The First READ THIS! Author Q&A of the Year, My Con Schedule, & More!

It's Almost My Birthday!
Yes, it's true, I'm a January baby. I am not, however, a Year of the Rabbit baby because I fall at the very end of the Year of the Tiger. The hubs, however, is a Rabbit, though, happily, rarely a wrascly one. (And for those who know both of us, it's never been a mystery for which one of us was born in which cycle.)
But before my "big day" we have the first READ THIS! Author Q&A of the year, plus other fun things including a rather big announcement. So let's get to it, shall we? We shall!

January 2023 READ THIS! Author Q&A

January's READ THIS! author Q&A with author Alex Shvartsman will be on Thursday, January 19, 2022 from 9pm-10pm Eastern. Access to Discord is available worldwide, and everyone is invited to attend! You do not need to be a Discord member/user to attend: Use this link https://discord.gg/MnQDEKFYjU to go directly to the chat room! (You also don't need to have finished the book to join in the fun. We authors know that everyone reads at their own pace and we just want to hang out with you guys and have some good times!) Once in, you'll get to join in the fun of asking authors about their "process" and more. PLUS, one lucky winner will get February's READ THIS! selection for FREE! I know! It's too happy to be true! But true it is, so don't miss out! (You must be present in the chat to win. Physical copies U.S. only; ebook copies worldwide.)

January 2023 READ THIS! Selection

The READ THIS! Selection for January 2023 is:  The Middling Affliction By Alex Shvartsman Gini's Take: A great start to what I hope is going to be a series, this funny paranormal has a different take on powers, the hierarchy of the powerful, and snark for days. You know it got me with the snark, right? About the Author: Alex Shvartsman is the author of The Middling Affliction (2022) and Eridani’s Crown (2019) fantasy novels. Over 120 of his stories have appeared in Analog, Nature, Strange Horizons, etc. He won the WSFA Small Press Award for Short Fiction (2014) and was a two-time finalist (2015 & 2017) for the Canopus Award for Excellence in Interstellar Fiction. His translations from Russian have appeared in F&SF, Clarkesworld, Tor.com, Asimov’s, etc. Alex has edited over a dozen anthologies, including the long-running Unidentified Funny Objects series. Alex resides in Brooklyn, NY. His website is http://www.alexshvartsman.com.

February's READ THIS! Selection   And Remember: One Lucky Q&A Participant can win it early!

The READ THIS! Selection for February 2023 is:      Harsh Reality By Elle E. Ire

Because I get asked this daily (often multiple times daily)... Yes, Aliens Like Us IS coming, but... No, Aliens Like Us still isn't ready for Prime Time, but... I'm on Version 5 of the rewrite process. Does every book take me this long? No. Will all the others in the series take this long? Likely no. Life has tossed a lot at me and mine and that's made some things a struggle, but... Kitty is always with me, and she's not going to let the bad things win, in any universe. So...Watch this space for more updates as I have them. And keep those digits crossed for the hope that my shouting "the end!" comes sooner as opposed to later. P.S. I am definitely heading towards the end game. I realize that's vague, but it means that I think we'll be shouting "hurrah" somewhere in the nearish term. Digits crossed, at any rate... P.P.S. Watch this space, I'm hoping to share happy news soon.

Speaking of more things to read, Unidentified Funny Objects 9, featuring "Sgt. Yeti" by moi, has been reviewed by Tangent Online. Check out the reviews, then grab your copy and enjoy!

Read Out Loud! Do you have your copy of the Touched by an Alien audiobook yet? If not, don't wait! Grab yours today!

SEE THE ME! Con Season is starting early for me this year, so here's the list of the cons I'm guaranteed to be at in 2023. This list is definitely subject to change, with schedules to come and other events added on. CoastCon 45 Biloxi, MS March 3-5, 2023 I'm super excited to announce that I'm the Author Guest of Honor at Mississippi's longest running science fiction, fantasy, and gaming con! Come on down to the Gulf Coast and hang out with moi for a super fun weekend! LibertyCon 35 Chattanooga, TN June 23-25, 2023 San Diego Comic-Con 2023 San Diego, CA July 19-23, 2023 GenCon 2023 Indianapolis, IN August 3-6, 2023

So many bookie wookies, so much time to catch up on all of them while waiting for Aliens Like Us and the next READ THIS! selection. Check out my Bookstore and Bibliography for all the things!

