Cover Reveal Time, My SDCC Schedule, the READ THIS! BotM Author Q&A, and More!

I'm Almost On The Road Again! It's that time, time for San Diego Comic-Con. Then it will immediately be that time for Gen Con. I'm doing those cons back-to-back (pray for me) (seriously) and while I can't wait, I'm also just a little stressed about it. But we do persevere. But before I take off for Parts Well Known and All The Con That's Fit To Attend, we have the READ THIS! Author Q&A, which promises to be a fun one. Plus I have a gentle, time-sensitive beg AND a cover reveal. So let's get to it, shall we? We shall!

The Dragon Awards are coming...and I need your help. The Dragon Awards, done every year at DragonCon, are one of the very few awards out there that do not require that those nominating spend a dime or have to attend the convention. As such, they are a great way to nominate favorites to hopefully win something (because awards are not necessary but they are nice). This year, I'm asking you to please considering nominating Natural Born Outlaws: The Legend of Belladonna Book 1 in the Alternate History category. The Rules (few but important): -- Nominees have to have released between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024. -- Only nominate ONE thing per category, and don't duplicate nominations per category (as in, if you nominate Natural Born Outlaws for Alternate History, please do not then also nominate it for, say, Best Science Fiction, because that will eliminate both nominations, and yes, they definitely check). -- Only one ballot per person/email address. -- Nominate by July 19th. Where to nominate: Go to this link and have at it. There are plenty of categories, so don't feel that you can't nominate things in each one that's relevant to you -- just remember, don't nominate the same thing in more than one category, or else those nominations will be deleted.* *I'm unsure if this applies to cover art, and the form didn't make it clear, so that's a crapshoot and que sera sera either way. THE DEADLINE: This is where it gets tough -- the deadline for nominations is THIS Friday, July 19th (and yes, I've mentioned it twice because it's coming super soon). So please nominate ASAP and I, and whoever else you're showing hopeful awards love to will be very appreciative!

IT'S ALIVE! If you didn't preorder this cool anthology filled with familiars and the magic-users who hang out with them, well it's too late to do that because it's live and available! Order from Amazon, Kobo, B&N, or straight from Zombies Need Brains. Don't miss out on "Have Voodoo, Will Travel" by moi and Bebe Bayliss along with a host of other great stories from other awesome authors -- get Familiars TODAY!

Speaking of Being Alive... There is no Kitty without Belle. Want to read the book that is, truly, the reason I started writing? Well, now you can, because Natural Born Outlaws: The Legend of Belladonna Book 1 by moi writing as A.E. Stanton, from Ginger Blue Publishing is out NOW! Get your copies from Amazon, B&N, and all the other usual suspects! (And yes, for you audiobook lovers, scroll farther down because the excellent audiodrama has been available from Graphic Audio for a while and is waiting for you to enjoy it.)

Have You Gotten Your Copy Yet? Fall's Girl, my first straight-on mystery, co-written with Bebe Bayliss, is alive and out in the world, available from all the usual suspects! Trot on over to B&N.com, Amazon, or anywhere else you buy your books, grab your copy TODAY, and meet Stacey, who we think you're going to love as much as all y'all love Kitty!

Speaking of Picking Up Copies... All of these are available now from Ginger Blue Publishing and available at Amazon, B&N.com, and the rest of the usual suspects. If you haven't grabbed these yet, now's the time!

Romantic suspense set in and around New Orleans, now with an (extended) epilogue! (Re-release.) Mosaic post-apocalyptic novel set in the far future that's reverted to Old West ways, where love, friends, and family are what get you through.

A collection of paranormal tales, with new bonus stories and an introduction from the author of BITE CLUB. (Re-release.) A collection of all my humorous SF/F/P (non-Alien series) stories, together in one place for the first time!

IT'S TIME FOR A COVER REVEAL AND A PREORDER ALL IN ONE!

Something Wicked, the first novel in the Santa Paloma Mysteries series written by moi and Bebe Bayliss, will release on November 22, 2024 from Ginger Blue Publishing. Coming in ebook and paperback, preorders are live at Amazon, Kobo, and Apple Books. I've been advised that B&N is being persnickety, but that the book will be there for preorders soon enough. And now...here's the cover! And the blurb, too!

