Winning Come Lately

Hey there! I know, I know, I'm late and was on unexpected radio silence. But, you know how it goes when the deadlines pile up. And if you don't, it goes like this -- I tend to be way behind. So let's get caught up, shall we? We shall!

First off, let's start with some reviews. Check out what Books 'N' Kisses thought of Alien Separation. Then see what I thought of SPECTRE over at Slice of SciFi and join the discussion over at Slice! After that, head over to Pearls Cast Before a McPig and check out her Teaser Tuesday for Alien in Chief!

Speaking of Alien in Chief, I have a very special announcement! In addition to receiving a Top Pick from RT Book Reviews, Alien in Chief is also up for an RT Book Reviews Reviewer's Choice Award in the Urban Fantasy category! It's up against books from nobodies like Patty Briggs, Ilona Andrews, Devon Monk, Nicole Peeler, and Lisa Shearin, so I know it's not winning, but it's a thrill to be nominated in their company!

Want a preview of what you're getting in about 2 weeks? Then head over to the Deathless Prose page and check out the prologue and first chapter of Alien in Chief!

A fast Tuscon Comic-Con recap. It was great. Got to panel with awesome authors T.L. Smith, Alan Black, and Sharon Skinner. Got to visit with many peeps, hang out a bit with authors Marsheila Rockwell, Jeff Mariotte, Austin Aslan, and Thomax Green, and grabbed an awesome painting from Chaos in Color as well as a cool Catwoman (circa Michelle Pfeiffer) mask that I wore to the Joshua Tree Gala the next weekend. For more on TCC, check out the recording, interviews, and pictures from Ragnarok and Roll and Creative Play and Podcast Network. Also had a great deal of fun at the Free Fall Writer's Workshop in Scottsdale, where I got to run the yap and hang out with cool authors, fans, and aspiring authors. So it's been a busy couple of weekends, but they've been worth it!

Next up and just in time for the holidays and all that jazz, you can now get the Martian Alliance Chronicles 1-3 in one volume! And for those of you who don't e-read, rejoice -- the physical copy is available at Create Space.

A reminder that Touched by an Alien is trying to earn votes and attention over at the If List so if you'd care to cast your vote for it to get made into a TV show or movie (hey, we can dream, right?), and also suggest who should play what, please do! The more attention, the better the chances!

Now for some science, because per blastr NASA spotted something coming OUT of a black hole! Algar's really hoping it's not the Black Hole Universe's Sheriff's Department, but only time will tell. ;-D

And now, finally and a week late, it's time to announce the winner of the edited galley for Universal Alien.

Beth Stevens

Many congrats! Winner has until November 20th to claim their prize. After that time, the Gods of Random will snatch back the prize and demand a new sacrifice, I mean, winner.

But you know...I was planning to announce Beth as the winner over a week ago, and then launch another contest. But deadlines have meant that I've run out of time and am going to be out of time for the foreseeable future. SO, rather than do another contest right now, it's Oprah Time, and the Gods of Random and I are just going to hand out prizes to those who entered to win this last edited galley 'cause we can!

Michael Creager -- you've won a physical copy of Unidentified Funny Objects 3 AND 4!
Giedre Sliumba -- you've won an e-copy of Unidentified Funny Objects 3 AND 4!
Hope Taylor -- you've won an ecopy of Unidentified Funny Objects 3 AND 4!
Linda Larrson -- you've won an ecopy of Unidentified Funny Objects 3 AND 4!
Peggy Preiss --  you've won an ecopy of Unidentified Funny Objects 3 AND 4!
Amanda Tamayo -- you've won a physical copy of Unidentified Funny Objects 4!
Viki S. -- you've won a physical copy of Unidentified Funny Objects 4!
Debbie Joyce -- you've won a physical copy of Unidentified Funny Objects 4!
Shawn Sumrall -- you've won a physical copy of Unidentified Funny Objects 4!

These winners also have until November 20th to claim their prizes. You know how capricious the Gods of Random can be. One day, they're giving generously, the next they're snatching away, so don't give them a chance to take your prize!

A reminder about my confirmed book tour stops for Alien in Chief:
Tuesday, December 1st
It’s the Release Day Signing & Party for Alien in Chief
Cake and prizes!
7:00pm
The Poisoned Pen Bookstore
4014 N. Goldwater Blvd., #101
Scottsdale, AZ 85251
Phone:(480) 947-2974
Toll Free: (888) 560-9919
No Food With Fans event but we WILL have cake, and that's just as good, right? Of course right!

Saturday, December 5th
Signing Alien in Chief
Mass Signing of the Amazing Wyked Writers
Cake and prizes!
2:00pm
Barnes & Noble Henderson
567 North Stephanie
Henderson, NV 89014
702-434-1533
Food With Fans immediately after the signing

Saturday, December 12th
Signing Alien in Chief
Cake and prizes!
2:00pm
Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore
5943 Balboa Avenue, Suite #100
San Diego, CA 92111
858-268-4747
Food With Fans immediately after the signing

That's it for today (and probably this week), but as always, more's on the way! Congrats to all the winners, chin up there will be more chances coming soon to those who didn't win this time, and let's all be readers out there. Peace out my li'l gangstas, and I'll catch you on the flip side!

