Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Totally Yapping

Happy Hump Day! As my Hook Me Up! subscribers already know, it's a calmer day over here in Cyber Lande (we added the "e" to make it sound classier) than it was yesterday, but there's still plenty going on. So, while we all get ready for the happy downward slide for the week, let's get to it!

First up, I'm yapping about writing funny over at Tote Bags 'n' Blogs.

Then check out the Fresh Fiction review of "Alien Proliferation".

More guests, more fun coming to Phoenix Comicon over Memorial Day Weekend per the latest from New Times. Make plans now to be there!

See? Short and sweet today. But never fear, more's just around the corner. So enjoy the links and the reading and I'll yap atcha again tomorrow!

Love,
Gini

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Tuesday, November 29, 2011

The Yap Goes On a Character Spree

Hey there! Hope those who celebrate Thanksgiving enjoyed a fun, food-filled weekend. Hope those who indulge in the madness that is Black Friday and Cyber Monday got many good deals to keep the world economy moving. And hope everyone had a great weekend, no matter what!

No need to stop shopping now, btw. Go pre-order "Alien Proliferation" and "Alien Diplomacy", and race over to Musa Publishing to get a ton of ebook deals as well as all the stories available from Jemma Chase, A.E. Stanton, J.C. Koch and Anita Ensal. (What? Seriously, everyone else is pushing their wares right now. A girl's gotta do what she can to keep herself in chocolate and Coca-Cola, you know.)

But enough shameless begging! For this moment. As my Hook Me Up! subscribers already know, we have lots and lots and LOTS going on this week, so let's get rolling because, wow, do y'all have a plethora of links and some cool reading ahead of you.

First up, we have both a review of "Alien Proliferation" AND a new interview with moi as well as some of the characters over at Books-n-Kisses. You can also enter to win a signed, personalized copy of "Alien Tango", so don't miss out!

Next up, see what Caught in a Fab Romance thought of "Alien Proliferation". After that, head over to Paranormal Romance Fanatic and see what she thought of "Alien in the Family" and also check out some new covers. Then check out the nice listing of December releases over at Anna's Book Blog.

Speaking of "Alien Proliferation", check out both the website update as well as the first chapter which is live over at Deathless Prose. The 2012 Calendar is now available, too, over at the Alien Collective Depot.

Now, go weigh in on what author Dar Writes should wear to her poetry reading. And, as a belated Thanksgiving moment, check out who Smash Attack Reads! would have liked to have had at her table.

The Alien Proliferation Extravaganza is still going on through December 2nd at the Alien Collective Virtual HQ. Don't miss out -- get entered to win one of FIVE copies of "Alien Proliferation".

Next up, check out what Pearls Cast Before a McPig thought of "Hotter Than Hell" by Jemma Chase.

Of all the cons I've been to -- and I've been to a lot -- the one that I'd crown "the best" for fans and professional attendees both is Phoenix Comicon. Check out who's coming via Nerdvana and if you can be in the Greater Phoenix Metro Area over Memorial Day Weekend, make this con your destination of choice!

Speaking of seeing moi in person, reminder that I'll be at Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore in San Diego, CA, from 3p,-5pm on December 10th for their Holiday Party. Yes, I'll be signing copies of "Alien Proliferation"...and anything else you want signed, too!

Is that it for today? Yes. Is that it for this week? Hardly. We have lots more coming as we race up to the December 6th release of "Alien Proliferation", so stay tuned, and remember -- let's be readers out there!

Love,
Gini

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Thursday, November 24, 2011

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to all my beloved blog followers and readers. You're the best fans in the world, and you make the Alien Collective even better because you're a part of it. Whether you celebrate Thanksgiving or not, have a wonderful day and a fabulous weekend!

Love,
Gini

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Tuesday, November 22, 2011

The Dazzlers Explain it All For You

Hey there, everyone! All caught up from yesterday's Mass O' Links? Great! 'Cause as my Hook Me Up! subscribers already know, we have more for you today! Oh, not that many (okay, yes, really, that many), but still, things you don't want to miss.

First up, head over to Fictitious Musings where the first Dazzlers Only interview is large and in charge. (While there, don't forget to sign up for their Gratitude Giveaway.)

Then which authors My 5 Monkeys would like at her Thanksgiving dinner table.

Next, hit RT Book Reviews and see which series they're looking forward to.

Remember to cast your votes for your fave books in the 2011 Goodreads Choice Awards. Yes, "Alien in the Family" is up for best science fiction, so please show it some Alien Collective love. And also remember to get entered to win one of five copies of "Alien Proliferation" over at the Alien Collective Virtual HQ.

