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EPIC Awards Frequently Asked QuestionsNEW! Changes this year! Please read FAQ for more information!
There are changes this year. Please, make sure to read the entire FAQ before entering the EPIC Award! When, Where, What, How Much?:Q: When will the contest open? A: The EPIC Award contest opens for entries on September 1, 2007 and runs through October 7, 2007, Midnight EST. The Quasar contest opens for entries November 1, 2007 and runs through November 15, 2007. Q: What are the eligibility requirements and dates for the 2008 EPIC Awards? A: Any eBooks published between October 1, 2006 and September 30, 2007 inclusive are eligible for the 2008 EPIC Awards (to be awarded at the 2008 EPICon Conference). Likewise covers for eBooks released between October 1, 2006 and September 30, 2007 inclusive are eligible for the 2008 ARIANA and QUASAR awards. Q: What are the entry fees this year? A: Entry fees for EPIC Award are the same as last year. The EPIC Awards are $20.00 per book for EPIC members and $30.00 per book for non-EPIC members. In the case of an anthology, entered by an EPIC-member author or editor/publisher, it enters at the $20 fee. ARIANA/QUASAR cover entries are $10.00 for each entry. This hike is to support the expanded categories and to become better aligned to the other contests. Q: What are the book file naming requirements all about? A: Before you send your book in to the EPIC Award contest please rename it in the following manner: category initial [dash] title [dash] author initials.pdf For example: Jane Alice Doe enters her book, Under The Starlit Sky, in Historical Romance and her entered file should be named: M–UnderTheStarlitSky–JAD.pdf Please do not use spaces or underscores in your file name. Do not use symbols other than a dash. The dash MUST appear after the category letter and before your initials; no other dashes will be accepted. A space or an underscore can mess with some browser types as well as the judging link. Please do not truncate or abbreviate your title in regards to the file name. If you cannot remember the category letter, please check the list at the bottom of this page. Q: Is there a limit to how many books/covers may be entered in the EPIC Award or the ARIANA/QUASAR? A: There is no limit to the number of books you may enter in a single EPIC Award year, into a single EPIC Award category, or how many EPIC Award categories you may enter. However, you may not enter the same book in two categories. You may not remove a novella from an anthology and enter it separately; all entries must be entered "as they sell." You may not enter a book that has been previously entered in EPIC Award. In previous years, QUASAR had a limit to the number of covers that could be entered. The committee has decided to do away with that limit since we found that collaborations and such made such an endeavor problematic. This year we will attempt no limit on the number of covers that may be entered by a single artist.The price for QUASAR entry has been increased to $10. This is still less than many contests, with a similar award structure, charge for entry of covers and it will cause artists to seriously consider which of their multiple covers to enter, since $10 will add up quickly. The hike in fees will facilitate the additional awards needed in our expanded categories. Please keep in mind that, unlike EPIC Award, the ARIANA/QUASAR is a voted award. The more entries you put into the same category, the more you split your own potential vote. With a judged award, like EPIC Award, the number of entries in any given category does not impede your chances of winning with any given book. Q: What are the categories this year for the EPIC Awards and the QUASAR/ARIANAS A: See the bottom of this page. Q: Who may enter books and/or covers? A: EPIC Award books must be entered by the author OR publisher, if the author is unable to enter for him/herself. In the case of an anthology, the book may be entered by the editor, publisher, or any single author within the anthology. ARIANA/QUASAR covers must be entered by the artist. If the artist is unable to enter for him/herself, the cover may be entered by the publisher. In the case of a collaboration cover, either artist may enter the cover in the contest. An author or editor may NOT enter his/her cover in the ARIANA/QUASAR. This award is for the artist, not the author. Q: How will I know if everything is received? A: Check our entry database. The database updates every few days to reflect forms, files and money received. Once the database shows your entry is in the clear, you can relax. If a file or form does not show up on the database within a week of you sending it, you certainly can check on it. You should wait longer (5 to 7 business days minimum) for payment questions. Remember, though PayPal seems instantaneous on the entrants' end, it can take up to 7 days for your payment to finalize on EPIC's end and 10 days for an e-check, done via PayPal. Also remember that personal/business checks may not clear EPIC's bank for up to 7 business days. This timeframe does not include the time it takes for the check to be received through the mail. If you entered in the final few days of the entry period there is a seven day grace period