San Antonio, TX & EPICon 2015 - Registration Now Open! @EPICorg #conference

Please join us in the lovely city of San Antonio, Texas for EPICon 2015 EPICon- Bringing ePublishing Partners Together March 13 - 14, 2015 The Menger Hotel, San Antonio, TX Sponsored by the Electronic Publishing Industry Coalition

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN! * Enjoy two days of all things ePublishing. With workshops for any author or publishing professional, this short period will be packed with information, news, and most importantly: education. Authors, old and new, will have the opportunity to learn about small press ePublishing and network with publishers, editors, and experienced published authors.
* For 2015, we have a full schedule of educational and informative workshops for authors and publishers, with guest speakers like David Wilk, Carol Berg, and many others. This action-packed two day conference will end with the annual Award Banquet where we will honor authors and cover artists.
* Registration this year will be $224 for members, and $249 for nonmembers. This will include the workshops, breakfast buffets for both days, guest speaker lunches for both days and the banquet on Saturday evening. To register, members need to log-in to the website first & non-members need to CLICK HERE
* This year we are also offering add on options for the Thursday before the conference. These options are:
~ Publishers’ Intensive Luncheon - Taking the Mystery out of Ebook Self-Publishing: A Guide for Publishers - $20
~ Evening Dinner Tour - A dinner cruise along the beautiful San Antonio River as it weaves its way through the historic Riverwalk. - $35

* Our venue will be the Menger Hotel. With 150 years of history, it is a must see in the beautiful San Antonio. Two blocks from the vibrant River Walk, it is the border between San Antonio’s colorful past and its cosmopolitan present.
Room rates* are:
One King Bed at $110.00/night or Two Double Beds at $110.00/night
* Rates* are set by hotel for the EPICon convention. Rates apply by room, not by person. For other room options and price listings please go to the Menger website at Menger Hotel

* While you are thinking about registration, this is a great time to consider EPIC membership, if you are not a member already, since the membership cost will practically pay for itself in the discount for the event. To become a member CLICK HERE

* For more information about the conference or how you might participate (vendor, promotional materials, sponsorships or as an industry professional), visit epicorg.com or contact Kim Wollenburg at E-mail or Desiree Holt at E-mail
Information/details for this post provided by, Kylee Howells. Questions, comments, etc.? Please contact Desiree or Kim as listed above. Thanks!

An EPIC(TM) Blog ~ Debi Sullivan, Competitions Chair ( @EPICorg #MM #SO )

* Today I'm happy to welcome EPIC's Competitions Chair, Debi Sullivan. But first, a little bit about the wonderful organization...
* EPIC, the Electronic Publishing Industry Coalition(TM), was incorporated in 1998 to provide a strong voice for electronic publishing. Once an authors' organization, EPIC(TM) has expanded to include hundreds of professionals from all facets of the electronic publishing industry: authors, publishers, editors, artists, and others. EPIC(TM) members work together in a unique collaboration to further the industry. EPIC(TM) is not a publisher, but aspiring authors are invited to look at our member publishers. Check out "Our Members" for listings of our author, publisher, and other industry members.
* For more about the organization, visit www.epicorg.com

Now onto the interview! Welcome, Debi! Tell us, when did you join EPIC?
* I joined EPIC in 2001.

What did you hope to gain from being a part of the organization?
* As a freelance editor, I initially joined EPIC to expand my contact base. I was intrigued by EPIC’s focus and wanted to be an active participant in an organization which, at the time, was the only one actively supporting epublishing while educating the public about electronic publishing.
* EPIC continues to maintain its reputation as a global forward-thinking organization that supports electronic publishing and I am excited to be a part of such an innovative and encompassing organization.

And, what have you gained from being a part of the organization?
* LOL…so much! I have gained wonderful friends, broadened my contact base and clientele, and expanded my personal knowledge of the electronic publishing industry.