In Person Reminder: I'll be in San Diego, at Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore for their Holiday Party on Saturday, Dec. 10th, from 3pm-5pm. If you're in the Greater San Diego Metro Area, please come on by and get your bookie wookies signed by moi and the other awesome authors who will be there!

Now, for our TusCon recap. First off, yes, yes, more swag has come home just waiting for me to have a chance to parcel it off into prize packs and start the heralded ComboCon Contest (say it once, say it twice, say it three times). But I do owe y'all a recap. So here goes...

Got to panel with some very cool authors including Patricia Briggs, Jeff Mariotte, Marsheila Rockwell, Carol Berg, David Lee Summers, Emma Bull, Janni Lee Simner, Sam Sykes, and the Lovely Miss Yvonne Navarro. Plus there were tons of other awesome authors and artists there. And a good time was had by all. In particular, a good time was had at dinner. At a specific dinner, to be exact.

I give you: My Dinner With Patty.

Patty Briggs and her cool hubby, Mike, invited me and Marcy Rockwell to join them at dinner on Saturday night. Before you get too impressed, we went to the Denny's close to the conference hotel. But hey, still fun, right? Right. Most of the gang going walked over, but Marcy and I had panels later in the evening so we drove. We drove, but got there last. Hey, I had to go to the room and change shoes. These things happen.

As any of you who've met me at a con or a signing know, I tend to wear my favorite cowboy hat during in person events. My pink, sparkly cowboy hat. Don't believe me? Check out Extra Me! and call me a liar.

So Marcy and I trot into Denny's, me in my hat. We see Patty and company nowhere around. But before we can look for them, a waitress barrels up to us. "Ma'am," she snarls, "you can't come in here wearing that hat."

I stared. Marcy stared. "Excuse me?" I mean, what else do you say, right?

"You can't wear that hat in here!" She's dead serious. In fact, everyone around her -- busboy, other waitresses, customers -- all look dead serious, too.

Honestly, my first thought probably wasn't what everyone else would think. I'm from the Mean Streets, and my first thought was, 'What kind of gangs do you HAVE around here?' The only time I've ever been or seen someone tossed out because of headwear is due to gang signs.

Marcy and I exchange the classic WTF look. "Um, what? You're saying that I can't wear a cowboy hat in here?"

"That's right. It's DENNY'S POLICY." She's still snarling. The busboy is indicating he's ready to toss us out if we don't immediately comply and I take my hat off. Marcy and I exchange another WTF look. She's thinking there's no way in the world I'm exposing my hat hair to the world (true 'nuff). I'm thinking that we're not going to get to eat because I have no strong belief the restaurant is going to serve us due to my evil gang affiliations, no matter where the hat goes from here.

I turn back. "But it's a cowboy hat." I have nothing other than stating the obvious at this point. "You're saying I can't come in because I'm wearing a cowboy hat in TUCSON?"

At this point, I'm wondering if I can find the gang I supposedly belong to and get them to do some kind of protest here -- we of the Pink Sparkly Hat Gang will not be denied, sort of thing -- when the waitress starts laughing her head off.

"No, no! I'm just fooling with you. Your friend told me to do it." While she and the rest of the restaurant gang crack up, she leads me and Marcy back to where Patty, Mike and the others are. "She fell for it!" the waitress shouts to Patty. "You should have SEEN their faces!"

At this news, Patty and the others start busting their respective guts with laughter. Yes, it's true -- I was punk'd by Patty Briggs and a Denny's with the best actors on the planet working there. Patty's the coolest, isn't she? Ashton Kutcher's got NOTHING on Patty Briggs! And seriously, if any of those Denny's folks are reading this, you're wasting your talents -- head to Hollywood, pronto.

It was a really great con.

Love,
Gini

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Monday, November 21, 2011

It's Just Another Clucky Monday

Happy Monday! Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. I had a great time at the Fall Writer's Workshop, running the yap and listening to the wonderful Amber Scott and Caris Roane, and it was great to see some of you there as well! It's a short (in the U.S.) but busy week, though, so enough of the past, let's get back to the future!

First up, Kitty, Martini, Christopher and Chuckie are all sharing secrets over at ALPHA Reader that you don't want to miss. Check it out, leave a comment, show some Alien Collective love. (Oh, and as my Hook Me Up! subscribers already know, you WILL have to read the interview to find out how my subject line actually makes sense.)

Then, head over to see what Bibliognome, one of the lucky ARC winners, has to say about "Alien Proliferation". Then check out the review of "Alien in the Family" from Book Spot Central.