to allow any payments to arrive for process. All book files and forms MUST be received by the entry deadline. For the Quasars, you will know that your entry is received and payment is finalized WHEN your cover appears on the EPIC website. Content and Laws:Q: I notice that you've added some content rules. Can you be specific about them? A: Absolutely! EPIC is an American Corporation, bound by American laws in several jurisdictions. For that reason the following subjects are not be permitted: literature containing pedophilia, bestiality, necrophilia, snuff or scat play as acceptable sexual practices. EPIC has an obligation to protect the corporation, the EPIC Award contest, and the judges of that contest. The only way to do that is to add these warnings to our contest rules. Q: I write a fantasy world where some of those things are common. How does this apply to me? A: Fantasy, paranormal and science fiction have some leeway in certain aspects. For instance, an alien/magical creature that is sentient but doesn't appear human would not be considered bestiality. The test would be whether the creature/character was sentient, fairly intelligent and willing. Likewise, an alien/magical race that doesn't age as humans do might well be adult at a younger age than 18 years (as some existing fantasy books have done). But, in addition to the tests above for bestiality, one would expect that the creature/character would appear and act as an adult. I don't believe there is any way to justify necrophilia, snuff or scat play; just assume there are no exceptions to those rules. Since Vampires are the "walking dead," and considered sentient, aware, and capable of choosing to have sex, we will assume they do not fall under the category of necrophilia. Q: But there is classic literature that contains these things. What about X? A: We could use a dozen examples here. Many of them were written before the current laws were enacted. However we're dealing with books put out in the current times, which means we have to look at the current laws. There is a huge difference between a character who has something like this in his/her background and a glorified handling of it in the timeline of the book. We are well aware that pedophiles exist. We won't stop an author from entering a book exploring the subject of pedophilia and its aftermath in a caring manner, in any category of fiction or nonfiction. Authors should warn us properly, at the time the book is entered, so we can find willing judges to tackle such a sensitive subject. HOWEVER if a book depicts acts of pedophilia graphically, as a positive, fulfilling, legitimate act of sexual expression, that book is contraband. Possessing such material (slang name 'kiddie porn') is illegal under U.S. laws. We cannot, therefore, have it on the EPIC server or on the computers of EPIC Award judges. This is non-negotiable. Story length and published works:Q: How long does a story have to be to compete in the EPIC Award? I've heard as high as 40,000 words and as low as 10,000. Which is right? A: Your friend who said 10,000 is right on this one. To enter in the EPIC Award a story must be at least 10,000 words long and must stand alone as a unit of its own. If the story depends on back-story, included in other books, the judges are going to mark it down heavily in scoring. Q: What constitutes a published book, or published work, for the purpose of EPIC Award? A: Whether self-published, subsidy-published or published with a publisher, a published work is something that is offered FOR SALE, and released during the EPIC Award year. Stories posted for free on blogs, web sites, or even given as a free file are not considered "published works" for the purpose of the EPIC Award contest. Q: Does the length requirement apply to all categories? A: With the exception of Children's and Poetry, yes. It's expected that these books may, in fact, be shorter than 10,000 words in length. Anthologies:Q: I notice that you've done away with the anthology category. Where do my anthologies go now? A: Anthologies should be entered in the genre they fit into. For instance, a grouping of science fiction stories would be entered in science fiction category. Please remember to enter the names of ALL anthology authors in the block provided for them. Q: What about the novellas? We used to be able to take novellas out of the whole and enter them in the genre without the rest of the anthology. A: Sorry, but that's no longer allowed. For one thing, your novella would be competing against your anthology as a whole. For another, the novella wasn't released as a stand-alone unit in the contest year, if it was released in the anthology. All entries are required to be entered "as they sell." If entries cannot be edited for galley errors, they cannot be ripped apart to take the strongest portions and leave the rest. By that reckoning, taking the novella from the whole of the offered package isn't appropriate. The one time this would not be true is in the remote possibility that both the novella alone and the novella within the anthology in question were released in e-book in the same contest year. In that case, since the novella was released as a stand-alone unit, it would be eligible to compete the same year the anthology competes. Yes, you'd