READ THIS! Q&A Deets & More Ways to See the Me!

Lots of ways to see the me this month, most of them interactive, so read on for all the info!

October 2020 READ THIS! Author Q&A October's READ THIS! author Q&A with Hal Bodner will be Thursday, October 15, 2020, 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/rnNBGfS 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, every attendee will be given a coupon code for a special purchase (see below). AND, one lucky winner will get November'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.) Inaugural Coupons For The Win! Hal Bodner's publisher, Crossroads Press, has provided us with a special deal! All October Q&A attendees will receive a link that allows you to buy "The Trouble With Hairy," Book 2 in the West Hollywood Vampire Series, at a massively reduced price!   October 2020 READ THIS! Selection The inaugural READ THIS! Selection for October 2020 is:  Bite Club by Hal Bodner Gini's Take: Funny paranormal with a sarcastic twist and vampires you root for, for all the right and wrong reasons. About the Author: Hal Bodner is best known for writing hilarious paranormal featuring fluffy vampires with real bite. He writes paranormal romance, is working on a series of thrillers which paint classic noir with a lavender glaze, and has two fun and funny superhero novels coming from Crossroads Press in 2021.   November's READ THIS! Selection   And Remember: One Lucky Q&A Participant can win it early! The READ THIS! Selection for November 2020 is:  Threadbare by Elle E. Ire I'm a guest at Multiverse this year, and there are a lot of ways to see and interact with the me! Get registered for this great, fun con today, because it starts this Friday, October 16th and runs through Sunday, October 18th! Just like READ THIS!, Multiverse is using Discord for many of its events (Zoom for the others), so there's no better time to join Discord, for free, than right now! Here's my schedule for this coming weekend, October 16-18, 2020. (All information for how to get into the various rooms on Discord is up at the Multiverse website.) Bar Con Social: Discord Hotel Bar Friday, October 16, 2020: 8:30pm EST Make Me Laugh: Writing Humor in Spec Fic https://www.multiversecon.org/mvo-write-3 Watch party on Discord channel #write Saturday, October 17, 2020 2:30pm EST  Writers at the Bar:  Discord Hotel Bar Saturday, October 17, 2020 8:30pm EST   Kaffeeklatche: Discord Kaffeeklatsch reading room 2 Sunday, October 18, 2020 1:00pm EST  Come Hang Out With Gini Koch! Want to chat about books, publishing, pop culture, comics, TV, movies, or anything else? Sounds great! Want to have Gini read something from her large list of novels, novellas, and short stories? That's cool, too. (Might she read from the upcoming Aliens Like Us if you ask nicely? She might, she might indeed.) So, come for a fun hour of whatever you and Gini want to run your yaps about! Closing Ceremonies: Discord Concourse Sunday, October 18, 2020 5:30pm EST Mentoring Sessions For aspiring authors, or people who just want to talk about process, the publishing business, etc., there are two mentoring sessions available (15 minute increments per person within the sessions) on Sunday, Oct. 18th. This is the link to use to learn about the various mentors and to sign up for mentoring sessions: http://bit.ly/MVC-Mentors-2020 -- it will be updated regularly. Sunday, October 18 - 2pm - 3:15pm EST Sunday, October 18 - 3:30pm - 4:45pm EST I will be mentoring during the 3:30-4:45 session FOR SURE, and may be doing "pick up" mentoring at the prior session, so watch the Multiverse website for full details. That's it for today but, never fear, another Blog, including more info about the November 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 some of you at the Q&A and all of you on the flip side! Love, Gini

Win a Copy of Alien Nation!

The interwebs are still talking and you've got a chance to win a print copy of Alien Nation right now over at I Smell Sheep!

You've got 7 days to enter and win yourself (or if you're more generous than I, a friend) the next book in the Alien/Katherine "Kitty" Series. May the flip of the coin land on heads - assuming of course you called heads and if not well...you get the picture

-Ro

Alien Series Book Giveaway Happening Now!

You know someone's always keeping an eye out for what's happening around the interwebs that impacts the Giniverse...

Well, Urban Fantasy Investigations has a giveaway going on right now and for the next 6 days! Head on over and enter for a chance to win the first three books in the Alien/Katherine "Kitty" Series!

It's that time of year when you need to be thinking gifts. Nothing beats books. Take a chance, win some books and if you're all "booked" gift them to a friend who needs to join the Collective.

-Ro

Anthologies Contest!

HOOK ME UP! EXCLUSIVE CONTEST

It's time for the first contest of Contest Season! (Well, that's what I call this time of year, and who are you to argue?)

My lovely editor for Unidentified Funny Objects 3 sent me some extra physical copies so I'm giving them to some of you! In addition, I also have e-copies of UFO3 AND Two Hundred and Twenty-One Baker Streets to give away as well. I know! It's too happy to be true!

The contest is open to U.S. and international -- Six (6) international winners will get their choice of either UFO3 or 221 Baker Streets in eformat (only, for this one, for international). Two (2) U.S. winners will also get their choice of either UFO3 or 221 Baker Streets in eformat. Four (4) U.S. winners will get a signed and personalized physical copy of UFO3. That's a dozen winners! (And it's me, and there are usually extra prizes lurking around. Just sayin'...)