Next up, Fictitious Musings has some great things in their mail. They'll also have a character interview tomorrow (and not with who you'd expect). In honor of this, they're re-running their reviews of "Touched by an Alien" and "Alien Tango", and you can also find their review of "Alien in the Family" as well. They also have quite the Gratitude Giveaway going strong, so if you haven't entered for that, do it now!

Speaking of awesome things to win, the Alien Collective Virtual HQ is offering not one, not two, but FIVE copies of "Alien Proliferation" in their latest contest. Check out the Alien Proliferation Extravaganza and get entered to win today! Swept Away Again also has a nice little listing of some cool things to win.

Speaking of winning and all that jazz, "Alien in the Family" is in the semifinals at the 2011 Goodreads Choice Awards for best science fiction. The competition is tough, so take a moment and vote for it again, please and thank you, so it has a chance to make it to the next round.

Speaking of "Alien in the Family" and voting and such, All Things Urban Fantasy is running a cover art contest for best cover of 2011. I've been alerted that some members of the Alien Collective have already nominated "Alien in the Family" to be in the running, so if anyone else feels like tossing their votes in as well, I'm sure Kitty and Company, not to mention the amazing Daniel Dos Santos, would be most appreciative.

Is that it? Not quite! Check out who Larissa's Bookish Life thinks are the best hero and heroines of 2011.

I know I owe you all a TusCon recap (and boy, do I have one!), but that'll have to wait for tomorrow. So, until then, be good and enjoy all the blog and website hopping!

Love,
Gini

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Wednesday, November 16, 2011

The Yap Fights Through

Well, I'm back from TusCon and have many wild stories to share. Which I was going to do earlier in the week. Only, as my Hook Me Up! subscribers already know, my wireless somethingorother (technical term), in a bold move destined to make me want to tear my hair out and actually cry, gave up the good fight and died. Leaving me with no internet connectivity.

WELL.

We'll all pause a moment while the enormity of that situation descends on everyone.

Horrified moment of silence over, I'm still awaiting connectivity at the Casa and am currently huddled at the Chicklet's Bachelorette Pad attempting to get some, you know, work done. Laugh with me. There is no chair in the study at this precise time, and my netbook cannot, despite everyone in Tech Support's best efforts, connect wirelessly over here. So, I and the SHORT ethernet cable are making do. The sacrifices I make to keep all of mah darlings up to date just don't bear contemplation.

But what does bear contemplation is the tonnage that's going on this week. I was going to parcel it out for you, but under the less-than-stellar circumstances, you're gonna get it all in one go and like it. So, on with the countdown...

First up, the yap is large and in charge over at A Buckeye Girl Reads, where I answer more burning questions about "Alien Proliferation". There's also an international giveaway of "Alien in the Family", so don't miss out!

Next up, exciting news. "Alien in the Family" has made it to the semifinal round for best science fiction novel in the 2011 Goodreads Choice Awards! PLEASE go vote for it for Best Science Fiction novel now/again -- competition's fierce and if there's any hope of "Alien in the Family" making it to the next round, it lies with all of you.

Then, check out what Larissa's Bookish Life chose as her Top 5 Favorite Fictional Pets.

And now, on to the reviews. And we have a lot of reviews!

First up, hit Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell. She's done a double review of "Hotter Than Hell" and "The Disciple" both by Jemma Chase (aka moi). She's also done a review of "The New West 1 - When Josie Comes Home" by A.E. Stanton (also moi). Then see what Bitten by Paranormal Romance has to say about "The Disciple".

Next see what Giraffe Days and Paranormal Romance Fanatic have to say about "Touched by an Alien". Then see what Paranormal Romance Fanatic thought of "Alien Tango".

Our hit parade now takes us to Lightworks.com and the Monthly Aspectarian, where Jacqueline Lichtenberg reviews "Alien in the Family" in her "Science Fiction & the Art of Storytelling" column.

Last but in NO way least, check out what I Smell Sheep and Larissa's Bookish Life thought of "Alien Proliferation". Remember to do your girl a solid and pre-order "Alien Proliferation" (releasing Dec. 6th) and "Alien Diplomacy" (releasing Apr. 3rd). Yes, they matter, even less than a month before release day. (LESS THAN A MONTH!)

In Person Reminder: I'll be presenting at the Free Fall Writer's Workshop this Saturday, Nov. 19th. It's a great day of fun education, for aspiring authors and readers who just want to know how we do it. (We do it with a lot of the 3 C's -- coffee, chocolate, and Coca-Cola, but that's not important now...)

Amazingly enough, that's it. But tune in next time, when we find out if Gini gets to be connected to the rest of the world or if she has to hide out in her Cave in the Casa, alone and lonely. Until then, peace out, li'l gangstas, and let's be readers out there!

