Friday 25 May 2012

Interview and giveaway: G.J.Koch and Alexander Outland


This interview is a bit late, an email that got lost, but here it finally is. My interview with G.J.Koch. There is also a contest open to all. So read and enter.

Welcome!

1. Hello there, G.J.Koch J Could you tell me a bit about yourself (and all you’re alter egos).
I write 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.

Alter egos include the lovely and amazing Gini Koch, the kind and talented Anita Ensal, the dark and dreamy Jemma Chase, the quirky scaredy-cat J.C. Koch, and the tough but fair A.E. Stanton.
Or, as Gini loves to say on her blog: They’re all moi. (It’s a controlled form of schizophrenia, and if it’s working for us, who else is to judge, right? Right?)

2. Your new book is called Alexander Outland:  Space Pirate. What is it about?
Oh, it’s about 360 pages long. (Girl, I cannot TELL you how long I’ve been waiting to make that, admittedly lame, joke but it’s been for AGES.)

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.

3. Where did you get the inspiration for this book?
I actually got the inspiration for this series from a name I randomly stumbled across. I saw it and said, “Wow, that would be a GREAT name for a space pirate! A mega-cool space pirate. I wonder what kind of galaxy he lives in.” The rest, as they say, is history.

Okay, okay, honesty forces me to admit that two different songs also helped in the initial formation of the idea. “Space Boy” by Splender and “Space Cowboy” by, God help me, *NSYNC.

There. Now the whole truth is out there. I hope you’re happy. (There goes my street cred, such as it was.)

4. And now to Captain Alexander. Who would play him in a movie and why?
Ryan Reynolds or Chris Evans. Because Nap (he insists that you, being an attractive lady, call him Nap) is really handsome, and he’s also really funny. Both Ryan and Chris are really handsome and both of them can do humor really well, so either one would work for me. Or both at the same time. (But that’s a different book, innit?)

5. He has quite the crew. But who is your favorite among them?
Oh. Gosh. That’s like asking me which kid is my favorite. (Ha! The chicklet! I only have one, so that makes it easy.) But, since I have faves among my pets, I know I can admit who I favor most in Nap’s crew.
All of ‘em.

LOL, okay, well, I like the Governor because it’s fun to have the cranky, knowing oldster along. I like Audrey because she gets away with so much because, well, she can. Slinkie, of course, because beauty and brains with attitude is always fun to write. Randolph is a great straight man who gets to make the zingers once in a while. And I have to admit, I love the villains, too. A lot. I have a very soft spot for Tanner because of all he’s been through. And Lionside surprised me constantly throughout the book. And Hulky, what a hero. And when you get right down to it, Jabbob and Ol’ Temper really have an edge, just because they crack me up. So, yeah, I love all the characters, basically.

But, honesty compels me to admit the truth. Nap’s my favorite. It’s true, I do love the Outland.

6.  What’s up next from G.J.Koch?
Crossing fingers that it’ll be the next book in this series, Alexander Outland: Space Avenger. That’s up to Night Shade Books, of course. (They’re waiting until August to see how sales do, so let’s all race out there and pre-order and buy lots of Alexander Outland: Space Pirate! Go team!)

7. I do think I want to round this off with something silly. What would Alexander say to Katherine “Kitty” Katt if these two met?
“Yo, babe, c’mere and learn to love the Outland.”

THANKS!


Thank YOU for having me!

Giveaway!
Print/e-copy of Alexander Outland
If the winner is in the US then a print and if International then an e-copy

Rules:
Ends June 3rd
Open to ALL
Just enter or just comment, ask a question, anything your heart desire really.


Contact
You can reach G.J. Koch at Space…the Funny Frontier (http://www.ginikoch.com/GJKbookstore.htm).

46 comments:

  1. Hahahahah *NSYNC!!! I love that they influenced this story ever so slightly with their song. It pains me to admit it, but I was such a fangirl in high school. I loved them so much! I'm pretty sure I still know all the words to their songs... O_o

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  2. Another great interview, thanks ladies! I've already won this book two weeks ago, so not entering :)

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    1. I do hope you like it when you read it :)

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  3. Alter egos include the lovely and amazing Gini Koch, the kind and talented Anita Ensal, the dark and dreamy Jemma Chase, the quirky scaredy-cat J.C. Koch, and the tough but fair A.E. Stanton.
    Or, as Gini loves to say on her blog: They’re all moi. (It’s a controlled form of schizophrenia, and if it’s working for us, who else is to judge, right? Right?)


