FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE / PERMISSION TO FORWARD GRANTED
2011 EPIC ARIANA ART COMPETITION™ is OPEN!
In its 12th year, the ARIANA honors the finest selection of cover art for electronically published books.
Art, in its endless variety, forms the solid core of EPIC, the Electronic Publishing Industry Coalition™, an organization consisting of industry professionals from outstanding authors, publishers, and editors to those imaginative artists who give eBooks eye-catching covers.
As a well-respected, award-winning artist and dedicated EPIC™ member, Ariana Overton is remembered and honored by EPIC's ARIANA Art Award ™. This prestigious award promotes superlative ePublishing artwork, applauding the best of the best in eBook publishing. Finalists and the winner are selected on the basis of the appropriateness of artwork to genre, the artist's attention to detail (including style and/or method), and the effectiveness of presentation (i.e. that book title, author’s name, publisher logo/information (if included), etc. are clearly viewed).
This global competition has grown rapidly over the past ten years. The genre categories often duplicate EPIC's current eBook Competition line-up. EPIC’s ARIANA Art Competition™ Guidelines may be found at http://www.epicauthors.com/ariana2011.html.
Rules Overview:
~ Cover art must be original and appear on an e-book published between October 1, 2009 and September 30, 2010. (Send to ariana@epicauthors.com)
~ Entries will be accepted from November 8, 2010 and closes 10 PM CST (U.S), December 5, 2010. (Go to http://bit.ly/ArianaEntryForm).
~ The entry fee is $15.00 (U.S. Funds) per entry/work and payments must be received by 10 PM, CST, December 6, 2010. (Send to treasurer@epicauthors.com)
~ Entries are peer-judged by active EPIC Members.
~ The 2011 ARIANA Award™ will be presented in historical Williamsburg, Virginia, during EPIC’s annual EPICon, March 10-13, 2011.
~ Questions may be address to Epic.competition.chair@gmail.com
EPICon Conference (March 10 – March 13, 2011 in Williamsburg, Virginia)
All awards for the Ariana will be presented during EPIC’s 2011 EPICon conference's gala award ceremony March 13, 2011 in Williamsburg, Virginia.
EPICon is a popular gathering for industry professionals to share the latest industry information, hone writing and editing skills, and explore new markets and promotional ideas. Featured this year is Saturday Keynote Speaker Debra Dixon, Saturday workshops for both adults and young writers, Saturday’s Awards gala and Sunday’s farewell breakfast. Find more information about this conference and workshop events at http://www.epicon-conference.com/.
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EPIC – Electronically Published Internet Coalition™ was established in 1997 and is a non-profit, professional organization for published and contracted eBook and print authors. EPIC’s goal is to provide a strong voice for electronic publishing—the major publishing marketplace of the future.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Release Day!
A month or so ago, I mentioned placing first runner-up in a writing contest for Gypsy Shadow Publishing. The prize was to have your work published by them. Yay!
This story is a little bit different from what I usually write, but just in time for the holidays. I’ve always been a fan of Dickens A Christmas Carol, and Scrooged is always up for regular review. My favorite part is the ghosts. Don’t you wonder who they are? How they came to be? I did.
Without further ado, here’s the cover and blurb for my short story, Christmas Holly.
Young, beautiful, and certain of her future, Holly Clark fully expected to have a wonderful time attending her mother’s annual Christmas Eve bash. The one thing she didn’t expect—was her own untimely death.
Gallery owner and world renowned artist, Greg Marshall is desperate to relive his past. Until he receives a startling visit from a woman he believed to be the love of his life. Her sudden appearance has the power to change everything.
Love doesn’t mean what it used to. Can the past really affect the future, or can the future transform the past?
Buy It Here
This story is a little bit different from what I usually write, but just in time for the holidays. I’ve always been a fan of Dickens A Christmas Carol, and Scrooged is always up for regular review. My favorite part is the ghosts. Don’t you wonder who they are? How they came to be? I did.
Without further ado, here’s the cover and blurb for my short story, Christmas Holly.
A gallery owner living in the past collides with a beautiful ghost from the future. Is it life, death, or love, which will imitate art?
Gallery owner and world renowned artist, Greg Marshall is desperate to relive his past. Until he receives a startling visit from a woman he believed to be the love of his life. Her sudden appearance has the power to change everything.
Love doesn’t mean what it used to. Can the past really affect the future, or can the future transform the past?
