For a long time, writing was something I did quietly.
It was early mornings, late nights, and stolen moments around a full-time job — something deeply personal, and often unseen. When I was first published in 2021, I imagined that being an author would mean writing books and, occasionally, talking about them.
What I didn’t expect was how much I would come to value speaking.
As soon as restrictions lifted, I started saying yes to opportunities — libraries, book groups, small community events. At the time, it felt like a natural extension of writing. A way to connect with readers.
What I didn’t realise was that it would become such a central part of what I do.
Over the past few years, I’ve spoken at libraries, festivals, bookshops, and community groups, as well as running workshops and wellbeing-focused sessions. I’ve had conversations about storytelling, psychology, trauma, and the kinds of experiences that shape both our lives and the characters we create.
And again and again, what stands out isn’t just the books.
It’s the conversations.
Because the themes I explore in my novels — trauma, resilience, emotional complexity, and human behaviour — are things people recognise. They connect with them. Sometimes very personally.
I’ve had readers tell me that a character made them feel less alone. That a story helped them understand something they hadn’t been able to put into words.
And that’s where speaking becomes something more than just “talking about writing.”
It becomes about connection.
Why These Talks Matter
When I speak, I’m not just talking about plot or publishing.
I talk about:
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Why we’re drawn to certain stories
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How experiences shape behaviour
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The psychology behind the characters we create
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And how storytelling can be a way of processing and understanding difficult experiences
For some audiences, that comes through the lens of writing.
For others, it becomes a wider conversation about resilience, wellbeing, and the way we make sense of the world around us.
And what I’ve found is that those conversations resonate just as strongly outside of traditional book spaces.
From Author Talks to Something Bigger
Alongside my own events, I founded Author Events — which started as a small local meet-up and has grown into a supportive community of writers and readers.
We now run book clubs, workshops, talks, and networking events, and what I’ve seen through that is just how powerful shared creative spaces can be.
Because writing might be something we do alone — but the journey around it doesn’t have to be.
What I’m Doing Now
Over the past few years, these talks have developed naturally. Now, I’m bringing them together more formally — offering a series of talks focused on psychology, storytelling, and resilience.
They range from exploring human behaviour through fiction, to understanding emotional complexity, to sharing my own journey from burnout to becoming a published author.
And while they’re rooted in writing, they’re really about something broader:
Understanding ourselves, and each other, a little better.
Looking Ahead
As I continue to grow both my writing and Author Events — and with the launch of the Coastal Crime Festival coming in 2026 — I’m increasingly interested in bringing these conversations to new audiences.
Whether that’s through community groups, festivals, or workplace wellbeing sessions, the aim is the same:
To create space for discussion, reflection, and connection.
Because stories don’t just entertain us.
They help us understand who we are.
Find Out More
If you’re interested in attending a talk, or inviting me to speak at an event, you can find more details here:
👉 https://alexstoneauthor.com/talks/
Or explore upcoming events:
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