In Santa Paloma it’s unwise to go to the lighthouse at night –- because it’s deadly… Sleepy little Santa Paloma is a relaxed beach town with a lovely marina, a large retiree population…and a lot of very bad things, like murder…and worse. Geraldine and Nancy Fullerton share a granddaughter, Samantha –- Geraldine through blood, Nancy through marriage to Geraldine’s ex. They also share a love of mysteries and are excellent partners in solving crime. Samantha Greene loves her grandmothers and their friends, and not only because solving mysteries that elude the police is their favorite hobby. But some crimes are more dangerous than others, and investigating a string of brutal murders puts them all on the killers’ radars, Samantha especially. A surfing drug dealer and his mule, a classical musician, wealthy and shady yacht owners, mixed martial arts fighters, and the leaders of Santa Paloma’s community are all potentially involved. But a homeless man could hold the key –- or he could have imagined everything. But as more and more people die, Samantha knows one thing for sure – whatever’s happening, the lighthouse is involved. What Geraldine and Nancy know is that something wicked is going on –- and they need to stop it before Samantha is the next victim.

Speaking of More Preorders... I'm in a wonderful anthology from Albert Whitman & Co. celebrating Hanukkah with a diverse collection of poems and stories filled with history, humor, and hope, releasing September 5th. My story, "The Luck of the Irish," deals with a family discovering they have a whole history they know nothing about. This YA collection is great for everyone of all ages, even if you don't know a yarmulke from a menorah. Preorder your copy today!

Speaking Once More About Preorders... Ginger Blue Publishing is re-releasing my humor collection, Random Musings from the Funny Girl, with new pieces (!), coming October 22nd. If you don't have this collection yet, now's the time to preorder from Amazon, B&N, and all the usual suspects. And if you have the original, but want those new pieces in their snazzy new format, well, I'm not gonna tell you no. :-D

July 2024 READ THIS! Author Q&A

July's READ THIS! author Q&A featuring Author J.B. Garner, will be on Thursday, July 18, 2024 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/GYpzD25JvW 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 2024 READ THIS! Selection

The READ THIS! Selection for July 2024 is:  The Opening Bell by J.B. Garner Gini's Take: A compelling book with a very different protagonist that takes you right into what it's like on the wrestling circuit. If you're a fan of G.L.O.W., WWE, or just plain fun storytelling, this book is for you. About the Author: Talented top flight author and editor Jamie Beth "J. B." Garner has written over twenty novels across multiple genres and edited hundreds more. J.B.’s seen and done many things in her life, from honors student to factory worker to garbage collector to construction worker. In addition to doing so many fascinating things, she's lived in the wonderful cities of Baltimore, Atlanta, and Pensacola, before landing in the beautiful city of Chicago. She writes fantasy, sci-fi, and pro-wrestling epics, among other things, and is always out to entertain and amaze. https://www.jbgarnerwrites.com/

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

The READ THIS! Selection for August 2024 is:      Crystal Lattice by Joshua Palmatier

Come See The Me! My 2024 con schedule for this year is below. Schedules will be updated as they're confirmed, but I WILL be at these cons and hoping to see as many of all y'all as possible! San Diego Comic-Con, July 24-28 San Diego, CA Table D-09 During all Exhibit Hall Hours other than when I'm at panels or signings, I'll be here, signing the bookie wookies and handing out hugs! Wednesday, July 24, Preview Night 6-9pm: Table D-09 Thursday, July 25 9:30am-7pm: Table D-09 Friday, July 26 9:30am-7pm: Table D-09 8:30pm-9:30pm, Room 10: Monstrous Women panel Saturday, July 27 9:30am-12pm: Table D-09 1-2pm, Omni San Diego Hotel, Omni Grand Ballroom DE, 4th Floor: Uncanny Frontiers: A Guide to the Weird West panel 2:30-3:30pm, Under the Sails/Table AA09: Uncanny Frontiers: A Guide to the Weird West signing 4:30-7pm: Table D-09 Sunday, July 28 9:30am-12pm: Table D-09 1-2pm, Under the Sails/Table AA06: The Art of Collaboration PRE-PANEL SIGNING 2:30-3:30pm, Room 25ABC: The Art of Collaboration panel 4-5pm: Table D-09 Gen Con, August 1-4 Indianapolis, IN Thursday, August 1 12-1pm, Ballroom 3: New Books! New Games! New Love! (Session A) 3-4pm, Back of the Exhibit Hall, Author Signing Tables: Book Signing and Meet & Greet Friday, August 2 11am-12pm, Boston: Pulp Fiction for Contemporary Audiences 1-2pm, Back of the Exhibit Hall, Author Signing Tables: Book Signing and Meet & Greet DragonCon, August 9- September 2 Atlanta, GA

I know, I know -- all these other books and where is Kitty's next one, darn it? Super close now, that's where. (And again I wince, waiting for the punishment for hubris and excitement.)  I'm still optimistic that I'm going to have good news in this space soon...

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!

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 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 continues to give all of you much joy and goodness, 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