Nerdy, and Ghostly, Yapping

Hey there! I'd have gotten today's blog up a trifle earlier but was chatting with the Awesome Editor about many things, San Diego Comic-Con and Alien Research among them, and time got away from me. So let's get to what's going on, so I'm not even later, shall we? We shall!

Head over to The Nerdy Paige where the yap's large and in charge at today's Nerdy Notes. Yes, it's a new interview, and some new questions are asked, so definitely check it out.

Next, see what Drugs Called Books thought of Touched by an Alien.

Then...don't faint, but Sightings in the Wild has its new look up and live on the site. Yes! I know! IN OUR LIFETIMES! It's not all up there yet -- not by a long shot -- but Team Gini's got it goin' on and, finally, some pictures are back, and they're even *gasp!* NEW. (Yes, the old ones will be up too, sometime soon. And now we actually have a hope that soon means soon and not before the end of this millenium.)

There's also a new Playlist up at the site, and new Team options at the Alien Collective Depot.

And last but in no way least, I have a new novelette release. Check out "The Happy Acres Haunted Hotel for Active Seniors" -- an urban paranormal with a little romance and a lot of humor. Welcome to Happy Acres, where the residents, both living and dead, are always happy to meet new friends, spark new romances, and occasionally get rid of odious relatives. Enjoy the read, available via Amazon, B&N, and Smashwords. Physical copies will be available soon via Amazon and selected booksellers.

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

Love,
Gini

It's Another Winning Day!

Hope everyone's had a good start to the week and all's going well. I'm girding my loins (what DOES that actually mean, anyway?) and prepping for this weekend, aka the Tucson Festival of Books. I'm all over the place, so don't miss your chance to see the me, hear the yap, and get bookie wookies signed! Yes, I will be the one in the pink, sparkly cowgirl hat. Yes, that actually does make me impossible to miss.

But before the weekend we have a lot going on, so let's get to today's installments! First off, the Tidy My office contest is over, and I'll be announcing the winner of the Alexander Outland: Space Pirate marked up galley in just a few moments. I'll also be sharing who won the Honorable Mention prize, so it's two winners today!

Speaking of winning, there's still time to get your entries in to win any ebook from Erin Kellison, so don't miss out -- click the link or scroll down a bit and get your entry in! Contest closes tomorrow, March 6th.

And speaking of tomorrow, in honor of one of my booth mates at the Tucson Festival of Books, who also happens to be a good pal of mine, we'll have the creator of the "Spacetrawler" comic, Christopher Baldwin, as tomorrow's Spotlight guest. And yes, there will be a giveaway. I know! We are just ALL about the winning this week!

Next on the hit parade, check out my latest column, The Ides of Meh, over at It's Comic Book Day. Then hit Larissa's Bookish Life and see who her favorite book duos are -- and they're not necessarily romantic.

Back at the website, don't faint, but we have a new Playlist up, Newsy Stuff has somewhat new news, and to answer a burning question a whole lot of you have asked me recently, YES, there will be more Creation Agent coming, I swears it upon the memory of the Big Fella and Dementia Kitty. (We now know I mean it.) Team Gini also swears that Sightings in the Wild will be updated before Alien in the House releases (but they didn't swear it on anything, so I remain somewhat skeptical...hopeful, but skeptical...).

And now for what many of you have been waiting for...the winner of the marked up galley of Alexander Outland: Space Pirate by moi writing as G.J. Koch is:

Elizabeth Vrabel

Note to our winner: You have until Sunday, March 10th to check in by sending me an email with your name (first and last) and your full mailing address. If I don't hear from you, the Gods of Random will demand a sacrifice and a new winner will be chosen.

And now, for our Honorable Mention Winner. While all participants made me laugh or go awww, and some of you were darned creative in your various answers, this Member of the Alien Collective in Very Good Standing went out of their way to consistently make me snort tea out of my nose through all seven weeks. Said winner will get a choice of one signed and personalized book of any of the 7 offered this week, a totebag with the cover of any of the 7 titles offered this week on it, OR an I Heart the Poofs T-shirt (size 2-1XL). 

So, ratkin, baby, come on down and tell mamma what to send in the Care Package to The Home!

Well, that's it for today, but as we know, there's more on the way. So peace out my li'l gangstas, and I'll catch you on the flip side!

Love,
Gini

Meme Fun

One of my good friends, Steve Sarber, hit me with the Meme Challenge this past week. A meme is basically a mini-interview, started by someone who picks a set number of people to answer a group of questions, those people copy the questions to their blog and pass them on to the set number (in this case 3) of unsuspecting victims, who pass it along, and so-forth.

So, since we KNOW I love to run the yap here we go:

1. If you could have any superpower, what would it be? Why?
You know, I get asked this a lot, mostly because of "Touched by an Alien" and my also being a total comics geek-girl. My answer tends to vary, but these days, I think I have to go for the Flash's super speed, because I just cannot seem to get it all done and the only way to get more hours in the day is to be able to go faster than everyone else. Or something like that.

2. Who is your style icon?
ROFL. Style Icon? Who makes up these questions, Heidi Klum? But, okay, I agreed to play along. Marilyn Monroe. For all the obvious reasons and a lot of the not-so-obvious ones.

