Macmillan Speakers Bureau

11/15/2024

Hear from Alexandra Hudson on how civility is key to community.

Alexandra Hudson is an award-winning writer and speaker and the author of The Soul of Civility: Timeless Principles to Heal Society and Ourselves. Nationally recognized as an expert on American civic renewal, Alexandra Hudson’s talks navigate how skills in civility are paramount to democracy, connection, and debate.

📣 Check out Alexandra's speaker page: https://www.macmillanspeakers.com/speaker/alexandra-hudson/

📖 READ: "Bridging the Divide: Civility Expert Offers Tips on How to Flourish Across Differences" | National Conference of State Legislatures: https://www.ncsl.org/state-legislatures-news/details/bridging-the-divide-civility-expert-offers-tips-on-how-to-flourish-across-differences?utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email

🌟 For more information on booking for in-person or virtual events, please contact Colleen Osborne by emailing [email protected] or calling (917) 697-2063.

11/14/2024

Hear from Kate Murphy on how listening is key to community building.

How well we listen, to whom and under what circumstances determines who we are and the paths we take in life. It is fundamental to any successful relationship—personal, academic, and professional.

A listener by trade, Kate Murphy is known for her fresh and accessible talks explaining complex subjects, particularly the science behind human interactions, why we’re not listening to each other, what it’s doing to us, and how we can reverse the trend.

📣 Check out Kate's speaker page: https://www.macmillanspeakers.com/speaker/kate-murphy/

🎧 Listen to Kate for Vox: https://www.vox.com/the-gray-area/23692685/how-to-listen-gray-area-kate-murphy-good-listener?utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9HOM9VRKYiHJ5Af2aGLQRBlTddvU7hymxPeMvApjszfkoNEfhMgKHliqLru9gmMFJ9RniR

🌟 For more information on booking for in-person or virtual events, please contact Scottie Bowditch by emailing [email protected] or calling (646)-307-5567

10/31/2024

Happy Halloween from MSB! Discover the latest thrillers and sci-fi by our award-winning speakers S.A. Cosby, John Scalzi, and Gregg Hurwitz. 🎃

S. A. Cosby is an Anthony Award-winning writer from Southeastern Virginia. He is the author of the instant New York Times bestseller All the Sinners Bleed which was on Barack Obama’s Summer Reading List and author of New York Times bestseller Razorblade Tears and Blacktop Wasteland, which won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, was a New York Times Notable Book, and was named a best book of the year by NPR, The Guardian, and Library Journal, among others. In his talks, Cosby shares his writing process and inspiration for his stories.

📣 Check out S.A. Cosby's speaker page: https://www.macmillanspeakers.com/speaker/sa-cosby/

John Scalzi is a New York Times bestselling science fiction author. His latest book Starter Villain is a 2024 Hugo Award finalist, a 2024 Alex Award winner, and an adaptation of the book is in the works from Ryan Reynolds’ Maximum Effort Productions in a deal with Paramount Pictures. Drawing on his experience as a science fiction author, Scalzi discusses sci-fi in the modern era, his own writing process, and living with his head in the stars.

📣 Check out John Scalzi's speaker page: https://www.macmillanspeakers.com/speaker/john-scalzi/

Gregg Hurwitz is the New York Times, #1 internationally bestselling author of 24 thrillers, including the Orphan X series, and two award-winning thriller novels for teens. His novels have won numerous literary awards, graced top ten lists, and have been published in 33 languages. From going under cover into a mind-control cult to sneaking onto demolition ranges with Navy SEALS, Hurwitz is known for doing extensive and often dangerous research in the name of writing. In his talks, Hurwitz will share his adventures and discuss how they make their way into his novels.

📣 Check out Gregg Hurwitz's speaker page: https://www.macmillanspeakers.com/speaker/gregg-hurwitz/

📺 WATCH: "Starter Villain" - John Scalzi | A Word on Words | Nashville PBS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYDbNpnneIo

📺 WATCH: S.A. Cosby - “All the Sinners Bleed” & “Brokedown Prophets” | The Daily Show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKDgahu4IpY&t=1s

🌟For more information on booking one of these speakers for in-person or virtual events, please contact Chloe Volkwein by emailing [email protected] or calling (917) 836-0074.

10/28/2024

Obed Silva is an accomplished educator, author, and public speaker. But as a teenager, Obed was a part of a gang and was shot in the back and left paralyzed from the waist down. He then committed himself to a life of education, earning a bachelor's and master's. He now is a well-respected English professor and shares his lived experiences to deliver motivational talks on the importance of family, community support, education, and overcoming obstacles.