be competing against yourself. But, considering the fact that the other authors, publisher or editor might choose to enter the anthology as a whole, it would not be appropriate to strip the rights of the author to enter his/her own novella in the year it released just because it was also released that year in the anthology. Q: Who may enter an anthology? A: An anthology may be entered by the publisher, editor, or any of the writers whose work is part of the anthology. Naturally, if the work is by a single author, that author may enter the work. Please see statues, medallions and certificates for more information on how the awards system works for anthology entries. Q: I have a collection of eclectic stories without a central genre, or a genre that isn't listed, like Humor. How do I enter that? A: Such a book would be entered as Mainstream, just as a multi-genre book that doesn't fit well into a single genre is often entered in Mainstream. Statues, medallions and certificates:Q: Someone told me that you've done away with multiple statues. I've co-authored a book. Surely we'll both get statues? There's precedent for that. A: Yes, there certainly is precedent for it! Your friend has given you half-information. Let me break down the particulars for you. A book or anthology written by a single author receives a single statue for the author. A book that is co-authored by two authors will receive two trophies, one for each author. Please note that a co-authored book is one that is a single, cohesive storyline, with no visible breaks to separate the author's portions. It is not a two-person anthology with individual stories. An anthology written by four authors, or less, will each receive a trophy. An anthology written by five authors, or more, will receive one trophy. This trophy will be awarded to the editor. If the publisher and editor are one and the same, the trophy will be given to the publisher/editor. If there are co-editors the statue will go to the publisher. The authors will receive medallions and accompanying certificates for their win. They are each considered to be an EPIC Award winner. The statues and certificates for Quasar/Ariana/Dirk were upgraded last year. The Dirk winners get framed certificates. The category winners will receive a miniature statue and the final winner receives a large statue. Both statues are of the same design. In the case of a co-designed cover winning the final round, both artists will receive a statue, just as both authors of a co-authored book would receive a statue. In 2007 it was decided that publishers will receive certificates for their finalists and winners. The publisher puts a lot of work into getting a book out for sale. An author does not get there alone, unless it's a self-published work. For this reason the EPIC Award will now be recognizing the publisher for their work on the finaling/winning book. Thriller:Q: I notice that thriller is also a deleted category. Where would my thriller go now? A: Thriller is, by definition, a book that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Is that feeling based on a horror story, an action/adventure story, or does it cross genres and find its way to Mainstream? Only the author can decide that. Re-released books, books with a new publisher:Q: My book was originally published by XXX Publishing prior to Oct 1, 200X. I pulled the book from that publisher and contracted it to a new publisher. It was just released by them last month. Would it be eligible for this contest? A: If a book has been re-released during the eligibility period, it is eligible if it has NOT been entered in the EPIC Awards in a previous year. Q: A book I wish to enter was once published by XXX within the proper time frame for the contest. However I am no longer with XXX and the book will be released by another publisher, but probably not before the specified time period. Is it eligible for entry? A: Yes. However, if the book is entered in this year's contest, it may NOT be entered in subsequent years when it would be eligible, based solely on the new publisher's release. If there will be major changes to the soon-to-be-released book, you may want to reconsider entering it this year. Q: My book was released this year and is really quite different from when another publisher published it in 200X. Does the rule mean I can't enter this book in the contest, even though it is actually a different book? A: A book may be entered only once in the EPIC Awards. If it has been entered before, even though it may have been extensively edited, it may not be entered again. However, if it has never been entered before, it may be entered based on the release date from the new publisher. Books in several volumes:Q: I have a single book that was split into two volumes for length considerations. Can I enter it as a single book, or do I have to enter both pieces separately, though they cannot stand alone? A: If each book was released as a separate unit with individual ISBNs, they must be entered as a separate unit. You can request, in the comment section, that the two books be given to the same judge for continuity. EPIC Award judging:Q: How is the contest judged? A: The EPIC Awards are judged in two rounds. The first round of judging is done by volunteer judges and occasionally