Buy It Here
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Stretching The Rules - If You Live In America
Ask anybody who really knows me, one of my biggest pet peeves is when people use whatever public platform they may have to push their personal views on you. Yep, that’s a big ‘ol button pusher for me.
You know, when you’ve paid good money to go to a concert, then you have to listen to a fifteen minute diatribe on why the artist believes one person is right for us, and another is not. I thoroughly agree that you are entitled to have an opinion, and to voice it. The tiny detail is that I paid to hear a concert. If I was going to pay to hear your political views, you should have told me. Now if I met or listened to you at a political rally or fundraiser, how awesome would that be? Totally, in my book.
Today, I’m not breaking my rule, because I’m not going to tell you my political views or make any suggestions. I’m just stretching it, to encourage you, whatever political party you belong to, please, go and vote. It’s your right as an American. And whether you approve or not, a lot of good people died to ensure you’d have that right. If you don’t use it, eventually you’ll lose it. The bottom line is, we’re all Americans. It’s a cop-out to say your vote doesn’t matter. Get off your lazy butt and get to the polls.
Please, vote.
And just so you know, if we are having a personal conversation about the results, and I find out you didn’t vote, that will be the end of the conversation. If you don’t participate, I don’t want to hear you bitch.
You know, when you’ve paid good money to go to a concert, then you have to listen to a fifteen minute diatribe on why the artist believes one person is right for us, and another is not. I thoroughly agree that you are entitled to have an opinion, and to voice it. The tiny detail is that I paid to hear a concert. If I was going to pay to hear your political views, you should have told me. Now if I met or listened to you at a political rally or fundraiser, how awesome would that be? Totally, in my book.
Today, I’m not breaking my rule, because I’m not going to tell you my political views or make any suggestions. I’m just stretching it, to encourage you, whatever political party you belong to, please, go and vote. It’s your right as an American. And whether you approve or not, a lot of good people died to ensure you’d have that right. If you don’t use it, eventually you’ll lose it. The bottom line is, we’re all Americans. It’s a cop-out to say your vote doesn’t matter. Get off your lazy butt and get to the polls.
Please, vote.
And just so you know, if we are having a personal conversation about the results, and I find out you didn’t vote, that will be the end of the conversation. If you don’t participate, I don’t want to hear you bitch.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Milestone
Thank you to all my followers, both new and old. The public ones, and the private ones. Yep, I'm watching all of you. lol.
Today is a milestone for this blog. I've reached my 100th post. How awesome is that? In my book it's pretty cool, because when I started this blog, I really couldn't think of anything to say. Some days I still have that problem. I mean really, how interesting is my life? Perhaps I need to change my viewpoint. Maybe it's the minutia of everyday life which holds us all together.
Either way, thanks for being here, and following along. It matters.
Have a spectacular weekend, everyone!
Today is a milestone for this blog. I've reached my 100th post. How awesome is that? In my book it's pretty cool, because when I started this blog, I really couldn't think of anything to say. Some days I still have that problem. I mean really, how interesting is my life? Perhaps I need to change my viewpoint. Maybe it's the minutia of everyday life which holds us all together.
Either way, thanks for being here, and following along. It matters.
Have a spectacular weekend, everyone!
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Hanging Up The Robes
Contest judging is officially finished for this year. It turned out to be a much different experience than expected. Don’t they always?
Let’s compare excuses and see if yours are the same as mine, and maybe dispel a few myths along the way.
I never volunteered to judge a contest because...
Myth Number 1
Free time is in short supply. I mean really, how could I possibly judge a contest when I have so many other ‘important’ things to do? Sometimes, this one is true. You just can’t work it in, and do a good job on the entries. I did a little switch up, which worked for me. When we’re not writing, we’re reading, right? I used my free reading time to read contest entries. And it was great. I discovered some really outstanding authors whom I really hope get published. Their stories shined so brightly, I want to know The End!
Myth Number 2
I don’t know enough. Maybe there are some who’d agree with this. lol. But seriously, I’ve learned a great deal over the past several years. From my publishers, editors, and mostly from my CP’s who are editors, authors, and professionals in their own right. Brilliant women, I consider myself lucky to know. I realize I still have so much to learn about this business, but at the same time, I’ve learned enough, that I can start giving back to the writing community which has been so generous to me.
Myth Number 3
Contests don’t matter. Getting published does. Everyone is entitled to their opinion on this one. But, I admit to a change of heart after reading the entries. There are many different routes to publication. Who am I to say not to follow the one that works best for you? If you can draw the attention of an editor or agent with your entry, good for you! If you don’t, but you still learned something from entering, it’s still money well spent. If even that doesn’t work, try another route.
