As the age of digital publishing dawns and conglomerate publishers struggle through the recession, two industry experts announced plans for the inaugural Self-Publishing Book Expo in New York City on November 7, 2009.

The event will be led by Diane Mancher (a publicist who spent ten years at St. Martin's Press) and Karen Mender, (an executive who has worked at Atria Books, Dell/Delacorte, HarperCollins, and St. Martin's Press).

Here's more from the site: "Unlike any other book exhibit, the Self-Publishing Book Expo will be the only event of its kind to highlight the books of self-publishing companies and their authors, and give them the prominence and prestige they deserve. The SPBE will bring together many of the key players who make this universe the thriving area it has become, while simultaneously exposing both the houses and the authors to a greater audience of other publishing professionals, booksellers, media, and consumers."