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

The Yap Talks Mysterious Aliens

Happy Hump Day! Hope everyone is having a wonderful week so far. I am, and there's much going on, including something I promised all y'all last week, so let's get to it, shall we? We shall!

First up, the Yap is large and in charge over at the Abaddon Books Blog where I'm talking about my favorite mystery anthology, Two Hundred and Twenty-One Baker Streets...and how I met my editor.

After you learn yet another one of my not-so-secret secrets, head over to SF Signal where I'm in a Mind Meld about Successful Alien Characters. Join the discussion over there and talk about the aliens you think work and those who don't.

Next up, let's check out some reviews. See what Falcata Times thought of Two Hundred and Twenty-One Baker Streets, and what The BookBeard's Blog thought of my story, All the Single Ladies, in particular. Then see what DAW Books Review and K.D. Did It Takes On Books thought of Alien Research.

Speaking of Alien Research, remember to do your girl a solid and pre-order Universal Alien from any physical bookstore or online retailer. Yes, pre-orders matter, more and more. Even if you plan to come get your bookie wookie at one of my Book Tour stops, pre-order it from that bookstore. It helps them, it helps me, it helps DAW, and it ensures your book is there for YOU and you alone. Not in the states I'll be for the Tour? Not to worry -- you can always pre-order AND get your books signed at every bookstore I'll be hitting, and most of them ship for free or very little.

Now for some exciting news, though it's not exactly new news. However, it bears repeating, as so many things do. I'll have my next Alien series short, Alien Pick-Up, in the November issue of Penumbra eMagazine. Mark your calendars, and to avoid missing out, why not get a subscription to Penumbra today? You'll get a monthly set of great short stories set around cool themes, from current and up-and-coming authors. Truly not to be missed! Especially the November issue...just sayin'...and, of course the May and July issues which contained Alien on the Runway and Mr. Dash Saves the World. And yes, you can get all the back issues of Penumbra, including the ones I'm in, directly from their website.

Speaking of exciting news -- I'm going to be part of a boxed set coming out November 17th, alongside awesome authors Caris Roane, Jordan Summers, Vivi Anna, Marsheila Rockwell & Jeff Mariotte, and Sasha White. So, get ready for Sensational Six:  Action and Adventure in Sci Fi, Fantasy, and Paranormal
Romance! I'll give you more details soon, but get ready, 'cause it's gonna be awesome and you won't want to miss out on this one!


And now, something you've all been waiting for -- the next contest! In honor of my many anthologies out and coming out, and because the editor of Unidentified Funny Objects 3 is awesome and sent me some extra books for giveaways, we're gonna do a giveaway! BUT, as always, it's for my Hook Me Up! subscribers only. Not on? Rectify immediately if not sooner, by sending an email to gini@ginikoch.com with "Hook Me Up!" in the subject line. You'll be in with the in crowd, get the rules, and be able to get the winning going!

That's it for today, but as always, more's on the way. So enjoy the downward slide toward the weekend, get your entries going because this is just the start of the contests that'll be coming, 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

Pre-Chicago Roundup

Hey there! Hope everyone had a great week last week, a wonderful weekend, and good Mondays. As a reminder, I'm heading to Chicago tomorrow and will be there and in the surrounding environs for a week, so it's unlikely I'll be doing another blog until sometime after I'm back, meaning in October. I know! How WILL you all survive? (Facebook, Twitter, realizing that I'll still check in faster than I did due to surgery, blah, blah, blah.)

But, exotic travel aside (hey, the Windy City is exotic as compared to Hell's Orientation Area), there's plenty going on to hold you all over until I return, so let's take a look at it, shall we? We shall!

First up, the Temporally Out of Order Kickstarter is going strong. There are plenty of great freebies and awards in a variety of support levels, so don't miss out on getting in on this anthology and all the free books and more. Also there are still tuckerizations available, including 2 of mine, so if you've ever wanted to be immortalized in my, or another author's, writings, now IS your time.

