If you've written a book, you already belong on a stage.
I've noticed something about many of the speakers who thrive at Speaker Slam®. They're authors. And it makes complete sense to me. Writing a book takes time, effort and resources... oh, and tons of conviction :)
You don't publish 200+ pages unless you care deeply about your message. And if you care that much about your message, it deserves amplification.
That's where the stage comes in.
So many authors I meet are stuck in the same place. The launch came and went. You told your network, did a few podcast interviews, and then things got quiet. The book is sitting on a shelf and a sales page, and you're wondering how to get it in front of the people who need it. Let me show you how I'd turn it into speaking gigs.
Why Authors Make Strong Speakers
You've already done the hardest thinking. You've organized your ideas, tested your arguments and found the words for them. What most authors haven't done yet is shape that material into something that works out loud, in front of a room, in twenty or forty minutes.
And here's the payoff. Speaking is the fastest way to build credibility.
The moment you step on stage, people see you as an expert. A reader might take weeks to finish your book. An audience decides how they feel about you in minutes.
Your Book Is Not Your Talk
The most common mistake I see authors make is trying to summarize the whole book on stage. Chapter one, chapter two, chapter three. It feels thorough to you. To the audience it feels like a lecture with no destination.
A signature talk does one job: it solves one problem for one audience, using one clear method. Here's how I'd build it from the book you already have.
1. Find the One Message
Before you outline anything, decide what single idea you want the audience to walk away with. I call this your Speaker DNA, the core message underneath everything you do. If your book had to be reduced to one sentence a stranger could repeat at dinner, what would it be? Everything in the talk serves that sentence.
2. Pull the Framework Out of the Book
Most nonfiction books already contain a method, even if it's buried across chapters. Look for the steps, stages or principles you keep coming back to. Name them. Put them in order. Three to five parts is usually enough for a keynote.
This matters because event planners pay for outcomes. What you need is a signature talk with a framework designed to solve a problem that someone is willing to pay you for.
Your story still matters. When we choose speakers for Speaker Slam®, we look for strong expertise and a powerful personal story, because the person with an inspiring story and the expertise to back it up is the most powerful person in any room.
The framework is what the audience takes home and uses. Your story is what makes them believe it works.
3. Choose One Story That Proves It
Please don't tell the story of how you came to write the book. Choose the single moment from your life, or your work, that best shows your framework in action. One scene, told well, does more than ten examples told quickly. If you're not sure which story to use, my guide on how to find your signature story walks you through it.
4. Title the Talk Around the Problem
Your book title may be clever. Your talk title needs to be clear. A planner scanning your speaker page should know in seconds who the talk is for and what it fixes. If you're not sure your positioning is there yet, my Paid Speaker Audit is a good place to find out.
How Authors Actually Get Booked
The biggest misconception I've dealt with in my world is the belief that being a great storyteller is enough to make it as a professional speaker. Just like any business, you need the tools of the trade.
You need a niche that sets you apart. A signature talk with a framework designed to solve a problem someone is willing to pay you for. A polished, professional presentation deck. A speaker kit, a speaker reel and a website. And I strongly believe you need momentum. I unpack all of these in how to get paid speaking gigs.
As an author, you already have an advantage. Your book is a credential, a business card and a leave-behind all at once. Here's how to put it to work.
Start where your readers already gather. Industry associations, professional conferences, community organizations and company lunch-and-learns all need speakers who can teach something specific. Your book's subject tells you which rooms to look for.
Get on a real stage and get it on video. Planners want to see you in front of a live audience before they book you. Footage from an actual event is worth more than any number of book reviews. Here's what makes a great speaker reel.
Package the book with the talk. Many organizers will buy copies for attendees, or let you sell at the back of the room. Mention this option when you pitch. It gives the planner more value and gives you more readers.
Pitch the problem, not the book. Lead with the challenge your talk solves for their audience. The book proves you know the subject deeply. The problem you solve is why they book you.
Leverage Is the Real Win
I really get it. Writing a book is the ultimate item on so many bucket lists, forever capturing your brilliance. But at the end of the day, none of these pieces are life-changing unless you leverage them.
So what does leverage look like?
It means building your network of people who can provide you with opportunities.
It means building your credibility and expertise so that you become a bookable speaker.
It means building momentum so that people pay attention to you and recognize your greatness.
In practice, that looks like turning every talk into a clip, every audience into a list, and every organizer into a referral. Your book sells the talk. The talk sells the book. Each booking makes the next one easier. If you want to see how this compounds, read how speakers turn one win into momentum.
Where Speaker Slam® Fits
Dan and I have been putting experts, coaches and authors on stage since 2016. At Speaker Slam®, you don't just share your story with a live audience. You build momentum around your brand and your book.
Stage + visibility + publicity is powerful.
When you combine a book with a platform, something changes. I've watched speakers elevate their lives when they align their speaking and writing with our Speaker Slam® platform behind them. It's the perfect storm.
Some of our speakers arrive as published authors, like our 2025 Inspirational Speaker of the Year, Michelle Weger. Others go on to write their book after competing. The two go hand in hand.
And if you're still working on the next book, here's one more reason to compete: Lucky Book Publishing joined us as Official Partner for the 2025 Grand Slam, with a book deal for our top speaker.
Every competitor, win or not, leaves with professional stage footage, photos, a clearer message and the experience of delivering it to a live audience. Those are exactly the assets you need to start getting booked.
Keep reading: What Is a Positioning Statement and Why Every Speaker Needs One · How to Prepare for a TEDx Talk: What You Need Before You Apply · How to Get Booked for Corporate Speaking Gigs
Your Next Step
If you're an author looking to make more impact with your message, it's time to take the stage. Apply to compete at Speaker Slam® and start building the credibility, footage and momentum that get authors booked.