One-on-one consulting

Writing/Publishing/Book Promotion

With over 20 years of experience in the publishing industry, Beckstrand can help you identify your message and target audience, structure your book, publish it, and get it to the world (traditional or digital/self-publishing). He can also recommend quality service providers. In person, video conference, or by phone $135/hour

"Karl has a way of activating your imagination! His creative flow never stops and his outstanding published works are the result. Not only is Karl creative and humorous but he also brings home a solid lesson.... Pure enjoyment." - Greg Pace, AGP Companies

College media instructor Karl Beckstrand is the award-winning and best-selling author/illustrator of 27 multicultural titles and more than 60 e-books. His western thriller, To Swallow the Earth, won a 2016 International Book Award, and his multicultural kids’ books have been lauded by Publisher’s Weekly, Kirkus, The Horn Book, and School Library Journal. He has lived abroad and worked with people from all continents (except Antarctica). His work reflects cultural diversity—not only in protagonists, but in collaborators (his illustrators hail from Latin America, Europe, and Asia).

Beckstrand earned a B.A. in journalism from Brigham Young University, an M.A. in international relations from American Public University, and a certificate from Film A. Academy. He interned for a publisher in Massachusetts and for Congress in D.C. Formerly a technical recruiter in Silicon Valley, Beckstrand’s early work was produced by small publishers (his first publisher died the day they were to print his book!). Since 2004 he has run Premio Publishing & Gozo Books.

He teaches media, scripts, design & marketing, and contrasts traditional and digital book publishing at a state college. He has been a regular contributor in print, television, radio, podcasts, stage, and film. He’s taught ESL to refugees, been an in-flight Spanish-English interpreter for Angel Flight (medical nonprofit), volunteered as a chaplain at Stanford University Hospital, and done P.R. for the Children's Miracle Network.

Beckstrand’s Y.A. fiction, short stories, kids’ e-book mysteries, nonfiction/biographies, Spanish & bilingual books (with ESL pronunciation guide), and wordless books feature characters of color and usually end with a twist. He has sung in a couple of rock bands, can build a pc, water and snow ski, kayak, handle a bow and arrow, volleyball, firearms, and horses (usually not at the same time).

Beckstrand has presented for SUECON (education conference), Taiwan’s Global Leadership for Youth, California's Capital Book Festival, Utah Educational Library Media Association, Called to Learn conference, Salt Lake City Book Festival, PCI Webinars, Utah Humanities Council, Profnet, Murray City Writer’s Workshop, Utah Housing Coalition, LUW, Midvale City Reading Program, Utah Office of Education, Utah Educational Library Media Association, professional groups, and schools. His work has appeared in: Amazon, Baker & Taylor, Barnes & Noble, Border’s, Costco, Deseret Book, Follett, Apple/iBooks, Ingram, Kobo, LDS Film Festival, Papercrafts Magazine, The Children’s Miracle Network, The Congressional Record of the U.S. House of Representatives, Target & Walmart (online), various broadcasts, and PremioBooks.com.

Beckstrand’s recent and distant ancestors immigrated from South Africa, Sweden, Scotland, Switzerland, France, England, and Ireland (there may be some Native Americans in the mix). He has lived in South America (Chile), been a Spanish-English interpreter, and is learning German. He has visited Turkey, Ukraine, Romania, Spain, Canada, Bulgaria, Mexico, France, Peru, and the Czech Republic. Beckstrand teaches media at a state college and is passionate about literacy and using the arts to give people of all backgrounds a vision of their worth and potential.

Find: "Karl Beckstrand - Author" on FB, Instagram, https://karlbeckstrandblog.wordpress.com/, Twitter, LinkedIn, Goodreads.com and Amazon. Contact for interviews. TOPICS & RATES BELOW

For David Christensen, or an author panel, please contact us.