Do you hold a position within the organization, and if so, could you tell us how you stepped into the position and what it entails?
* Wow! You have some tough questions. Let’s see if I can remember that far back. LOL Ok, here is the boring timeline. *grin*
* From the beginning, I was actively involved in EPIC’s interests. In my mind, volunteering to be a part of the eBook competitions was just another aspect of my membership.
* In 2005, as an ardent supporter of EPIC’s desire to educate young writers in all aspects of epublishing, I volunteered to judge our newest competition, The New Voices Young Writers Competition. In 2006 I took on more responsibilities when I was asked to assist the New Voices Competition Chair, all due to the overwhelming response to this new competition. Guess I did a pretty good job (*grin*) as I was asked to take over her position later that year.
* I learned a great deal about the behind-the-scenes workings of our eBook competition when I was asked to assist the new ebook Chair with the 2007 eBook competition, then known as the EPPIES. The dedication and attention to detail required for such an evolving and global competition was illuminating.
* It was during our 2008 Portland conference that I was handed the keys to the competition kingdoms and became EPIC’s Competitions Chair, responsible for our current competitions: the eBook, Ariana Art, and New Voices Young Writers. You can address me as “Queen of All Things Competition.” *big grin*
* But I do not do all of this alone. No one could.
* I am blessed to have remarkable and staunch volunteers who provide constant support and insight as I coordinate EPIC’s competitions, allowing our competitions to maintain an unsurpassed reputation for confidentiality, for fairness and excellence in performance and results, as they evolve with the industry.

If you were speaking to someone who was interested in joining, what would you tell them are the benefits of membership?
* Gee, where do I start?
* EPIC’s membership is welcoming and their unfailing support is never-ending; whether personal or professional, through the good and bad, we are there for one another.
* Yes, we do have our moments of dissension and heated discussion, but show me any family or group where there is constant peace. *grin* I believe that our constant communication, however, is one of our strongest mainstays.
* As for membership benefits, they are constant changing. We offer significant entry discounts for our competitions and have an excellent and passionate promotional team who are constantly on the lookout for advantageous offers for our membership.

Thank you for joining us today, Debi, and telling us about EPIC(TM) and your part in the organization. Do you have a bio and/or any links you'd like to share?
* I am the worst one to ask this question, as I do not have a website. Yeah, I know I should, but my time has been devoted to other endeavors. As for background, I have been a freelance editor since 1999 and currently work with a limited number of authors who are extremely patient with the time-constraints EPIC has inadvertently imposed on my time. I am working on a website. *grin* But only time will tell when it will be accessible.
* Anyone can reach me through competitions@epicorg.com. I am always accessible and welcome inquiries about our organization and competitions. If you are seeking immediate information about our organization and competitions, your best bet is to visit our website at www.epicorg.com.

An EPIC(TM) Blog ~ Karen Cote' PR Chair ( @EPICorg @KarensRomance #SO )

* Today I'm happy to welcome EPIC's Public Relations Chair, Karen Cote'. But first, a little bit about the wonderful organization...
* EPIC, the Electronic Publishing Industry Coalition(TM), was incorporated in 1998 to provide a strong voice for electronic publishing. Once an authors' organization, EPIC(TM) has expanded to include hundreds of professionals from all facets of the electronic publishing industry: authors, publishers, editors, artists, and others. EPIC(TM) members work together in a unique collaboration to further the industry. EPIC(TM) is not a publisher, but aspiring authors are invited to look at our member publishers. Check out "Our Members" for listings of our author, publisher, and other industry members.
* For more about the organization, visit www.epicorg.com

Now onto the interview! Welcome, Karen! Tell us, when did you join EPIC?
* I had the pleasure of joining a couple of years ago on the enthusiastic recommendation of my publisher. I discovered she did not overstate the benefits and at thirty dollars a year, where else can you get such quality of membership and value?

What did you hope to gain from being a part of the organization?
* As a new author in the exciting world of all things digital, I was excited to learn more about this amazing and ever-constant evolving industry. I was told I could find that at EPIC and more.

And, what have you gained from being a part of the organization?
* That my publisher's savvy and knowledgeable innovation had steered me to a place of camaraderie and overwhelming support for the eWorld. EPIC established its mission statement in their by-laws as being the Voice of ePublishing. It is that and much, much more.

