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

Walking Dead?

I need to find my resting pulse. Because, as near as I can tell, I've misplaced it somewhere.

See, I have to do this medical-type thing for work -- to get money. Believe me, that's the only reason why I go near medical anything. And part of the thing is that I have to figure out my resting pulse. Only...I can't find it.

I mean, I know how to find it. I know which fingers to use and where to press and everything. They even provide clear instructions with pictures. And unless you're supposed to press so hard you stop the flow of blood completely, I'm doing it right.

Only...no pulse. At all. And yet, here I am, talking, walking about, eating, sleeping, typing. All without a pulse.

So, my question is -- did I turn into an undead and just don't know it? And, if that's what's happened, how is it I missed all the fun stuff normally associated with this kind of transition?

I mean, no vampire swooped in, swept me off my feet, and proposed eternal life along with some serious necking. No werewolf panted up and humped my leg. I think someone would have mentioned if I'd gotten a love bite from a zombie, though the difference in the morning hours between me and a zombie is mostly skin tone. No ghostly visitations, no warlock waving his wand around, not even any witches hissing at me. I have no pulse and yet at the same time, no fun story to show for it, either.

Unlife's not fair, is it?

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

Harsh Realities

One of the more interesting bits of information I picked up at the last conference I attended was the way the editorial process works for novels.

At some smaller houses, the editors have free reign -- they choose what they want and, if all goes well, go with it. They like your writing, they like your agent and trust his or her opinion, they think the book can sell, they buy it.

But at most of the bigger houses, it's decided by committee. So, the editor picks your book, likes it enough to champion, and then takes it to the full staff for review. The process varies a bit per house, but your book is going to need a variety of champions in order to make it to the acceptance phase.

There are pros and cons to each, of course. You know at the smaller house that if they like you, they're going for it, which is cool. You know at the bigger house that if they like you, someone fought persuasivly to ensure they ALL like you.

Either way, it helps explain in part why the process takes (to writers) so long. The editor at the smaller house, having full authority, is going to be VERY careful and really consider all the options before saying "it's for us." The editor at the bigger house is going to do that, too, because he or she is going to then have to fight for your book. Careful consideration is being given all along the way.

The positive? When you DO get the contract offer, it's nice to know it means that they like you...they really, really like you!

Music and Writing

I happen to be one of those writers who has to have music playing when I create.

Boy, that sounds lofty.

Let me be more honest. I’m someone who has to have music playing all the time or I risk going insane. I am not one with the sounds of silence, no matter what Alanis Morissette might want to say about it.

My issue isn’t that I’m not comfortable in silence. Well, okay, I’m not. But I’m not comfortable in silence because unless you’re in a soundproofed room all alone, there is no such thing in our world today as ‘silent’. And I have good hearing. And it’s selective. And worse, I have a vivid imagination. And it’s not selective at all.

Little tinkle that could mean the wind’s blowing the chimes or could mean someone just broke the basement window? Odd sound that might be the dog’s tummy rumbling or could indicate immediate danger of the earth opening up and swallowing the city whole? Repetitive sound the fans and air conditioning make? I hear all of them. And they distract me.

But if I put music on…then I only hear what I want to hear. And it’s not always the music.

For example, I play music when I’m on the telephone. So that I actually pay attention to the person I’m speaking with. Otherwise, they’re telling me about their latest brush with the law and I’m thinking, “Was that…was that a bug knocking against the window, or is a zombie about to attack?”

So music’s an integral part of my life. Therefore and by obvious extension, it’s a huge part of my writing life.

I need music not only to drown out the other things -- like the TV, the husband, the daughter, the pets, those damned fans -- that will distract me, but to inspire. And said music had darned well better have lyrics. In fact, I was originally going to title this Music and Lyrics, but didn’t want to make Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore all jealous. (But, I have to admit…I LOVE that movie. *cough* Okay, yeah, back to the topic. Whatever it actually is.)

I’m not a classical music kind of girl. Oh, I like plenty of it, but not to write to. With no lyrics, the music ends up, for me, just like the stupid fan -- I hear it and start going, “Is that…is that a bassoon or an oboe? I have no idea, but I think it’s a bassoon. No, oboe. No, French Horn.” That way lies madness. Trust me.

All this is to explain why I, a writer, have an entire page devoted to my playlists. And why some of my links are to band sites. (Because there is nothing cooler in this entire world than Aerosmith, okay?!? *cough* Sorry.) Because I can’t survive or create without them.

What about you? Strong, silent type, or rock ‘n’ roller all the way? No worries if you’re the former…we serve all kinds here.

Love, Gini

My World and Welcome To It

So, here it is, my first blog on my brand, spankin’ new website. Wahoo!

*cough*

So, I guess I’m supposed to say something all awesome and witty and interesting now, right? Ummm…

(crickets)

Dang.

Well, let’s just go with top of my head, semi-informative and see how it goes.

I’m a writer (yeah, okay, obviously, but it had to be said) and since I took the time to write a bio, I’m going to force you to find it to get all that bio-type stuff. It’s cleverly hidden on my Playlist page, since I’m far more into music than I’m into me.

My goal with the blog is to share some of the creative process, some of the business process, and some of the fun. I’d really love for you to make comments (though nasty for the sake of nasty ones will be taken down -- ex-boyfriends, you have been warned). My goal is also to blog on at least a semi-regular basis. I’d promise daily, but I know myself. So, let’s shoot for at least twice a week and as the mood strikes me and see how it goes.

Sounds like a plan, and I’m great with plans. We won’t talk about follow through at this precise moment…

Love,
Gini