Hump Day Catch Up

Happy Hump Day! Hope everyone had a great week and weekend last week and that this week's going swimmingly, too! Tucson Festival of Books was fantastic -- I had wonderful panels with awesome authors Dennis McKiernan, Gail Carriger, Erin Quinn, and Cynthia Garner, plus got to see many of the Alien Collective -- but it does take a lot out of a person, and then there was all the catching up and such, and basically, the time flew. However, we have a lot that's going on, so let's get all caught up, shall we? We shall!

First up, the Kickstarter for Unidentified Funny Objects 4 is halfway through, but we're only a little over halfway funded, too. This makes me sad, because this is going to be another great collection, and there are still a ton of cool levels that you can support in order to get another awesome humor collection created. If you haven't looked, take a gander right now. And remember, I still have one tuckerization left, meaning there's one more chance to get into an Alien series short story (and the related stories that come after)!

Speaking of UFO4, check out the latest Mind Meld over at SF Signal where I and many others discuss our favorite short humor stories. And feel free to add yours in the comments! After that, read what Crain's New York has to say about my UFO editor, Alex Shvartsman.


Next up, The Disciple and Other Stories of the Paranormal is live at all outlets including Amazon, Smashwords, BandN.com, and CreateSpace. So, get your copies today! And, for those of you coming to see the me this weekend, I will have copies in my paws for my signing this Saturday, March 28, at The Book Vault at 2055 S. Power Road, Entrance #3, Mesa, AZ. Be there from 12-4pm and see moi along with four other awesome authors, Alan Black, Kris Tualla, Deena Remiel, and Melanie Tighe. And if you haven't given them a try, don't delay, get their books today!

Speaking of upcoming books, remember that pre-orders matter hugely to authors and publishers, so please do your girl a solid and pre-order Alien Separation and Alien in Chief from your favorite bookstore (including any bookstore where I'll be going live and in person during Book Tour) or online retailer. And while you're at it, pre-order The X-Files: Trust No One, where you'll get a ton of great, creepy fiction, including my story, "Sewers".

My book tour for Alien Separation is getting solidified. I'll be at Mysterious Galaxy in San Diego, CA on Saturday, May 9th, at Barnes & Noble in Henderson, NV with the Arizona Wyked Writers on Sunday, May 17th, and at The Poisoned Pen in Scottsdale, AZ on Monday, June 8th. There will be a Livestream of the event at the Pen, so if you can't see the me in person, make plans to watch me live and get in on the fun (and the winning) that way! Full details to come soon!

Speaking of Alien Separation, see what books Larissa's Bookish Life is most looking forward to in her TBR pile!

Then see what SF Reader thought of Alien Collective.

Next up More Geek Than Gay is back! So, check out Episode 96 and Episode 97 and get caught back up on the fun. After that video fun, check out the rollicking podcast interview at Drinking with Jason #6 where fun, cool author S.P. Durnin chats lots of stuff, much of it zombies (because he writes about them), but also including Aliens, Game of Thrones, and Star Wars.

Speaking of fun, have you gone to see the live action Cinderella yet? If not, check out my review over at Slice of SciFi. And if you have, join in on the comments! Same again for Galavant, where I have my 5 Episodes In review up at Slice. Join in the comments there, too!

Last but not least, we have some science! IFL Science shares that Alliflash and Gigantagator had some very cool, and rather scary, ancestors.

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 pre-ordering and Kickstartering readers out there! Peace out my li'l gangstas, and I'll catch you on the flip side!

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

Humping Roundup

(Made you look AGAIN)

Happy Hump Day! Well, I'm back from the totally awesome that was Phoenix Comicon. I was going to do that update today, but, as my Hook Me Up! subscribers already know, there's so much else going on, that I think we'll save it for its own update, because it was the level of awesome that truly deserves to hog the spotlight and go solo. So, let's get to all the cool stuff that's taking precedence today, shall we?

First up, we have much action over at SF Signal. Today's Mind Meld is all about aliens, so they asked me to chime in. And then, as part of the Alexander Outland: Space Pirate Blog Tour, they asked me to share Why I Write Humorous Science Fiction. There's also a chance to win Alexander Outland: Space Pirate. (As a Phoenix Comicon update preview, this was, per the bookstore, the hottest book of the con, so don't miss out on your chance to win it!)

Next, Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell has an interview with G.J. Koch (which is pretty darned funny if you ask me, not that anyone has), along with, yes! another chance to win Alexander Outland: Space Pirate.

And speaking of winning Alexander Outland: Space Pirate, Ramblings From a Chaotic Mind has another giveaway up with last week's interview. I know! So much winning, it's too happy to be true!

Have entered to win all over the place, but just aren't sure your magic ju-ju will work to score a copy of Alexander Outland? Night Shade Books is giving you a chance to buy your ecopy a week before official release. Because they CARE about your need to read, that's why.

Next up, Tynga's Reviews dares any who haven't yet to read Touched by an Alien to do so, and that quickly. And My Not So Vacant Shelf and Dun and Red tell you why.

Speaking of reviews, see what Fresh Fiction thought of Alien Diplomacy. Check out what books Reading Reality is Stacking the Shelves with recently. And check out which books/series Larissa's Bookish Life would prefer weren't made into movies or TV shows.

Last, but in no way least, check out the LepreCon 38 Recap by my friend Saul Garnell over at Adventures in SciFi Publishing. It's one of his first articles for them, so give him some Alien Collective love and leave a comment.