After you've checked out the Kickstarter, head on over to Beyond the Veil and see what cool author Jean Marie Ward has going on. Why am I highlighting Jean Marie? She's not only an awesome author, but she's also a stretch goal author for Temporally Out of Order. SF Signal also has a nice roundup of current Kickstarter anthologies available right now, including, of course, Temporally Out of Order. (Aha, see how it all ties together.)

Next up, see what Amazing Stories thought of Unidentified Funny Objects 3, particularly what they thought of my story in the anthology, "Live at the Scene". After that's whet your appetite, guess what? UFO3 is live at the scene in terms of being available in all eformats. And physical copies will be available October 1st! So if you missed out on the Kickstarter, you can still get the anthology now.

Then check out the 10 Webcomics i09 thinks would make great TV shows. In addition to some good ones, they list a great one -- Spacetrawler by my BFF, awesome author and artist Christopher Baldwin. Get introduced to a wide variety of cool comics out there for your reading pleasure and don't miss Spacetrawler!

IN PERSON UPDATES
I know, I just did this last week, but I already have more stuff to tell you about, so here we go!

CHICAGO AREA: September 25-30, 2014 -- Chicago area peeps, if you haven't let me know you're there yet, do so now. I'm setting up very impromptu stuff that I'll be letting you guys know about privately, so don't miss your (very rare) chance to see the me when I'm in your nape of the woods!

LOS ANGELES AREA: Thursday, November 6, 2014, 5pm -- mass signing for A Darke Phantastique anthology (signing as J.C. Koch), Mystery and Imagination & Bookfellows Bookstore, 238 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale, CA 91203  818-545-0206
NOTE: This bookstore doesn't carry my books (yet!) so if you're coming, bring any and all of the bookie wookies along to have them signed!

PHOENIX: Friday & Saturday, November 28 & 29, 2014 -- featured speaker at the MENSA RPG, Hilton Garden Inn, 4000 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85012

PHOENIX: December 2, 2014, 7pm -- Universal Alien Release Day Signing and Party! Come get your copy of Universal Alien and help celebrate Book 10's release in style, with cake, readings, games and prizes! The Poisoned Pen, 4014 N. Goldwater Blvd., #101, Scottsdale, AZ 85251  480-947-2974 

I think Book 10 deserves this car!

SAN DIEGO: December 6, 2014, 2pm -- Universal Alien Signing and Party! Come get your copy of Universal Alien and help celebrate Book 10's release in style! Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore, 7051 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., Ste. 302, San Diego, California 92111-1040  858-268-4747
NOTE: MG is moving and the location of this signing (and related activities) is subject to change therefore. But wherever MG is on Dec. 6th, so shall I be. :-D

LAS VEGAS AREA: December 13, 2014, time TBD -- Universal Alien Signing & Wycked Women Who Write Party! Come get your copy of Universal Alien and help celebrate Book 10's release by partying with some of the Wyked Women Who Write (moi, T.L. Smith, and Sharon Skinner) while we regale you with our writing awesomeness! Barnes & Noble Bookstore, 567 North Stephanie, Henderson, NV 89014  702-434-1533

SAN DIEGO: Friday-Sunday, January 23rd-25th, 2015 -- Faculty, San Diego State University Writer's Conference, San Diego Marriott Mission Valley, 8757 Rio San Diego Drive, San Diego, California 92108  619-692-3800

Well, that's it for today but, as always, more's on the way. But not until October (barring earth-shaking news which, as you know, I'll share with all y'all immediately if not sooner). So, get down with your bad selves while I'm gone, and let's be readers out there. Peace out, my li'l gangstas, and I'll catch you on the far flip side!

