July's READ THIS! BotM Announced, A Great Book Bundle, Cons, & More!

Happy July!

LibertyCon was a lot of fun (big shout out to all the Members of the Alien Collective in Very Good Standing who came to see the me!) but it's nice to be home. For about five seconds. 

The hubs and I are headed to Savannah for the 4th, so I'm going to wish all who celebrate American Independence day a safe and happy holiday, and everyone else a super 4th day of the month!

READ THIS! is back this month, there's a fun story bundle I need to tell all y'all about, the Aliens Like Them preorder is live, and more, so let's get to it all, shall we? We shall!

It's Preorder Time!   Meet your doubles? Check. Terrify the bad guys with your rage? Done and dusted. Save the day and stop the intergalactic war? Well…Kitty’s working on it…

Being tossed into an alternate universe can be hard. Being tossed into one that’s drastically different from your own can be harder. Kitty & Company are handling it…so far. But they’re about to face the toughest tests yet… Aliens Like Them releases December 8, 2026 and is now available for preorder! As a mention, publishers love to see preorders -- it shows them that they made the right choice to take on a book or a series. Yes, that's a hint to preorder early and often. You can preorder from these fine distributors: Amazon: ebook, (trade paperback and hardback will be available on release day) B&N.com: ebook, trade paperback, and trophy hardback Kobo: ebook Apple Books: ebook A reminder: You cannot preorder physical books from Barnes & Noble's physical stores (different back end systems, why ask why), only via B&N.com. It's Alive!

Spread the word: Aliens Like Us -- aka the book EVERYONE has been waiting for -- is large and in charge from Ginger Blue Publishing, as in, if you've somehow missed it, it's available right now! So, now's the time to get your copy from your distributor of choice:  Amazon -- ebook, trade paperback, and Hardback B&N.com -- ebook, trade paperback, and Trophy Hardback Kobo -- ebook Apple Books -- ebook  A reminder that reviews are hugely vital and if you enjoyed (or didn't) the bookie wookie (and any of the others) a review is the best way to show it! Another One's Alive! Unidentified Funny Objects 10 is live for purchase! In it you'll find a host of great humorous SF/F stories, including one of mine, "The Cat Lady Cometh." Don't miss out, get your copy today!

Read Out Loud!

Do you have your copy of the Touched by an Alien audiobook yet? If not, don't wait! Grab yours today and start your year right!

Speaking of Reading Out Loud...

Graphic Audio has renewed the contract for The Legend of Belladonna, Part 1: Natural Born Outlaws, by moi writing as A.E. Stanton. If you haven't grabbed this fantastic audiobook, don't delay, grab it today!

New Aloud Reading!

Behold! The first Ginger Blue audiobook is A Cup of Joe by moi writing as Anita Ensal!

More New Aloud Reading!

The second audiobook from Ginger Blue is The Disciple and Other Stories of the Paranormal by moi writing as Jemma Chase!

New Funny Aloud Reading!

Random Musings from the Funny Girl is now available in audio! Listen while laughing!

IT'S TIME FOR A SUPER DEAL!

The Seriously Funny Bundle - Curated by Alex Shvartsman: Comedy may be hard, but finding good funny books to read should be easy.

Check out these awesome books (including the book that made all y'all join this newsletter in the first place) you can get for a fantastic deal! Do NOT miss out on this offer, it ends July 16!

READ THIS!

A Book Club by Moi for All Y'all

Welcome to READ THIS! A Book Club by Gini Koch. This is my chance to introduce you to some great authors that I love and know you will, too.

Every month I'll spotlight a book and, even better...every month I'll host a live discussion with the author, that all y'all can join! I know, it's too happy to be true, but true it is!

July 2026 READ THIS! Selection

The READ THIS! Selection for July 2026 is: 
Exile's Refrain
by Mel Todd

Gini's Take: Epic fantasy set in a new world with amazing powers and dangerous, and dangerously active, gods.

About the Author: Tired of stories that didn't fill her needs, Mel Todd decided to share the weird worlds that occupy her mind. Action, magic, sci-fi, and more, her stories have it all. You can follow her on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/badashbooks/. You can also sign up for her newsletter and follow her blog at https://www.badashpublishing.com. 