📣 Check out Obed's speaker page: https://www.macmillanspeakers.com/speaker/obed-silva/

📺 WATCH: The Hamilton Review Ep. 202: Obed Silva: From Gang Life to English Professor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPMI7Q3lzMg

🌟 For more information on booking Obed for in-person or virtual events, please contact Colleen Osborne by emailing [email protected] or calling (917) 697-2063.

10/24/2024

Zach Anner is an award-winning comedian, show host, TV writer, viral sensation, disability advocate, and public speaker. Zach’s memoir, If at Birth You Don’t Succeed: My Adventures with Disaster and Destiny, is a hilariously irreverent and inspiring memoir about finding your passion. With a mixture of humorous and heartfelt anecdotes, Zach shares his miraculous story about growing up with cerebral palsy and the obstacles he overcame to become a well-established figure in the entertainment industry.

📣 Check out Zach's speaker page: https://www.macmillanspeakers.com/speaker/zach-anner/

📺 WATCH: New York: A Real Stand-Up Guy | Rollin' With Zach | Oprah Winfrey Network: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3qY1ja49yQ

🌟 For more information on booking Zach for in-person or virtual events, please contact Colleen Osborne by emailing [email protected] or calling (917) 697-2063.

10/17/2024

Michaela Goade is a #1 New York Times bestselling author-illustrator of books for children and an enrolled member of the Tlingit Nation. She is the artist of We Are Water Protectors written by Carole Lindstrom, for which Michaela won the prestigious Caldecott Medal. Goade speaks to a wide variety of audiences, ranging from elementary schools to higher education and conference keynotes. Using her art as a springboard, she speaks to the power of art, storytelling, and art as activism, emphasizing our interconnectedness and responsibilities as human beings on this planet.

Honor Native American Heritage Month next month. Get to know our speakers who discuss the importance of Indigenous representation, land stewardship, and environmental justice.

📣 Check out Michaela's speaker page: https://www.macmillanspeakers.com/speaker/michaela-goade/

📺 WATCH: Caldecott Medal winner creates celebration of land she knows well in new book l ABCNL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dp3UdtIq6w0&t=10s

🌟 For more information on booking Michaela for in-person or virtual events, please contact Chloe Volkwein by emailing [email protected] or calling (917) 836-0074.

Michaela Goade is a Caldecott Medalist and #1 New York Times bestselling author-illustrator of books for children.

10/17/2024

Book bans and challenges in the U.S. reached an all-time high in 2023. On October 19th, libraries and communities nationwide are hosting events to show support for our right to read. Find all participating locations here: https://bit.ly/4gRpyeh

10/11/2024

Changemakers on Evolving Technology:

Jennifer Pahlka, author of Recoding America, is a pioneer in making government work for people in the digital age. She served as U.S. Deputy Chief Technology Officer under President Obama, and she is the founder of Code for America and co-founder of the United States Digital Response. In her talks, Jennifer recognizes that what operates our government today is a mess of policy, process, and technology that has accrued over time without ever being designed to do what we need it to. She argues that redesigning the machinery of public services is a choice we can and should make. Jennifer offers a fresh take on solutions to improve policy and systems, getting us closer to answering "how do we make this happen?"

📣Check out Jennifer's speaker page: https://www.macmillanspeakers.com/speaker/jennifer-pahlka/

📺 WATCH: Want to Fix the Government? Fix the Code | Amanpour and Company: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mf-XK-ObMeM

🌟 For more information on booking Jennifer for in-person or virtual events, please contact Colleen Osborne by emailing [email protected] or calling (917) 697-2063.

10/09/2024

Sing Sing activist Jon-Adrian "JJ" Velazquez's career as a criminal legal reform activist began in 1998, when he was wrongfully convicted as the shooter in the murder of a retired police officer. Lester Holt interviewed Velazquez after his exoneration, also speaking to Dateline's Dan Slepian. Watch here: https://www.nbcnews.com/dateline/in-the-news/sing-sing-activist-jon-adrian-velazquez-exonerated-retired-nypd-office-rcna173262

10/08/2024

Judge LaDoris Cordell, author of Her Honor, was the first African American woman judge in northern California. Judge Cordell is, at heart, a storyteller who enjoys bringing audiences into her courtroom by talking about the variety of cases over which she presided. In her talks, Judge Cordell provides a rare and thought-provoking insider account of our legal system and social justice reforms.

📣 Check out LaDoris Hazzard Cordell's speaker page: https://www.macmillanspeakers.com/speaker/ladoris-cordell/

Honor MLK Day next year with our esteemed thought leaders as they explore history, advocacy, and community.

