Picture a small-town Minnesotan who turned her love for vampires and trolls into a self-publishing empire—meet Amanda Hocking! Born in 1984, this paranormal romance phenom sold over a million e-books by 2011, earning $2 million and reshaping the publishing world with her addictive young adult novels. Her journey from group home worker to New York Times bestseller is pure magic.
The Making of Amanda Hocking
Born on July 12, 1984, in Austin, Minnesota, Amanda Hocking grew up with a passion for storytelling. As a teen, she penned short stories and even a movie script, dreaming of becoming a writer. After high school, she studied human services and worked in a group home, but her heart was in her novels. By 2010, she’d written 17 manuscripts in her spare time, fueled by her love for pop culture, Jim Henson, and paranormal tales.
Frustrated by traditional publishing rejections, Hocking took a bold leap in April 2010, self-publishing her work as e-books at age 25. Priced between $0.99 and $2.99, her stories found a hungry audience fresh off the Twilight craze. Her savvy pricing and genre choice sparked a wildfire of sales, proving she didn’t need a big publisher to shine.
Amanda Hocking’s Unforgettable Stories
Hocking’s novels are a delicious blend of paranormal romance, urban fantasy, and coming-of-age drama. Her debut series, My Blood Approves, follows Alice Bonham, a teen caught in a vampire love triangle with two brothers. Its mix of angst, romance, and supernatural thrills hooked readers, spawning four books and a novella.
The Trylle Trilogy—Switched, Torn, and Ascend—cemented Hocking’s stardom. This urban fantasy saga centers on Wendy Everly, a changeling troll navigating love and identity in a magical world. With its quirky characters and Hollywood-style action, the trilogy sold over 1.5 million copies. Hocking also ventured into zombies with Hollowland, a gritty tale of survival, and mermaids in the Watersong quartet, showcasing her knack for reimagining classic monsters.
Her writing, described by The New York Times as “literature as candy,” blends breakneck pacing, heartfelt emotion, and bodice-ripping romance. Hocking’s trolls, vampires, and zombies aren’t just monsters—they’re vehicles for exploring teenage struggles, making her stories resonate with young adults and beyond.
Why Amanda Hocking Matters
Amanda Hocking didn’t just write books; she rewrote the rules of publishing. Her self-publishing success—averaging 9,000 daily sales in 2011—proved authors could bypass traditional gatekeepers and still hit the big time. Her $2 million deal with St. Martin’s Press in 2011, followed by the re-release of the Trylle Trilogy, showed the industry’s respect for her hustle. The trilogy’s film option and The Hollows graphic novel adaptation highlight her cultural reach.
Hocking’s legacy lies in her trailblazing spirit. She inspired countless authors to self-publish, democratizing storytelling. Her ability to connect with readers through relatable characters and affordable e-books made her a pioneer, while her continued output—over 30 works, including the Kanin Chronicles and Muses of Wespen—keeps her relevant.
- Birth Date: July 12, 1984
- Key Works: My Blood Approves, Trylle Trilogy, Hollowland, Watersong
- Notable Achievement: Over 1 million e-books sold by 2011
Snag Switched and dive into Amanda Hocking’s spellbinding world of trolls and romance!