Sheep Interview: author Gini Koch + giveaway!

George Thorogood - Bad To The Bone(1)

check out Gini's theme music!
I Smell Sheep is proud to have back with us once again the SciFi Goddess herself Gini Koch! She's an amazing writer of multiple series, nows your chance to get to know not only the woman but her works too! Giving away a copy of her book at the end of the interview as well! Enjoy!

Katie: Gini, it's always a pleasure having you over for the usual mayhem! How has life treated you since we talked last?
Gini: It’s been great, actually. Insanely hectic, but great. And you know how I love the usual mayhem, so it’s really great to be back in the barnyard. Love what you’ve done with the sheep pens, they’re looking extremely spiffy!

Katie: Thanks, we had BA do a little spring cleaning.

Katie: For those that don't know about your new book Alexander Outland: Space Pirate can you tell them a little?
Gini: Absolutely! Like every other book I write, it’s the best book ever written and a deal at twice the price! (And, as always, you can’t blame a girl for trying.)

In Alexander Outland: Space Pirate, trouble’s brewing out in space, and Alexander Outland -- the least likely hero in the galaxy -- and his eccentric crew have to save the day, despite the fact they’d prefer to take the money and run.

Alexander Napoleon Outland is the best pilot, and ladies’ man, in the galaxy. But Nap, as his friends call him, is more than that -- he’s a schemer with a heart of gold he desperately wants to hide, a soft spot for other people’s cargo and his exotic weapon’s chief, and the unerring ability to find the biggest misfit on any planet or space station and somehow join that person onto his crew.

Nap’s not your classic hero, but that tends to make him the right guy for the job…whatever the job happens to be. He’s a little bit Han Solo, a little bit Malcolm Reynolds, a little bit Captain Jack Sparrow, and a whole lot of fun to fly with.

There are aliens, explosions, telepaths, donkeys, space pirates of all kinds, and a galaxy-wide conspiracy. And the most horrifying “underwater” trip any crew’s had to face in a long, long while. But mostly, there are laughs.

This series has no relation to my Alien/Katherine “Kitty” Katt series, other than that I wrote them both, they’re both science fiction with a lot of action and romance, and they’re both funny. The romance is heavier in the Alien series, and the humor is heavier in the Outland series. (Yes, you read that right. Alexander Outland is funnier than my Alien series. Really.) Those differences are part of the reason why Alexander Outland is written as G.J. Koch.

I do think that if you like Kitty and Company, you’re gonna love the Outland. And if you haven’t checked out the Alien series yet (and if not, why not? *sobs*), come take a ride with the crew of the Sixty-Nine anyway, because Nap swears you’ll love him in spite of yourself.

Sharon: *hands Gini a tissue* work it girl ;)

Gini: Thanks, *sniff* I appreciate your support. *sniffle*

Sharon: Since you are well versed in space stuff, what is your position on the Pluto debate?
Gini: Yeah, Pluto…that’s messed up. (Fist bump to all Psych fans who just giggled at that one.)

I think history is gonna show us Pluto’s real place in the solar system. And that will be at the outer edge of it. Or something like that.

I think the real issue is if they can take Pluto’s planetary status away, well, what’s to stop them from, say, insisting that Mercury isn’t a planet either? And what about Venus? Where does the madness end? WHERE?!?
*cough* Back to you, Katie.

Sharon: or even worse…Krypton!

Katie: Wow, I'm actually shocked you didn't say Cybertron just now Sharon.

Gini: Krypton’s space rubble. Krypton’s out of the planetary picture. Pluto, however, has to float around the sun, going, “Why was I demoted, man? WHY?”

Katie: As a HUGE lover of all things SciFi I know that the sexy Firefly captain is also a fav of yours. Did he or that show have any influence towards this story?
Gini: Well, you know I love me some Firefly/Serenity. And there’s some of it in there, absolutely. But only some. Nap’s his own man, and his crew is…a little different from your average team of misfits.

Katie: But just a smexy it sounds.