Love,
Gini

Just Can't Hide It

Happy Friday! Hope everyone's had a wonderful week and has an even better weekend in store! It's been busy over here, but that's good, right? Of course right! There's lots going on, but first, as my Hook Me Up! subscribers already know, we have a big announcement, and I'm so excited about it! (Points to those who now get the point of the headline.) (Extra points to those who got it before reading this paragraph.)

The votes are in for the RT Book Reviews Reviewers' Choice Awards and guess what won Best Futuristic Romance? Go on, guess! Oh, I can't wait for you to guess -- it's Alien in the House! I'm extremely thrilled that it won, especially considering the awesome books it was up against. Check out all the winners and nominees in all the categories -- there's a lot of great reading there!

Speaking of great reading and the Alien series, I'll have 3 Alien Series short stories in Penumbra eMagazine this year; the first one comes out in next month's/May's issue. The magazine sells for $3.99 an issue, and I suppose you could just buy the three I'll be in. But, each month there are great stories, and Penumbra has a special offer for you, all because of moi. 'Cause I'm a giver, me.

Right now, you can get The Gini Special -- instead of paying $3.99 an issue, you'll get a year's subscription for just $24.00; that's half price. But there's more! You'll also get the Best of Penumbra 2012 AND 2013. That's a full year's subscription for half price plus two free Best Of collections and three Alien series shorts that will only be available in Penumbra...as long as you use this coupon code (exactly as shown here) when you order: 2014Gini

This offer is good only through August 1, 2014, so don't miss out and get your subscription going today!

Speaking of the Alien Series (no, we haven't really stopped), check out the Table of Contents for Clockwork Universe: Steampunk vs. Aliens. Should be coming in May (could be delayed due to printer issues, but the publisher is still hoping for May), and it contains "A Clockwork Alien", which is the first Alien Series short I've ever written (and the story that started the craze, so to speak).

Clockwork Universe: Steampunk vs. Aliens Table of Contents
Introduction by Patricia Bray
“The Cavorite Job” by Ian Tregillis
“Gracie’s Fire” by Leah Cutter
“Quinta Essentia” by Bradley P. Beaulieu
“When Comrade Ekaterina Died for the Motherland” by J.R. Hargenrader
“A Clockwork Alien” by Gini Koch
“Heart of the Empire” by Jason Palmatier
“The Red Queen and the White” by C.B. Pratt
“The Wizard of Woodrow Park” by Jean Marie Ward
“Of War and Wings” by Tansy Rayner Roberts
“Airship Down:  A Sound and Fury Adventure” by Gail Z. Martin & Larry N. Martin
“Steamsuit” by David J. Fortier
“Fingers of Steam, Veins of Gold” by Brad Hafford
“Heart of Clockwork” by S.C. Butler
“Lady Antheia’s Guide to Horticultural Warfare” by Seanan McGuire

Don't those all sound great? Yeah, I can't wait for this book, either! If you weren't part of the Kickstarter campaign, you can pre-order from Zombies Need Brains to be sure you get your copy!

Speaking of not waiting, see what Bibliognome is going to be reading this weekend. And then, check out the first review of Alien Collective over at boeklogboek! After that, see what Word of the Nerd thought of Alien Diplomacy. Finish up over at my Deathless Prose page, where you can get the prologue and first chapter of Alien Collective for your teaser reading pleasure!

Whew! That's it for today, but as always, more's on the way. So let's be winning readers out there! Peace out, my li'l gangstas, and I'll catch you on the flip side!

Love,
Gini

Overdue Recapping with a Bonus

Hey there! I know, I know, I've been MIA. Had a lot to do the moment I got back from Coastal Magic Con, and then many other things were going on. How many? Let's find out! Oh, and read on until the end, because you'll be glad you did.

First up, I can't remember if I've mentioned this before or not, but the nominees for the RT Book Lover's Reviewer's Choice Awards are in, and Alien in the House is up for Best Futuristic Romance! As always, I'm thrilled that one of my books has made the cut into the finalists. Go check out all the books nominated -- there are some fantastic reads in this year's nominees!

Next up, let's check out some reviews! See what Shiny Book Review thought of Kaiju Rising, which features a short story by moi writing as J.C. Koch. Then see what Wicked Little Pixie, Fresh Fiction, Mixed Book Bag, and Bitten By Books thought of Alien Research. 

Speaking of Kaiju Rising, the ebook version is available now! So get your copy today, you'll be glad you did!

Then see what new covers have Addicted 2 Heroines excited. And check out the article in the Arizona Daily Star about the upcoming Tucson Festival of Books including information on one of my three panels.