Contest will run from Wednesday, October 15, 2014 through Friday, October 24, 2014. Winners will be announced in the week of October 27th. Winners will have until Friday, October 31st, to reply -- any prize not claimed by Halloween will be pulled back by the Gods of Random and a new winner(s) will be chosen.

So, Hook Me Up! subscribers who've entered the contest (you know how and it's not via the Blog) answer me one of these questions three:
--Who is your favorite funny SF author of all time?
--Who is your favorite Holmes villain?
--What supporting character from the Alien series, who hasn't already "had their day" do you most want to see a short story about?

Love, Gini

Not on Hook Me Up! and wondering how to get entered to win? Send an email to gini@ginikoch.com with "Hook Me Up!" in the subject line. You'll be in with the in crowd and have the rules sent to you.

Monday: Night Owl Yapping

Happy Sunday!

Go me for late notice and all that, but I wanted to advise all y'all that I'll be live chatting -- along with awesome authors Erin Quinn, Erin Kellison, and Caris Roane, aka The Paranormal Romance Dream Team -- over at Night Owl Reviews this Monday, October 6 at 5pm Pacific / 6pm Mountain / 7pm Central / 8 Eastern. International attendees are encouraged to join us, too!

The chat room will appear on the scheduled chat day (like magic, apparently). Chat Schedule, all times Pacific, is:
(5:00 PM) Erin Quinn
(5:15 PM) Gini Koch
(5:30 PM) Caris Roane
(5:45 PM) Erin Kellison

Oh, and, lest we fear it's all just yap, there will be prizes, too. Knowing the four of us, lots of prizes.

You will need to RSVP by 4pm Pacific on the 6th in order to be entered for prizes. Details for how to RSVP are on the event page.

Hope you're all having great weekends and I also hope to see a bunch of you at the Night Owl Reviews chat on Monday evening!

Love,
Gini

Yapping & Winning Time

Happy Thursday!

It's a short and sweet one today! A Buckeye Girl Reads is doing a week long blogoversary event, and I'm up on today's docket. There's a new interview with moi, as well as a chance to win a signed copy of Touched by an Alien, open internationally.


After you've checked out all the ways to win over at ABGR, head over to Kirkus Reviews where they've got a nice write up on Kaiju Rising: Age of Monsters, which features a story by moi writing as J.C. Koch, as well as other Kaiju collections. 

That's it for today, but as always, more's on the way. Enjoy the downward slide to the weekend, if you're celebrating Labor Day, enjoy the extra long weekend, and let's be readers out there! Peace out, my li'l gangstas, and I'll catch you on the flip side!

Love,
Gini

More Collective Yapping

Hey there! Have we all been enjoying release week? I have, in part because so many of you are enjoying Alien Collective! But there's more in store, and it's a short but very sweet one today, so let's get to it!

First off, head over to I Smell Sheep where they have both a review of Alien Collective and a chance for you to win your choice of one of the first 8 books in the series.

Then hit Under the Covers where they have the latest running of my yap and yet another chance to win. I know, it's too happy to be true!

There's a special prize available, at this stop as well as at Bibliognome (contest ends May 15); Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell (contest ends May 18); Gizmo's Reviews; A Buckeye Girl Reads (contest ends May 12); and boeklogboek (contest ends May 14) but it's for my Hook Me Up! Subscribers only. Not on? Perhaps now's the time to rectify that mistake. Send an email to gini@ginikoch.com with "Hook Me Up!" in the subject line and you'll be in and sent the special instructions!

That's it for today, but, yet again, more's on the way! So, peace out my li'l gangstas, and let's be winning readers out there!

Love,
Gini

Happy Everythings

Happy Hump Day!

For those of us in the US, and those who are from the US but are elsewhere, tomorrow is Thanksgiving. Other countries do this, too, and something that's great about this holiday is that we try to stop and remember what we're thankful for. I'll get to my list in a bit, but before that, there's some things to catch all y'all up on, so let's get to those!

First up, the first review of Alien Research is in! See what Larissa's Bookish Life thought of it. (And it's still not too late to pre-order your copy, either online or from your local bookstore, including any bookstore I'm going to be visiting in the next few weeks.)

Next up, In Medias Res is doing a big, month-long giveaway that includes a lot of authors, including yours truly. Check it out and, good news, there are plenty of prizes that are open to international winners! Check every Friday in December for new authors (my giveaways will be on Dec. 20th) and more chances to win!

Speaking of winning, you still have time to enter to win an Alien Research two-fer from Project Paranormal. Don't miss out on this great contest!

Speaking again of winning, more winners were announced (in the blog entries below), so if you even think you've entered something, scroll down and check them out. And while you're wandering, the website has had some more things done to it (that's the technical term, per what Team Gini tells me), so check it out, too!

My ePublisher, Musa Publishing, is doing some huge deals over this coming week, so check early and often to see what great books you can get for even greater prices!