Well, as you can see, my doing a wrap up on a 4 day mega-con would mean you were reading until the cows came home (and, really, do the cows ever come home? Or do they jump over the moon and run away? Something to ponder...), so it's a good thing I'm making all y'all wait. So, until next time, enjoy the downward slide towards the weekend, and let's be readers out there! Peace out, my li'l gangstas!

Love,
Gini

First Time's Free

I know everyone's waiting to find out who won the Alien Diplomacy ARCs, but I gotta tell you -- it takes TIME to log in over 1,600 blog comments. I, personally, am thrilled with the response. The Team Gini member who drew the short straw and got stuck being the one to log all the Blog responses in so the Gods of Random may begin to make their choices, on the other hand, hates many of you with a burning passion. But she'll get over it.

Anyway, to tide you over while waiting to see who won and who's stuck waiting for April, check out the latest Mind Meld over at SF Signal, see what my first was and share what YOUR first was, too! (First fantasy and science fiction, that is. Minds out of the gutters, people! At least for now...)

Then, head over to Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell to see what she thought of "Contingency Plan" by Anita Ensal. Then, see what boeklogboek thought of Touched by an Alien. And last but not least, see what Building an Awesome Life thought of Alien Proliferation.

That's it for today...until the Gods of Random make their choices, of course. So, you may be hearing from me again soon. Until then, peace out, my li'l gangstas, and let's be readers out there!

Love,
Gini

If You Thought Monday Was Busy...

...just get a load of today!

As my Hook Me Up! subscribers already know, it's a busy, busy week here in Gini Land, so let's roll right into all the goings on!

First up, I have my first ever feature article up at the SFR Brigade. Head over and check out my thoughts (I do have them, I swear!) on Walking the Line in SFR, and feel free to chime in with your views on the subject!

If you're intrigued by the topic, in addition to perusing the SFR Brigade blog, check out The Galaxy Express, where Science Fiction Romance is always on the agenda, and one of the latest Mind Meld discussions at SF Signal: What Does Romance Bring to to Science Fiction Genre?

Next up, we have more action from the Alien Collective. The Book Addict is having quite the to-do this week, as it's her blogiversary! And guess who's on the docket for today? Right you are -- moi! So, head over, check out my latest interview, and see what all she's giving away, too! The winning goes on all week over there, so don't be shy about checking in often and early!

Do we have another review of "Touched by an Alien" today? Why, yes we do! One of our Alien Collective blogs, Absorbed in a Book has a great review up. And, why stop there? There's another review up at The Blog With Bite. And, look there! Another one, this one at Lilium's Realm. Hit 'em all, show 'em some Alien Collective love, you know the drill!

What, there's still more? Yes, there is. There's a new Playlist up (yes, yes, finally, I know), and there are several new events listed in the Datebook. Note to those in and around the Greater Phoenix Metro Area (We OWN the winter! Don't ask us about summer...) -- I have several book signings and workshops happening this summer, most of which are up right now. Plan accordingly.

There's more coming, but truly, between yesterday and today, you should all be busy enough! At least until later this week, right? Of course right...


Love,
Gini

So Many Things, So Little Time

As my Hook Me Up! subscribers already know, there's a lot going on in Gini Land.

My 'debut' as part of SF Signal's Mind Meld column is live today! Check it out to see how I and a lot of other well-known authors answer the question of what are The Best Aliens in Science Fiction. (http://www.sfsignal.com/archives/2010/03/mind-meld-the-best-aliens-in-science-fiction/)

I'd like to mention that I was totally restrained and didn't bring up my own, personal aliens once. I know! What professionalism! Be awed, be impressed, but be speedy and go read the answers!

Next up, "Touched by an Alien" is out early in some places. So, if you pre-ordered (particularly from Barnes & Noble), it seems like you'll be getting your books this week. If you didn't, check your local bookstores and see if you can score a copy early. Please let me know if and where you find it prior to the official release date.

Since the book is out there, I've been getting some lovely reader reviews, for which I'm beyond stoked and, naturally, cannot wait to share with all of you. Links will take you to a variety of reviews, most recent are listed first.

Book Mom: http://bookmom.wordpress.com/2010/03/29/touched-by-an-alien-by-gini-koch/
Pearls Cast Before a McPig: http://mcpigpearls.blogspot.com/2010/03/touched-by-alien-book-review.html
B&N Review by Harriet Klausner: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Touched-by-an-Alien/Gini-Koch/e/9780756406004
Good Reads review by Diana Tixier Herald: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/87602994?utm_medium=api&utm_source=flash_widget

Have a review of "Touched by an Alien"? Let me know so I can share it on the Blah, Blah, Blah blog!

And then there's everything else. Don't forget to get your entries in for my first contest. Go to my Win Stuff page for all the details. The prize is cool already, and you'll for sure want to have a shot at the 'extra' I'm tossing in. The contest's official close date is this Thursday, April 1st, so hurry up! (BTW, HMU! subscribers get until Sunday, April 4th to enter, so if you're not in with the cool kids yet, send an email to gini@ginikoch.com with "Hook Me Up!" in the subject line and you'll be in with some extra contest time!)

For those of you in or around the Phoenix area, I'll be signing "Touched by an Alien" at the Chaparral Suites in Scottsdale, AZ on Saturday, April 17th. Let me know if you're planning to come!

Watch the Blah, Blah, Blah blog for updates on where I'm guest blogging or being interviewed. There's a lot that'll be going on this week and next, particularly on the 6th, so you're all forewarned about the barrage of Gini-ness heading your way!

Love,
Gini