Want to take your speaking career to the next level? Invest in a book

“If you have the courage to start, you have the courage to succeed.”
—Mel Robbins

Many top speakers today have a book. Why don't you?

Have you noticed that the most in-demand speakers have a book to their name? There are many reasons why writing a book can grow your speaking career significantly:

  1. It increases your authority. There is no more tangible evidence of your expertise than a well-regarded book. Whatever your topic is, if you “wrote the book on it”, you will be in demand. Similarly, when organizers are evaluating who to contact on a certain topic, they’ll often go with the person who’s also an author.
    This goes beyond just landing speaking engagements: many reporters find quality sources to talk to by searching Amazon for qualified experts.

  2. It helps you book more gigs. Not only does having a book make you more appealing to event organizers, it also makes it easier for them to find you. Increased media appearances, Amazon searches and just plain word-of-mouth all increase when you have a great book.
    Writing a book is also a great way to expand your marketing content. Oftentimes, substantial parts of your book can be repackaged for your social media or newsletter.

  3. You can charge higher speaking fees. Fees for speakers with a bestselling book start at $20,000, according to The Speaker Lab, and can go up to $50,000. 

  4. It gives you another revenue stream. Besides royalties from every sale, you can often include a bulk sale of your book in your agreement with event organizers.

  5. It deepens your relationship with your audience. For people inspired by your talk, your book is the logical next place for them to go to learn more about your thinking and become a fan. This can lead to anything from building a loyal newsletter following to coaching and training work.

As a keynote speaker, you’ve already got a head start. Your keynotes can form the backbone of your book, reducing the time commitment and cost for creation. It can take as little as 20 hours of preparation and interview time for you to have a book draft in your hands.

What will a book do for my business?

In 2024, a group of publishing professionals conducted the largest-ever survey of published business book authors. The resulting Business Book ROI Study revealed how writing a book is most likely to grow your business and make you money:

  • 64% of business books showed a gross profit. The median profit for books out for at least 6 months was $11,350.

  • The median ghostwritten book was four times as profitable as other books. Books generated an average of $1.24 in revenue per dollar spent.

  • The median book generated $18,200 in revenue. Traditionally published books more than tripled that amount, and hybrid-published books nearly doubled it. Among authors with books out 6 months or more, 18% reported $250,000 or more in income. Speaking, consulting, and workshops generated much more income than book sales and royalties.

  • Authors boosted their brands. More than 90% reported some form of nonmonetary value in their books, and 89% said writing a book was a good idea.

  • Book sales rarely met expectations. Median sales were 4,600 copies for traditionally published books, 1,600 for hybrid-published books, and 700 for self-published books. But book sales didn’t predict success or ROI.

What these numbers say is that books are a remarkable tool for brand building and speeding up the growth of your business. And don’t forget that the cost of creating your book is a deductible marketing expense.

How I work with keynote speakers

Whether you need support in writing your book, or you want to work with a collaborator to do the heavy lifting, I will help you create an exceptional book that grows your business.

Coaching: I will read your book as you develop it and give you feedback on your writing and book strategy. I’ll also be there throughout the process to offer support and accountability. Much like a fitness trainer will show you the proper technique, and make sure you follow through on a well-designed program, I help you maximize your potential and get your book to the finish line. With regular meetings and feedback, you have a partner who will help you write the best book possible and put it in the right hands when it’s done.

Developmental editing: You’ve written a first draft and you know it needs some work. I read your book, come up with a plan to amplify the good, reduce what’s not needed, and add what’s missing. Then I implement the plan to give you a second draft that meets all your goals.

Ghostwriting: Have you ever wondered how very busy people find the time to write books? In most cases, they hire a ghostwriter.

I can produce a high-quality book for you without taking large chunks of time out of your busy life. You still retain full creative control, have your story told in your own authentic voice and see your name on the cover. The process is also fully confidential—you can reveal as much (or as little) as you want about the process behind the product. 

We start by understanding your goals and audience, using your existing content and new ideas to build a detailed outline. From there, we meet for an hour a week for 3 months, when I interview you and ask detailed questions on the topic of each chapter. I’m writing your book throughout this process, sharing chapters as I complete them, using your feedback to iterate and improve. Before you know it (in 6 months or less), you have a completed manuscript ready to go to the publisher.

I’ve worked with several keynote speakers, from those starting out to established corporate speakers, and they’ve all hit their publishing goals.

I can also help you find the right publishing partner for your project, someone who will take your words and produce a high-quality book that meets the highest professional standards.

What speakers say about working with me

“Working with Gene was one of the best decisions I made for my book. I was under a tight deadline and Gene jumped on board with a positive attitude. I was looking for someone who wouldn't just be a ghost but who could also provide input and ideas. Gene was collaborative through and through, patient when I sent him countless ideas and thoughts, and very organized (we needed to include quotes from 3 dozen interviewees). 

One thing I really appreciated about Gene was his insights structuring the book. I have tons of content out in the world and Gene was able to help decide what was actually important to include and how it would have a natural flow.“

— Speaker on Career and Professional Development (Book became #1 Amazon bestseller in multiple categories, with 75 5-star reviews)

“Working with Gene was an absolute pleasure from start to finish. As someone who had never worked with a ghostwriter before, I wasn't sure what to expect—but Gene immediately put me at ease with his collaborative and straightforward approach. He took the time to truly understand my vision and made what I thought would be an intimidating writing process feel natural and stress-free.

What truly sets Gene apart is his exceptional ability to take the chaos in my head and transform it into something clear and compelling. I came to him with years of research notes scattered across my computer, old presentation materials, and various content pieces that I couldn't figure out how to weave together coherently. Honestly, I was worried it was all just a jumbled mess. But Gene not only helped me see the logical structure hiding within all that material—he also found creative ways to breathe new life into content I'd written years ago, ensuring nothing valuable was lost while making it all flow seamlessly together.

Despite having only four months to complete the project—a timeline that initially had me losing sleep—Gene delivered a polished manuscript right on schedule that required minimal edits from my publisher before moving to production. I couldn't believe how smooth the final stretch turned out to be.

I would wholeheartedly recommend Gene to anyone looking for a skilled ghostwriter who doesn't just write for you, but truly partners with you in bringing your book to life. He made me feel heard, understood, and confident throughout the entire journey.”

— Speaker and Happiness Expert (landed a book deal, coming out soon)