Alert Member of the Alien Collective in Very Good Standing Shawn spotted these two articles at Tor.com that I thought were quite interesting -- Sleeps With Monsters and Can We Stop Sorting Ourselves.

On to some things I'm thankful for. I'm thankful my house didn't burn down with everything I own, including everything I was writing, in it. But my friend, and Member of the Alien Collective in Very Good Standing, Beth Bartlett wasn't so lucky. She and her husband, and their pets, are all okay, but they have nothing left. If you are able to make any monetary donations to help, a fund has been set up for the family at Community First Bank through Karen Halper (479.253.0566), or directly to Beth via Paypal to egbartlett@earthlink.net.

What else am I thankful for? Many things, most of the usual -- family, friends, health, career. But I'm also very thankful for all of you. You're all, hands down, the best fans in the world, and I'm thankful every day that you all chose to come along on the wild rides that Kitty & Company, and all my other characters, like to take you on. Sure, I'd still do it without you, but it just wouldn't be nearly as much fun.

Peace out and Happy Thanksgiving to all my li'l gangstas who celebrate, happy rest of the week and weekend to everyone else, those who indulge in Black Friday madness enjoy yourselves, thanks to those who are working at whatever jobs tomorrow and this weekend, and let's all have a safe and wonderful end to November. Be happy readers out there, and I'll catch you on the flip side! And I leave you with this...a picture of Kitty's cat... ;-D

Love,
Gini

P.S. Happy Hanukkah! Yeah, yeah, I'm a bad Jew. I forgot. BUT I remembered BEFORE it started. So that's something, right? Right? Happy 8 Crazy Nights to all, from Sol, Angela, and Kitty & Company!

Extra Winning!

Happy Tuesday! Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend and that this week's started off well for all. We have a bunch going on, much of it related to winning things, so let's get to it!

First off, a reminder that the current contest to win a signed, early copy of Alien Research is going on now, but it ends TOMORROW (Wed., Nov. 20th) so get your entries in TODAY. But it's for Hook Me Up! subscribers only. Not on? Now's the time to fix that. Send an email to gini@ginikoch.com with "Hook Me Up!" in the subject line and you'll be in with the cool kids and get a copy of the rules sent right to you.

Speaking of winning Alien Research, Project Paranormal also has a contest going! So get entered over there, too! And theirs is a two-fer, so get entered to win today! 

Next up, see what Larissa's Bookish Life thinks are the best books to read on vacation. Then, see what Bibliognome and Gizmo's Reviews got in their mail.
 
After that, head over to Slice of SciFi and see what I think of Sleepy Hollow, 5 Episodes In. Agree or disagree? Join the conversation over at Slice!

That's it for today, but as always, more's on the way! So enjoy the rest of the week ahead, and let's be readers out there!

Love,
Gini 

Alien Research Advanced Copy Giveaway!

When rumors of a new super-drug surface, the FBI comes to Jeff and Kitty Katt-Martini for help. It becomes quickly apparent that the drug is merely the tip of a deadly iceberg and a much more insidious plan is underway involving Titan Security, Gaultier Enterprises, and YatesCorp.

As newly discovered A-Cs and hybrids begin to surface, each with expanded and deadly talents, more and more signs point to a new evil genius who’s using the A-Cs and their enemies both as guinea pigs.

Then Area 51 and the Dulce Science Center go silent while Alpha Team, Airborne, and most of the worldwide A-C Security team are there for training. And if that’s not bad enough, Centaurion Division is hit with more bad, and deadly, news: Chernobog the Ultimate, isn’t a hacker myth, he’s a real person -- and he’s on the bad guys’ side.

Now Kitty and company must find the real Dr. Feelgood and stop him or her before the latest version of Surcenthumain hits the streets and more people they love are harmed, or worse.

But when the inconceivable happens, Kitty’s focused on two things only: reviving the ACE entity before their enemies realize Earth’s best protection isn’t actually active…and revenge.

ALIEN RESEARCH GIVEAWAY
FOR HOOK ME UP! SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

DAW has sent me many shiny, final, early release copies of Alien Research, and that means I'm giving them to you! I have not one, not two, but FIVE (5) copies to give away. I know! It's too happy to be true! But true it is!

So, Hook Me Up! subscribers, answer this question: If you had to research more about any one character from the series, who would you choose and why?

LEGALESE
Contest will run weekly from Wednesday, November 13th through Wednesday, November 20th. Winners will be announced Thursday, November 21st. Winners will have until the following Sunday, November 24th, to check in -- any prize not claimed by then will be pulled back by the Gods of Random and a new winner(s) will be chosen.

This 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; it may take 6-8 weeks for international or longer. (Yes, I'm hoping you'll have the books before December 3rd -- but because the A-Cs aren't doing the delivery, I can't guarantee it.)

Not on Hook Me Up! yet? Rectify! 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 also get the entry rules sent to you.

So, best of luck to all, and let the contest begin!

Love,
Gini

Release Day is in the House!