July 2026 READ THIS! Author Q&A

So, you've read the READ THIS! selection and you want to share what you thought with the author, hang out with them and Gini, and generally talk books for an hour. Well, guess what? You can!

The third Thursday of every month will be READ THIS! Author Q&A time. The event will be held utilizing Discord, and the invitation to Gini's READ THIS! room will come out in the week prior to the chat.

And that's not all! Near the end of each Q&A session, we'll be doing a raffle and one lucky winner will get a copy of the next month's READ THIS! selection! (You must be present in the Q&A to win. Physical book prizes will be U.S. only. Ebook prizes will be worldwide.)

July's READ THIS! author Q&A

featuring author Mel Todd

will be on

Thursday, July 16, 2026

from 9pm-10pm Eastern.

Access to Discord is available worldwide, and everyone is invited to attend!

August's READ THIS! Selection

And Remember: One Lucky Q&A Participant can win it early!

The READ THIS! Selection for August 2026 is: 
The Lady Dragon of Chinatown

By Noel Plaugher

My Big Con Season is in full swing, so check out where you can come see the me and get your hugs and bookie wookies signed! San Diego Comic-Con San Diego, CA July 22-26 Panels to come At table D-09 in the Dealer's Hall at all other times Gen Con Writers Symposium Indianapolis, IN July 30-August 2 Thursday, July 30 10:00-11:00am: Writers Symposium Opening Ceremonies  Marriott Ballroom 4 11:00am-12pm: The Mushy Midpoint  Marriott Ballroom 3 3:00-4:00pm: Story 101 - Character Voice  Marriott Boston Friday, July 31 1:00-2:00pm: The Art & Practice of Humor Marriott Boston Saturday, August 1 4:00-5:00pm: Signing Back of the Exhibit Hall, behind Author's Alley Sunday, August 2 1:00-2:00pm: Writers Symposium Closing Ceremonies Marriott Ballroom 4 DragonCon Atlanta, GA September 3-7 Panels to come

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

That's it for today but, never fear, another Update, including the Discord READ THIS! Author Q&A chat invitation, will be arriving mid-month.

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, aka my Rabid Raccoons, and I'll catch you on the flip side!

Love, Gini

READ THIS! BotM, Kickstarters, Con Pics, Oh My!

Happy October! Spooky Month begins! And hopefully all y'all have fun, special ways to enjoy it. I'll be going to family things this month -- a wedding and military graduation -- but in between that it's writing, writing, writing. The next READ THIS! Book of the Month is here, along with my summer cons recaps, two Kickstarters, and more, so let's get to it, shall we? We shall!

It's Kickstarter Time!

As I shared in the Fast Blast last week, the next Kickstarter for Unidentified Funny Objects 10 is in full swing. There are cool reward levels and I have tuckerizations -- where you get your name or the name of someone you choose, in lights in my story -- available. Well, I had 3 available, but there's only 1 left, so hurry up and check out and support UFO10 so you can read, or be in, "The Cat Lady Cometh."

But that's not all! Disruptive Intent, where all the stories are going to be in-series and about fighting the power, has just launched! I'm not 100% sure, but, if we fund, it's looking like I'll be doing a Missy the Were-Pomeranian story. And you know you want another one of those, so head over and help support it today! PLUS, I'm offering 2 tuckerizations in the story, so if you've ever wanted to hang (or oppose) Beth and Missy, now's your chance!

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

Speaking of Reading Out Loud... Graphic Audio has renewed the contract for The Legend of Belladonna, Part 1: Natural Born Outlaws, by moi writing as A.E. Stanton. If you haven't grabbed this fantastic audiobook, don't delay, grab it today!

READ THIS! A Book Club by Moi for All Y'all Welcome to READ THIS! A Book Club by Gini Koch. This is my chance to introduce you to some great authors that I love and know you will, too. Every month I'll spotlight a book and, even better...every month I'll host a live discussion with the author, that all y'all can join! I know, it's too happy to be true, but true it is!

