I'm Ho-ome!

I'm back from chilly but lovely Columbus, Ohio, and, as my Hook Me Up! subscribers already know, boy, is this blog's gonna be filled to bursting with all kinds of stuff! So let's leap into it, shall we?

First off, World Fantasy Con was awesome. AWESOME. My WFC update will be coming, but not today. However, if you want to get a taste, check out awesome author Celina Summers' blog update at Elf Killing and Other Hobbies for an update from the first day. Why weren't there more updates, you ask? Because we were so busy with the awesome, that's why! (Yeah, okay, awesome was and is the operative word. So sue me.)

Speaking of awesome authors, check out The Amber Scott Project and see what Amber's meme looks like -- and check out who she takes some musical cues from!

Next on the hit parade, check out a new review of "Touched by an Alien" over at Cuidado com o Dálmata. Then check out what Alliflash Pack winner Panic in the Lingerie has to say about her swag. Then see what The Geeky Bookworm has to say about her top October reads, and yes, they include "Touched by an Alien". And if you missed it, check out her review at Book Lovers, Inc. as well.

By the way, in case you missed this somehow (hey, it's possible...unlikely, but possible), the Bookie Awards are announced, and "Touched by an Alien" and I are nominated in 4 categories. Very cool!

Wondering where the "Alien Tango" love is? Look no further than at My 5 Monkeys, where you can enter to win a chance to get the lone precious into your hot little hands, at least for a while.

Oh, and speaking of "Alien Tango", remember how I said something was coming today? Well, today is here, and so is the something. Check out my Deathless Prose page, and click on the cover for "Alien Tango" and...well, there, if I tell you, it'll ruin the surprise, won't it? Okay, I'll give you a little hint...it's a taste of things to come.

So, hit the links, read and enjoy, and, until next time, keep it awesome like I know you all do!

Love,
Gini

Random Ramblings of a Meaningful Kind

Happy Monday! I know what you're all waiting for, at least, what all my Hook Me Up! subscribers are waiting for...but as they already know, there's business to attend to first. And, you know, I like to draw it out. So, let's roll. (I know, I sound so street when I say that.)

First up, we have another great review of "Touched by an Alien" over at Panic in the Lingerie. Head over, have a read, leave some Alien Collective love, you know the drill.

Next up, as the avatar on the Blog has indicated, I'm taking part in a super-cool event -- Spooky Legends at Dark Faerie Tales and All Things Urban Fantasy. Lots of awesome urban fantasy and paranormal authors are all taking an urban legend and writing about it from their characters' viewpoints. Lots of your faves, I promise you. LOTS of them.

So you know what that means, right? You don't? It means Kitty's taking on the Aliens on Earth rumors. And, you know Kitty -- she likes to share the fun, so I can guarantee there'll be more than her over there *coughMartinicough*. My piece will be up at Dark Faerie Tales on Sunday, Oct. 24th. But the event starts today, so get over and have a cool read...every day through the end of the month! Here's an overview of what's to come at Dark Faerie Tales and at All Things Urban Fantasy.

Reminder: There's still time to get a comment in and so be eligible to win one of two books from Janice Hardy, either "The Shifter" or "Blue Fire". Contest ends Oct. 19th, so scroll down or jump to the Interview with Janice Hardy and get your comment in today!

There's also a meme blog post for those of you who want to get even more insights into what makes me tick (um, rock and roll and good looking leading men, but seriously, the meme asked different questions than that, so...). Scroll down and check it out on the blog post just under this one. Have a question for me? Send it to me with "Ask Gini" in the subject line, and I'll not only answer it, I'll post it on the Extra Me! page.

Speaking of winning...(oooh, I can just SEE some of you actually leaning closer to your monitors and screens)...yes, the votes are tallied and the Gods of Random have made their decisions in the "Alien Tango" ARC Giveaway.

But, I'm not gonna tell you yet. Nope, I'm gonna tell in a little while. Why? *cough* Um, 'cause I like to torture, of course! I mean, c'mon, that seems obvious to ME. So, check back a little later today...winners will be posted a little while.

But I'll give you this much. In addition to our three Gator Pack winners, the comments were so awesome that I decided to give out not one, not two, but NINE Honorable Mention prizes. So, that means we'll have twelve winners, not just three. Will you be one of them? Do the Gods of Random love YOU? Find out...soon...

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