Happy Release Day! Hoping all of you have a great day and get your copies of Alien in the House in your hot little hands or downloaded to your e-readers by the end of the day! Don't miss out on the book RT Book Reviews says is "...another highly entertaining dose of dangerous and wildly offbeat adventures."

Head over to Larissa's Bookish Life where there's my, and Kitty's, listing of the Top 10 Albums to Play While Saving the World. There's also a giveaway of a signed and personalized copy of Alien in the House, open internationally.

And that's not all! Read the first Top 10 list, then head over to Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell and read the next one, Kitty's list of the Top 10 Ways to Avert the Destruction of the World. There's also a a giveaway here of a signed and personalized copy of Alien in the House, also open internationally.

Hoping to see many of you at my book signing at The Poisoned Pen tomorrow, Wednesday, May 8th, from 7-8:30pm. And hoping to see many of you also at the Mysterious Galaxy 20th Birthday Bash on Saturday, May 11th, all day (my AZ Authors panel is from 11-12, btw, but I'll be there from 10am on).

That's it for today, but as always, more's on the way. So get your copies of Alien in the House, and let's be readers out there!

Love,
Gini

Winning is in the House!

Hey there, I'm still alive!

Miss me? I've missed you! I'm still feverishly working on Alien Research, but there's so much going on -- including a delivery that's sure to make a lot of you VERY happy -- that I just had to pause share. (Truly, read this all the way through -- you'll be glad you did.)

First up, let's hit some reviews. RT Book Reviews has given Alien in the House it's coveted Top Pick award! Their full review is in this month's issue. Publisher's Weekly also recommends Alien in the House! Whoo hoo!

After checking those out, head over to see what KD Did It thought of Alien Proliferation. Then see what boeklogboek thought of A Cup of Joe by Anita Ensal (yes, that's moi). After that, see what A Buckeye Girl Reads and Readaholics Anonymous thought of Amazing & Waiting: Two Novelettes by Jemma Chase (also moi).

Next up, I'm thrilled to share that my awesome editor at DAW Books, Sheila Gilbert, and my awesome cover artist, Dan Dos Santos, are both up for Hugo Awards this year! If you're a voting member (went to WorldCon 2012 or are registered for WorldCon 2013), I encourage you to vote for Sheila Gilbert for Best Editor, Long Form, and Dan Dos Santos for Best Professional Artist. They both deserve these nominations and more than deserve to win.

Winning Reminder: You still have a few more hours to enter to win a signed, personalized copy of Alien Tango over at Ex Libris.

And speaking of winning, now it's time for what I was hinting at earlier. Penguin is no longer doing ARCs for authors to give away. But before you all cry too loudly, DAW made up for it and has sent me MANY shiny NEW, FINAL, EARLY RELEASE copies of Alien in the House!

And you know what that means, right? Of course right! It's contest time! But, as always when it's really cool, it's for my Hook Me Up! subscribers only. Not on? 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 sent the contest rules right away.

Hook Me Up! Gang, check out the contest info under the signature, and good luck to all!

That's it for today. More's on the way, but probably not much more until I've gotten Alien Research turned in. So, enjoy the downward slide towards the weekend, and let's be readers out there. Peace out, my li'l gangstas, and I'll catch you on the flip side!

Love,
Gini

Jeff and Kitty Katt-Martini have learned the ins and outs of Washington politics, not to mention how to prevail in intergalactic war and foil dangerous plots. But, in the aftermath of Operation Destruction, the Gower girls’ powers are burned out, the entire A-C population has been “outed” as the aliens living on Earth that they are, and, worst of all, ACE is nowhere to be found.

Then murder and mayhem are served up at an important dinner party at the American Centaurion Embassy, and when the dust settles Alpha Team and the Diplomatic Corps have more problems than just a dead Congressman.

Is there a single criminal mastermind—or multiple enemies—behind all the conspiracies that want Kitty dead and the A-Cs gone or co-opted to become the War Division?

The return of the best assassins in the business, the reappearance of two individuals long-presumed dead, Agent Malcolm Buchanan felled by something no one can identify or cure, and new technology that can block even the most powerful empath on Earth … all of this means the game’s officially afoot.

Then Vance Beaumont comes to Kitty with a wild theory that someone is systematically killing off the House of Representatives…

It’s up to Kitty and the rest of the gang to find out what’s really going on and why. But will they be able to stop the killer or killers before the rest of the U.S. House of Representatives become casualties? And will the replacement Representative for New Mexico’s 2nd District, who happens to be Jeff Martini, be the next to die?

ALIEN IN THE HOUSE GIVEAWAY
FOR HOOK ME UP! SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

DAW has sent me many shiny, final, early release copies of Alien in the House, and that means I'm giving them to you! I have not one, not two, but FIVE (5) copies to give away. I know! It's too happy to be true! But true it is!

So, Hook Me Up! subscribers, answer this question: What's the worst dinner party you've ever thrown or attended?

LEGALESE
Contest will run weekly from Thursday, April 4th through Sunday, April 14th. Winners will be announced in the week of April 15th. Winners will have until the following Sunday, April 21st, to check in -- any prize not claimed by then will be pulled back by the Gods of Random and a new winner(s) will be chosen.