That's it for today, but, never fear, another Update, including details for the next READ THIS! selection, will be arriving in a couple of weeks! In the meantime, stay safe and healthy, remember we're all in this together, be kind to one another, give love and support to all those who are on the front lines in any capacity, hope this year starts wonderfully for all of you, and let's be readers out there. Peace out, my li'l gangstas, and I'll catch all y'all on the flip side! Love, Gini

July's READ THIS! Q&A and A WHOLE Lot More!

I'm Almost At SDCC! San Diego Comic-Con has a special place in my heart. It's the first con I ever paneled and signed at as a published author (Touched by an Alien had come out 3 months prior) and, other than last year, I've paneled and signed at every one since. It's the giant of giants, the biggest magilla of the gorillas, but it's still the one that matters most to me, because of all the "small con" experiences I've had there and all the folks I've met and the friends I've made along the way. Lots will be going on besides SDCC, as you'll see as you scroll through the newsletter (which is loaded with things), including the next READ THIS! Author Q&A. It's just a few days away and because I and my regular guest host, Hal Bodner, will both be on a panel together at SDCC at that time, we have a special guest host and I really want all y'all to attend and make her, and our Author Guest, feel loved and supported. Plus, it's going to be a really good one you won't want to miss, so let's get right to it, shall we? We shall!

July 2022 READ THIS! Author Q&A

July's READ THIS! author Q&A with Guest Host Jean Marie Ward featuring author Sharon Skinner will be on Thursday, July 21, 2022 from 9pm-10pm Eastern. Access to Discord is available worldwide, and everyone is invited to attend! You do not need to be a Discord member/user to attend: Use this link https://discord.gg/MnQDEKFYjU to go directly to the chat room! (You also don't need to have finished the book to join in the fun. We authors know that everyone reads at their own pace and we just want to hang out with you guys and have some good times!) Once in, you'll get to join in the fun of asking authors about their "process" and more. PLUS, one lucky winner will get August's READ THIS! selection for FREE! I know! It's too happy to be true! But true it is, so don't miss out! (You must be present in the chat to win. Physical copies U.S. only; ebook copies worldwide.)

July 2022 READ THIS! Selection

The READ THIS! Selection for July 2022 is:  The Healer's Legacy By Sharon Skinner Gini's Take: The start of a super-cool YA trilogy with a heroine who you not only root for, but kind of envy. I mean, the heroine talks to animals and has awesome animal companions while she does her best to save the day...sound like anyone you know? ;-D About the Author: Sharon Skinner holds a BA in English, an MA in Creative Writing and is a Certified Book Coach and freelance editor, who helps writers weave their words into stories that shine. She mainly writes fantasy, science fiction, paranormal, and the occasional steampunk, for audiences of all ages. Skinner is an active member of SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) and serves as the Regional Advisor for SCBWI AZ. She also served aboard the USS Jason, the first US Navy vessel to take women to sea (WestPac cruise). But that’s another story. To learn more, visit sharonskinner.com or bookcoachingbysharon.com.

August's READ THIS! Selection   And Remember: One Lucky Q&A Participant can win it early!

The READ THIS! Selection for August 2022 is:    The Happy Acres Haunted Hotel for Active Seniors By Gini Koch

Because I get asked this daily (often multiple times daily)... Yes, Aliens Like Us IS coming, but... No, Aliens Like Us still isn't ready for Prime Time, but... I'm on Version 5 of the rewrite process. Does every book take me this long? No. Will all the others in the series take this long? Likely no. Life has tossed a lot at me and mine and that's made some things a struggle, but... Kitty is always with me, and she's not going to let the bad things win, in any universe. So...Watch this space for more updates as I have them. And keep those digits crossed for the hope that my shouting "the end!" comes sooner as opposed to later. P.S. I am definitely heading towards the end game. I realize that's vague, but it means that I think we'll be shouting "hurrah" somewhere in the nearish term. Digits crossed, at any rate... P.P.S. Watch this space, I'm hoping to share happy news soon.

More Yapping!   That's right, more yapping from me and other awesome authors over at ConTinual. The latest offering is A ConTinual Special Mystery Event: The Game is Afoot - Sherlockian Universes and I have a lot to say on the subject! So head over and watch and have some fun along with the rest of us at ConTinual! And don't miss these other cool panels I've run the yap on: Breaking Down the Genres Economics in World Building Horror and Romance Sherlockian Mystery Sherlock Returns Christmas in July Holiday Short Reads Hot off the Press #54 Characters in the Public Domain Zombies! Holiday Special Event 2021 Christmas & New Years in Film Holidays Real and Imagined Favorite Holiday Episodes in SciFi and Fantasy Series Holiday Action-Adventure Hot Off the Press #64 Weird Westerns Pets and Familiars Intellectual Property for Creatives Separating Problematic Creators from Their Work Selling At Conventions Scarred For Life How To Write Animals Hot off the Press #72 Unicorns And Other Fantastic Creatures Tinkerers and Inventors There's a whole lot more over at the ConTinual YouTube page, so browse around and get your panel fixes in!

