12 Days Day 7: Interview and Giveaway with GINI KOCH



    Welcome to Day 7 of 12 DAYS. Day 7 of the 12 days of X-mas was Traditionally celebrated on January 1st, also called The Kalends of January. Kalends were wild celebrations of hope and happiness at the prospect of a new year and a new beginning.


 
Today I'm so excited to have an interview with Author  Gini Koch! I've had a lot of "New" and "Celebratory"  things happen to me centered around Gini. It all began when I saw a magnet with this lovely image at San Diego Comic-Con:
 
 





 
I kept the magnet on my fridge and the title on my Tbr pile. Then last month  I saw a twitter link to a contest Gini hosted on her WEBSITE and I won 2nd place!
 
 
Gini sent me a wonderful prize pack including a signed copy of Touched by an Alien!
 
Gini is so wonderful and accessible on her site and in her e-mail correspondence I  asked her if she would do an interview with me, so now I have another first with her : My first Author Interview =)
 
Today is the release day of the second Alien novels:
 
 


                                     Isn't this cover
                                     GORGEOUS ?


     This is the second book in marketing manager, Katherine "Kitty" Katt's adventures among the Aliens. Ill have a full review of the first two books in this wonderful series later this month. Now here is the interview:


                                                            




 
 
 
Your newsletter is quite unique and fun. Can you tell me a little about your social media experiences? Were you a part of the community before your first novel was published?



Thanks! I’m glad you enjoy being part of the Hook Me Up! community. Prior to being an author, my career was in marketing. I’m also an early adopter, so I was using social media well before it was cool. LOL And, yes, I was on Facebook and Twitter before Touched by an Alien came out. I never liked MySpace so while I was on it, I did nothing there. In my opinion, part of what makes social media work is all about being where you’re most comfortable.

I like Facebook, but it takes too much time and I find it hard to keep up with what people are doing on FB for whatever reason. I didn’t like Twitter at the start but now I love it -- it’s my social media addiction of choice.

 Those covers! I received a magnet of Touched by An Alien and knew I had to check out the book. Did you have any input in Daniel Dos Santos covers?
Cover To Book 3

The covers are da bomb, aren’t they? But as for input, no, not really. Most authors have no input whatsoever for their covers. I’ve had a little but really, not very much and that’s a very good thing. Creating good covers is an amazing skill and takes some serious artistic talent, which Dan has in abundance and I do not. I do love my covers -- Dan captures the essence of each book in one picture which, to me, is beyond amazing.

 Katherine and Martini have a wonderful chemistry from the start -- they remind me of classic movie couples. Can you tell me a little about any influences that went into their character development?



That’s how they are in my head. Though I’m quite pleased that you see them that way, because I do love the classic movie, and TV, couples that have that bantering wit and snarkiness going back and forth.

I know that’s probably not a good enough answer, but we’re the sum total of all our experiences so pretty much everything that I’ve ever done, read, seen, heard, and so on goes into my writing. In terms of Kitty and Martini in the specific, I’m sure there was a lot of influence from a variety of sources, but I can’t really point to one and say, “Oh, that’s where they come from.”

I’m a very linear writer and this series is very organic for me. I just sit down, turn on the right music, and write down what Kitty tells me happened. Which, while not as easy as it sounds, is definitely a lot of fun. I find out what’s going on when the characters find out what’s going on. Yeah, it’s a party in my mind, but I make it work for me.

 I loved how Kitty referenced comic books. What about you personally, what are some of your favorite books, comics and movies?

Never piss off the comics-geek girl, that’s our watchword! Hey, they do say to write what you know and all that…

As for the actual question, I have a LOT of favorites. So, I’m going to keep the lists sort of simple.