October 2025 READ THIS! Selection

The READ THIS! Selection for October 2025 is:  Ghosts of Black Bear Mountain by Marc Monroe Gini's Take: An evocative period piece that's also a spooky ghost tale with an extremely unreliable narrator. Perfect read for Spooky Season. About the Author: Marc Monroe, writes supernatural and paranormal horror. He’s a former teacher turned full-time caregiver, and protector of stray cats. www.marcmonroebooks.com

October 2025 READ THIS! Author Q&A

So, you've read the READ THIS! selection and you want to share what you thought with the author, hang out with them and Gini, and generally talk books for an hour. Well, guess what? You can! The third Thursday of every month will be READ THIS! Author Q&A time. The event will be held utilizing Discord, and the invitation to Gini's READ THIS! room will come out in the week prior to the chat. And that's not all! Near the end of each Q&A session, we'll be doing a raffle and one lucky winner will get a copy of the next month's READ THIS! selection! (You must be present in the Q&A to win. Physical book prizes will be U.S. only. Ebook prizes will be worldwide.)

October's READ THIS! author Q&A  featuring Author Marc Monroe will be on Thursday, October 16, 2024 from 9pm-10pm Eastern. Access to Discord is available worldwide, and everyone is invited to attend!

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

The READ THIS! Selection for November 2025 is:  All I Want For Christmas Is A Reaper By Liana Brooks

In case you missed it, the first 9 books in the Alien Series are now available from Ginger Blue Publishing in ebook, trade paperback, hardback, and trophy hardback! And Book 10/Universal Alien will likely be available before the next newsletter!

Ginger Blue is trucking along and getting the Alien Series re-released just as fast as they can. The situation with how the hardbacks go out is still the same - you can get the new versions in ebook, trade paperback, hardback, and trophy hardback complete with a snazzy dust cover! The trophy hardback is from B&N.com only, as a reminder, and the regular hardback is from Amazon only. The searching via Amazon and B&N.com remains spotty, in no small part because those two distributors still have some mass market copies they're determined to sell. So, as suggested for Touched and Tango, and as recommended for every book coming through 16/Aliens Abroad, go to the Ginger Blue Releases page, click on the cover of your choosing, and choose which option or options you want. The links on GBP's website will take you to the right spots at B&N and Amazon to get the version you want. Confusing? Yes. Ultimately manageable? Sure. It's only adding a step to what you'd normally do. Now for the old reviews status. On B&N all the review seem to have stuck. Not so on  Amazon -- they were there for all and, suddenly, they were not. SO, Alien Tango, Alien in the Family, Alien in the House, and Alien Research do not have all their reviews connected to the new versions. We have no idea why. Yes, they may connect at a later date, we have no idea if that will or won't happen, and if they do connect, if they'll actually remain. SO, please review early and often on either site, but particularly on Amazon, since, as we well know, reviews matter, especially at Amazon, B&N, and Goodreads. So, officially, now the first nine books are live everywhere! And the tenth will probably be live before the next newsletter! Huzzah!

Con Season Is Over and That Means It's Recap Time! San Diego Comic-Con was it's usual super, in size and experience both, our booth was hopping, and my panel was great. Gen Con and the Gen Con Writers Symposium was pretty much made of awesome all the way around and we got to visit the Kurt Vonnegut Museum, too! DragonCon was really great, with awesome panels and signings, as well as busy booth time. And Bouchercon was in New Orleans, so we all know I loved it. The best parts were getting to see Members of the Alien Collective in Very Good Standing at all four cons. Thanks to fellow Con Warrior, Jamie Garner, for all the mutual support (it's why she's in, like, all the con pics, 'cause we were together at all the cons), and thanks to my teams that helped at most of the cons. SDCC: Joseph Gaxiola and Bellana Cannistraro. DragonCon: Chrysta Stuckless and Liz Gooch. Bouchercon: Chrysta Stuckless. Jamie and I would not have survived this con rodeo without all y'all and we love you for all you do! Now, for the pics ('cause I know that's really what all y'all want to see)! As a mention, at some of the cons (*cough* Gen Con *cough*) we were so busy that pics were hard to get taken. At others, there's just not enough room to share them all. So, you get what you get.

San Diego Comic-Con 2025

Gen Con 2025

DragonCon 2025

Bouchercon NOLA 2025

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

That's it for today but, never fear, another Update, including the Discord Q&A chat invitation, 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 you on the flip side! Love, Gini