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

Start the Week with the Creation Agent

Happy Monday! Hope everyone's weekends were lovely and we're all ready to roll into another week.

To get it started right, and as my Hook Me Up! subscribers already know, the next installment of "The Creation Agent" is live over at Expanded Universes. Have a read and enjoy!

After getting your CA fix, head over to Bibliognome and check out who's made the cut for her Top 5 Favorite Book Boyfriends (hint, one you know very well).

Next, go see what Swept Away Again and Book Spot Central have to say about "Alien in the Family".

Then check out what The Galaxy Express has to say about the Nature of Courtship in Sci-Fi Romance.

Last but in no way least, you can pre-order "The Royal Scam" from Musa Publishing right now. (BTW, the word count is showing as 4,000, which is incorrect; it's actually 8,100 words, because you know how hard it is for me to write short.) Hit my Author Splash page and take a look around...there's more coming in the very near future! And love, {HUGS} and *smootchies* to all of you who've pre-ordered "Alien Proliferation" and "Alien Diplomacy". As always, the Alien Collective ROCKS!

Love,
Gini

The Yap's Back in Action!

Happy Friday! As my Hook Me Up! subscribers already know, we have a relatively short and sweet one for you today, so let's get to it!

First off, head over to Worlds of Possibilities and check out the latest interview with moi (with NEW info). Leave a comment and get entered to win a signed copy of either "Touched by an Alien" or "Alien Tango".

Next, check out what Three Crow Press has to say about "Alien in the Family". Then go to Romance at Random and check out their Romance in Urban Fantasy giveaway.

Reminder that the Comic-Con Giveaway is in full swing - check out the Swag Packs in the blog post below. Of course, it's for Hook Me Up! only. Not on? Now would truly be the time. Send an email to gini@ginikoch.com with "Hook Me Up!" in the subject line and you'll be in with the in crowd and get the info for how to enter the Contest of Contests.

Speaking of Comic-Con, I'd be remiss if I didn't give a shout out to some awesome Alien Collective Members in Very Good Standing who were able to visit me around the con itself. So big *waves*, many {HUGS}, and much love to Brooke & Tim, Glen & Allison, Ollie & Blanca, Penni, and all the kiddos who came along and faked not being bored out of their minds (all the kids deserve Angelic Behavior Medals, trust me). Love you all and thanks for taking time out to let me and the hubs have some actual fun and down time in San Diego. Seeing all of you was truly the best highlight of the trip.

Hope everyone has a great weekend planned. I'll be busy logging contest entries, working on "Alien vs. Alien" and "The Creation Agent", and tossing confetti for the chicklet's birthday. Whatever you do, do it with gusto, and I'll catch you on the flip side!

Love,
Gini

It's Agent Time

It's another short and sweet one today! Getting them all in before we go to Radio Silence while I'm at Comic-Con gathering the best swag ever for the most awesome swag packs ever. But I digress...

Well, I promised. And, as my Hook Me Up! subscribers already know, I'm delivering. What's that, says you? More "Creation Agent" says I. Go to Expanded Universes and check out the next installment!

Remember that you can win a signed copy of "Touched by an Alien" or "Alien Tango" by hitting the RomCon Blog and leaving a comment on the "Alien in the Family" Sneak Peek.

Head over to Babbling Book Reviews to check out her faves for the first half of 2011.

Remember to let me know if you'll be at Comic-Con or in the San Diego area from July 19-26th; wouldn't want to miss any of the Alien Collective who are in the area!

For those of you keeping score, I'll be at CopperCon 31 over Labor Day Weekend, and World Fantasy Con at the end of October. More events to come as things finalize.

Last, but in no way least, remember to do your girl a solid and pre-order "Alien Proliferation". Yes, pre-orders matter. Especially if y'all want to see what comes after "Alien Diplomacy" and "Alien vs. Alien". ;-D

Until next time, be good, have fun, and let's be readers out there!

Love,
Gini

Monday Winning

Happy Monday! Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. As my Hook Me Up! subscribers already know, I spent the time finalizing "Alien Diplomacy" and prepping for Comic-Con.

On today's docket, however, is a sneak peek from "Alien in the Family" up at the RomCon Blog. Whether you've read it already or haven't picked it up yet (and if not, why not?), leave a comment and get entered to win a signed copy of either "Touched by an Alien" or "Alien Tango" (and whether or not it says it, the contest is international).

Speaking of Comic-Con, all the schedules are up! My panel and signing are on Sunday.