This 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; it may take 6-8 weeks for international or longer.

Spotlight: Erin Kellison

As promised, we have a special treat for you today. The ever-awesome Erin Kellison has dropped by to share with us!

For those who might not know who she is, Erin Kellison is the author of the dark fantasy romance Shadow, Shadow Touch, and Shadow Kissed series. Stories have always been a central part of Erin's life. She attempted her first book in sixth grade, a dark fantasy adventure, and she still has those early hand-written chapters. She graduated summa cum laude with a degree in English Language and Literature and went on for a masters in Cultural Anthropology, focusing on oral storytelling. When she had children, nothing scared her anymore, so her focus shifted to writing fiction. For excerpts, newsletter, and giveaways, go to www.ErinKellison.com.

Erin, thank you for taking the time to answer some questions. My readers, and my website, appreciate!

GK:  What prompted you to become a writer? Was it voices in your head, a burning desire to tell a story, or just too creative for your own bad self?
EK: Probably all of the above J. Writing has been a passion of mine since I was a kid. I asked for a typewriter for Christmas when I was in fourth grade. I don’t think I got much further than typing the title, but stories have always been part of my life. I always have one going on in my head, and have been known to make them up about strangers I see at stoplights or at adjacent tables in restaurants.  After I had kids I got serious about writing.

GK: What was the first book or piece that you wrote and why? Is it published, being shopped, on the shelf waiting for you to get back to it, or in a heap of ashes at the bottom of the fireplace?
EK: I’ve written a million bits and pieces over the years that are mostly in a trash heap somewhere. I wrote a crime thriller novel with my sister, unpublished. It taught me how to write a novel – it was the first thing I’d ever written that was longer than a few chapters. The first full-length book I wrote myself was also my debut novel, Shadow Bound.

GK: Wow. My first novel that I wrote...was not my debut novel. Or even close to my debut novel...*makes awed face* Moving on! Give us a funny story about writing your latest release. It’s okay if your funny story involves a nervous breakdown as the deadline loomed, btw. I like to relate to my guests.
EK: I was happily working away on Shadow Hunt, my latest release in my Shadow Touch Novella series, making good progress, feeling the story, hitting my writing stride, when I was suddenly thrust into Hell. One night I got crazy sick and was in some serious pain. I went to the ER, absolutely certain I had food poisoning. I wanted the pain to stop. Drugs, please. I have a habit of self-diagnosing, so I told the doctor what I was sure I had, which she promptly disregarded. I always find disregarding my internet-based diagnoses so frustrating, though my track record is not good (two years ago, my “ulcer” was really appendicitis—thank you, Dr. Cheng, for insisting on those tests). Anyway, I had to have my gall bladder removed, so I was pretty far off on the food poisoning.

GK: OMG! So glad you're okay...and that your doctor doesn't listen to you, LOL. So, what’s your most and least favorite things about being an author?
EK: My most favorite part is telling a story. When the writing is coming fast and easy and I’m in the zone, there’s nothing better. My least favorite part is (pick one): stressing over deadlines, the moments where I realize I have to delete entire passages that I’ve worked on for days because they just don’t work, etc.

GK: Yeah, that deleting entire passages thing is not my fave, either. Now, for the biggie. What’s one fact about you that someone who didn’t know you well or hasn’t read this blog wouldn’t know? Make it juicy -- my readers expect.
EK: I love to people-watch and eavesdrop on people when I’m out in public.

GK: So, Eavesdropping Author, can we have an excerpt?
EK: Yes, this excerpt is from Shadow Hunt, part three in my Shadow Touch Novella series:

   Marcie rinsed her chef's knife in the kitchen sink of the Segue Institute, and in a flash of overhead light on the long triangle of steel, she caught the brief reflection of an unfamiliar brown-haired man watching her from the doorway. Something about the tilt of his head signaled stealth and menace. She knew and cooked for everyone at Segue, so…
   Intruder.
   Fear thinned her breath, but her heartbeat didn't jolt, thanks to the beta blockers she was taking for her high blood pressure. She kept her hands steady, gripping the wet handle of the blade in her right.
   She forced herself to turn, the knife uplifted. Drops of rapidly cooling water slid down her arm to amp her spook-born goose bumps.
   She glanced around the kitchen—stainless walk-in fridge, island stacked with clean dishes to put away, double-wide dishwasher open to her left. The corners and cubbies of the kitchen were dark, while the air smelled soapy and water fresh.
   There was no one there.
   Which, after so many years of working there, she knew that meant she had to look harder.
   The Segue Institute was the preeminent research organization for all things paranormal and it was housed in a haunted, renovated turn-of-the-century hotel. The place was supposedly loaded with what the scientists there called Shadow, capital S, a scary word for magic. Dark magic.
   What she'd learned from all their research, however, was to trust the skittish hairs on the back of her neck. And right now they were tingling with a message of imminent danger.
   She reached back and tagged the panic button under the counter and primed herself for the wait. Steam rose from the sink to dampen the back of her T-shirt.
   Everyone either had retired for the night or was downstairs on the research level in a supersecret meeting—not so secret if she knew about it. They might as well have had the meeting in the kitchen, because if she lived through this, she would know the details in bits and pieces by the end of tomorrow anyway. And if she died, she'd take the secrets with her.
   She giggled a little hysterically, then went for an old-fashioned, "Who's there?"
   He wasn't a ghost or a wraith. A ghost, like that mean, hollow-eyed girl who haunted Segue, could scare her but couldn't do much else. And a wraith would've killed her already and eaten her soul. The intruder wasn't beautiful like the angels who'd been in and out of Segue this last year. And the fae were trapped in Twilight.
   Which left something new. Goody. She got to be today's ambassador to the paranormal.
   "Just so you know," Marcie said to the kitchen, "I'm using you for a raise."
   Most of the staff were required to do some defensive training; she was required to feed them. But she was proud of her fast and even chopping skills, had her tool of choice in hand—the only knife a chef needs really—and was prepared to use it, even if she had to flail into open air.
   She held her breath to listen for the slightest movement. Felt something cold … there.
   She struck out as an unearthly light shimmered into sight on the other side of the island. A little girl in gold ringlets and a pinafore appeared out of nowhere, ultrareal yet otherworldly. Segue's ghost. Her eyes were hollow, and her expression was contorted with rage. Behind her face lurked another, that of a grown woman, bitter and violent. Darkness was etched around her as if she were punched out of time.
   "This is my place!" the girl shrieked in the direction of the lasagna dishes on the island.
   The ghost's anger blasted through the air like ripples on water, and for a moment, the intruder was revealed. A man, on the thin side. Average height. He'd recoiled at the ghost's appearance, then glanced at Marcie, and she frowned at his black eyes. Oh. You're one of those. He was clutching a black dagger, ready to kill. And he was now standing close enough to strike.

GK: Oooh, love it! So, what's next for you?
EK: Up next for me is Hotter On The Edge, a sci-fi romance anthology. For excerpts, buy links, and details, visit www.HotterOnTheEdge.com.

GK: Erin, thanks for being here today! And thank you also for your contest, which is open internationally.

Erin will be giving away one e-copy to one lucky commenter, winner's choice of the books at her website, so check out all the prize options and then answer this: What's your favorite thing about shadows?

Contest will run through Wednesday, March 6th. Winner will be announced Thursday, March 7th. Winner will have until Monday, March 11th to respond via email to gini@ginikoch.com with full name, email address, book selected, and requested e-format. If the winner does not reply by the 11th, the Gods of Random will snatch back the prize and demand a new sacrifice.

California, Here I Come

Sing it! Why? Well, as my Hook Me Up! subscribers already know, because I'm heading to SoCal to take the chicklet to law school (USC, go Trojans! Len and Kyle require that I say that every time I mention this.) But before I go, thought I'd catch you up on some things.

First off, because I just can't leave you without a chance to win something, somewhere, and somehow, there might be a Goodreads contest or two going on right now, and one of the prizes might be a copy of The Night Beat and one might be for an ARC of Alien vs. Alien. I'm not saying for sure. ;-D

Yes, there WILL be a Hook Me Up! exclusive contest for Alien vs. Alien ARCs (coming whenever I actually get them, which won't be for a couple of months), in addition to the one at Goodreads. And yes, I expect to have more than one copy up for grabs. But for those of you who like to cover all your bases, go forth and click the button over at Goodreads to get yet another chance to win.

Next, head over to GReads! and get to know the blogger behind My 5 Monkeys a little better. Then check out where Loki's gotten to now, on the My 5 Monkeys quest for Alien vs. Alien.

Once I'm back from SoCal, it's laundry in, laundry out, and then I'll be at CopperCon from August 31 through September 3. Don't miss out on a chance to see the me, along with a lot of other awesome authors, artists, and creative types in an intimate atmosphere that won't cost you and arm and a leg. (Just fingers, if zombies are taking tickets at the door.)

Is that it? Shockingly, yes. I do plan to try to check in while I'm gone, but Twitter and Facebook are probably your best bets for finding out where I am (not at home) and what I'm doing (things).

Know that I shall miss you all while I'm gone. So, get down with your bad selves in my absence, keep the home fires burning (so to speak), and let's be readers out there. Peace out, my li'l gangstas, I'll catch you on the flip side.

Love,
Gini

Just Another Winning Release Day

Happy Monday! Hope everyone had a fab weekend and is ready for a great week ahead. I myself saw Magic Mike with the chicklet, and we both agreed Rock of Ages was better, probably showed as much skin, and was a much more fun experience. (It's true -- they had the nerve to give Magic Mike a PLOT and it was a DOWNER plot, at that. Oh, the humanity.) But enough of my cinematic disappointments (particularly the disappointment of not nearly enough screen time for Matt "James Reader" Bomer, which was the biggest travesty of all in regards to Morose Mike) because there's a lot going on. So let's get to it!

