Speaking

I do a good bit of public speaking. Usually it’s on the topics of my various books, but sometimes I speak and teach about the topic of today’s book publishing industry. I’ve been an indie publisher since 2005, and before that, I worked in traditional book publishing since 1990. I also do private consulting with indie authors under my Indie Navigator brand.

There are some topics, such as those I teach in a formal classroom or conference setting, that take a specific amount of time. For everything else, I try to design each presentation so that it will fit well within whatever parameters you may need. So, if you see something you think your group might be interested in but don’t know how much time it requires, contact me and let’s talk. I can almost always find a way to create a presentation that will work for you.

Seminars, Book Signings and Digital Slide Presentations

Looking for an interesting speaker for your group’s next meeting or event?

• book or other retail stores
• libraries
• writing & publishing conferences
• book fairs & festivals
• historical societies
• K-12 classrooms
• Businesses

See what some of my past speaking hosts have to say about my presentations.

I’m available for

• Narrated digital slide presentations
• Book signings
• Readings
• Panel discussions
• Industry Roundtables
• Seminars
• Workshops
• Virtual visits via Skype

on the following topics:

• My Book Subjects
  • The 1955 Delaware River Flood
  • Metal Detecting
  • Adopting and Living With Disabled Pets
  • Agrarian American before the industrial revolution
  • Wisconsin state history

• Book Authorship
  • Author Promotion
  • Effective Websites for Authors
  • Your Book’s Website
  • Exploring the Amazon – Optimizing Your Author Central Presence
  • Getting Published – A Beginner’s Guide
  • Gotta Have It! – Creating Sell-Worthy Queries
  • I Finished My Book – Now What?

• Indie Publishing
  • Identity Crisis – What Is A Publisher, And Should I Be One?
  • Takin’ It To The Tweeps – Twitter for Indie Publishers
  • Coming Up Close – Skype for Publishers & Authors
  • Digility – Optimizing Your Digital Workflow
  • Lifting The Veil – Marketing 101 for Indie Publishers

• Marketing & Promotion
  • Takin’ It To The Tweeps – Twitter for Small Businesses (Also for Politicians, Retailers and Real Estate Brokers)
  • Lifting The Veil – Marketing 101 for Small Businesses
  • Social Media for Small Businesses
  • A Whole New World – Marketing To Boomers
  • Online Newsrooms – Why You Need One, How To Build It Right
  • Websites for Writers
  • Marketing 101 for Fine Artists
  • Email Marketing – Staying Visible In A Crowded Inbox

• Writing Craft
  • Student Writing – One-session units for elementary & middle school grades
  • Fiction Planning
  • Successful Interviewing
  • Historical Research
  • Query Letters

• “Brown Bag Lunch” 45-minute talks:
  Women of Herstory
  • New World Warriors: Native American women warriors (1540 to the American Revolution)
  • Privateers & Patriots – We Were Women, Too. (about 1650 to just before the American Civil War)
    
  • Uncivil Servants – Women Soldiers, Spies and Sailors in the American Civil War (1861-1865)
  • Women Warriors of the Wild West – American Indians, Soldiers and Hellraisers on the Frontier (roughly 1860 to 1900)
  • Over There – Women Warriors in the Two World Wars (1915-1950)
  • Railroad Gals – Women On The Rails (1825-1945)

On my books’ topics, I appear at bookstores, gift shops, fairs and festivals, libraries, schools, civic group meetings, historical societies, active adult communities and retirement villages, special events and other gatherings. On writing, publishing and marketing topics, I speak to business organizations, writers’ groups, publishing organizations, at book expos and festivals, and at writers’ conferences.

A selection of my stock presentations is listed above with some details below on my more popular topics, but don’t hesitate to call if you’d like me to speak on something related. I’m happy to customize presentations to your specific needs.

For venues providing electricity and an adequately darkened room, I speak in accompaniment to digital slide presentations. For outdoor events, I speak extemporaneously using props. I offer my books for sale and signing following relevant presentations.