3. What is your favorite quote?
Oh, I have a lot of these. Most are listed on my GoodReads page. BUT, if forced to choose, I really have to go with this one:

"I don't want to achieve immortality through my work; I want to achieve immortality through not dying." Woody Allen

4. What is the best compliment you've ever received?
I'm happy to say I've received a lot. I think my all time fave though was from when the chicklet was young. It was Halloween, and, per her request, we were dressed as tigers -- Mama Tiger and Tiger Cub. The hubs was with us, but not in costume. We hit the home of an older man, who proclaimed thus when he opened the door: "Awww, isn't that cute? A mama tiger and a baby tiger...and Mama Tiger's a KNOCKOUT!"

I was willing to stay with this gentleman and chat, potentially for hours, but the hubs, for some strange reason, ran up and dragged us off...

5. What playlist/CD is in your CD Player/iPod right now?
My Alien playlist, because I'm working on "Alien Proliferation". So, lots of Smash Mouth right now, particularly "Get the Picture?" For all playlist options and updates, hit my Playlist page.

6. Are you a night owl or a morning person?
What is this morning you all speak of and why do you seem to like it so? Night owl, all the way. I'm a night creature and prefer it that way.

7. Do you prefer dogs or cats?
I love them both, but when forced to choose, cats. I also love horses, bunnies are just fine, as are ferrets, etc. I'm not much of a girl for birds, though...

8. What is the meaning behind your blog name?
It's what my MC of my Alien series, Kitty, says all the time, kind of her catchphrase. I also felt it was fitting, since this is where I most consistently run the yap.

Choosing who to hit next was hard, since this one's limited to 3. So, I went for other authors:
Amber Scott
Marcy Rockwell
Weston Ochse

The Yap Strikes Back

As my Hook Me Up! subscribers already know, and as if you couldn't guess from the title, I'm running the yap again today!

Fist up, check out my interview at Lilium's Realm where she's also giving away a little prize for one lucky commenter. So head over, have a read, leave some Alien Collective love, get entered to win!

Next, the yap runs in a slightly different way. I need help (I'll wait for all of you to get those jokes off your chests) in the worst way, and, hearing my plea, the Bootcamp for Novelists Online blog has taken up the cry. Check out what I need and why I need it, and if you have any suggestions for who might be my little savior, pass 'em along!

Finally, we have a whole lot of updates on the site (yes, yes, I know, past time for all of them, but I've been busy editing those books y'all seem to want) so check out the Accolades page, the Blog Roll right here at the Blah, Blah, Blah Blog, the Playlist page, the Win Stuff page, and Cool Links to see what's new.

That seems sufficient for today, at least to me. I'm off to edit "Alien Tango" and practice reading aloud -- hey, CopperCon30 is in less than 2 weeks and those there will get an "Alien Tango" preview via my reading, and a chance to see the sketch for the cover of "Alien in the Family". Wish you were going? It's not too late: Hit the CopperCon site to get the details.

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

Author Interview on Spotlight!

As my Hook Me Up! subscribers already know, I have a new interview up on my Spotlight page.

This one's with author Erin Quinn. She's a great writer with a new series out from Berkley Sensation, and she has some great advice for other authors hoping to break in.

There's also a new Playlist up, and more to come! So read Erin's interview and take a look around as we continue to put on new paint and wallpaper. So to speak.

Love,
Gini

Of Frogs and Men...

As my Hook Me Up! subscribers already know, I have a new short up about another mishap in the life of my good friend, Kiki. Go to Expanded Universes (the book with the universe globe icon), select The Misadventures of Kiki, and enjoy "Kiki's Aquarium".

Also, one of my Spotlight subjects, literary agent Verna Dreisbach, has a great scholarship opportunity available through the Capitol City Young Writers organization. Details are on another friend's blog, so check out the Log of the Great Corrupter for the details (http://thegreatcorrupter.blogspot.com/).

There's also a new Playlist up (click on the iPod icon), and more coming, so stay tuned!

Love,
Gini

I'm Still Here AND Creation Agent Installment 6 Is, Too

Yahoo! My edits on "Touched by an Alien" are off to my editor. I'm almost finished with edits on "Alien Tango", too. So, having a chance to put my head up and look around.

Um, wow.

I haven't done anything for weeks, have I?

Well, that's all in the past! (stop laughing) I've got a new Playlist up (click on the iPod icon), more new places to go and things to do up at my Datebook (click on the Sunglasses icon), and, as my Hook Me Up! readers already know, there's a new installment of "The Creation Agent" up on Expanded Universes (click on the open book with the galaxy icon).

Now that the hysterical crush of editing is over, I should be 'here' on a more regular basis. I know, I know, what could be better news than this? Wait...don't answer that...

Love,
Gini

Whole Lotta Shakin' Going on

As my Hook Me Up! readers already know, there's a lot going on in Gini's Web Wonderland.

First off, my fabulous editor has confirmed that "Touched by an Alien" will be DAW Publishing's April 2010 release. And there was much rejoicing! All that info's up on Bookstore, Deathless Prose and Newsy Stuff. I also have a new Playlist up.

AND, because my life isn't complete without it, we have more news from the world of Kiki. "Alas, Poor Pigdin" is up on Expanded Universes, under The Misadventures of Kiki. Read and enjoy.

So, tiptoe through the web pages and have a look!

Love,
Gini