Book Marketing Mentors · 2026-06-17 · 29 min
Want more book sales, visibility, and credibility? Speaking may be one of the fastest ways to get there. But how do you land speaking opportunities if nobody knows who you are? Do you need a polished keynote? A speaker reel? A big platform? In this episode, I sit down with Steve Markman, founder of Markman Speaker Management and a respected insider with more than 35 years in the speaking and conference world. Steve pulls back the curtain on what really gets authors booked and what quietly ruins opportunities before they begin. If you’ve ever thought, I’d love to speak, but where do I start? this conversation is for you. Steve shares practical advice on how nonfiction authors can use speaking to grow authority, open doors, sell more books, and create new opportunities without feeling pushy or self-promotional. In this episode, you’ll discover: Why speaking can change the trajectory of your book What happens when people hear you speak before they buy your book? Why do some authors gain momentum while others stay invisible? The surprising truth about getting your first speaking gig Do you need to get paid right away? Where should you start?
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