There’s something powerful about watching someone stand confidently on a stage and speak life into a room.

I remember being in my early 20s, sitting in an audience and watching one of my favorite authors, Valorie Burton, command the stage with grace. She carried herself with a beautiful, strong, vibrant posture—poised, confident, and deeply grounded in her message. I admired not just what she said, but how she showed up.

I would look at her and quietly think to myself, “I want to be like her when I grow up.”
Just a classy lady—one whose voice mattered.

Valorie Burton wasn’t just a speaker. She was (and is) an accomplished author who spoke on the very topics she had written about. Her books weren’t separate from her platform—they were the foundation of it.

Fast forward many years later, and I now find myself in a similar space: pacing stages, leading seminars, and speaking about publishing, purpose, and the courage it takes to keep moving forward. And if I’m being honest, this opportunity didn’t come out of thin air.

It came from being an author.

From writing meaningful, inspiring content.
From creating systems to help others achieve their goals.
From showing up consistently with a message that mattered.

A Full-Circle Moment I’ll Never Forget

In 2020, I had the incredible opportunity to interview Valorie Burton for Hope Magazine. It was one of those full-circle moments that stays with you forever. I finally got to tell her how deeply her work impacted me and how much she had unknowingly mentored me over the years.

She listened with such warmth and generosity—and then, true to who she is, she poured right back into me.

She shared practical advice on being featured in the media, and her very first tip was to start with local television and radio. When I told her I had already been a guest on several local stations, she was genuinely impressed and encouraged me, affirming that I was on the right path toward becoming a national expert.

That moment reminded me of something important:
Books open doors—but it’s how you use them that determines how far you walk through.

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How to Use Your Book to Launch (or Expand) Your Speaking Career

If you’re an author who dreams of stepping onto stages—whether as a seminar speaker, workshop facilitator, or keynote—your book is one of your greatest assets. Here’s how to leverage it intentionally.

1. Let Your Book Define Your Message

Your book already contains your expertise. Conference organizers aren’t looking for speakers who “talk about everything”—they want clarity. What problem does your book solve? What transformation does it offer readers?

That same transformation becomes the backbone of your speaking topics.

Instead of pitching yourself as just an author, position yourself as:

• An expert on the problem your book addresses
• A guide who helps audiences move from where they are to where they want to be

Your book becomes proof that you’ve done the work—and that you have something valuable to say.

2. Turn Chapters Into Talk Topics

One of the easiest ways to step into speaking is to repurpose your content. Chapters can become:

• Workshop themes
• Panel discussion points
• Breakout sessions
• Full keynote messages

This not only saves time—it ensures your message is consistent across platforms. Audiences who hear you speak may later buy your book, and readers who love your book will want to hear you live.

That alignment is powerful.

3. Use Speaking as Visibility, Not Just Income

Especially early on, speaking engagements are about credibility and exposure. Being listed as a conference speaker instantly elevates your authority. Photos on stage, clips of you presenting, and testimonials from organizers all build trust—fast.

These moments lead to:

• Media opportunities
• Podcast invitations
• Larger stages
• National visibility

Just like Valorie advised me, local opportunities matter. They are stepping stones, not detours.

4. Tell Your Story—It’s Part of the Message

Audiences don’t just connect with information; they connect with journeys. Your story—why you wrote the book, what you overcame, who you once admired—adds depth to your expertise.

That’s what makes your message memorable.

When you speak from lived experience, your book stops being just a product and becomes a testimony.

5. See Speaking and Writing as a Partnership

Books and speaking are not separate paths—they’re partners. Writing gives your message structure and longevity. Speaking gives it voice and reach.

When combined intentionally, they create a platform that grows with you.

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From Admiring the Stage to Standing on It

Sometimes, we don’t realize we’re being prepared for the very thing we once admired from afar.

I never imagined that years after watching Valorie Burton speak, I’d find myself on stages empowering others to keep going—yet here I am, deeply grateful for the journey, the mentorship (known and unknown), and the words that started it all.

If you’re an author wondering what’s next, consider this your reminder:
Your book may be the key that unlocks the stage.

And the stage may be the place where your message blossoms even further.