Books: Good Omens, by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman, The Discworld Series by Terry Pratchett, The Complete Sherlock Holmes by A. Conan Doyle, The Complete Works of O. Henry, Holidays in Hell by P.J. O’Rourke


Movies: Lady and the Tramp (I swear to God), Dogma, Undercover Blues, Mystery Men, Galaxy Quest, Demon Knight, Men in Black, Big Trouble in Little China, Mortal Kombat


Comics: All the X-Men titles, the Tick, Deadpool


I could literally go on and on for all of these categories, but I won’t ‘cause we all need to get on with our lives. But trust me, the lists are much longer than this would give you to believe.


Oh, and you didn’t ask, but, again shocking no one who knows me at all, my favorite TV show is Castle.

 Happy Release DAY!
Tell me in 5 words or less what's in store for us in Alien Tango?
It’s all about the ‘gators! Or, if you prefer: Action, romance, humor, alligators, fun.


 I've been asking some of my favorite bloggers about their favorite Holiday Traditions -- what are some of yours?

My maternal grandmother died on Thanksgiving. Based on the kind of person she was and how she lived her life, I knew she wouldn’t want us spending that day mourning, but rather celebrating. So, we host the feast and have anyone and everyone over. Sometimes the gatherings are small, sometimes huge, but always relaxed and fun and we make sure there’s a party atmosphere.


We throw a standing New Year’s Eve party that’s a bring anyone and everyone, even the kids, bash. And we always do a Super Bowl party. So far, I’ve chosen the losing team for the past 5 years, so I’m really not liking that particular tradition. LOL

When our daughter was young, we used to hide her eggs and her Easter basket and she had to search for them. That was really fun but, shockingly, she outgrew that phase. Of all the traditions we stopped because our daughter got too old, that’s probably the one I miss the most.
Thanks, so much Gini :) :) :)
 
VISIT GINI ON  HER SITE HERE
 
Now for the CONTEST!!
 
ONE WINNER WILL GET THEIR CHOICE OF
 
TOUCHED BY AN ALIEN
OR
 
ALIEN TANGO
 
FROM :
 
 

RULES:

YOU MUST BE 13 YEARS OLD TO ENTER

CONTEST IS INTERNATIONAL IF BD SHIPS TO YOU (PLEASE CHECK)

CONTEST ENDS 12/14/10




 
 
 

Comments

Susan Schreyer said…
Amber Scott put me on to your books, Gini. Her rave is a stamp of approval. I'm half way through Touched By An Alien and love it! Laugh out loud funny in so many place, great characters and plot twists that keep me turning the pages. Can't wait to read more! Love the interview!
VickyTinky said…
I so want to win Touched by an Alien! It has been in my to-read list forever!

vicky.vak8(at)gmail.com
Brenda said…
I'm putting Touched by an Alien on my TBR list. And those covers are wonderful!
Jennifer R said…
Great interview! Never realized Touched by an Alien was written organically. It just feels so well planned out.

I loved Touched by an Alien. So excited about the sequel. I'll pick it up as soon as I get Christmas money. (I might have spent my entire last couple of paychecks on video games and Christmas presents, but I admit to nothing!)
Anne said…
I just finished re-reading Touched by an Alien so I am READY for Alien Tango! I had forgotten so much because Touched is so full of details and characters it was almost like a new book.

acm05atjuno.com
Orchid said…
Great interview!
Eek, another person that loves comics and Sherlock Holmes, so cool.
Sounds like an interesting series, plus the covers are pretty awesome looking. Thanks for a great contest. ^_^

hauntingorchid (at) aol (dot) com
Van Pham said…
verrry excited for Alien Tango!!


van

Littopandaxpress(at)yahoo(dot)com
I really want to get into this series. It sounds so interesting!

books (dot) things (at) yahoo (dot) com
Gini Koch said…
@Susan - super! Amber's the best, isn't she? So glad you're enjoying it!

@Vicky - good luck (if you don't win soon, you're gonna have to break down and buy it, LOL)

@Brenda - aren't the covers da BOMB? I just love them!