Love,
Gini

Insert Witty Catching Up Title Here

Happy Monday! I know it's been a while (okay, like, um, about 2-3 weeks), but I'm back from Phoenix Comicon AND Universal Alien is done and turned in to the Awesome Editor! Meaning, I get to catch up on all the things, like updating all of you, that I had to let slide to get the bookie wookie in on time. And there's a LOT to catch you up on, so let's get to it, shall we? We shall!

First up, check out the great Table of Contents for Unidentified Funny Objects 3, courtesy of SF Signal featuring "Live at the Scene" by yours truly, moi. It's coming in October, but you can pre-order UFO3 right now! Hint, hint.

Speaking of pre-orders (we always are, trust me), it's never too late or too early to pre-order Universal Alien, coming to your bookstores December 2, 2014. You can also pre-order Clockwork Universe: Steampunk vs. Aliens at the Zombies Need Brains website (scroll down to find the book pre-order), featuring short story that started my writing short stories set in the Kittyverse.Yes, pre-orders matter, a lot, to publishers of all sizes, so pre-order often and early!

Next up, let's check out some reviews! See what Another Castle thought of Kaiju Rising (featuring "With Bright Shining Faces" from moi writing as J.C. Koch). Then see what Zwartraafje thought of Alien in the House. Check out what Gizmo's Reviews thinks are the 10 best books she's read so far in 2014. And last but not least, see what A Succubi's Tale thought of Hotter Than Hell by moi writing as Jemma Chase.

And now it's time for some science! Check out the news about a gigantic underground ocean, or, as I put it, see how Jules Verne was a reporter, not a novelist. Then watch the amazing time lapse video of a Stellar Explosion or, as I put it, see Sandy up close and personal. Then, once again proving my hard science fiction and Star Trek loving grandma right in that what man can imagine, man can create, check out the real life Enterprise that's set to take us where, um, no man has gone before (ACE allowing).

My San Diego Comic-Con schedule will be finalized soon, so keep the eyeballs peeled. See as many of you as possible there!

Have you made your plans to hit CopperConFANtasm August 22-24? You should, 'cause I'm an author guest and it's going to be a fun, intimate con. This is the con where you get to hang out with all the authors, artists, and scientists because that's just how it rolls.

Chicago Area Peeps -- I will be there at the end of September (25th-30th); book signing dates are (hopefully) getting set up, but if you're there, let me know so you can see the me and I can see the you! I am NOT in this part of the country very often (um, this would be the first time in at least 10 years), so if you're in the Greater Chicago Metro and Outlying Areas, this will likely be your only chance, so let's be sure to make it happen! And yes, if you have a local bookstore that wants me to do a signing during this time, let me know and we'll do what we can to make that happen.

More in-person announcements are coming, as well, so stay tuned!

And now, finally, it's time for my extremely belated Phoenix Comicon wrap-up. The con was wonderful and it was great to see so many of the Alien Collective out in force! I'd list everyone here, but there were a LOT of you, so just know that I loved seeing (and hugging) you all and cannot wait for the next time!

And speaking of "out in force"...we had almost 79,000 people attend. So, yeah, it was big, and it was great, too. But don't just take my word for it. See what Rissa Watkins thought of it, too. I got to have breakfast in the con's guest suite with two very nice guys who happened to be Billy Tucci and Mark Evanier. Mark in particular was extremely gracious and we had an interesting chat about editors and deadlines. He even stopped by my booth to tell me he'd enjoyed meeting me, and wrote about his con experiences as well at News From Me.

I got to panel and hang out with and at least say hi and give hugs to a ton of cool authors and some artists, and because this is already scary long I'm just going to do the roll call here: L.E. Modesitt, Jr.; Seanan McGuire; Jim Butcher; John Scalzi; Wesley Chu; Marsheila Rockwell; Jordan Summers; T.L. Smith; Patrick Rothfuss; Myke Cole; Amber Benson; Tom Leveen; Weston Ochse; Yvonne Navarro; David Lee Summers; Joe Nacisse; Leanne Renee Hieber; Kris Neri; Robert Elrod; Mike MacLean; Zachary Jernigan; Gilead; Ed Erdelac; Jaye Wells; and many more besides who I am forgetting because I have had to sleep, and had to write a lot, since then.

