook Me Up! now's the time to get on. Send an email to gini@ginikoch.com with "Hook Me Up!" in the subject line and get in on the winning!

Searching for the Combo-Con blog posts? Here you go!

Combo-Con Blog 1
Combo-Con Blog 2
Combo-Con Blog 3

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 - 9PM. 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.

So, enjoy "Alien Tango" and remember...it's all about the 'gators, baby!

Love,
Gini

Another Winning Wednesday

Happy Hump Day! Another day, another whole lot going on. And yes, as you can tell from the subject line, and as my Hook Me Up! subscribers already know, there's winning afoot.

But first, let's check out what's going on around the blogosphere. First off, head over to Pearls Cast Before a McPig and check out what Sullivan picked for Teaser Tuesday. Then check out what books the gang at Breezing Through Books are excited to get this month. Then find out what books Mystifying Paranormal Reviews is Waiting on Wednesday for. Then last but in no way least, check out what DAW Book Reviews is excited to have coming (hint: not just one book that matters to me, but two!)

Blog hopping done, head back here because later today the first blog post for the Combo-Con Hook Me Up! Exclusive Contest will be up and the contest will be officially started. It's open world-wide and for my beloved Hook Me Uppers! ONLY. (And, yes, all those on Team Gini get to play, too.)

Wait...you're not on Hook Me Up! yet? Well, now's the time. Send an email to gini@ginikoch.com with "Hook Me Up!" in the subject line. Then you'll be in, hear all the news first, and be ready to get the winning going!

Love,
Gini

Winding Up the Week

Happy Friday! It's been a busy week, and today's no different. So, let's get right to it, so y'all can get right to it, too, and also right into the weekend!

First up, as my Hook Me Up! subscribers already know, today is the LAST day (last few hours, really) to enter my "Alien Tango" ARC Giveaway. Contest will close at midnight Pacific time tonight -- so if you haven't joined Hook Me Up! yet, now's the time. Send an email to gini@ginikoch.com with "Hook Me Up!" in the subject line, you'll be in, get your entry instructions, and still have a chance to score the precious before it's too late!

Next up, we have another lovely review of "Touched by an Alien" over at Reading on the Dark Side. Check it out, leave some Alien Collective love, you know the drill. Then, head over to One Book Away from Heaven and see what happens when a reader is surrounded by books...perhaps too many books? You decide -- and share your "how many books at a time" numbers. (*cough* My max is 3...but who's counting?)

Then, cruise around my website for a while. Yes, it's true -- there are updates! Finally! Well, some of them have been around and I keep on forgetting to mention them (*cringes as Team Gini glares*) but otherwise, they're new. In no particular order of coolness check out the: new pictures and captions up all over Sightings in the Wild; new headlines up at Newsy Stuff; new swag up at Free Stuff; and new info at Datebook...and there's more to come there in the near future...read on...

Other Reminders
My interview and giveaway with author Janice Hardy is still going on right here, just a few blog posts away. Scroll down, catch the interview, leave a comment, get entered to win -- and since two books are being given, everyone gets two chances. My interview over at The Galaxy Express about my short story in the "Love and Rockets" anthology is still up -- if you haven't checked it out, head over and find out yet more new, interesting facts about the party that is my mind.

Last but in NO WAY least -- it's official. I'm going to be in NYC in April, 2011, yes, right after "Alien in the Family" releases (roughly from April 9th through 21st). Book signing info to come. (I'll also be in New Jersey and Philadelphia.) Alien Collective Members in the area, let me know who and where you are!

Love,
Gini

Anticipations

Happy Hump Day! There's lots going on today, so let's get right to what we're waiting for. Which is, um, what we're waiting for. (Yeah, I'll work on that phrasing. Later.)

As my Hook Me Up! subscribers already know, and many of you know, too (and now all of you will), I write under several pen names. My Anita Ensal pen name has two short stories coming out in the near months in two DAW anthologies. Check out my interview about the "Love and Rockets" anthology over at The Galaxy Express. And, you know, if you put "Love and Rockets" and "Boondocks Fantasy" on your pre-order lists, well, I wouldn't object. Right along there with "Alien Tango" and "Alien in the Family", of course.

After checking that out, see what books other members of the Alien Collective are waiting for. Hit That Bookish Girl, Pearls Cast Before a McPig, and Panic in the Lingerie to see what books they can't wait for, and share what you're panting for, too.

Speaking of "Alien Tango", the ARC Giveaway contest is still going strong, but not for very much longer (contest ends this Friday, Oct. 15th). It's also still for my Hook Me Up! subscribers only. So, if you're not on, it's not too late, but only just. Send an email to gini@ginikoch.com with "Hook Me Up!" in the subject line, you'll be in, get the rules, and be able to have a chance to win. Check out the prize packs at the Win Stuff page in case you're not sure it's worth it (it is, believe me, it is).

Also still large and in charge at the Blog is my interview with author Janice Hardy. There's still time to get entered to win (contest ends next Tuesday, Oct. 19th), and Janice is giving away TWO copies of her books, which from the excerpts alone have moved onto my Must Read pile. And don't think, Oh, Middle Grade, nothing for Me there, because the way Janice writes, there's something for EVERYone there! Gotta get 'em, and since there's a chance to win them, I strongly suggest y'all go for it! The beautiful covers are just icing on the cake (but they ARE beautiful...and we're all about the beautiful covers here!).

Last but in no way least, a reminder that I'll be in Columbus, OH at the end of the month, attending World Fantasy Con. Any of you who are nearby, please let me know. If you've already let me know, um, remind me again. I still have Con Jet Lag (my new term for the exhaustion that hits you when you're at and especially once you're home from a con -- like it?), so all I remember is that I'm going to WFC, not necessarily who I'll be getting to see there.

So off you go! Enter to win, enjoy the interviews, share your anticipations, and enjoy the downward slide towards the weekend! I'll see you tomorrow, with my overdue RinCon 10 update. See? Anticipation IS the name of today's game!

Love,
Gini