It's Kickstarter Time!

There's still (a little) time for you to support the new Unidentified Funny Objects anthology and get in on all the goodies via the Kickstarter, but only for a few more days!  I'm offering tuckerizations (where you get to have your name in lights) as well as a planet-naming tuckerization (where you get to name a planet), plus there's lots more cool offerings. So, don't delay any longer -- check out the Kickstarter for Unidentified Funny Objects 9 and let's get this puppy funded so all y'all get more great, funny SF/F stories! Win-Win all the way!

See The Me! The Hermitage Is Over! Here are the upcoming cons I am confirmed to be going to this year. Panels, readings, signings, and such will be updated as I have the info, but I will definitely be at these places and hope to see some of or all y'all there!    San Diego Comic-Con San Diego, CA July 20-24 Wednesday, July 20 through Sunday, July 24 Table D-10 in the Exhibit Hall (Exhibit Hall Hours, other than where noted below). Come see the me, get your hugs, and get all the wordy and pretty things! Thursday, July 21 11:30am-12:30pm - Panel: Authors on the Best Advice They Ever Got, Room 10. Authors Wesley Chu (The Art of Prophecy), Gini Koch (Alien novels), Sarah Kuhn (Heroine Complex), and Sangu Mandanna ( The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches) talk about the best writing advice they ever got, and what advice they would give to an aspiring writer. Moderated by Tricia Narwani (editor-in-chief, Del Rey Books).   1-2pm - Signing: Authors on the Best Advice They Ever Got, Sails Pavilion AA05. Gini Koch (Alien Novels), Sarah Kuhn (Heroine Complex), Sangu Mandanna (Kiki Kallira Breaks a Kingdom). 3:30-4:30pm - Signing: Breaking in Via Anthologies, Sails Pavilion AA09. (Note: Due to time constraints, this signing takes place BEFORE the panel). Featuring authors Gini Koch (Touched by an Alien, Aliens Abroad), Hal Bodner (Bite Club, Fabulous in Tights), S.G. Browne (Breathers, Less Than Hero), Jonathan Maberry (Kagen the Damned, Empty Graves), and Lisa Morton (Haunted Tales: Classic Stories of Ghosts and the Supernatural, Weird Women: Classic Supernatural Fiction by Groundbreaking Female Writers). 5:30-6:30pm - Panel: Breaking in Via Anthologies, Room 29CD. Anthologies are still alive thanks to Kickstarter and small and micro-presses, and many pay pro rates. Authors Gini Koch (the Alien/Katherine "Kitty" Katt series), Hal Bodner (the Whirlwind superhero series), S. G. Browne (Less Than Hero), and author/editors Jonathan Maberry (Joe Ledger) and Lisa Morton (multiple Bram Stoker winner) share their tips and techniques for getting into anthologies, and why they think it's worth it. Moderated by Jeffrey Twohig (Fuzzy Logic Media).  Friday, July 22 4-5pm - Panel: Small Press Comics, Omni Grand Ballroom DE, 4th Floor, Omni Hotel. So you want to produce your own comic or graphic novel? Hear about the trials and experiences these creators have encountered. Moderated by Gini Koch (Alien/Katherine "Kitty" Katt series), with panelists Johnny "Johnny C" Cavooto (Sartana, Surrounded by Death), Jeff Rider (Gravity Matters, Major Holmes and Captain Watson), and Jeffrey Twohig (Indie publisher and small print expert). GenCon Indianapolis, IN August 4-7, 2022 Thursday, August 4 9-10am - Opening Ceremonies, Marriott Ballroom 2. 10-11am - Workshop: Finding Your Voice, Marriott Ballroom 2. Come let me teach you how to discover your writer's voice or voices! 