The founders of the Self-Publishing Book Expo have announced plans to hold a second SPBE in October. The new event will be expanded from the inaugural show held last November, said Karen Mender, who along with her partner Diane Mancher launched SPBE in 2009. The number of panels has been expanded from 12 to 16 ranging g from topics on how to use social networking sites to promote a book to getting books into stores. In addition, there will be one-on-one manuscript evaluation services and unlike last year, SPBE will offer pre-registration to the panels and seminars. The general public will also be admitted to the exhibit floor free of charge.

Exhibitors committed to the show already include FastPencil, Wattpad, Smashwords, and the Greenleaf Book Group. Mender expects the final number of exhibitors to top the 120 who participated at last year’s show. The 2010 event will be held October 2 at New York’s Sheraton NY Hotel & Towers. More info is available at www.selfpubbookexpo.com.