Do you hold a position within the organization, and if so, could you tell us how you stepped into the position and what it entails?
* Yes. My title is the Public Relations Chair so coddling the image EPIC has enjoyed as well as being a part of the continued growth of the brand has been a humbling experience. Truthfully, however, titles at EPIC would be better described as family and we all work together to make it a warm environment to thrive in. We all take our jobs to heart as the loyalty and trust of the membership is at the core of it and there is much we need to accomplish to protect our mission.
* How I stepped into the position can be credited in part to Marketing for Romance Writers as its Promotion Director. Having said that, receiving that email to assume the Public Relations Chair position from Betty Kasischke (EPIC's President) was a surreal moment in time I have yet to fully grasp.

If you were speaking to someone who was interested in joining, what would you tell them are the benefits of membership?
* As mentioned in my own discovery, EPIC as the Voice in ePublishing is a need and must to help drive this industry. Mired in history and built on a strong tradition of ethical guidance since 1998 for the digital community, EPIC also hosts the longest standing eBook competition in the world. The Ariana eBook Cover Art Competition and EPICon are also powerful events worthy of the notoriety and success they've garnered. The New Voices Young Writers Competition is another event EPIC hosts and I believe everyone at EPIC is simply in love with the opportunity in working with the promise of new and young writers.
* Finally, there are many benefits to membership. Along with the support each member gives to the other, we work with organizations in providing our members discounts that more than pay for the annual fee of being a member. BookBaby, Coffee Time Romance & More, Working Advantage, Scrivener…are just to name a few. There are many more that can be found on our home page at www.epicorg.com with more being added so stay tuned.

Thank you for joining us today, Karen, and telling us about EPIC(TM) and your part in the organization.

Karen Cote', Best Selling Romantic Suspense Author, lives in a California Castle with Prince Charming and a Magnificent Black Stallion. Okay, it’s a bungalow, a corporate husband and a small black pug who totes a sense of humor and lotsa attitude. But it is her dream. A real life dream to inspire the romantic suspense novels she writes. She can be found at www.karencote.tv

Welcome special guest: author Kaylea Cross

Today we have romantic suspense author, Kaylea Cross, visiting. She’s an award winning author of edge-of-your-seat military romantic suspense. Kaylea loves Special Ops non-fiction, romance novels, gardening, belly dance, dark chocolate and the Boston Red Sox. Let’s welcome her as she tells us about her passion for writing and her release Cover of Darkness.

I had a chance to read Kaylea's story Cover of Darkness and found it to be an entertaining read, full of action, sexual tension and uber sexy military men. Yum! ;)

So, Kaylea, what inspired you to become a writer?
I had some great teachers in elementary school that fired my imagination and fueled the desire to put my words down on paper.  I’ve been a writer ever since I can remember.
When did you attempt your first story? What length was it? What's become of it?
I wrote part of one in my early teens, and then for some reason when I was pregnant with my first child I decided I had to write my first book. I blame it on the pregnancy hormones :)
How many stories did you complete before you sold your first?
Um…one? Don’t hate me! I had to rewrite the book twice to get it ready for submission, so if you look at it that way, it was kind of like my third book.
What genre(s) do you write in? What drew you to write in it/them? What’s your favorite genre of all to write in?
I write romantic suspense and now some erotic romance (thanks to my editor, who turned me to the dark side – look for my pen name Callie Croix and my first erotic romance release coming soon) and paranormal romance.

I mostly write romantic suspense featuring military heroes because to me they’re people to be admired and respected. That’s my favorite genre to write in, but it’s a lot of work when you take into account the research I do for each book. It’s important to me to put as much realism into the story as I can, and I hope my readers will learn something every time they read a book of mine.
What are the best and worst pieces of writing advice you ever received?
Worst would have to be demanding a certain daily word count from myself. I can’t work that way, it scares my muse to death. The best advice I’ve received is to allow myself to write crap in the first draft. Crap can be fixed; blank page…not so much.
How do you celebrate/deal with acceptance/rejection letters?
Acceptance is awesome. I love acceptance. Rejection? It sucks the big one. My skin’s slightly thicker than it was when I first ventured into the world of writing, but it would sure be handy to add a bit more armor so the negative things bounce right off me. I’m working on it.
Which actor and actress do you envision playing the roles of your hero and heroine in Cover of Darkness? If there’s a villain or other characters who are pertinent to the story, who would play those parts?
Cover of Darkness features a yummy Navy SEAL lieutenant named Declan, so I’d love to see someone like The Rock (yum), Ben Afleck, or Gerard Butler (he can’t use his gorgeous accent though).  For Bryn’s character, I could see someone like Angelina Jolie.
Is it a stand-alone story or part of a series? What sparked the idea for the story/series? If it’s part of a series, please list the order the books need to be read in for maximum reading enjoyment.

