Marci Baun

Questions for the Voodoo Doll Lady, AKA Debi Sullivan (grin)

I am not one to do interviews on my private blog, but, on occasion, I will slip. Since I believe in this competition, and this organization, and, because I can, today I am interviewing my fearless friend and partner in evil thinking, EPIC Awards chair Debi Sullivan. You will find this interview to be a bit of serious, a bit of silliness, and hopefully entertaining.

So, darling, the deadline to enter EPIC Awards is fast approaching. Could you edify us a bit on what exactly this award that I’ve twittered nearly nonstop for the past month is all about?

EPIC’s annual e-book competition showcases the best of the best in e-publishing. For more information, check out our web announcement at:

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2009/07/prweb2673704.htm

Whose books are eligible?

Any English-language e-book, published between Oct. 1, 2008 and May 31, 2009, that meets our word minimum criteria .Check out the Competition Guidelines at www.epicauthors.com for more details.

When is the latest date someone can enter?

The deadline for submissions is rapidly approaching. The competition closes to entries at midnight CST, on August 15^th, 2009. Payments must be received by midnight on August 16^th.

Hey! If you are an author and haven’t entered yet, best get your butt in gear!

What makes this award different from other writing competitions out there?

EPIC’s EBook Competition is unique in that it reflects the ever-changing changing mores of the e-publishing world. This competition has garnered a reputation for excellence with both entrants and judges, a reputation that will continue to shine as we move into the future. I am extremely proud to know that I have had an integral part in phenomenal changes to this competition.

Are there other reasons you believe this is a good competition to enter?

Gee…there are tons! You get recognition from your peers, find new places to submit, have another place to show off how great your book(s) is, and have bragging rights if you final. Plus, if you win, we give you a cool award you can put on top of your monitor to give you inspiration the next time you have a writer’s block.

How is it judged? Can anyone be a judge?

Our judges come from all arenas of the e- and print publishing industry. Scores are not revealed to anyone but yours truly (bribery doesn’t work, though it HAS been tried).

This award used to known as the EPPIE. Why did the name change?

EPIC learned that another contest had trademarked their competition name and it’s very similar to EPPIE. To avoid a legal battle, EPIC decided to change the name of our competition. Anyone who already has an EPPIE in their possession has a true collectors item. *lol*

EPIC is brewing up a new name. When will we know what it’s called?

The new name will be revealed at EPIC’s annual conference taking place at the Sheraton in New Orleans, LA from March 4-7, 2010. Want to be one of the first ones to know what we pick? Be there!

Now, I’ve seen you at EPICon. (Trust me, people. It’s not a pretty sight. When she gets out her voodoo dolls, you know you are in trouble. ) What possessed you to volunteer as the chair?

Hey! That is only before coffee. Give me coffee in the early hours (FYI: before 10am) and I am an absolute sweetheart.

So, you want the truth or a lie? *LOL*

I believe in what EPIC stands for as an organization and initially *cough* volunteered to work behind the scenes to learn more about this very interesting contest.

I started out as a judge, moved up to category judge coordinator before getting shanghaied (yes, I said shanghaied – too strange of an event to go into here) into being the E-Book Competition Chair. At the time I was also the New Voices Chair, which made for a VERY chaotic and wacky year. Been EPIC’s E-Book Competition Chair for two years now and, yes, I am more than a bit crazy…a fact that will be sworn to by anyone who knows and adores me…or fears me *bwahhahaha*.

What is EPICon?

EPICon is EPIC’s annual convention when all of EPIC’s members get together. We are Par-TY animals! All kidding aside, we have awesome and informative workshops that range from those suitable for young writers to the hottest of the hottest erotica. The awards banquet is always eventful (honest, you have be there to understand the insanity) and you never know who will be there – whether it is Sherrilyn Kenyon or the latest marketing/promo guru and/or agent. It is the perfect venue to mingle with your peers and there is so much going on, there is something for everyone.

We also have a special celebratory luncheon for the winners of our New Voices Young Writers Competition, which promotes Middle and High School-aged authors through a global network. EPIC is very proud of the New Voices Competition (which happens to run from August 1, 2009 through Oct. 20, 2009…hint hint), a perfect platform to educate students and their schools about e-books and the e-publishing industry.

Can only members attend EPICon?

Any industry member is welcome, as long as they are willing to pay the entrance fee. Not being involved in the details, as chair to this e-book competition keeps me hopping, I would suggest checking in at www.epicauthors.com, closer to the end of the year, to learn the nitty-gritty.

On a lighter note: What material do you find is the best for your voodoo dolls? (wink)

Pins…lots and lots of pins! <VEG> and chocolate. Makes poking the pins less painful for ME.

Can chocolate placate you when you are riled? Or do you need something stronger, like ten shots of vodka? (Or maybe chocolate vodka shots.)

Love the darkest chocolate, rich coffee with loads of cream and sugar, and my cancer-sticks. Yeah, I know the latter is not healthy for me…but it IS healthy for the entrants. Keep that in mind if anyone is looking for bribe material. *hehehehe*

Is there anything else you would like to say to my brave readers?