Everyone was awesome and I loved all my panels, but one of my favorite things was doing my impromptu Food with Fans event which I plan to make a "thing" and have happen every year, because it was so much fun this year and last year, too.

Sadly, I did NOT get to hang out with either Nathan Fillion, Stephen Amell, John Barrowman, Michael Rooker, or Carey Elwes. Because I was hella busy, that's why. Yes, all my friends have pics with Nathan or John or Stephen. I have pics with my fans, and I'm happy about that :-D. I DID, however, get to share an elevator with Danny Glover (that man is TALL) and walked by and spoke to John Rhys Davies (that man is TALL and HANDSOMER in person than on screen). I may have had other celebrity sightings or moments, but if I did, they're just moon dust now. Next year the con is May 28-31 -- don't miss it!

Finally...that's it for today. But, as always, more's on the way. So stay tuned, have a fantastic week, and let's be readers out there!

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

Yapping for the Win

Happy Hump Day! Hope everyone's weeks are going great and everyone has a wonderful weekend to look forward to. I'll be in Douglas, AZ this weekend, at the Authors and Artists Centennial celebration, October 13th, hosted at the (haunted!) Hotel Gadsden. If you're anywhere nearby, come on down, it's gonna be a lot of fun!

But before the weekend hits, there's a lot to get caught up on. First off, head over to Readaholics Anonymous for their Hallows Madness event which today features the first ever exclusive interview with Victoria Wolfe from The Night Beat. You can also get entered to win a copy of The Night Beat while you're there!

Speaking of winning, go to Book Lovers Inc. where they have an ARC of Alien vs. Alien up for grabs!

Speaking of yapping, visit SF Signal (winner of a 2012 Hugo for best fanzine!) where the yap joins the conversation about Holding Out For A Hero. This site LOVES readers to make comments and really get involved in the discussion, so head over, read what I and other authors have to say about heroes, and add in your own thoughts to the theme!

Next up, see what Tynga's Reviews thought of Touched by an Alien. Then check out what series Scooper Speaks is getting caught up on.

You might have heard -- Alien vs. Alien releases December 4, 2012. Please do your girl a solid and pre-order, because pre-orders MATTER. And, if you'd like to come and join me ON release day, head to The Poisoned Pen where, from 7-8:30pm, I'll be yapping about writing in some way and doing a book signing. Can't come in person? No worries! The Poisoned Pen is going to do a Livestream of this event! So, you can come to see the me even if you can't actually come to see the me!

The Poisoned Pen also has the uber cool Autographed Editions program where you can get your books signed AND personalized by the authors. So, if you want to order your books from the Pen, you can watch me sign them via Livestream, so it's really like you're there. And yes, they ship internationally. (And yes, they have all my books, including The Night Beat and Alexander Outland: Space Pirate.)

I'll also be at the Barnes & Noble Desert Ridge Marketplace in December, but stuff happens and the date has changed. Come see the me there on Friday, December 14, 2012, from 7-9pm. And, as with the other bookstores, if you pre-order from the B&N, I'll be able to sign & personalize your books, just let them know you'd like to wait to get your books picked up or sent until after the author's signing.

Speaking again of releases, a reminder that Three Card Monte, #2 in The Martian Alliance, is now available at Musa Publishing. Get caught up with what DeeDee, Roy, and the rest of the crew of the Hummingbird are doing and what scam, royal or otherwise, is on.

Speaking again of winning, I'll be announcing the winner of my prizes for the end of the Necropolis Blog Tour in just a few minutes, so stay tuned!

That's it for me this week (at least, supposedly, but it's me, so you never can tell). See some of you in Douglas, all of you have wonderful weekends, and let's be readers out there! Peace out, my li'l gangstas, and I'll catch you on the flip side!

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