EPICon UPDATE

EPICon Returns to Las Vegas

It's been eight years since EPICon, the e-publishing industry's yearly convention, hosted by The Electronically Published Internet Connection, has turned its sights on Sin City. It's not the typical "entertainment" industry you'd think of when The Entertainment Capitol of the World comes to mind, but fiction publishing, especially in indie press, is all about a rich reader experience.

EPIC is the epicenter of that world for more than 700 authors and industry professionals, and EPICon has always been open to both members and non-members of this fast-growing, international organization. In its tenth year, EPICon is home to not only the formal business meeting for the group but also class tracks in writing, publishing and promotion, the presentation of the New Voices, EPPIE and ARIANA/QUASAR awards and the gala EPPIE banquet with this year's emcee, long-time stage performer Daniel J. Reitz Sr.

This year's convention will be held at the Monte Lago Village Resort (www.montelagovillage.com) in beautiful and picturesque Henderson, NV, located just 17 miles off the Las Vegas strip. Monte Lago is a Tuscan village setting, complete with cobblestone streets, fountains, shopping and activities for all ages.

The convention keynote this year will be Penny C. Sansevieri of Author Marketing Experts, Inc., a publicist and bestselling author herself. Her company is one of the leaders in the publishing industry and has developed some of the most cutting-edge book marketing campaigns around.

In addition to the industry portions of the convention, there is a class track especially for young writers. Since the addition of New Voices--the four-year-old middle and high school writing contest EPIC runs--to the EPICon fold, EPIC President Carol MacLeod and New Voices Chair Debi Sullivan have worked to increase young author participation in the convention itself.

And avid readers in the Las Vegas/Henderson area can look forward to two separate book signings arranged for authors attending the conference. The first will be for sensual and erotic authors only and is tentatively scheduled for the Erotic Heritage Museum on Wednesday, March 4, 2009. The second is a multi-genre signing tentatively scheduled to be held at Cheesecake and Crime on Friday, March 6, 2009. More information will be released on both signings as it becomes available.

Though the economy is troublesome and prices are soaring, EPICon remains one of the best deals in convention travel. Airfare to Las Vegas is notably inexpensive, and the convention itself enjoys some of the best rates you'll find for a multi-day experience. From the $35 day-trip price for the teen writers through the full conference package, which includes six of the seven meals for the more than two days of convention time, that clocks in at $225, you won't find a comparable deal anywhere. There are even ala carte deals that entice the attendee to bring along the family for only $170 per person for the full meal package.

Even staying at Monte Lago is reasonably-priced. EPICon's room deals clock in studio rooms for as little as $139. Two and three-bedroom suites, some with full kitchens, are available in the $249-$449 per night price range.
For more information on attending EPICon, visit the conference site at (www.epic-conference.com). But don't delay too long! Registration for EPICon closes Feb 15th.