If you are an author – get your book and entry fee together and enter the competition NOW. The clock is counting down.

If you are a reader – go look to see who has entered in the past and buy their books. That means they’re really good. And be sure to check back around the beginning of December 2009 to see who are in the finals …and then go buy THEIR books.

Don’t make me go get the dolls…they love to come out and play!

Thanks for coming and visiting with me. You must come again, but leave your voodoo dolls at home. (grin)

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Tonight, my daughter sat down next to me and wanted to help me finish the coloring she had directed me to do earlier. I had asked her for the blue pen, but she wanted to color my page with the pen. Having spent a bit of time on it, I really didn’t want her to. You know, she’s still learning to color within the lines. It sounds childish that I grudgingly let her help–the blue strayed into my orange and pink, but I am being honest. As I stared down at the top of her head, her lip sucked in between her teeth in concentration, I realized that this wasn’t so much about coloring as it was about being close to me and contributing to what I was doing. She’s of that age now that she wants to help with everything. (Yes, I know, enjoy it while it lasts. LOL) By me letting her help, she felt good about herself and important. It also, in a roundabout way, shows her how to share and cooperate, but that’s a different blog.

Watching her, and seeing how much it meant to her to be able to “help” Mommy, I realized something else: the importance of contribution. When you ask someone for help or allow someone to help you (and help them in return), you validate their importance, you give them the opportunity to experience their own worth. This is not about mooching off of others, but showing a child, an elderly person, a peer, and so on that their opinion, their contribution matters, that they can make a difference. You build their confidence, and their desire, and their knowledge, to help others again. You also teach them that receiving is good and natural. Her coloring wasn’t perfect, but the desire to help me, to be a part of what I was doing was.

This afternoon, we went to Target to pick up a gift for one of her friend’s birthdays. I allowed her to pick it out along with the card. First, I am teaching her how to give (children, and some adults–okay, most of us at some point or other–tend to be all about me, me, me). Second, I was showing her with my trust in her decision that she can make decisions. If her friend doesn’t like the gift, well, that’s okay. My daughter chose it with the intent of making her friend happy. (A Barbie mermaid whose hair changes color in the water. The girl should like it. ) She did deliberate between a couple of them before settling on her final choice.

Contribution… Think about this. In the US, we have stripped the older generation of that ability. We make them retire at 65 years old. Some want to; others don’t. Those who do often find themselves at loose ends. They worked for so many years, had a purpose, had a place to be. Now what? Few people listen to them, although with their vast experiences of life, we should. The stories they can tell; the world we will never see as it is long gone. They have much to share…if we would only let them. I often seek my mother’s advice. She is a wise woman, and I am appreciative of what she has to give. I am sharing those same nuggets of wisdom with my daughter, as well as other young women. One in particular made me sit up and wonder what happened. (Tangent coming…)

I was lamenting to my mother how most of the young men now expect favors/sex when they go out on a date with someone and how the young woman feels obligated to “pay out,” so to speak. So, many young women don’t want the guys to pay for everything because of it. My mother said, “I don’t understand why these young men should think that, and I certainly don’t understand why the girl would feel that way. In my day, the boy took the girl out to get to know her better. He paid for the date and was grateful she agreed to go out with him. Paying for a date entitles them to nothing but the pleasure of your company, however you interpret that to mean. If it was me, that wouldn’t mean sex or even a kiss if I didn’t feel like it.”

I shared this bit of wisdom with a number of young women while working of as a librarian at a private acting university. It changed their views. Perhaps irritated a few guys, but, you know, it’s the truth. Those young men were lucky to have a date, and if they don’t want to date her again, then, you know what, they aren’t worth it. (Take back your worth, ladies!)

(End tangent…)

Back to contribution. When someone asks you for advice or you help someone, how does that make you feel? Do you see yourself in a different light when you discover you can help someone, even if it is in a small way? When you participate with a group/volunteer, don’t you enjoy the sense of accomplishment? Sometimes, you might think you don’t have the time. Maybe you think you have to offer to run something in order to really participate/contribute. You don’t. Time expenditure can be big or small. You do only what you can because every little bit helps.

This is just my opinion, but when I join a club, I do so because I believe in what they are doing. However, if I am going to be a part of that group, I will step up to the plate and help. My help may only be judging a five books as I did for the EPPIEs last year or presenting an hour workshop at EPICon, but I will do what I know I can. I have offered to help EPIC with their website updates. Honestly, I don’t have time to become the webmaster, but I am willing to help in some capacity. Do I have the time? Um, not really. My plate is full between two publishing houses, a young child, my husband, and making sure I have a life outside of all that, but I believe in this organization. I will find the time to do it. If I am not going to participate, even in a small way, I might as well stop being a member.

Contribution. Try it. No matter how little it is, you’ll find that it enriches your life. You will get a lot more out of it than you give. And, remember to give others the opportunity to contribute as well.

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