First off, as I mentioned last week and the subject line reiterates, the first book in my new Necropolis Enforcement Files series, The Night Beat, officially releases today. And while I want you all to rush right out and get your copies -- at Amazon, B&N.com, or Smashwords -- there's a Hook Me Up! exclusive contest going on right now. Of course, if you're not on Hook Me Up! you can't enter. So fix that problem and send an email to gini@ginikoch.com with "Hook Me Up!" in the subject line and get in with the winning in crowd.

Want a little info about The Night Beat? Check out the alert at Pearls Cast Before a McPig.

But, there are other releases this week, and therefore MORE ways to win! Yes, it's true! My BFF Marsheila Rockwell's next awesome book, Skein of Shadows, releases tomorrow, July 3. And, to celebrate, Marcy and I are doing a double Kick-Ass Heroines giveaway. You can win a copy of her book AND my book, and you'll get chances to win both at both of our sites. So, head over to They're Biodegradeable and get entered to win for the first half of this giveaway.


Also, during this month, you'll get to hear from me and Marcy about what it's like "behind the scenes" when we're at cons. Or, rather, you'll hear from Margi Kochwell, who'll tell it like it REALLY is.

Next up, a Member of the Alien Collective in Very Good Standing has just launched a blog, so head over to Bama's Book Ramblings and give her blog some brand new love.

Speaking of families that get created, see which fictional families Larissa's Bookish Life thinks are tops.

In Person Reminder -- I'll be at San Diego Comic-Con from July 11-15. Look for the gal in the pink, sparkly cowgirl hat. But find me specifically at these events:
Guerrilla Marketing Panel, 8pm Saturday, July 14, Room 9
Stunted Fools and Scary-Ass Clowns Panel, 10am, July 15, Room 25ABC
Book Signing, 11:30am-12:30pm, July 15, Autograph Area, Table AA04

That's it for today, but as always, more's on the way. So have a wonderful week, and let's be readers out there!

Love,
Gini

The Night Beat Contest

EXCLUSIVE HOOK ME UP! ONLY CONTEST

International Contest

It's time to get your win on and grab a copy of my newest release, The Night Beat, Book 1 of The Necropolis Enforcement Files! There are not 1, not 3, not 5, not 7, but 9 (that's right NINE!) copies up for grabs, which means a lot of winning's about to go on. I know! It's too happy to be true!

So, Hook Me Up! subscribers who have sent in your proper entry emails, riddle me this:  

What's your favorite kind of undead, and why?

Love,
Gini


LEGALESE
Contest will run from Friday, June 29, 2012 through Friday, July 20, 2012. (Why so long? Because San Diego Comic-Con means I'll be out of town and you'll have more time to enter and get extra chances to win!) Winners will be announced week of July 23rd. This is an international contest -- as long as you're on Planet Earth, you can enter and win.

NOTE: International winners will receive an ebook copy. U.S. winners will get their choice of an ebook or trade paperback copy. U.S. winners must have a deliverable address - no P.O. boxes. Prizes may take 2-4 weeks to ship.

This is a contest for Hook Me Up! subscribers only -- if you're not on, send an email to gini@ginikoch.com with "Hook Me Up!" in the subject line and you'll be sent the contest entry rules.

Yapping with Author Diane Dooley

Today we have one of the most fun folks in the galaxy with us, Agent Z from the Galaxy Express! She’s also a newly minted author writing under the code name of Diane Dooley. Because the Galactic Police are after her, and we want you able to find her books, we’ll refer to her by her code name from now on.

Diane, welcome to the Blah, Blah, Blah Blog, where the men are all handsome, the women are all gorgeous, and the yap runs wild and free.

I’ve come to the right place!

You have indeed! Before we get into the interview, I’d like to catch those who might not know up on all that is Diane. She was born in the Channel Islands and grew up in Scotland. After many years of bumming around she finally settled down in Upstate New York, where the summers are short and the winters just might just kill you dead. She lives with her best friend/husband, who can’t fix a damn thing, and two obstreperous boy children in a falling-down farmhouse in the sticks. She is very happy.

When she is not writing science fiction, romance or horror - sometimes all in the same story - she can be found chasing after her children with a big stick, geeking out with her husband, working a full-time job, indulging her addiction to Youtube or, most likely, with her nose deep in a book.

Isn’t she cool? So, without any more delay, on to the burning questions!

Q. What prompted you to become a writer? Was it voices in your head, a burning desire to tell a story, or just too creative for your own bad self?

A. Heck, no. I’m in it for the money. Really. I was a stay-at-home mom with a workaholic husband, the above-mentioned falling-down farmhouse and two children with an unrelenting (and perfectly understandable) desire for expensive Star Wars toys. I decided to get rich the easy way by banging out novels. Just because I’ve spent more on printer paper than I’ve made from my writing is besides the point.

Q. Money? There’s money in this? Wait a minute…oh. The agent says it comes ‘in time’. I assume that means it’s heading to us from a galaxy far, far away. But, onward. Writing styles -- outline or wing it, music (and what kind) or silence, chaos or serenity, only novels or other lengths as well?