Gini: Oh yeah, absolutely. Maybe sexier.

Sharon: If every time you walked into a room theme music/song played, what would yours be?
Gini: Either “Bad to the Bone” by George Thorogood or “Trouble” by Pink.

Katie: Who would win in a fight, Jeff Martini or Alexander Outland?
Gini: Depends. Martini’s an A-C with superhuman strength, superspeed, and super empathic abilities. He’s hard to beat. Nap, on the other hand, is far sneakier than Martini. So, potentially even odds. Especially if Kitty helped Martini and Slinkie helped Nap.

Sharon: If we made them fight in Jell-O, shirtless, how much do you think we could charge for admission? Hypothetically, of course…

Katie: Yes, yes totally hypothetical. *snickers*

Gini: We could charge a HELL of a lot. I think of Nap as looking like a cross between Ryan Reynolds and Chris Evans, and we already know how drool-worthy Martini is. I think we’re talking an easy $100 a head, and that’s for the cheap seats.

Sharon: *note to self, order a lot of Jell-O*

Gini: And don’t forget the steam rooms, the water tanks, and the mud pits. I mean, if you’re gonna play, PLAY.

Katie: Would it be so odd to see a random sheep out in space? I mean really, really, think about it!
Gini: Between you guys and Sullivan McPig, I’ve got a lot of animals requesting cameos in my books. Honestly, everyone’s best bet for that kind of walk on is in my Martian Alliance series with Musa Publishing. But I do keep myself open to the sheep and pig possibilities.

Sharon: you could simplify it and make a Shig…or a Peep…

Katie: Sheig!

Gini: Peeps get eaten. Shig and Sheig sound like swear words in Klingon. Nice try, but not really feelin’ it.

Sharon: What came first, the characters or the universe? Can you explain briefly the journey from idea to published work?
Gini: Girl, I can’t explain anything briefly. You should know that by now.

I’m very character and plot driven, and the characters usually tell me about their universe as we go along. In the case of the Alexander Outland series, it was very much character driven. I stumbled across this cool name and thought, “Wow, that sounds like a space pirate name. A really cool, fun, space pirate. I wonder what he’d be like and what he’d do?” And pretty much it flowed out from there.

The journey from idea to published work is long. And not every idea is going to get written and not everything written is going to get published. It’s just the way things work. But you get your idea, you write, you edit, you re-write, you re-edit, you polish, you submit, you get rejected, you resubmit, and so on, until it gets sold, and then you do edits with the publisher, and voila, the bookie wookie is on the shelves.

(There, was that brief enough? No? Pity.)

Sharon: Let me do some editing and I will shoot it back to you ;)

Gini: Uh huh. I’ll bet you will…

Katie: How far do you see this new series going?
Gini: To infinity, and beyond! I think and “see” in series. I think I’ve written one stand-alone novel in my entire life. I also don’t ever think just because you wrote “the end” that the characters’ lives don’t continue on. So, I’m hoping the Alexander Outland series gets a good, long run.

Sharon: Fill in the blank: “I like big_______ and I cannot lie!”
Gini: Wow. I had to censor my first six answers. I’m hearing Sir Mix-A-Lot in my head now, too, so thanks for that. (It’s a great song, I must admit.)

So, I have to go with: Dogs.

(This segment brought to you by the Canine Death Squad. The CDS -- Keeping Mommy Dog out of trouble is Job 1! Getting treats and walkies is Job 2!)

Sharon: snort!

Katie: You know we have to do some rapid fire so here we go!

Gini: I live for rapid fire. Bring it.

Katie: Prepare yourself folks...

Gini: Heh

Sharon: pixie sticks or ring pop?
Gini: Kit-Kats.

Sharon: oh, crap. I forgot she does this…

Katie: Were you NOT prepared?

Gini: You warned her. I saw it. Not my fault she’s too busy editing my deathless prose to pay attention.

Katie: Double Dutch Bus or Love Shack?
Gini: Planet Claire.