Panel: Sunday, July 24, 12:00 – 1:00 Speculative Fiction: Space Odyssey, Alien Encounters and Future Worlds; Room 25ABC
Autographing in the Comic-Con Autograph Area: Sunday, July 24, 1;30-2:30 Speculative Fiction; AA8 (autograph area under the sails)

One of our Alien Collective Members in Very Good Standing, Mike Shields, will be showing his film at the CCI-IFF at the San Diego Marriott Marquis and Marina July 22nd at 1140a. So if you're going, catch Mike's movie and my panel and/or signing!

I'm also trying to figure out how to set up a "come on over" meet and greet or two or three while I'm there. Most likely to be sent out via Twitter and/or the Alien Collective Virtual HQ, so if you're going to Comic-Con and haven't hit the Virtual HQ or don't follow me on Twitter yet (@GiniKoch), fix those oversights so you won't miss out.

And, of course, the reminder that I'll be doing my huge Comic-Con Swag Pack giveaway for Hook Me Up! subscribers only once I'm back. Contest will start in August, so if you're not on Hook Me Up! yet, now's the time. Send an email to gini@ginikoch.com with "Hook Me Up!" in the subject line and get ready to fight for your right to get the goodies!

That's it for today, but there's more coming this week, including what many of you have been patiently waiting for *coughmoreCreationAgentcough*. So until then, peace out, li'l gangstas!

Love,
Gini

You Asked, I Wrote

Happy Monday! Hope you all had a fun and restful weekend and are ready to roll right into all the fun this week's gonna hold! So, let's not delay and get right to the good stuff.

You asked, nay begged, demanded, guilted, and in some cases requested very politely, for a new installment of "The Creation Agent". For those who haven't really searched the website (and, in that case, I have to ask, "Why NOT?"), "The Creation Agent" is an online, serialized novel for my web readers only. And, yes, the long-awaited latest installment is up at Expanded Universes. Check it out, and if you haven't read it yet, now's the time to get caught up. (You can fill the time waiting for "Alien in the Family" with catching up on "The Creation Agent". I'm a giver, me.) There are also a plethora of humor shorts in "The Misadventures of Kiki" and "Random Musings" up at Expanded Universes as well.

Next up, check out a lovely review of "Alien Tango" from Mark of the Stars. Then head to Aria's Dark Musings... to see what she thought of "Touched by an Alien". Leave some Alien Collective love while you're visiting!

Then check out what the Order of Smut Vixens has going for Valentine's Day. Yes, Jeff Martini is involved in some way, as are a whole lot of other book hotties, so don't miss out!

If you haven't yet, check out the Dueling Authors interview with me and Joshua Palmatier/Benjamin Tate over at DAW Community Blog. And you still have time to get entered into the drawing for an "Alien Tango" notebook and pen over at Book Lovers Inc., not to mention the main prize drawing.

Speaking of winning, we have a lot of it coming in February. Stay tuned -- tomorrow brings a new kind of interview along with a fun contest with an assortment of prizes you're sure to love. Trust me, you're gonna love 'em.

Of course, the phrase "first contest" indicates there is another contest coming. There is, indeed. It's the ARC Giveaway for "Alien in the Family", as a matter of fact. But...it's for Hook Me Up! subscribers only.

Not on Hook Me Up! yet? Now's the time to fix that, and fast. Send an email to gini@ginikoch.com with "Hook Me Up!" in the subject line. That's all there is to it. You'll be "in", get all the news first and fastest, have access to all those exclusive contests, and more. Such a deal! And, did I mention the Hook Me Up! exclusive "Alien in the Family" ARC Giveaway? I did? Good, good.

Love,
Gini

Yapping Yaps of Yappingness

Happy Friday!

Hope everyone had a wonderful week and has an even better weekend planned. As my Hook Me Up! subscribers already know, my exciting plan is taking The Prince of Purrsia, Squirrel and Big Baby in for routine vet checkups. Won't THAT be fun? (It'll be more fun than taking the entire Canine Death Squad and all the Killer Kitties in at once, I can tell you that.)

But enough about my Busy, Busy Afternoon. We have STUFF to get to! As mentioned and promised, we have a lot going on today, but most importantly, my first ever dual interview, where awesome author Joshua Palmatier interviews me and I interview him. We ask each other the hard questions (like, What do you drink? and, How early do you start?) so you don't want to miss Dueling Authors at the DAW Books Community Blog. Head over, leave some Alien Collective love, you know the drill.