Love,
Gini

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Wednesday, November 9, 2011

The Yap Gets Wooly

Well, I planned to send this out hours ago, but, as my Hook Me Up! subscribers already know, my PC had other plans. Nefarious plans. Time-wasting nefarious plans. But that's all in the past! Right PC? RIGHT? At any rate, let's get to all we would have gotten to earlier, if my PC had been in the mood to cooperate.

As those of you keeping an eye on my Datebook know, I've just come back into town and am heading out again for TusCon in a day or so. But fear not -- I'll be coming back with even MORE stuff for the ComboCon Contest (again, you should really say that three times fast). And just look what we have to tide you over!

First up, head over to I Smell Sheep where the yap is running wild and free. There's also a chance to win the newest Sheeped Shirt as well as a signed copy of "Alien Tango", so be sure to leave a comment and be entered to win.

Next, check out who Larissa's Bookish Life has chosen as the Top 5 Gun-Toting Heroines. Then, head over and join the discussion of the Alien/Katherine "Kitty" Katt series at Goodreads.

Next up, check out what Paranormal Haven thought of "Hotter Than Hell". And check it out over at Musa Publishing if you haven't yet gotten your copy.

Speaking of copies and getting and all that jazz, "The Disciple" by Jemma Chase and "When Josie Comes Home" by A.E. Stanton are also available now from Musa. And don't forget to pre-order "Alien Proliferation" and "Alien Diplomacy", because yes, pre-orders really do matter.

Aspiring authors in or near the Greater Phoenix Metro Area should check out, and attend, the Free Fall Writer's Workshop on Saturday, Nov. 19th. I'll be there as will a slew of other published authors, each teaching on different aspects of the "how to get published" business.

Last but in NO way least, I'm excited to share that "Alien in the Family" has made it onto the RT Book Reviews Reviewer's Choice Awards! I'm in such great company, it's really thrilling. Also excited to share that my friends Jennifer Ashley/Allyson James, Caris Roane, and Diana Rowland are also nominated! (Check out their books if you haven't yet -- all great reads!)

There's more coming -- new releases, the ComboCon Contest (truly, say it three times fast, fast, fast), and all that jazz, but that's all for today. Have a great rest of the week and weekend, and I'll catch you on the flipside. Peace out, li'l gangstas!

Love,
Gini

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Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Hump Day Roundup

Hope everyone had a great week and weekend while I was away at World Fantasy Con! It was great, and I came home loaded with books. Scads of books. Cascades of books. Books which will be going out to some of you as prizes in the upcoming Combo Con Contest. Of course, as we all know by now, that contest will be for my Hook Me Up! subscribers only. So if you're not on, really, send an email to gini@ginikoch.com with "Hook Me Up!" in the subject line and get ready to win some great reads!

However, I'm dashing off again, so don't have time to start the contest yet. But don't despair -- I'll probably be home with yet MORE books or other goodies to add to the ever-growing Pile O' Swag I've got building up.

But, there's much going on, so before I get so behind I can never catch up (I know, I know, too late already), let's get down to the various businesses at hand.

First up, those in the Greater Phoenix Metro Area should stop by Changing Hands Bookstore tonight around 7pm. I'll be there with my anthology editor, Cathi Lombardo (who is NOT moi), and a lot of other authors, to do a group signing for "A Mother's Wisdom". (Never fear, my wisdom falls more on the funny than the useful side of the house.) Bring any books of mine along, though, and get them stickered at the front (so you don't have to pay for a book you already brought), and I'll sign those, too.

Next up, check out what Pearls Cast Before a McPig thought of "Alien Proliferation". Then see what The SF Site thinks of the first three books in the series, "Touched by an Alien", "Alien Tango", AND "Alien in the Family", all in one big review.

Then head over to Bitten By Paranormal Romance to see what they thought of "Hotter Than Hell" by Jemma Chase (aka moi). While you're at it, grab "Hotter Than Hell" from Musa Publishing today, and while you're there, pre-order "The Disciple", coming THIS Friday, November 4.

Speaking of aka's and moi, check out the November issue of Penumbra eMag, which features a new story from J.C. Koch (yes, aka moi), available now!

Also, "When Josie Comes Home", first novella in A.E. Stanton's (yes, also moi) The New West series, is available from Musa Publishing right now. While you're there, pre-order the second installment, "Deacon's Ark", coming November 18.

Is there more? Yeah, there is, but that's surely enough for today. So keep your eyes peeled for the start of the Combo Con Contest, and let's be readers out there!

Love,
Gini

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