Interview and Giveaway with Gini Koch
~ GINI KOCH ~
Welcome to UTC, Gini!
Thanks so much for having me! It’s great to be here!
ALIEN COLLECTIVE is book nine in the Katherine “Kitty” Katt series. What can readers expect from this installment?
Well, more mayhem and hijinks, of course. Traitors, bombs, action, campaigns of all kinds, and a very special kind of quicksand. Plus the standard Kittyisms, humor, and romance that’s the basis for Kitty and Jeff’s relationship. So, you know, all the usual blah, blah, blah.
I love the entire cast of characters in the series, but I want to know who is your favorite secondary character and why do you love them so much?
I really do love all the characters, even the villains. But if I have to choose – and clearly I do – then I have to pick two: James Reader and Charles “Chuckie” Reynolds. I love them so much in part because they’re Kitty’s soul mates, in many ways even more than Jeff is, and because I just love everything about them, good and bad. They’re two of the characters that “talk” to me the most, too, Chuckie in particular. And for those who don’t like Chuckie, all I can say is that there is one character who really drives this series, as in, the one in my mind, making this series go, and it’s not Kitty or Martini. Without Chuckie, I don’t think I’d have made it past Alien in the Family. With him, I have an unlimited supply of a character whining and complaining to me to keep me driven.
Do you have a visual muse for Kitty, a celebrity or model that inspires her character?
No, and I don’t for most of the other characters, either. I “see” these characters very clearly in my mind, so I rarely base them on anyone. That’s not true for everything I write, but it’s true for this series. However, I’ve put some time into Pinterest and readers can go to my See The Characters board and check out who I’d currently suggest as being the best matches to how I see the characters in my mind (and the ones who could PLAY the characters the best at this time, too). The only one that is 100% accurate is Matt Bomer as Reader – it’s like he was born to play Reader. I’d written the first four books before I ever laid eyes on Bomer, so it was really weird to see him the first time and go, “OMG, that’s Reader!”
Though, anyone who pays attention to my celebrity crushes will absolutely know who I based Malcolm Buchanan on, even before they look at Pinterest. ;-D
Jeff always plays a key role in all the books. What do you think makes him such a great match for Kitty?
He’s a confident, born leader who isn’t threatened by a strong, competent woman, an alpha male without a lot of angst but with a very sensitive side, and he’s very in tune with her. He finds everything she does to be cute, funny, brave, smart, etc., and that’s what he wants – a woman who can match him or best him in all areas. Dazzlers aren’t the only A-Cs attracted to brains.
Being the galaxy’s most powerful empath means Jeff’s more aware of what Kitty’s feeling – many times more aware of that than she is. And he has a great sense of humor, which any man needs to spend time with Kitty. She’s really not good with the humorless. Oh, and he’s also fantastic in bed, which, you know, helps a lot.
What’s up next for Gini Koch?
May’s a busy month for me. I have three short stories coming out in Penumbra eMagazine – and one is available right now in May, and it’s one everyone’s been asking for: when Reader met Gower. “Alien on the Runway” is in the Penumbra May issue. I’ll have two more Alien series shorts in upcoming Penumbra issues this year as well. Also, because they’re givers, Penumbra has a special deal – a year’s subscription at half price AND two Best Of issues, if you use this code when you race over to order: 2014Gini
I also should have the first Alien series short ever written, “A Clockwork Alien”, coming out from Zombies Need Brains in the Clockwork Universe: Steampunk vs. Aliens anthology. The publisher is trying to get that out this month, too. I think there are other May releases, too, but I’m blanking on them. (Publishers, forgive me! LOL)
In addition, I’m writing Book 10/Universal Alien, and then will be rolling into a variety of other deadlines. I also have a short story coming in Unidentified Funny Objects III anthology and my first straight mystery story coming in the 221 Baker Streets anthology. Both of those will be out later this year, as will Dark Phantastique and At the Mountains of Madness anthologies, where I have Lovecraftian horror short stories, written as J.C. Koch, included.
I’ll also be on my mini book tour this month, and then presenting and signing at Phoenix Comicon in June and San Diego Comic-Con in July. So, there’s LOTS going on in the world ‘o me!
Despite not having run for office, nor wanting to remain in office, Representative Jeff Martini is being wooed as the vice presidential running mate for a charismatic senator who seems likely to win the campaign. While the Diplomatic Corps has to deal with the pressures of a political campaign sure to uncover secrets they don’t want shared with the world, Ambassador Kitty Katt-Martini has other worries—handling the reemergence of her most potent nemesis, thought dead and buried.
Contest is open internationally — one winner gets their choice of one of the first 8 books in the Alien series (Touched through Research), signed, and personalized, along with magnets and postcards.
- Review: Claimed by J.R. Ward - November 1, 2021
- Buddy Read: Holiday In Death by J..D. Robb - December 16, 2019
- Buddy Read: Vengeance in Death by J.D. Robb - August 2, 2019
I love how fast-paced these books are! They are hilarious, too. Can’t wait to read the new one!
great interview the series loooks great
Thanks for the chance to win a copy of one of the books in this great sounding series.
Great interview.
Matt Bomer is a good match for Reader in my mind too. I hate it when an author shows pictures of actors or models when I’m well into a series and like Gini, I have a definite picture in my mind and they never match. On the other hand, when it’s a new series and I see the pictures first, I like it.
Great interview and lots of info ;).
Man are you busy. How do you keep it all organized?
I really need to get on the ball and read this series. It sounds awesome!
I use the Kitty quote, “My crazy’s workin’ a lot better than your sanity,” so often that it’s rediculous. One of my goals in life has been to convert as many people as possible to Team Gini — More minions! Mwahahaha!
I love, love, love this series 😉 Can’t wait for this newest one. Thanks for such a fun post!
Thanks for introducing me to this author!
I do love chuckie even if i was angry he got a poof and not me^^;; can we hope to get a print collection of the novella from kitty universe one day?all teh novella togther it would be such a treat for the fans
thanks
This is a new to me series and author.
Hot aliens are always a thrill!
I adore this series and I’m always so happy when it’s time for a new story that I can gobble up! 😀
great interview
I’ve been interested in reading this series. Thanks for the contest!
Thanks for the interview and info on Gigi’s books – I’ve always been interested in checking them out
great interview the series look great thank you
The alien series is a great read! Looking forward to this and many more books!
Nice I
Meter view with some insights in to the series and Gini’s writing style!
Thanks for the chance
congrats on the new release. and Thanks for the chance to win.
This sounds like such a great series! I am so looking forward to starting it!
Interesting characters
Great interview! Thanks for sharing.
O Gini, my two most favourite secondary characters are also Chuckie and Reader. I love them and I keep hoping for them to have more pagetime with Kitty. Just a little scene here and there.
Such a fun series.
This was such a fun series. Now i’m looking forward to read book 9 from this series 🙂
Love the series. Great interview.
Love Gini’s books. Always filled with humor, action and some hot romance. I can’t wait to read this one, need more Martini.
I loves this series! Thanks for the giveaway
Kitty “Kat” has become one of my fav characters. I’ve gotten behind on this series but have got to get caught up
Congrats on the new release! Great interview. Thanks for sharing.