Now, head over to Southwest Magazine where Alien Collective Member in Very Good Standing and Lego Builder Extraordinaire Mariann Asanuma is one of many cool folks interviewed about, what else, Building Lego. And after that, see what cool author Amy Lane had to say about and coming home from Coastal Magic.

Speaking of Coastal Magic, it was made of awesome. I had so much fun with Members of the Alien Collective in Very Good Standing Michele, Joe, Lisa, Jo, Bill, and more! And I got to speed date and catch up with Shannon K. Butcher, hang out with the amazing Queen of SFR Linnea Sinclair, the wickedly cool James R. Tuck, the lovely and talented Janice Hardy, the wild and wooly T.C. Blue, and the aforementioned cool Amy Lane.

And, because I had such a good time, I'm going to share some of that fun with all of you. Yes, that's right...I'm talking contest time, baby! And for this one, there will be 2 big winners. One U.S., one International.

The U.S. winner will receive signed copies of the following:
The first 3 books of the Deacon Chalk Occult Bounty Hunter Series by James R. Tuck -- Blood and Bullets, Blood and Silver, and Blood and Magick
The first 2 books of the Shifter Series by Janice Hardy -- The Shifter, and Blue Fire
3 books from Linnea Sinclair -- An Accidental Goddess, Shades of Dark, and Hope's Folly
1 book from Amy Lane -- A Solid Core of Alpha
Plus some swag, mostly courtesy of Ms. Cool, Amy Lane
That's 9 signed books plus swag!

The International Winner will receive ebook copies of the following:
Kaiju Rising: Age of Monsters, from J.C. Koch, aka moi
The Keeping Promise Rock Series from Amy Lane -- Keeping Promise Rock, Making Promises, Living Promises, and Forever Promised
The Talker Series from Amy Lane -- Talker, Talker's Redemption, and Talker's Graduation
The first 2 books in the FGC Spy Series from T.C. Blue -- A Game of Chances, and A Game of Skills
Trine, from T.C. Blue
Making It Up, from T.C. Blue
That's 12 ebooks!

Doesn't it sound awesome? Because it is! It's also for Hook Me Up! subscribers only. Not on? Clearly now's the time to get on! Send an email with "Hook Me Up!" in the subject line to gini@ginikoch.com and you'll be on the list and sent the contest entry rules.

So, for those on Hook Me Up! who've read and followed the entry rules and all that jazz, riddle me this: In your opinion, what's the most magical thing about reading?

Good luck to all, and let's be winning readers out there!

Love,
Gini

LEGALESE

Contest will run Thursday, February 20th through Friday, February 28th. Winners will be announced by Tuesday, March 4th, and have until Sunday, March 9th to reply -- any prize not claimed by then will be pulled back by the Gods of Random and a new winner(s) will be chosen.

This both a U.S. and an international contest -- as long as you're on Planet Earth, you can enter and win. You must have a deliverable address, though - no P.O. boxes. Prize may take 2-4 weeks to ship to the U.S. winner. International winner will be contacted by the authors providing the books to determine format, etc., within 2 weeks of the winner's claiming their prize.

It's Time...

Time for what, you ask? Read on and find out...

I know, again I've been quiet and non-communicative, at least, so to speak. But I've been busy with Alien Collective, my short for Clockwork Universe: Steampunk vs. Aliens, and more. So let's get to the more, shall we? Because there's a surprise at the end I know you're going to want in on...

First off, check out my latest reviews for Slice of SciFi's 5 Episodes In series -- Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Arrow. Agree with my views? Disagree? Join the discussion on Slice!

Speaking of Clockwork Universe, a Member of the Alien Collective in Very Good Standing has written a cool little blog about The Music of Steampunk.

Speaking of stories in Kickstarter anthologies, I'm in another one. Check out, and fund if you're able, Winter in the City, where there will be stories from moi and a host of other awesome authors.

Then, head over and see what The Nameless Zine thinks of A Cup of Joe by moi writing as Anita Ensal, reviewed in their Book Nook section.

Last but not least, I woke up to some happy news yesterday. Alien in the House is up for the RT Book Awards in the Science Fiction Romance category! There are a ton of awesome authors and excellent books nominated in all the categories, so take a look and see where your favorites landed!

Okay, okay, that wasn't totally "last". This is. And I know you won't find it "least", either. Penguin is no longer doing ARCs, so I no longer have ARCs to give away. However, and before we all start sobbing, I do have something else to give away in the place of ARCs, because DAW understands your pain. That's right -- the contest for signed, personalized, EARLY copies of Alien Research is about to start!

BUT...it's for Hook Me Up! subscribers only. Not on? Now's the time to GET on, because this contest is going to be short and fast so the winners get their books BEFORE release day! (At least, that is my plan.) Send an email to gini@ginikoch.com with "Hook Me Up!" in the subject line, then you'll be in with the in-crowd and the rules for entry will be sent to you.

Beyond all that, enjoy the downward slide to the weekend, and let's be (winning!) readers out there! Peace out, my li'l gangstas, and I'll catch you on the flip side!

Love,
Gini