Epilectra Launches with Denver Celebration
To celebrate the release of the graphic novel, Epilectra, this week there was a Launch Party for family, fans, friends, and media. One of the most exciting things about the event was that it was hosted by The Access Gallery, a nonprofit organization that offers people with disabilities creative, educational, and economic opportunities through art.
Sue Seserman, Creator and Author of Epilectra, shared her disability journey with the gathered crowd, talked about what inspired her to write the graphic novel, discussed the book’s mission, answered questions from the audience, and read from Epilectra’s pages while screen shots were projected behind her. Epilectra Book 1 was offered for sale, and Seserman signed books. Rubber band superhero bracelets and giant stickers were distributed, and everyone enjoyed pizza!
“I think the Epilectra Launch Party was a big success,” said Seserman the following day. “The guests loved the venue, and they asked a lot of great quest questions….”
Among them:
Are the Epilectra superheroes based on anyone?
All the superheroes, except for Aupticus, are loosely based on people I know and admire. C.P., who has cerebral palsy, was inspired by the daughter of a close friend who has cerebral palsy. She’s an award-winning high school speaker and often used her disability as a topic. My daughter has endometriosis and suggested I created a character with this disability. I’ve skied with Paralympian, Ralph Green, who is an amputee. I was thinking of him when creating Logan. And, of course, I have type 1 diabetes and epilepsy. So, I drew from my own experience when bringing Insulator and Epilectra to life.
Why did you want to write this book?
After I was diagnosed with epilepsy, I volunteered in Epilepsy Monitoring Units in hospitals in Denver and New York. I heard two things consistently from patients – 1. That I was brave and heroic for coming to visit them on my own with epilepsy, and 2. That they had given up on something important to them like their education, their career, a relationship, and their independence because of their disability. I found this to be very sad and thought it unnecessary. I became determined to change their mindsets from one of “I can’t” to one of “I can.”
That’s when the idea for Epilectra – a “real” hero” – came to me. She and her team turn disabilities “superabilities.” I want people with disabilities to believe they are capable of achieving their dreams. They may have to take an atypical route to get there or ask for help along the way, but they can absolutely accomplish great things. Everyone who manages both a disability and a life is a real live superhero.
Epilectra is so creative. How did you think of the characters and storylines?
I talked a little bit about my inspiration for the characters, and Epilectra is based in New York City because that where I was living when I wrote Books 1 and 2. But honestly, the ideas just come to me. When I sit down at my keyboard to write, it’s like a switch is flipped and words flow onto the page.
What are your goals for Epilectra?
The mission for Epilectra is twofold – Disability Empowerment and Stigma Elimination. Disability Empowerment is all about getting people with disabilities to understand that their circumstances, while challenging, don’t have to stop them from having dreams and achieving them. In terms of Stigma Elimination, Stigma is a factor of ignorance and fear. Epilectra combats ignorance and fear with education, exposure, and conversation opportunity. Plus, the book offers strong, positive (albeit fictional) role models with disabilities.
Do you see Epilectra ever becoming more than a book?
I sure hope so! Hey Mr. Speilberg, are you reading this? I truly believe Epilectra has terrific characters, takes place in an amazing setting, and I’ve just scratched the surface of potential storylines. No offence to their creators, but the last few years of new superheroes who have been featured on both the small and big screens haven’t been incredibly memorable. I think the superheroes of Team SEEZ are fresh, modern, memorable, interesting, complex, and worthy of portrayal and many media. Not to mention Epilectra’s adversaries offer up an entirely different class of “villain” – one that’s relatable, interesting, and sympathetic.