So This Is Coming...

Happy Friday!

Just a quick one today, to let you know that the Suvudu Cage Match for 2016 is coming next week. This year it's duos taking on duos. And I'm representing! Not with Kitty and Company, but with Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg from Terry Pratchett's Discworld series. As all y'all know by now, this is my fave series and I adore Granny and Nanny, so I'm thrilled to have them as "mine" for this battle.

In the first bracket they're up against Mrs. Coulter and her daemon from the His Dark Materials series. I see Granny and Nanny winning handily, BUT in order for that to happen, YOU need to vote!

If Granny and Nanny win this round I'll be "following" them through to the next ones. So, if you want to see more takes on how I see the battles going, please vote for them! And, vote for your faves in all the other brackets, too! There's lots of chatter going on over at Tor.com about this, too, so if you've got thoughts about the battles, share them there, too!

That's it for today, so let's be Granny and Nanny voting readers out there! Peace out, my li'l gangstas, and I'll catch you on the flip side!

Love,
Gini

I Ain't Ded

Happy Friday! As some of you know, this blast header is a line from one of Terry Pratchett's Discworld books. For those that don't, it still works. I know I haven't been around much, but what can I say? Finishing up books takes time, focus and concentration. However, I'm happy to report that the beta team and crit partner seem pleased with "Alien Diplomacy" and that should be heading off to DAW next week.

Of course, there's been lots going on that I haven't caught everyone up on because, well, been writing. But, let's rectify that, shall we?

First up, we have some new reviews. Check out what Blethering About Books and Swept Away Again have to say about "Touched by an Alien". Then check out what Pages of Forbidden Love had to say about "Alien in the Family".

Next, check out what Tempting Persephone is saying are her faves so far for 2011. Then see what That Bookish Girl is waiting on. See the covers Fiction Vixen is excited about. Head over to see what For the Love of Books listed for her last SINsational Saturday Series.

Then, color me SO flattered! Our own Alien Collective Member in Very Good Standing, Jessica Subject, has her first published work out. Check out "Celestial Seduction", and while you do, check out the dedication and thank yous over at Mark of the Stars.

Going to Comic-Con in San Diego? So am I! (As a professional! Again! :-D) Send me an email if you'll be there, so we can hook up. I'm trying to get a little "Let's meet here at this time" thing going, but the way the last few weeks have been, it's going to be hit or miss.

However, whether you're going to Comic-Con or not, what you don't want to miss is the huge Swag Pack giveaway that'll get rolling once I'm back. Those of you who were around last year know what I'm talking about. Those who weren't, well...you're in for the biggest, most amazing giveaway I do all year. Who knows what the hubs and I will come home with, but I guarantee, you're all gonna love and want it! As always it's for Hook Me Up! ONLY. If you're not on, now is truly the time. Send an email to gini@ginikoch.com with "Hook Me Up!" in the subject line so that you'll be all set to get your massive win on!

I'll also be at CopperCon 31 in Avondale, AZ (what we in the Phoenix Metro call East L.A.) over Labor Day Weekend. Want to go? Planning to go? Let me know!

That's it for this week, but there's more coming next week. So, have a fab weekend, and I'll catch you on the flip side!

Love,
Gini

My New Year's Resolutions

Seeing as it's that time of year again, when everyone makes resolutions they'll break by January 10th, I figured I'd get mine out of the way early.

This year, in no particular order, I resolve to:

1. Put off until tomorrow what I could do today
2. Possibly eat right and exercise, but resent it when I do
3. Do the things I enjoy a lot and the things I don't as little as possible; this includes cleaning the house (guess which side that one falls on)
4. Re-read all of the Discworld books by Terry Pratchett while hoping I get to meet him one day
5. Consider reading the various nonfiction books I own, and then going back and re-reading 'A Series of Unfortunate Events' by Lemony Snicket instead, who, based on his 'life story' I don't think I actually want to meet
6. Avoid the news as much as humanly possible, under the continually-proved theory that if it's really important someone will tell me about it, and if no one tells me about it, it probably doesn't matter
7. Consider catching up on my collection of Details magazines but instead merely thumb through and look at all the pictures of hot-looking men, frequently
8. Think about getting a place for everything and putting everything in its place, then move the stuff on my desk into different piles and call it good
9. Consider watching all the new DVDs we got over the holidays, but instead end up watching the same dozen I adore over and over and over again
10. Listen to lots of music from a wide variety of genres and decades as constantly as possible while purchasing new music as often as I can
11. Consider telling every blowhard in my life where to stick it then write an action scene instead
12. Consider catching up on all the literary bestsellers but then re-reading every book by P.J. O'Rourke instead while hoping I get to meet him one day
13. Worship Aerosmith while hoping I get to meet Steven Tyler and Joe Perry one day

There you go, a baker's dozen. I should be able to carry these through without a problem for all of 2009. After all, I've been doing most of them for most of my life.

Love,
Gini