Spring Break Monday

Happy Monday! Hope everyone's weekends were awesome and amazing, and that the grind of the work week's start hasn't worn anyone down. And to keep that groove thang goin', we have a lot going on today!

First up, head over to Parajunkee's View where, as my Hook Me Up! subscribers already know, the Paranormal Spring Break party is going wild! Catch an interview our favorite accidental badass, Kitty, is doing with the main two supporting characters (at least in their minds) from "Alien Tango". Leave a comment and get entered to win a signed copy of "Alien Tango" from me, plus a $5 iTunes gift card from Parajunkee. Can't beat that, right? Of course right!

After that, head over to Absorbed in a Book where there's a great guest review of "Alien in the Family". It's the guest reviewer's first one, so please leave comments to support an Alien Collective Member in Very Good (albeit a little nervous) Standing.

Next, check out where else the "Alien in the Family" ARC is going on its current tour at Bibliognome.

Last but in no way least, head over to The Book Pushers and catch their interview with the amazing and talented Daniel Dos Santos, cover artist extraordinaire.

Entries for the TFOB Stuffed Penguin contest are now closed. The Gods of Random will soon be making their selection and will advise who gets that tote stuffed with reading goodness later this week. Also later this week, we have an interview and giveaway with newly minted author Heather Massey, aka the Captain of the Galaxy Express. That's coming on Wednesday!

Until then, have a great week and keep on rockin' in the free world!

Love,
Gini

Thursday Roundup - Getcher ARCs!

Happy Thursday! The "Alien in the Family" ARC contest is going strong! Remember that it ends on Monday, February 21, 2011, so if you haven't gotten your entry in yet, don't delay, do it today! Of course, it's for Hook Me Up! subscribers only, so if you're not on Hook Me Up!, now's the time to change that. Send an email to gini@ginikoch.com with "Hook Me Up!" in the subject line; you'll be registered and get the details for how to enter the contest.

The Worth Your Weight in a Gator Battle contest is also still large and in charge through Monday, February 28, 2011. 5 books are up for grabs, including an ARC of "Alien in the Family". (See? Extra ways to get that puppy abound!) Want more chances? Yes, you can tag more bloggers, just send me an email letting me know for each 5 you add on. Each 5 new bloggers awarded this honor gives you another entry chance. Check out the Win Stuff page if you haven't gotten tagged in yet.

There's more coming up. On Tuesday, a new interview with yours truly will be up over at I Smell Sheep, and I hear a new T-Shirt could be in the mix! And coming in March, Paranormal Spring Break, featuring moi and a lot of other cool authors, and loaded with tons of cool prizes (like, hey, new books!) will be hosted by Tynga's Reviews and Parajunkee's View. Check out the preview Parajunkee has up and mark your calendars!

Now, back to all that winning and such. Enjoy the weekend and good luck to all!

Love,
Gini

The Yap Talks Cats

Happy Thursday! Miss me? Yeah, I know, I've been hiding in the Cage (what we sort of fondly call my small office) because, as my Hook Me Up! subscribers already know, my galley edits on "Alien in the Family" were due...fast. I'm done now, and, with the help of time, alcohol, Coca-Cola and the kindness of strangers, I might recover soon from doing three full detailed edits on a 460 page book in less than a week. Soonish. Somewhere before the end of first quarter, anyway.

But enough about that, other than to mention that "Alien in the Family" cover flats are on their way so those of you who want one should keep an eye on the Free Stuff page.

There's been a ton that's gone and is going on, so let's get all caught up on that! First off, head on over to Book Lovers Inc. where they're having their blogoversary and there's not only a guest blog from moi, but also several chances to win some swag. Don't miss you chance to win -- head over and comment right away!

Next, head over to Parajunkee's View and check out her review of "Alien Tango". Then head to Pages of Forbidden Love and check out her review of "Touched by an Alien". Then go to A Buckeye Girl Reads and see Part 1 of her review of "Love and Rockets", where my Anita Ensal short, "Wanted", gets reviewed.

My 5 Monkeys has a Twitter & Authors post up. The Dragon Page Podcasts has new things in. A Buckeye Girl Reads did a lovely giveaway of "Touched by an Alien", and many congrats to the winner! And check out what Bookworm Lisa got in her mail.

There's lots new up at the website. Check out Bookstore, Accolades for both "Touched by an Alien" and "Alien Tango" (if you've done a review of either book and your review is not listed here, please let me know so we can rectify), Extra Me! including a new Ask Gini Q&A, and Sightings in the Wild.

Reminder that I'll be doing my first live chats ever over at Tigris Eden's Forbidden Fruits & Carnal Pleasures on Monday, Jan. 24th and Tuesday, Jan 25th -- times are listed at the site. In addition to the chats themselves, there will be lots of cool prizes you'll want a shot at, so get registered and mark your calendars (oh, and no questions are off limits, either ;-D).

Lots more on the way, including the Dueling Authors interview with me and Joshua Palmatier on Friday, Jan. 28th, but I think that's enough for today. So, until next time, have a wonderful weekend, keep on reading, and I'll yap ya on the flip side!