All in all, it proved to be a really good experience. I’m glad I did it. There wasn’t anything that got on my nerves about any of the entries. While not all spectacular, the work that each entrant put into their work was very evident. Judging will have a place on the calendar for next year. Can’t wait to see what’s new.
Let’s compare excuses and see if yours are the same as mine, and maybe dispel a few myths along the way.
I never volunteered to judge a contest because...
Myth Number 1
Free time is in short supply. I mean really, how could I possibly judge a contest when I have so many other ‘important’ things to do? Sometimes, this one is true. You just can’t work it in, and do a good job on the entries. I did a little switch up, which worked for me. When we’re not writing, we’re reading, right? I used my free reading time to read contest entries. And it was great. I discovered some really outstanding authors whom I really hope get published. Their stories shined so brightly, I want to know The End!
Myth Number 2
I don’t know enough. Maybe there are some who’d agree with this. lol. But seriously, I’ve learned a great deal over the past several years. From my publishers, editors, and mostly from my CP’s who are editors, authors, and professionals in their own right. Brilliant women, I consider myself lucky to know. I realize I still have so much to learn about this business, but at the same time, I’ve learned enough, that I can start giving back to the writing community which has been so generous to me.
Myth Number 3
Contests don’t matter. Getting published does. Everyone is entitled to their opinion on this one. But, I admit to a change of heart after reading the entries. There are many different routes to publication. Who am I to say not to follow the one that works best for you? If you can draw the attention of an editor or agent with your entry, good for you! If you don’t, but you still learned something from entering, it’s still money well spent. If even that doesn’t work, try another route.
All in all, it proved to be a really good experience. I’m glad I did it. There wasn’t anything that got on my nerves about any of the entries. While not all spectacular, the work that each entrant put into their work was very evident. Judging will have a place on the calendar for next year. Can’t wait to see what’s new.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Irritation Nation – Bad Book Reviews
Sorry to come out swinging after an absence, but I read something today that just really hit me wrong. It was a review of a fellow authors work, and it wasn’t worth the pixels on the screen I was reading.
Let’s face it. If you’re a published author, you never want to receive a bad review. We spend hours and hours slaving over our work to make it the best it can possibly be. Reading each sentence multiple times to be as certain as possible we’ve used the correct word to describe the proper emotion, or setting, right down to the last detail. And that’s before the rounds of edits done by the publisher.
As adults, when we find out someone doesn’t like our work, mostly we manage to shrug it off and move on. It’s a big wide internet out here, and we understand that not everyone will love our work. Some people will just flat out not like it. And that’s okay.
I love Coke, and really don’t care for Pepsi. There you go. I doubt either company will lose one minute of sleep over my opinion.
But. I digress. And admit to confusion. Writers are supposed to be professionals, no? Following this happy trail, one would think a book review blog should be professional also. ...that screeching sound is the rubber meeting the road, as it were. Don’t get me wrong, there are several fantastic review sites which are run in a very professional manner, and it’s not these I’m referring to.
Thank you to the glorious internet, which helps all of us promote our books, it seems anyone who can type, can now also start a blog, review, and offer their opinion. Which is fine. I do it. You are absolutely entitled to do it also. But if you can’t even find the spell checker, I am absolutely entitled to not take one damn word seriously.
Let’s face it. If you’re a published author, you never want to receive a bad review. We spend hours and hours slaving over our work to make it the best it can possibly be. Reading each sentence multiple times to be as certain as possible we’ve used the correct word to describe the proper emotion, or setting, right down to the last detail. And that’s before the rounds of edits done by the publisher.
As adults, when we find out someone doesn’t like our work, mostly we manage to shrug it off and move on. It’s a big wide internet out here, and we understand that not everyone will love our work. Some people will just flat out not like it. And that’s okay.
I love Coke, and really don’t care for Pepsi. There you go. I doubt either company will lose one minute of sleep over my opinion.
But. I digress. And admit to confusion. Writers are supposed to be professionals, no? Following this happy trail, one would think a book review blog should be professional also. ...that screeching sound is the rubber meeting the road, as it were. Don’t get me wrong, there are several fantastic review sites which are run in a very professional manner, and it’s not these I’m referring to.
Thank you to the glorious internet, which helps all of us promote our books, it seems anyone who can type, can now also start a blog, review, and offer their opinion. Which is fine. I do it. You are absolutely entitled to do it also. But if you can’t even find the spell checker, I am absolutely entitled to not take one damn word seriously.
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