Deb Package Question

[AllowOverride <allowoverride@gmail.com>]

Hello, I am trying to package up a folder that has two more folders and
is a self contained program.

i have tried debuild, dpkg-buildpackage, all sorts of deb build this and
thats, and well its really hard to package up something.

now im sure it's easy for some of you, but remember this is a program
that runs out of a folder, has not real deps it doesn't satisfy within
its self and dir.

what is the basic syntax to use to take this program and make it a .deb
where dpkg -i some.deb will install in /usr/local/etc

pretty simple eh?

let's find out..

suggestions?

thanks 

AO