Next, head over to Lynette's Two Cents and see what she had to say about "Alien Tango". Then hit Book Rants where she's got a review of Tanya Huff's "Summon the Keeper". Why am I mentioning this? I love Tanya, and per the reviewer, if you like my series, you'll like this book, too! Then hit Escape Between the Pages and see what she's looking forward to reading most in 2011.

There's more coming next week, including the next installment of "The Creation Agent" (yes, it's TRUE!), a very special interview, and the start of a new contest, so stay tuned. Until then, keep on reading and get down with your bad selves!

Love,
Gini

The Creation Agent, Installment 7

As my Hook Me Up! subscribers already know, the latest installment of my online, serialized novel, "The Creation Agent" (available only for my web readers), is up. Go to Expanded Universes and have a read!

Haven't read it yet? All of the preceding installments are there, so you can catch up.

Haven't read the first excerpt from "Touched by an Alien", coming from DAW Books on April 6, 2010? Head over to Deathless Prose and take a look!

Have somehow missed my mentioning that you can pre-order "Touched by an Alien" right now from Borders.com, BarnesandNoble.com, or Amazon.com? (How, would be the question, but anyway...) Well, you can. So get your pre-orders in immediately, if not sooner!

Lots more coming in the near future, so check the site often. Or, if you'd like to know immediately when there's something new or exciting going on, sign up for my Hook Me Up! subscribers list. Go to Extra Me for directions (or, just send an email to gini@ginikoch.com with "Hook Me Up!" in the subject line, and you'll be all set).

Oh, and as a mention...I'm going to be launching my first contest (ever! Whoo hoo!), and not only will my Hook Me Up! subscribers know about it first, they'll also get clues no one else does. So, why not sign up today so you don't miss anything or miss out?

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

Creation Agent Installment 5 is Live

As my Hook Me Up! readers already know, the latest installment of my on-going, serialized, web-only novel, "The Creation Agent", is live.

So head on over to Expanded Universes (click on the icon of a galaxy ball on top of a book) and have a read!

Love,
Gini

The Creation Agent - Installment 4 Is Live

As those who are on Hook Me Up! already know, the latest installment of my online serialized novel, "The Creation Agent", is live on my Expanded Universes page.

So, click on the pretty icon of a universe globe/swirl/thingy on an open book (hey, it works for me) and enjoy!

Love,
Gini

The Creation Agent, Installment 3 is Live

As those on Hook Me Up! already know, the next installment of my online serialized novel, 'The Creation Agent', is up and live.

Check it out via my Expanded Universes page, and then let me know what you think on the blog.

Enjoy!

Love,
Gini

Pardon the Mess...

As some of you may have noticed, it's looking a little different around the blog and the website. True, not that much different, but different, nonetheless.

We're doing some updating and a few minor changes that are supposed to make it oh so much easier for loyal readers to stay tuned and see what they want to see (whatever that actually is).

A new Creation Agent installment is waiting breathlessly in the wings. Once the site's stable again (oh, in a day or two, relax) it'll go live. Those who are already on Hook Me Up! will know first, of course.

Maybe you should join Hook Me Up!, too so that you know the nanosecond there are new things to read and explore. Just send your email address to gini@ginikoch.com with "Hook Me Up!" in the subject line, and I'll add you onto my email blast.

In the meantime, enjoy watching things move around in strange and different manners for a while. Hey, I think it's kind of cool...

Love,
Gini

The Creation Agent, Installment 2 - Live

Alert for those of you not on Hook Me Up!

Installment 2 of my website-only serialized novel, "The Creation Agent" is up. Click on Expanded Universes and enjoy! And feel free to give comments and feedback on the blog.

Happy reading!

Love,
Gini

Hook Me Up With The Creation Agent

Here's the latest poop and scoop. I've got not one but TWO new things happening and all for YOU. (I'm such a giver, me.)

If you want to get the intimate, hear-it-first, hot-off-the-presses Gini info, then sign up for my 'Hook Me Up!' newsletter. Send an email to gini@ginikoch.com with "Hook Me Up!" in the subject line and you'll be added onto my blast email list, so you can be the first to find out what's going on in the World.

Additionally, for my beloved website readers, I'm starting an online, serialized novel, that you'll only find here. The first installment of "The Creation Agent" is up live, so head on over to Expanded Universes and check it out. Feel free to let me know what you think of it via the blog.

Love, Gini