After being rejected by about 50 agents, Amanda Hocking self-published her paranormal romances as ebooks. Within a year, she grossed about $2 million. This year, the 26-year-old received a $2 million book deal from St Martin’s Press. Her background? She was an assisted living worker in Minnesota. Got an idea for a novel or memoir? Three Boston writers discuss the ins and outs of self-publishing, including: printing and design, marketing and promotion, as well as what it will take to be the next Amanda Hocking.

Note: Event starts at 7 but schmoozing begins at 6 pm

The Panelists:

Judah Leblang is a local writer, teacher, and story-teller. His commentaries and essays have been broadcast on almost 200 NPR and ABC-network stations. He is an instructor at Boston’s Grub Street writing center, and a columnist for Bay Windows, Boston's weekly gay newspaper. He recently self-published a book of essays, called “Finding My Place: One Man's Journey from Cleveland to Boston and Beyond.” On Nov. 19, he will perform a one-man show based on the book at the Cambridge Center for Adult Education. www.judahleblang.com

Janet Spurr published “Beach Chair Diaries, Summer Tales from Maine to Maui” through Lightning Source in June 2008. The book has sold more than 6,200 copies. Last November, Island Heritage published a new Hawaiian edition, which allows Janet to visit Hawaii and do book-signings in flip flops. She also teaches workshops on How to Promote Your Book. For more than 25 years, she has been a manufacturer's rep selling women's accessories to boutiques, museums, and catalogs in New England and has developed her own accessory line. www.janetspurr.com

Erica Ferencik is a novelist, ghostwriter, and former stand-up comedian. Her ghostwriting projects include a memoir of Boston radio favorite Ron Della Chiesa called “Radio My Way,” due out in November from Pearson Education, and a young adult sci-fi novel, “The Mutation,” published by Scholastic. Erica has performed on WGBH radio and written for the Boston Globe and Salon. She currently writes a humor column for Metrowest Daily News. In 2008, she created Waking Dream Press to publish her comic novel, “Cracks in the Foundation.” She has sold close to 3,000 books to date. This fall, she is publishing a supernatural thriller called “Repeaters” via Waking Dream. ww.wakingdreampress.com

Presented jointly by Hacks/Hackers and Media Chowder

Media Chowder is happy hour group for Boston media types. The group was founded in 2008 by Boston Globe reporter Todd Wallack, New England Medill Club president David Wallace, Compliance Week editor Matt Kelly, and Web consultant Randy Ross. The group has an e-mail list of more than 250 and meets monthly to drink and schmooze. For more information visit MediaChowder.com.