a small number of guest judges, all of whom are either published authors or publishing professionals. Judging assignments are made on the basis of judges' preferences and experience (as writers, or readers, of a particular category). Guest judges are only used in the first round when the committee/chair deems there is a need for additional judges. First round judges score books by evaluating the works on the basis of criteria established by the committee. Scores are totaled by the contest coordinator and the entries earning the highest scores are named finalists. The EPIC Award endeavors to have a minimum of 10% of entered books final in each category, except where the scores would indicate otherwise (where a very small point variation can give a category slightly more or slightly less than 10% of the entries being finalists). The second round, or finalist round, consists of a panel of judges chosen strictly from the ranks of EPIC members. These judges read all the finalists and rank the works within their specific category. The EPIC Award Chairman combines the rankings and the work earning the highest ranking is the winner. In case of a tie, duplicate trophies are awarded. The Quasar/Arianas are judged strictly by a vote of the members. Category winners receive an Ariana and proceed to the final vote. The Dirk A. Wolf Honorable Mention for Artistic Merit awards are given to those artist's whose work receives the second highest number of votes in the category contest. The winning cover will be the one that has received the most votes in the final round voting. Covers are displayed on the website for a minimum of two weeks prior to voting in the first round. Categories:Q: May a book be entered in more than one category? A: No. You must choose the stronger category. In the case of a cross-genre book, the judges typically give the benefit of the doubt and don't mark down for the incorrect category unless your book is grossly mis-categorized. Please note that erotica, erotic romance, and romance cross-genres should be placed in the correct category, as per the guidelines. Q: You mentioned changes in the ARIANA/QUASAR categories. What is that all about? A: In the past we had very limited categories, and covers of very dissimilar genres were forced to compete with each other. In a sweeping change, ARIANA/QUASAR is going to accept covers separately in fifteen (15) different categories to better mirror the EPIC Awards. If any category fails to make a minimum of 5 entries within the category, artists will have the option of withdrawing their entry from that category or having them compete against covers in a neighboring category of the committee's discretion, which would be one close in scope and style to the category that didn't make the minimum limit. Q: What about EPIC Award? Does EPIC Award have a lower limit on entries in a category the same as the ARIANA/QUASAR does? A: EPIC Award has always had that 5 book limit. EPIC Award has become more established than ARIANA/QUASAR currently is and, for that reason—with the exception of poetry (being such a small e-book market, to begin with), all EPIC Award categories will keep a minimum entry of 8 entries. If the category does not make 8 entries, entrants will be given the choice of either withdrawing their entries or competing in a neighboring category of the committee's discretion, which would be one close in scope and content to the one that didn't make the limit. Q: My book crosses categories. How should I enter it? A: It is up to you to find the fit that is best for your book. If you have a mystery with a ghost, you will have to decide if the ghost is window dressing for the mystery or the mystery secondary to the ghost. The alternative for books that cross many genre lines is to place it in Mainstream/Single Title, but that should be used as a last resort. Placing a book in a category where it clearly does not belong will mean losing 3 points of your score, so choose carefully, especially when placing a book in a straight genre vs. romance or placing it in romance vs. erotic romance. Please, read ALL category descriptions before choosing the right one for your book, and ask the coordinator for clarification, if any wording confuses you or seems counter to itself. Q: I see from the categories that you don't accept screenplays or plays. Why not? A: The EPIC Award is an e-book contest. With few exceptions, such as Shakespeare, screenplays and plays are meant for a 'live' venue, not a printed one. Add to that the judging issue, since plays and screenplays are judged differently than books, and it isn't feasible for the EPIC Award to include these as its own category. Besides, there are many more appropriate contests for those types of works. EPIC Award CategoriesDescriptions provided are only to explain the general nature of each category. They are simple guidelines to help decide in which category the book should be submitted, however, each category could include additional themes or ideas that are not posted. Ultimately, it is the author who should identify the genre/subgenre of his or her book and choose the category.
QUASAR/ARIANA CategoriesThe QUASAR/ARIANA categories have been expanded from eight to fifteen this year.
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