It's Funny Time

Hey there! Well, as promised, we have a lot going on today. Including but not limited to the winners of my Coastal Magic Con contest. But more on that later. (Oh, not much later. Stop whining.)

First up, a big announcement happened over at Amy Lane's Yarning to Write blog yesterday, discussing a lot of new March releases. But because some of you may be impatient to know why I'm caring about March releases, it's because I have one. My first humor collection, Random Musings from the Funny Girl, is now available in both trade paperback and ebook! Yes, it's true, and if you've ever wanted to know the inner workings of my mind, or just what I find funny, this book is for you.

Now, it's live interview time! Head over to More Geek Than Gay, where you can listen to or watch their 50th and 51st video podcasts. Why should you tune in? Both feature a two-part exclusive live and in person interview with moi, that's why! Check out Episode 50 audio, Episode 50 YouTube, Episode 51 audio, and Episode 51 YouTube for all the fun!

Next up, it's the Writing Process Blog Tour. If you missed last week's entry from T.C. Blue go check it out now. Then hit yesterday's post here at the Blah, Blah, Blah Blog for information on my so-called process. You'll also find the links to next week's entrants, authors Marsheila Rockwell, T.L. Smith, and T.M. Williams

After that, see which series Larissa's Bookish Life doesn't want to end. Then see who Gizmo's Reviews picks as the top 10 female characters in all genres. 

Now it's time for some reviews and such of Kaiju Rising: Age of Monsters, which includes my story, "With Bright Shining Faces", written as J.C. Koch. See what Fantasy Book Review and Mass Movement Magazine think of the anthology. Then head over to Delirium Tremens where you can get a sample of Ed Erdelac's story.

Now for something a little different. My critique partner's husband (Andrew Dovichi) is a cool game designer, and he, along with other hotshots in the gaming industry, was interviewed by Polygon in a really interesting article about checkpoints and why they're good, bad, and many times ugly.

Big reminder that I'll be at the Tucson Festival of Books March 15 and 16. It looks like all my panels will be on Saturday the 15th but that could change. I'll be signing at the Poisoned Pen's booth on Sunday (I believe), times to come. And you can find me all the rest of the time at the gigantic Valley of the Sun booth, #s 107, 108, 109, 118, 119, and 120. If you're anywhere near Tucson next weekend, don't miss this Festival or your chance to see the me!

Last but in no way least, the Gods of Random have chosen the winners of the Coastal Magic Con Contest. So, without further delay, but with a nice drum roll, a big whoo hoo of congrats, and some tossing of confetti, here they are:

U.S. Winner: Brenda Hyde

International Winner: Dawn Murphy

Winners, you have until this Sunday, March 9th, to send me an email confirming your win, with the US winner providing their full mailing address and the international winner providing both their email address and what eformat they would like to get their books in. If the prizes are not claimed by the due date, the Gods of Random will demand a sacrifice and choose another winner. Meaning you will be sad and someone else will be very happy.

That's it for today, but as always, more's on the way. Peace out my li'l gangstas, and let's be readers out there!

Love,
Gini

My Writing Process Blog Tour

Thanks to awesome author T.C. Blue who I met at Coastal Magic Con and bonded with over a wide variety of alcohols, I've been tagged into a gigantic Writing Process Blog Tour. As I've learned, T.C. can usually be found sitting in front of her computer, trying to wrangle rabid and numerous plot bunnies, though her muses insist that she not be too hard on the poor little fluffy things. (Poor little fluffy things with sharp teeth and claws, but whatever. Muses don’t seem to care much about the possible bloodshed if the bunnies think T.C.'s not writing quickly enough.) Clearly she's my kind of gal.

But, enough stalling, right? Of course right. So, here you go -- the questions and my answers.

1) What am I working on?
So many things at the same time. But mostly Book 10 of my Alien/Katherine "Kitty" Katt series, Universal Alien. And a variety of short stories for a variety of awesome anthologies & eZines, including 221 B Baker Streets, Penumbra eZine, Kaiju Rising II, UFO3, and more. And yes, yes, yes, Night Music and Alexander Outland: Space Avenger. (No, I never sleep.) And I'm prepping for Tucson Festival of Books, and the releases of Penumbra's May issue, Clockwork Universe: Steampunk vs. Aliens, and Alien Collective.

2) How does my work differ from others of its genre? 
They're the best books ever written and a deal at twice the price!

No? Okay then. Mostly I differ from most science fiction because my books are funny, have a ton of action, and a lot of romance, and some of them (but not all) have extremely steamy sex.

3) Why do I write what I do? 
Because I have no choice. I try to write in all the genres -- and I do -- but at least 85% of the time it comes out as science fiction, fantasy, paranormal, or horror. I try to write seriously -- and I do -- but at least 75% of the time it comes out funny. So, I gave up and just accepted that I'm science fiction's funny girl and rolled on with the writing.

4) How does your writing process work?
Ah ha. Ahahaha. Ahahahahahahahahahahahaha! Um, I have no real process. I put on the right music (right now, as I write this, it's Panic! At the Disco, for example), I figure out my title, I write the first line...and when I get to the end...I stop. That's pretty much it. I edit as I go along. I'm an extreme linear writer and while I'll kind of outline short stories, I never outline novels. And I don't think that's ever going to change. Because if I know what happens, as in, I wrote down what happens, I don't care anymore. And I'm sure we don't want that, now, do we?

Up next week you'll get a dose of the same from these three awesome authors -- Marsheila Rockwell, T.M. Williams, and T.L. Smith. A little bit about the gals following me:  

Marsheila (Marcy) Rockwell is the author of The Shard Axe series, the only official novels that tie into the popular MMORPG, Dungeons & Dragons Online. She also had two original short story/poetry collections published in 2013 and is currently hard at work on the second book in a trilogy based on an exciting comic book property created by one of the biggest names in fantasy today.  

T.M. Williams was born, 30 some odd years later she started writing and hasn't stopped since. She is the author of the Bohemian Grove trilogy; an ancient alien adventure, Undead Winter, and the Moonlight series. She is also a freelance business journalist, blogger extraordinaire, copywriter, and lover of cupcakes.

T.L. Smith writes Science Fiction, often from a military perspective, but with a touch of romance. Her insight into military culture came after a stint in the U.S. Air Force but the only vacuum her characters live in, is on the other side of the airlock. Come visit her vision of future worlds as we throw ourselves out into the universe.Their posts will go live on Monday, March 10th. So don't miss out on their answers to these questions!

That's it for today, but as always, more's on the way! Peace out, my li'l gangstas, and let's be readers out there!

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.