Sharon: log cabin or chalet?
Gini: Penthouse in NYC.

Katie: Candle light or Star light?
Gini: Neon, baby. Neon.

Katie: Neon? Really?

Gini: I love Neon. I adore Vegas, for example, in part because it’s so bright and shiny, and loose and easy and tawdry and open 24/7 and wild and fun and it never sleeps. When you get down to it, neon’s my light and Vegas is my kind of town.

Sharon: Popcorn or jujube?

Gini: Junior Mints or Hot Tamales

Sharon: Raisinetts! Ha, two can play at this game!

Katie: I like getting a handful of popcorn and then adding Junior Mints in the mouth. Yeah, visualize that my friends.

Gini: OMG! One of my besties in college used to do that! Only she took it farther and mixed the boxes of Junior Mints INTO the popcorn. We all got hooked on eating popcorn with LOTS of the fake butter and Junior Mints in it! (Fist bump to Katie for extra movie food coolness!)

Katie: Cartwheel or Jumping Jacks?

Gini: Professional Leaning.

Katie: Baaahahaha. I'm stealing that one.

Gini: I expect credit anywhere you use it, babe. ;-D

Sharon: Gomer Pyle or Barney Fife?
Gini: Jayne Cobb. (Yeah? You watch Firefly and tell me he’s not filling the Gomer/Barney role in a variety of ways.)

Sharon: point for Gini

Gini: Thank you. Thankyouverymuch.

Katie: Kitchen counter or top of washer?
Gini: Elevator or spaceship cockpit.

Sharon: heehee, she said cock…pit…

Katie: heehee, yeah yeah. I like cock…pits.

Gini: I like big… wait, never mind, that was a different question. Carry on.

Sharon: Ooey-gooey gofer guts or mutilated monkey meat?
Gini: Dead skunk in the middle of the road. (Fist bump to those of us old enough to remember that particular oldie and really not that goodie from yesteryear!)

Katie: You talkin to me? or You can't handle the truth!?
Gini: Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.

Katie: Another point for Gini.

Gini: I live to serve. (Fist bump for anyone who got the tennis joke. Jock humor! I can do it all!)

Katie: Emo movies or bang bang shoot 'em up?
Gini: I’m an American from the Southwest -- bring on the guns, baby! (And I freaking LOVED Shoot ‘Em Up -- totally meta in the way it took a Bugs Bunny cartoon and made it live action with people.)

Sharon: oh, snap! I think she answered one straight up

Katie: On rare occasions she does.

Gini: When the mood strikes me.

Katie: For those that don't know, Gini is a die-hard Coke fan so we already know her lifelong answer to that one!
Gini: Mexican Coca-Cola, the kind in glass bottles made with real sugar, aka Crack Coke.

Katie: Gini as always you rock every which way, would you like to add anything before we wrap?
Gini: Aww, thanks, babe! As long as I rock every which way but loose. (Oh, I slay me.) Love you all, and do your girl a solid and buy my bookie wookie! You’ll be glad you did ‘cause it’s a ton of fun. Pretty much the most fun you can have with your clothes on.

***GIVEAWAY***

One lucky commenter is going to get a copy of Alexander Outland: Space Pirate. This is open to EVERYONE so make sure to get your comments in for entry. US winner will get a paperback and International gets an ecopy. Just list all the things below to be entered!

1. Your Email Address

2. Who would you want to see in a Jell-o fight?

3. Do you follow the blog? If so make sure to mention it and get DOUBLE entries.

Contest ends May 11th at midnight!

BIO: G.J. Koch writes science fiction. Not the hard stuff, though. Because that requires actual scientific knowledge or at least actual scientific research. Knowledge may be power and research may be cool, but they take time away from writing jokes, action, and romance, and being witty in the face of death is what it’s really all about. Check out G.J.’s rollicking Alexander Outland: Space Pirate series from Night Shade Books and reach G.J. at Space…the Funny Frontier (http://www.ginikoch.com/GJKbookstore.htm).