Love,
Gini

The Yap Has a Drink or Two

Happy Monday! Hope everyone had a fun weekend! As my Hook Me Up! subscribers already know, I sure did, especially because I was hanging out on The Galaxy Express chatting it up with my gal pal Agent Z and tossing back a few. Check out the transcript and see what happens when someone gives me truth serum.

After that, head over to Simply Books for a new review of "Touched by an Alien". Then hit Mixed Book Bag for a new review of "Alien Tango".

Then check out the blog hopping and following and what new series they lead to over at That Bookish Girl and Parajunkee's View. Then see the Top 5 Book Covers that Larissa's Bookish Life is anticipating for 2011 -- yes, "Alien in the Family" is on that list!

Finish up by checking out what all Book Mom carries in her purse, which she swears isn't the same size as Kitty's purse (though I have my doubts).

Remember that my first live chats EVER will be going on January 24th & 25th over at Tigris Eden's Forbidden Fruits & Carnal Pleasures. You need to register for the chat, so get that taken care of, because in addition to getting to talk to moi live and in real time, there are a TON of awesome prizes that are going to be given away and you won't want to miss out (trust me on this one). Chat times and some, but not all, of the prizes are listed on the page.

Until next time, spread that Alien Collective love and enjoy!

Love,
Gini

Friday Fun

Happy Friday! One big flurry on Monday and then...silence? What's up with THAT? Well, prepping and packing up 12 awesome prizes and then heading them to the Post Office takes a lot out of a girl. But as my Hook Me Up! subscribers already know, we have lots of fun stuff to get to today, so let's roll!

First up on today's hit parade is the announcement of the winners from the Janice Hardy interview and giveaway. The Gods of Random have made their choice, and here are the two lucky winners who get to pick which of her two awesome books, "The Shifter" or "Blue Fire", they want:

*drum roll, please*

Lisa Dovichi and Becky Boyer!

Ladies, respond on the blog or send me an email to confirm and I'll be sending you Janice's email address. Just tell her which book you want and she'll get it out to you!

Next, check out what Parajunkee's View is waiting for (hint: I think it starts with "Alien" and ends with "Tango"). Then bop over to My 5 Monkeys for her Friday fun...don't worry, she doesn't rub in TOO much that she's the winner of the "Alien Tango" ARC.

Have you been reading the cool, fun takes on all sorts of urban legends for the Spooky Legends event going on at Dark Faerie Tales and All Things Urban Fantasy? If you have, keep going, the event doesn't end until Oct. 31. If you haven't, check 'em out! And remember, my take on the UFO rumors goes up at Dark Faerie Tales on Sunday, Oct. 24. You don't want to miss it, especially since there's a contest attached to win a copy of "Touched by an Alien". (The giving ABOUNDS this month, dunnit?)

Event Reminders:
I'll be doing a table topic for my Desert Rose RWA chapter on Characters and Characterizaion at Macayo's Depot Cantina in Tempe, AZ on Tuesday, Oct. 26, starting at 5:30. I'll be at World Fantasy Con in Columbus, OH from Oct. 27th through Nov. 1st. And I'll be at TusCon in Tucson, AZ from Nov. 12-14.

Any aspiring or beginning authors in the Greater Phoenix Metro Area should plan to attend the Desert Rose Writers Workshop on Saturday, Nov. 20th. It's an all day event, with published authors as the only speakers, and...it's FREE. Even readers who are interested in the publishing industry and how writers write will find something for them, and again, it's FREE. This is the best deal around, so if you're in the area, make plans to attend.

That's it for today, I think. But no worries...there's always more coming, right? Of course right!

Love,
Gini

A VERY Manic Monday!

Happy Monday, well, what's left of it!

I know this is coming out on practically Tuesday for most of you, but as my Hook Me Up! subscribers already know, it's been a busy, BUSY day! So, let's just dive in, 'cause, as you can imagine, this is a chock-full update!

First off, we have a LOT of new reviews of "Touched by an Alien"! First up, check out the review at an Alien Collective blog, Ex Libris. Then head over to Parajunkee's View. After that, head to What Book Is That?. Then hop over to My 5 Monkeys. Then last but in no way least, check out the Bibliophile Book Blog. Remember to leave some Alien Collective love at each stop!

Next on our packed agenda? Well, it's a preview of sorts. Next Monday I'll be interviewing author and Alien Collective member Amber Scott regarding her latest release, "Play Fling". Will there be a giveaway, I hear you ask? Well, of course! Stay tuned, and be sure to be here all bright-eyed and Alien-tailed (well, so to speak) for the fun and chance to win! And check out The Amber Scott Project for a preview of "Play Fling"!

Is there more? Did I mention manic today? I did? Then yes, of course, there's more!

Check out Win Stuff, Sightings in the Wild both top and bottom, and Free Stuff for new additions.

AND, check out Newsy Stuff for...*drum roll*...the final cover for "Alien Tango"! This is what you'll find on the shelves on December 7th! (Note: If you'd like to use the final cover at your blog or website, send me an email, gini@ginikoch.com, and I'll send the image to you.)

Are we done yet? Well, we're done for TODAY. But there's more coming tomorrow, so stay tuned!

Love,
Gini