Devastation on the Delaware

• ONE-HOUR SLIDE PRESENTATION

• 45-minute slide talk begins with a brief reading from my book, and contains supplemental information about the flood of 1955 and historical and contemporary photos, some of which don’t appear in the book. The slide show is followed by a 15-minute audience Q&A session, making this an ideal one-hour presentation for all ages. Presentations are customized to your locale.

Fee:

• $200 within 50 miles of Ferndale, PA (18921). Add $10 travel expenses for each add’l 50 miles or any increment thereof.

(Non-profit groups: Call to inquire about fee discount. Proof of non-profit status required.)

• 45-MINUTE EXTEMPORANEOUS TALK – I do a brief reading from my book, set up the context of conditions that made the 1955 flood so deadly in the Delaware River Watershed, describe highlights of and dispel myths about this record-setting weather disaster. I bring several display boards of historical photos (some of which do not appear in the book) and a few images from contemporary floods on the Delaware River. I also share copies of historical newspapers from the time among audience members, and answers any of their questions. This presentation is appropriate for all ages.
  Fee: $150 within 50 miles of Ferndale, PA (18921). Add $10 travel expenses for each add’l 50 miles or any increment thereof. (Non-profit groups: Call to inquire about fee discount. Proof of non-profit status required.)

Almost Perfect

• HALF-HOUR SLIDE PRESENTATION – (Indoors only) 20-minute slide talk contains supplemental information about the joys and challenges of rescuing or adopting and living with disabled pets. The slide show is followed by a 10-minute audience Q&A session, making this an ideal half-hour presentation for all ages. Within 100 miles of Doylestown, PA, this presentation is accompanied by bonus 15-minute visit from Idgie, my cat who was born without eyes, a condition called anophthalmia.
  Fee: $100 within 50 miles of Ferndale, PA (18921). Add $10 travel expenses for each add’l 50 miles or any increment thereof. (Non-profit groups: Call to inquire about fee discount. Proof of non-profit status required.)
• HALF-HOUR EXTEMPORANEOUS TALK – 20-minute talk begins with a brief reading from the book, then discusses the joys and challenges of rescuing and living with disabled pets. Followed by a 10-minute audience Q&A session, making this an ideal half-hour presentation for all ages. Within 100 miles of Doylestown, PA, this presentation is accompanied by a bonus 15-minute visit from Idgie, my cat who was born without eyes, a condition called anophthalmia.
  Fee: $75 within 50 miles of Ferndale, PA (18921). Add $10 travel expenses for each add’l 50 miles or any increment thereof. (Non-profit groups: Call to inquire about fee discount. Proof of non-profit status required.)

Custom Presentations

• Secondary/Higher Education
• Business

Speaker’s requirements for digital slide show:

I will bring:

• laptop computer
• digital projector
• small projection screen, if needed
• 3-prong power strip

Host to provide:

• a small table or cart at least 30 in. square, positioned 10-15 feet from projection surface (a blank, light-colored wall will do just fine)
• a 3-prong, grounded extension cord to reach the table or cart
• a room large enough to seat the group comfortably for an hour, which can be suitably darkened for a slide show
• microphone and sound system for groups larger than 50 people. I prefer a wireless mic but can work with a wired version.
• Please let me know if your venue has wi-fi Internet access that I can use, as this will affect the equipment I choose to bring for my presentation. Thanks.

Teaching

• FOR ADULTS: I teach a variety of writing, book publishing and marketing classes for adult students that range from single-night seminars to 8-week, in-depth workshops. I teach these classes through local extended learning and community evening schools. Occasionally, I offer weekend intensive workshop retreats for serious writers and authors.
• FOR STUDENTS GRADES 3-12: I’m available in-person or via Skype for one-period classes on writing, researching and history, or for special multi-period classes to fit into any concentrated units your classes may be working on. I’m happy to discuss with you the development of a special course or seminar for your classroom, office or special interest group. Give me a call at 610-847-2456 or use the contact form to discuss your needs and budget.
• Learn more on my Courses page.

Photos

• Photos of me are available in digital format in this site’s NewsRoom to create promotional posters and flyers about your upcoming event.
• Photos from my books are available on their respective websites: Devastation on the Delaware; Almost Perfect