EP 382 - From Page to Platform: How to Succeed as an Author Speaker

Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing

Mark interviews Matty Dalrymple and Michael La Ronn about their new co-authored book From Page to Platform: How to Succeed as an Author Speaker.

Prior to the interview Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor

This episode is sponsored by the Fall 2024 Novel Writing Storybundle.

In their conversation, Matty, Michael, and Mark talk about:

• A bit of a refresher/background for both Matty and Michael
• Dale L. Roberts being the person who connected the two of them together
• How they got the idea for the book when both at a Writer's Digest conference together
• The process of going about writing the book together
• The flight instructor term of the "awkward exchange of control"
• Why a writer might be interested in getting into speaking
• A look at the importance of fleshing out your goals from speaking
• How speaking can open up new opportunities for a writer
• Some of the key strengths that can be brought to a speaking engagement, such as storytelling or making a talk feel more like a conversation
• The "dress for the job that you want" aspect for speakers
• Ideas for how to get started particularly if you're nervous about speaking to a large group of people
• Some of the do's and don'ts for doing panels, author readings, keynotes, etc
• Advise for authors who are on a panel
• The concept of stepping up if necessary if the moderator isn't performing the job as well as they should
• Matty's concept of the two different bios - the "speaker application bio" and the "brief speaker introduction" bio
• Tips for professional behavior and things author speakers should consider doing
• And more . . .

After the interview Mark reflects on a couple of things from the interview and also shares a special offer for Patrons related to the aforementioned Storybundle.

Links of Interest:

• Matty Dalrymple's Author Site
• Michael's Author Level Up Site
• The Indy Author
• EP 379 - Simplify Your Life and Your Work With Dre Baldwin
• Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup)
• Buy Mark a Coffee
• Patreon for Stark Reflections
  • How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds
• An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries
• The Relaxed Author
  • Buy eBook Direct
  • Buy Audiobook Direct
• Publishing Pitfalls for Authors
• An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores
• Wide for the Win
• Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books
  • This Time Around (Short Story)
  • A Canadian Werewolf in New York
  • Stowe Away (Novella)
  • Fear and Longing in Los Angeles
  • Fright Nights, Big City
  • Lover's Moon
  • Hex and the City
  • Only Monsters in the Building
• The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles
• Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard

Matty Dalrymple is the author of the Lizzy Ballard Thrillers and the Ann Kinnear Suspense Novels and Suspense Shorts. She also podcasts, writes, speaks, and consults on the writing craft and the publishing voyage as The Indy Author. Her articles have appeared in Writer’s Digest magazine, and she serves as the Campaigns Manager for the Alliance of Independent Authors.

Michael La Ronn is the author of over 100 science fiction & fantasy books and self-help books for writers. He writes from the great plains of Iowa and has managed to write while raising a family, working a full-time job, and attending law school. Michael runs the award-winning YouTube channel “Author Level Up,” and Michael serves as the Outreach Manager for ALLi.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast (“Laser Groove”) was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0