    Oh dear. Dr Spock, a case for you! I won't win, I know it, but of course I can enter. Who is to say I cannot? Entering.

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    1. Oh you :) Of course you can win. Just pray to the Random generator gods

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  4. You SO had me at that joke. I just know now that I will love it. ;) Oh and to have pics of NAP in my head? YUM! I love sci-fi and handsome pirates. Yes, I do think I need this book! Yes, I'm entering!
    books (dot) things (at) yahoo (dot) com

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  5. Thank you for the interview Gini.
    Lol, I am glad you got to tell that joke then ;)

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  6. Funny interview and the synopsis and cover have me intrigued..Thanks!

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  7. Twitted about your giveaway at: https://twitter.com/cherrymischivus/status/206119264032264192

    Cherry Mischievous
    (not an entry)

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  8. Great interview. And I do love a handsome, funny hero.

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  9. I would like to thank you for an apsolutely increadible book giveaway and a most insightful & facinating review, about a book that is a genre that i love. I would be honored and most obliged if you could put my name forwards for this book giveaway, as i would love to have the oportuntiy of reading it! Thank you so much. x
    Email: lfountain1(at)hotmail(dot)co(dot)uk
    Country: United Kingdom

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  10. *sigh* Chris Evans can be my Space Pirate any time! Sounds like a fun read - count me in! :-)

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  11. This sounds really good and a great interview. I'd love to enter to win an ecopy.

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  12. Awesome contest!! I'd love to enter to win! Thank you!

    inthehammockblog at gmail dot com

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  13. "Yo, babe, c’mere and learn to love the Outland.”

    Love this line -- kind of sounds like a young Rocky Balboa!

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  14. Thanks for sharing!
    Yvette
    yratpatrol@aol.com

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  15. Hahaha, 360 pages.
    If you are secretly a multi-polar personality then you have found the perfect occupation! So many different facets of yourself.

    Love the quote from Alexander at the end =)

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  16. Awesome - street cred still viable with me! I've always wondered if *NSYNC had inspired any books :)

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  17. Thank you for the great interview, this always makes the readers want more. Kretch1@att.net

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  18. Really fun interview & now I'm interested in reading this series. I think I need to meet Nap.

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  19. Please enter me in contest. I would love to read this book. Tore923@aol.com

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  20. I love Gini Koch's writing & this sounds delish! Would love to win this!

    rkhan@wcc.net

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  21. Chris Evans has that perfect amount of swagger and snark, wrapped in a foxy package. I'm picturing Evans in his Fantastic Four role…perfect space pirate, indeed! ^_^

    Oh, and there' no shame in NSync's "Space Cowboy" being a partial inspiration. That song was the jam back in the late nineties!!!!

    Fabulous interview. Thanks for sharing!

    myneedtoread (at) gmail.com

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    1. Oh yes the good old days, though I was more a BSB fan, what was I thinking..

      Evans would sure fit well

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  22. It was fun knowing the author but I do not read this genre :( But I will definitely give it a try sometime later :)

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    1. I do hope you try the genre one day :)

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  23. Great interview! No need to enter me though.

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  24. Always fun interviews!!

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  25. Oh I already have a copy, so not entering. But Wonderful interview, both of you. :) I do hope Night Shade goes with the next book. :) Looking forward to hearing the good news.

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    1. Since you loved it then I sure want that too :)

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  26. Fun interview. Book looks like a lot of fun.

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  27. Gini, I'm chalashing for a copy of this book. You know I love the Kitty Series, so now I need to work on Alexander.. It looks like a real NYTimes list winner.

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  28. So Nap is Michael Gowers galactic twin?

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  29. Great interview! Book looks and sounds amazing!

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  30. Thank you for the giveaway. The book looks pretty awesome. Can't wait to read it.

    kaylalovesandrew09@yahoo.com

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  31. Thank you for the great interview today. I was wondering Gini, how important is it to you that there be a taste of humor in the adventure and if this will be seen with Alexander Outland :)
    dz59001[at]gmail[dot]com

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  32. I love a good story and this sounds that it will be perfect for me. Your hero's sound well rounded and the back up actors play could carry the fill in places where humor
    and such are needed Can't wait

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