@Jennifer - thanks, that's great to hear! My hindbrain does the intricate planning while I write, so my forebrain can spend its time looking at pics of hotties. Hey, it's a system that works for me.

@Anne - so glad you enjoyed the re-read, and get ready for the 'gators!

@Orchid - thanks, glad you enjoyed it! (Comics and Holmes for the win!)

@Van - thanks, babe! Good luck!

@Melissa - good luck, and don't delay, get into the Alien series today! :-D
Unknown said…
Please enter me in contest. Tore923@aol.com. I am a follower and email subscriber.
buddyt said…
I would like to get a copy of Alien Tango as it sounds like a fun read.

Thanks for the giveaway.

I am a Follower via GFC.

Carol T

International

buddytho {at} gmail DOT com
Dazzling Mage said…
Oooh, I've seen the books around the blogosphere, and I'm really curious! The covers are pretty. And really enjoyed the interview!

Would like to enter the contest please for Touched by an Alien please. =)

email: asma.aljeelani@gmail.com
Unknown said…
Interesting interview thank you!

I've heard so many good things about this series that i'm really intrigued of it!I'd love to enter the giveaway

celebridal(at)hotmail(dot)com
Unknown said…
The covers are wonderful and the books sound great. I have the first one in my TBR pile.
marlenebreakfield(at)yahoo(dot)com
Mariya said…
I had read her first book not too long ago and loved it. I love Martini! I would like to enter the contest to win Alien Tango, please =D

Mariya
mystifyingparanormalreviews@gmail.com
Unknown said…
I am late to the game! I loved the interview and I am reading Touched by an Alien right now and I am so engrossed that all my other daily chores and duties have fallen by the wayside! LOL.... I am all for the A-C experiences.
jen7waters said…
Enter me Kai! I would pick Alien Tango, because I've read the first one already.
I can't stop thinking who could be that blonde girl in the cover of book 3! But I have a feeling Kitty will have to kick her arse xD

jen7waters(at)gmail(dot)com
Cha said…
Great giveaway, please count me in! ;) I'm dying to read Touched by an Alien!

(kristincha[at]gmail[dot]com)
Gini Koch said…
@Tore - good luck!

@Carol - I do guarantee a fun read. :-D

@Dazzling - glad you enjoyed the interview, and yeah, my covers are truly awesome, if I do say so myself. Which I do.

@Anna - glad you enjoyed, hope you enjoy the books, too!

@mbreakfield - you need to get Touched by an Alien read and off the pile! :-D

@Mariya - Martini says he's flattered and thinks you have excellent taste.

@Abhishek - good luck!

@Tigris - I love hearing things like that! *smootchies*

@jen7 - *cough* Kitty's fair skinned and fair haired...and the only chick on my covers, ever, is Kitty. You can extrapolate from there. ;-D (Dan Dos Santos uses different models for each cover, no I don't know why...he doesn't tell me how to write, I don't tell him how to paint.)

@Kristina - good luck!
Martha Eskuchen said…
I have been seeing good things about these books and would love to win and start the series. :)
Thanks for a chance.
I enjoyed the interview too. I root for 'gators (because of my Alma Mater). I read and don't watch too much TV so I haven't seen Castles.
Best wishes on your writing and new release.
mesreadsATgmail.com
Amber Scott said…
Okay, first, I LOVE that Susan picked up Touched By An Alien. She is a rather smart chick, though, which seems to be the criteria for Alien fans.
Second, I adore the hindbrain doing the work while you stare an hot mens. Yes, mens, honey. Mmmm hmmm. No wonder Martini comes alive so well for me.
sablelexi said…
I've been hoping to read these books. I'd love to enter

jlynettes @ hotmail . com
Gini Koch said…
@Martha - you'll love the 'gators, trust me, particularly because of your alma mater!

@Amber - oh yeah, girl, you know me well, mens plural, thankyouverymuch!

@sablelexi - good luck!

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