Speakers and Sessions for BookPlan 2025

Setting the Stage: What is the ROI of a Business Book?

Peter Winick and Bill Sherman

You will learn:

• What is the ROI of a business book?
• What are the things you can do to increase the ROI from your business book?
• What are realistic expectations you should have from your book?

The Business Book ROI Study is the largest-ever survey of published business authors. We asked more than three hundred writers about their experiences drafting, publishing, and promoting their books. Our respondents ranged from first-time authors to seasoned pros, and have released books through every publishing pathway, whether landing a deal with a traditional publisher, working with a hybrid, or self-publishing.

The true value of publishing is in more than just book sales, so we asked authors about not only their hard returns (royalties earned, increased sales of speaking and consulting services) but nonmaterial  rewards (increased visibility, media inquiries). Similarly we asked respondents about not only the expense of producing their book (paying ghostwriters, editors, designers) but about the time and emotional labor involved in bringing their dream to fruition.

The result is the clearest-ever picture of the modern publishing landscape, with takeaways every author should consider before even writing page one.

In this session we will review our findings and answer questions you may have.

Why Should Anyone Care About Your Nonfiction Book? Knowing Your Audiences and Reaching Them Best

Jeevan Sivasubramaniam

You will learn:

• Your audience exists before there is even a book, because a book does not launch a movement, a movement launches the book. So what makes that movement?
• A book for everyone is a book for no one, but conversely, a book for a very narrow niche audience is also problematic. Adopt the “ripple” mindset of expanding circles of influence and impact.
• Pulling your audiences in depends on focusing on four essentials: (1) What is the need beyond the need; (2) The key to what makes an approach compelling; (3) The importance of not focusing on everything, just the one thing; and (4) The power of the simple & small speaking for the big & complex: Trojan-Horsing your message.

There are literally millions of nonfiction books coming out every year, and most of them flounder. Penguin Random House conducted a national survey last year that showed that less than 30% of books sell more than 1,000 copies in the first year. Now, if any publisher knew the secret of what will always make a bestseller, they’d be headquartered in Aruba and operating off assorted yacht-offices, but there is something to be said for what has been shown to work best in attracting and keeping audiences and thereby garnering robust sales. This session is a brief introduction to how to do that with your book.

What the hell is your book about? Talking about your work in a way the audience understands

Ben Guttmann

Harness the power of simplicity as you . . .

• learn the five principles of simple communication
• get out of your own head and describe why your book matters to the audiences that matter
• become a better marketer, a more compelling speaker, and a more exciting podcast guest

Why do some messages work when others don’t? Why do some ideas break through, why do some slogans stick in your brain, and why do some leaders inspire change—when others don’t?

The answer is simple. Literally.

The most effective communicators in the world all structure their messages the same way, by designing for simplicity. But the problem is, simple is hard work. Our brains are programmed to complicate. Our world incentivizes more, more, more. It takes deliberate, intentional effort to communicate in a way that seems effortless.

The Author’s Ultimate Marketing Asset: How to Build, Engage, and Monetize Your Email List

Norbert Orlewicz

Key Takeaways:

• From One-Time Buyers to Lifelong Fans – Understand how to build an engaged community that buys your books, spreads the word, and supports your work for years to come.
• Simple Frameworks for Writing Engaging Emails – Follow a step-by-step approach to writing emails that connect with readers, build trust, and inspire action.
• How to Turn Your Email List into a Sales Asset – Discover how to seamlessly integrate storytelling, value, and soft-selling into every email to maximize long-term revenue.

Most authors pour their heart into writing a book, but true success comes from building an engaged audience that listens to you long after they’ve finished reading. Your email list is your most valuable asset—yet most authors neglect it, missing the opportunity to turn readers into lifelong fans, repeat buyers, and champions of their work. The most successful authors don’t just sell books—they build direct relationships with their audience. In this session, you’ll learn how to leverage email marketing to grow your list, create value-packed emails that readers love to open, and strategically sell without feeling pushy. If you want to go from published author to industry leader, it all starts here.