A. Usually I’ve got something brilliant worked out in my head before I even start writing. It turns into something mediocre as I type it all out. Then I whip myself into a frenzy of editing and polishing until I’ve got something halfway decent. Then I send it off to a prospective victim/publisher and wallow in margarita-fuelled misery until I hear back.

Silence? What is that? If I waited for silence in my busy household I’d never get a thing written. I don’t listen to music while I write because music is too important and takes up all of my attention (see above-mentioned Youtube addiction.) I DO listen to music to get me in the mood for certain types of scenes. Here (http://dianedooley.wordpress.com/2011/02/19/sexy-songs-for-writing-sex-scenes/) for instance, are some of the songs that help me get in the mood for writing sex scenes.

I write in all lengths, from flash fiction to novels, and in a variety of genres. I wish I could say that I follow my muse, but I actually think it’s more like attention-deficit disorder.

Q. Soul sister! I knew I loved you. Your first Science Fiction Romance novella, Blue Galaxy, is going to be released…TOMORROW. So, in honor of your big release, give us the ol’ author overview.

Falling in love is easy; staying alive long enough to enjoy it just might be impossible.

Javan Rhodes, the hard-drinking, disreputable captain of space freighter The Kypris, took a mission to save himself from hitting the bottom of the food chain. Transporting Sola, a beautiful young aristocrat, from Earth to an unknown destination on the outer rim of the colonies is lucrative, but also highly illegal.

As tough as it is to evade both the law and the lawless, the hardest part of the job is not falling in love with his irresistible cargo. Just as he decides that he will never be able to hand her over to the warlord she must marry, he discovers that Sola has been playing a very dangerous game—one that could not only cost them their lives, but could also affect the balance of power in an increasingly dangerous universe.

Basically, it’s sex and violence. In space. With Greeks.

Q. You speak my language. Next up, can we have an excerpt?


Javan shuffled in the dry dust, covering a smattering of blood he’d missed.

The group finally navigated around the bots and cargo pallets and stopped in front of him. He noted the ultraviolet of the protective devices beneath their pale blue cloaks, though the light was barely visible under the harsh Greek sun. He offered his hand to the nearest Blue. The group regarded his hand but did not turn off their protection—except one. A slight figure stepped to the front and placed a hand in his.

“Captain Rhodes?” she said in a low voice, giving him a firm handshake.

He nodded, distracted by her soft golden skin.

“My name is Sola. I am your cargo.” She pulled the blue hood away from her face, revealing sparkling brown eyes, and stared with such fierce intensity that it shook him.

She smiled.

And Captain Javan Rhodes, gazing on what had to be the most exquisite face in the entire universe, felt his heart twist as he fell instantly, irrevocably and most definitely in love.

Q. Way cool! Sounds hot already. So, what’s it like, going from running from the Galactic Police to becoming a published author? It is like joining the Establishment or are you still keepin’ it gangsta?

A. Myself and Agent Z are currently embroiled in a fight to the death over who is in charge. Every now and then she finds she has a strange urge to can up homemade apple sauce and bake artisan bread. Every now and then I find myself wanting to annihilate every tentacle monster in the galaxy. We’re trying to work out a custody agreement. Liberal applications of gargleblasters keep us both happy.

Q. What’s next for you? Sequels, prequels, something different, heading to Disneyland?

A. Went to Disney, had a short but passionate affair with Goofy, he was marvelous. Next up is the second episode of the Blue Galaxy saga, followed by two contemporary romance novels. I’ve got a couple of horror short stories coming out over the summer. After that I’ll probably look up Goofy again. He was THAT good.

Q. Wow, I always knew Donald Duck had it goin’ on, but Goofy was a well kept secret. Until now. Goofy, who knew? Other than you, I mean. Other than your torrid affair with Goofy, what’s one fact about you that someone who didn’t know you well or hasn’t read this blog wouldn’t know? Make it juicy -- my readers expect.

A. Okay, Gini, you evil wench. This is you getting me back for all those awful questions Agent Z asked you, isn’t it? Okay, here goes: There was once a man I had fallen madly in love with. He seemed to like me too, but spent an awful lot of time and energy running away and avoiding me (I can’t imagine why!) One night in a bar I slapped him hard in the face and demanded he take me to bed. And every year on our anniversary, that we fondly refer to as Slap Day, I give him a sharp one to the jaw and we fall in love all over again. The End.

ROFL! Awesome! Thanks so much for being here today. You can find Diane any number of ways, and here are most of them:
Blog: http://dianedooley.wordpress.com/
Group Blog: http://contactinfinitefutures.wordpress.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Diane-Dooley/146280878746604?sk=wall
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4737760.Diane_Dooley

Now, Diane’s got a special treat for us. She’s giving away 2 copies of her novella, Blue Galaxy, to 2 lucky members of the Alien Collective. Just answer this question and leave your email address in order to be entered to win: What’s the proper color for a galaxy to be, and why?

Contest open through Sunday, May 15th. Winners announced on the Blog in the week of May 16th.