Cover of Darkness is the second in a series of five, and it was born from my love of Special Ops nonfiction and belly dance. The book order is: Out of Her League;Cover of Darkness; No Turning Back; Relentless; Absolution

Now for some fun info…
Are you a cat, dog or both kind of person?
I’m actually a dog person whose husband won’t let her have one (because of a certain Golden Retriever from hell that we used to own), so I make do with a cat. He’s nice enough, but it’s not the same as having a dog and I miss it.
Would you/have you own(ed) a snake or some other exotic pet?

I’ve owned two pot-bellied pigs once. That was interesting. Did you know you can put them into a trance and make them tip over by scratching for a minute or two over their chests, right between their front legs? It’s true. Try it next time you’re at a petting zoo.
Which do you prefer: rain or sun & warm weather or cold weather?
I like the sun if it’s not too hot (like say, down in Las Vegas) or humid, but since I live in Vancouver I’m pretty comfortable in the rain. I love hearing it coming down on the roof, and it’s a good thing I think it’s so cozy because we get a lot of it.

About her book and series…
Absolution, the 5^th and final book of the series, is my latest release. But today I want to talk about Cover of Darkness.
Blurb: Targeted by a terrorist cell, Bryn McAllister survives a bombing at the U.S. Embassy in Beirut only to be left to die in a desert cellar. When she is rescued by Navy SEAL Lieutenant Declan McCabe and his team, Bryn must rely on the handsome officer to get her to safety. But just when she thinks the nightmare is over, family friend and legendary CIA operative Luke Hutchinson recruits her and McCabe to help track down the terrorist mastermind responsible for the attack.
With Bryn determined to see the terrorist brought to justice, Dec joins up to protect her, prepared to do whatever it takes to keep her safe during their dangerous mission. Battling the explosive attraction between them, Dec fights to keep his distance from her so he can do his job and keep her alive. But when plans falls apart and Bryn is captured, he must make the agonizing choice between his duty as a SEAL and the life of the woman he loves.
I did some really cool research for this one, including taking up belly dance and going up for my first ever helicopter ride so I could pretend I was a SPECOPS soldier just for a few minutes. I watched documentaries about the war in Iraq and recent political tensions in the Middle East, as well as terror groups in the area. Then I read about a half dozen Navy SEAL memoirs and non-fiction books, including Lone Survivor, which I highly recommend.
So far Cover of Darkness has won the 2010 Heart of Excellence Award, placed 3^rd in the 2010 Laurel Wreath Award, and finaled in the 2011 EPIC eBook Awards.
Purchasing info: http://www.kayleacross.com  —  Publisher link: http://thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=89_78&products_id=3890  — Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Cover-of-Darkness-ebook/dp/B003A02OQ0/ref=pd_sim_kinc_1?ie=UTF8&m=AZC9TZ4UC9CFC
http://www.amazon.com/Cover-of-Darkness-ebook/dp/B003A02OQ0/ref=pd_sim_kinc_1?ie=UTF8&m=AZC9TZ4UC9CFC

Find Kaylea here:

Website: www.kayleacross.com

Blog: www.kayleacross.blogspot.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Kaylea-Cross

Twitter: http://twitter.com/kayleacross

Giveaway! 1 digital copy of Cover of Darkness (though if she has any paperbacks left she can send one of those if the winner prefers) – or - entrant may choose a digital copy of one of her other books if they prefer. Please leave a comment telling Kaylea what you love about Special Ops heroes in romantic suspense or something interesting you’ve learned about Special Ops soldiers. Contest will run for 1 week from blog appearance, and winner will be chosen via drawing by C.R. Moss. Please leave your email with your comment or email contact@crmoss.net with your email, this way Kaylea can contact the winner about sending the book.