Creating Authentic Connections With Short-Form Video—Without Burning Yourself Out

Austin Falter

Key Takeaways:

• The potential for short-form video content to vastly increase your reach and following
• How to brainstorm and plan social media content that is easy for you to produce
• How to film social media content in batches to avoid burnout or overwhelm

Short-form video content rules the current social media environment, and it can be an incredibly powerful tool for spreading your message. In this presentation, you’ll learn how to lead people from being a viewer to being a loyal follower, without sleazy marketing tactics. You’ll learn practical processes for building a community, reaching your audience in authentic ways, and being efficient and effective with your social media efforts. You have a great message that needs to reach more people, and these short-form video methods will help you do that.

AI Tips, Tricks, and Tools to Simplify Your Marketing and Save You Time

Fauzia Burke

You will learn how to . . .

• Use AI tools like ChatGPT to simplify your book marketing tasks and save time.
• Generate compelling content for social media, newsletters, and pitches with minimal effort.
• Integrate AI tools seamlessly into your workflow without losing your creative voice.

In this session, book publicist and AI enthusiast Fauzia Burke will demystify how AI can revolutionize the book marketing process for authors. With over 25 years of experience in digital publicity and a deep understanding of the publishing industry, Fauzia bridges the gap between traditional marketing and cutting-edge technology. Attendees will learn practical ways to use AI tools to streamline their marketing efforts while staying authentic to their unique voice. From generating content ideas to managing time-consuming tasks, Fauzia’s tips and tricks are designed to empower authors to take control of their book promotion with ease. For more information, visit www.fsbassociates.com.

Your Book, Your Brand: Master Canva for Powerful Promotions

Sarah Nelson

Your book is more than a story—it’s a brand! In this interactive workshop, discover how to use Canva to create visually stunning and professional-quality social media graphics, marketing materials, and promotional designs that amplify your book’s reach.

Whether you’re a design beginner or looking to level up your marketing game, this session will teach you:

• How to navigate Canva’s tools and templates.
• Best practices for designing branded content that aligns with your book’s message.
• Tips for creating engaging visuals for social media, email campaigns, and more.

By the end of this session, you’ll walk away with practical skills to design on-brand materials that captivate your audience and help your book stand out in a crowded marketplace.

Launching Your Speaking Career

Keri Childers

How do you position yourself as a speaker? You will learn:

• How to set your website’s speaking page up to serve meeting planners, booking agents and bureaus.
• Best practices for pitching yourself, positioning yourself, and gathering the right assets to appeal to meeting planners and your target audiences.
• To identify who your target audience is.
• How to use your book to open the door to the right stages.
• Best practice pre and post event to gain momentum as a speaker.

Congratulations, You’re Now a Marketing Professional: The Hidden Reality of Selling Business Books

Jonathan Stutz and Eddie Pate

Key takeaways:

• Importance of self-reliance for marketing your book (create a book website, create your own marketing videos, leverage social media, podcasts, and book talk events)
• Have an “anything is possible” attitude for marketing your book: don’t hesitate to swing away at potential opportunities—recipients can only say ‘no’ or not respond to you. Persistence pays!
• How to take advantage of the “multiplier effect” using social media, your network, and your book website
• Understand the importance of authenticity in how you present yourself
• Learn how to shape your style and word choice to have the biggest impact

In this session, participants will learn the importance of taking ‘the bull by the horns’ in marketing your book and the specific strategies and tactics that worked well for us as first-time authors. We will share our dual strategy that paid dividends for us as we were able to work independently and yet synergistically to create a 1+1 = 3 effect. As coauthors of Daily Practices of Inclusive Leaders, we each had our own ideas and plans on how best to tap into our networks and captivate new followers, motivating greater interest and increased purchases of our book.

Beyond the Book Launch: Choosing the Best Approaches, and Sustaining Your Approach for Lasting Impact

Becky Robinson

Becky Robinson—founder and CEO of Weaving Influence, a full-service digital marketing and PR agency specializing in author brand-building—will share strategies to sustain your energy for book marketing leading up to launch and beyond. She will break down the four phases of a successful book launch and provide steps to maintain momentum, ensuring your book remains part of the conversation for years to come.

Becky will highlight best practices for expanding your reach at every stage, guiding you in prioritizing efforts when time and resources are limited. She will also offer a fresh perspective on book marketing—one that fosters enthusiasm and avoids frustration or discouragement.

Attendees will leave with a clear roadmap for maximizing impact before, during, and after their book launch.