🌟 For more information on booking LaDoris Hazzard Cordell for in-person or virtual events, please contact Colleen Osborne by emailing [email protected] or calling (917) 697-2063.

10/07/2024

Kimberly Jones is an American author and filmmaker, known for her New York Times bestselling young adult novel I’m Not Dying With You Tonight and non-fiction book How We Can Win, based on her viral video published during the George Floyd protests. Her talks about the intersection of creativity and social justice highlight the power of art as a catalyst for change and how to unlock your own creative potential.

📣 Check out Kimberly's speaker page: https://www.macmillanspeakers.com/speaker/kimberly-jones/

📺 WATCH Activist Kimberly Jones on fight for economic justice and equity | CBS Mornings: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kvnGYgAVtw

Honor MLK Day next year with our esteemed thought leaders as they explore history, advocacy, and community.

🌟 For more information on booking Kimberly for in-person or virtual events, please contact Colleen Osborne by emailing [email protected] or calling (917) 697-2063.

10/04/2024

Rita Omokha is an award-winning Nigerian American journalist. She is the author of Resist: How a Century of Young Black Activists Shaped America. Her writing on politics, race, and vulnerable communities has been featured in major media outlets across the country. In her talks, Rita emphasizes the power of storytelling and building inclusive cultures in business and media. She explores how narratives have shaped public consciousness, galvanized movements, and, ultimately, driven progress.

📣 Check out Rita's speaker page: https://www.macmillanspeakers.com/speaker/rita-omokha/

Honor MLK Day next year with our esteemed thought leaders as they explore history, advocacy, and community.

🌟 For more information on booking Rita for in-person or virtual events, please contact Colleen Osborne by emailing [email protected] or calling (917) 697-2063.

10/03/2024

Honor MLK Day next year with our esteemed thought leaders as they explore history, advocacy, and community. Jonathan Eig is the bestselling author of six books, and the 2024 Pulitzer-Prize-winning author of King: A Life, which was nominated for the National Book Award, featured on Obama’s Reading List of 2023, and hailed as a “monumental” new biography of Martin Luther King Jr. by the New York Times. Jonathan speaks compellingly on topics including the complexity of Martin Luther King Jr., the impact of sports on American history, and the spiritual journeys of Muhammad Ali and Martin Luther King Jr.

📣 Check out Jonathan's speaker page: https://www.macmillanspeakers.com/speaker/jonathan-eig/

📺 WATCH: New MLK Jr. biography reveals civil rights leader was misquoted in criticism of Malcolm X | PBS NewsHour: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0nr13xnRzU

🌟 For more information on booking Jonathan for in-person or virtual events, please contact Colleen Osborne by emailing [email protected] or calling (917) 697-2063.

10/02/2024

Congratulations to Eliza Griswold whose book Circle of Hope is a finalist for the 2024 National Book Award for Nonfiction!

📣 Check out Eliza's speaker page: https://www.macmillanspeakers.com/speaker/eliza-griswold/

09/27/2024

This week is Banned Book Week. Explore a curated selection of titles by our speakers, each embodying the resilience of creativity in the face of adversity. Mark Oshiro is an award-winning author of young adult books. Their banned/challenged book Anger Is a Gift is a Schneider Family Book Award winner and follows a boy from Oakland as he falls in love amidst the chaos of modern America. Mark delivers compelling talks on elements of the writing process, their experiences as an openly queer person of color in publishing, and numerous original keynotes, including the experience of co-writing with Rick Riordan.

📣 Check out Mark's speaker page: https://www.macmillanspeakers.com/speaker/mark-oshiro/

📖 Click here to learn more and take action against book bans: https://sites.macmillan.com/banned-books

🌟 For more information on booking Mark for in-person or virtual events, please contact Chloe Volkwein by emailing [email protected] or calling (917) 836-0074.

09/27/2024

This week is Banned Book Week. Explore a curated selection of titles by our speakers, each embodying the resilience of creativity in the face of adversity. Carole Lindstrom is a New York Times bestselling and award-winning author, Anishinaabe/Métis, and a proud member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwe Indians. Her banned/challenged book We Are Water Protectors is a Caldecott Medal winning picture book that honors Indigenous-led movements across the world. In her talks, Carole speaks to both children and adult audiences on topics ranging from environmental justice to the importance of Native representation in children’s books.

📣 Check out Carole's speaker page: https://www.macmillanspeakers.com/speaker/carole-lindstrom/

📖 Click here to learn more and take action against book bans: https://sites.macmillan.com/banned-books

🌟 For more information on booking Carole for in-person or virtual events, please contact Chloe Volkwein by emailing [email protected] or calling (917) 836-0074.