1-2pm - Panel: Blurbs, Marriott Ballroom 4. What is a good blurb, where does it go, and how do you get one? Gini Koch, Michael R. Underwood, C. S. E. Cooney 2-3pm - Panel: Rated R, Marriott Atlanta. Writing Sex Scenes. Jennifer Brozek, Gini Koch, Chris A. Jackson 3-4pm - Panel: POV Pandemonium, Marriott Ballroom 1. How many points of view does your story really need? Katherine Monasterio, Richard Byers, Gini Koch, Erin M. Evans, Bryan Young 4-5 pm - Panel: Trouble...Or Paradise?, Marriott Ballroom 4. Dystopia vs. utopia, which is better/more fun to write and why? Gini Koch, Erik de Bie, Nick Martell 5-6pm - Panel: Empathy for Your Other, Marriott Austin/Boston. Dan Jolley, Gini Koch, Chris A. Jackson, Richard Byers, John Wiswell 8pm-Midnight, Meet the Pros Author Signing Extravaganza, ICC Wabash Ballroom 1. Come see the me and get your FREE copy of Touched by an Alien! (While supplies last.) Friday, August 5 10-11am - Workshop: Writing the Dreaded Synopsis, Marriott Ballroom 2. Let me teach you how to write the thing most authors dread: a good synopsis. 11am-12pm - Panel: Picking Your Path as a Creator, Marriott Austin/Boston. Michael R. Underwood, Gini Koch, Gregory A. Wilson, Marie Bilodeau 1-2pm - Signing with Gregory A. Wilson, Exhibit Hall behind Entertainer's Avenue. Come see the me and get your FREE copy of Touched by an Alien! (While supplies last.) 2-3pm - Panel: My Book Has a Soundtrack, Marriott Austin/Boston. Toiya Kristen Finley, Gini Koch, David Mack 4-5pm - Panel: Writing in 3D, Marriott Austin/Boston. How to make sure your scenes have a feeling of physical space Jennifer Brozek, Gini Koch, Erin M. Evans, Patrick S. Tomlinson 6-10pm - D&D with Authors Liveplay Event, Marriott Ballrooms. Saturday, August 6 1-2pm - Signing with Bradley P. Beaulieu, Exhibit Hall behind Entertainer's Avenue. Come see the me and get your FREE copy of Touched by an Alien! (While supplies last.) 2-3pm - Panel: Quiet Fantasy, Marriott Atlanta. What are the stakes in a low-violence story? Brandon O'Brien, Cat Rambo, Gini Koch, John Wiswell, Karen Bovenmyer 3-4pm - Panel: NTFs, Marriott Atlanta. NFTs and the future of fiction. Can writers benefit from trying to introduce NFTs into their fiction writing? Cat Rambo, Gini Koch, Lucien Soulban, Jason Sanford, Chris Bell (M) 4-5pm -  Panel: Imagining Alternate Futures, Marriott Atlanta. How to extrapolate a future for your setting Gini Koch, Donald J. Bingle, Paul Weimer, Jason Sanford 8-11pm - Writers Symposium Social Event, ICC Wabash Ballroom 1. Sunday, August 7 12-1pm - Closing Ceremonies, Marriott Ballroom 1.   DragonCon Atlanta, GA September 1-5, 2022 Thursday, September 1 Hyatt International South Ballroom is the location for the Page to Stage Costume Contest, and check out which character of mine is going to be up for cosplaying (probably not who you're expecting)! Prejudging starts at 5:30, judging at 8:30, and yes, I plan to be there! Register to participate in this cosplay event here. Friday, September 2 8pm-12am, Fantasy Gather, Hyatt Hanover C-E Come hang out with me and a plethora of other authors. Find books and have fun!   *Note: this is not my full DragonCon schedule. As events confirm, I'll list them here, so watch this space!   World Fantasy Con New Orleans, LA November 3-6, 2022

Support the Team! Probably my favorite shot from LibertyCon (I wonder why?). Yes, these shirts (as modeled by Member of the Alien Collective in Very Good Standing Cisca Small) are available. Yes, you can get them from me if you want to show your Team Gini-ness. Yes, we have men's/unisex and women's sizes. If you want one, drop me a line (gini@ginikoch.com) and we'll get you hooked up. (See what I did there? ;-D)

Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest

So many bookie wookies, so much time to catch up on all of them while waiting for Aliens Like Us and the next READ THIS! selection. Check out my Bookstore and Bibliography for all the things!

That's it for today, but, never fear, another Update, including the next READ THIS! selection, will be arriving in a couple of weeks! In the meantime, stay safe and healthy, remember we're all in this together, be kind to one another, give love and support to all those who are on the front lines in any capacity, and let's be readers out there. Peace out, my li'l gangstas, and I'll catch all y'all on the flip side! Love, Gini