I love sharing the magic and mayhem—the behind-the-scenes moments of my writing life, and of the bestselling authors I’ve had the joy of interviewing on my podcast. The stories you don’t always hear… but always need.

As host of the Beautiful Writers Podcast—a decade-long love letter to the literary life, with millions of downloads and conversations with today’s most beloved authors—I’ve gathered some of the most powerful stories and strategies for making creative dreams real.

Each of my signature talks is shaped to fit the moment—tailored for literary festivals, universities, corporate keynotes, publishing conferences, wellness retreats, and intimate book club gatherings.

Woven throughout are the stories behind the stories—drawn from conversations with extraordinary voices like Elizabeth Gilbert, Brené Brown, Anne Lamott, Dean Koontz, Tomi Adeyemi, and more—each offering their own hard-won wisdom for bringing big ideas to life.

Some of these stories live in my book, Beautiful Writers: A Journey of Big Dreams & Messy Manuscripts.

Others are finding their way into my next (My Midlife Mess, a divorce memoir… so yes, there’s plenty of material).

Expect to laugh, take notes, and leave reminded that great books—and bold lives—aren’t built on perfection…

They’re built by stubborn people who keep going anyway.

Audiences leave with renewed clarity—ready to take meaningful action, on the page and beyond.

If you have the ache, you have what it takes. Let’s bring that energy to your audience.

For speaking inquiries: linda@bookmama.com

✨ Signature Talks

If You Have the Ache, You Have What It Takes

Taking a dream from Idea to Done & Sold
For writers & creatives

Audience takeaway:
“I’m allowed to do this—and I know how to start and build momentum.”

That quiet (or not-so-quiet) tap on your shoulder to write? It’s not random. It’s yours.

In this inspiring and practical keynote, Linda helps writers move from longing to action—drawing on lessons from bestselling authors, behind-the-scenes stories from the Beautiful Writers Podcast, and her own journey from idea → done → sold.

You’ll walk away with:

• Permission to begin (and begin again)
• Clarity on what successful writers actually do
• Tools for navigating rejection, resistance, and the messy middle

Because great books aren’t written by perfect writers—they’re written by stubborn ones.

Write to Stay Human in an AI World

Tools for clarity, connection & burnout prevention
For corporate teams, leadership & wellness events

Audience takeaway:
“I can use writing to know what I think and feel, lead more intuitively and effectively, and avoid burnout.”

In a world increasingly driven by AI, one human skill is becoming more valuable than ever: the ability to think, feel, and communicate with clarity.

Writing isn’t just a creative act—it’s a sanity and leadership tool.

In this thought-provoking and energizing keynote, Linda shows how writing can:

• Increase clarity and decision-making
• Strengthen empathy and team connection
• Restore meaning and reduce burnout in high-pressure environments

We’re not anti-AI. We’re pro-human. And writing might be the most powerful way back to ourselves.

Big Dreams & Messy Manuscripts

Bold goals require courageous (and sometimes outrageous) action
For universities, personal growth events & general audiences

Audience takeaway:
“I’m ready to take bigger, braver risks in my life.”

Before we became careful, we were bold.

Before we got practical, we were outrageous.

In this heartfelt and often hilarious keynote, Linda shares stories—from her own life and from bestselling authors—about the risks that changed everything.

Together, you’ll:

• Reconnect with moments when you were braver than you remember
• Reignite the courage to pursue what still calls to you
• Learn how to turn big dreams into real-world action

Because the life you want?

It usually lives just on the other side of the risk you’ve been avoiding.