"Karl is one of the most dedicated people I know. He has a passion for life and a zeal for helping others. He has excellent creativity and very dependable!" - Lisa Baez, VP Customer Experience Hopscotch Air

speaking topics

Creating, Publishing & Marketing Your Book/Ebook for Broadest Impact

50 – 110 minutes. Award-winning publisher and media instructor shares steps to publishing success. How do you write and publish a book/ebook--and have it read? How to get your story into decision-makers/readers' hands? In the digital age, plot, character and setting are still essential; what has changed is distribution. E-books often outsell physical books. Award-winning publisher Karl Beckstrand presents the pros and cons of traditional, self-, and e-publishing (including Print on Demand). He shares how to market to a global audience using traditional and new media. He tells how to find an illustrator, agent, and editor. He can take questions and recommend options based on participant needs (in English or Spanish). Participants will learn how to research, organize, write, publish, and market their stories (including Internet options, fiction, and non-fiction, biographies, and family history). Throughout the presentation, Beckstrand asks the audience to provide examples of successful stories and discuss why they succeed. Can be an author panel with advanced notice. EXTRA: Discussion on THE 7 PLOTS - Quest, Overcoming the monster, Comedy or Tragedy (others vs. one's own life), Journey & return, Rebirth/redemption, Rags to riches

Diversity Enriches Everyone

50 - 110 minutes. Seeing Each Other via Books- Cultures/Languages/Circumstances/Faiths

Bilingual author Karl Beckstrand is passionate about literacy and using the arts to give people of all backgrounds a vision of their worth and potential. His 25 multicultural titles (fiction, ebook mysteries, biographies, STEM, activity, and Spanish-English [with pronunciation guide]) feature ethnically and physically diverse characters (and diverse in faith) and have been lauded by Publisher’s Weekly, Horn Book, Kirkus, and School Library Journal. Beckstrand emphasizes that every person is valuable and has gifts to bless the broader community. Beckstrand lived in Latin America and has worked with people from all parts of the world. He can present in both Spanish and English. Can be a panel with advanced notice. Areas of expertise: Two years living abroad plus travel to four continents and 12 countries; four years’ recruiting in one of the most cosmopolitan areas of the world: Silicon Valley; Mass Media; Curriculum Creation; Humanities; Theater & Film; Spanish, German, ASL &; English as a Second Language; Volunteer Chaplain at Stanford University Hospital; Love of Cultures; Teaching & Learning

Writing for Mass Media

50 – 110 minutes. Award-winning publisher and media instructor shares steps to publishing success. How do you write and publish a book/ebook--and have it read? How to get your story into decision-makers/readers' hands? In the digital age, plot, character and setting are still essential; what has changed is distribution. Ebooks often outsell physical books. Award-winning publisher Karl Beckstrand presents the pros and cons of traditional, self-, and e-publishing (including Print on Demand). He shares how to market to a global audience using traditional and new media. He tells how to find an illustrator, agent, and editor. He can take questions and recommend options based on participant needs (in English or Spanish). Participants will learn how to research, organize, write, publish, and market their stories (including Internet options, fiction, and non-fiction). Throughout the presentation, Beckstrand asks the audience to provide examples of successful stories and discuss why they succeed. Can be an author panel with advanced notice.

Artistic Education

50 – 110 minutes. Bestselling author and media instructor shares 10 fun ways to engage learners via the arts (and food). Where do stories come from? How does a story become a book/e-book/film/play? Can you paint? How did your family end up where you live? Can you eat that? Beckstrand lives to share ideas with educators, parents, and groups--in English or Spanish--on how to engage learners in story creation/performance, healthy lifestyles, family history, and family fun time. Beckstrand's learning activities include themes of courage, faith, sharing, and friendship. Activities convey important skills and human values while entertaining all ages. Participants will be able to implement activities in one-on-one or classroom settings for hands-on learning and engagement. Also: The
Quality Time Myth! Ten Together Activities for Healthful Learning
Areas of expertise: Mass Media; Creativity; Curriculum Creation; Education & Teacher Development; English/ESL Instruction; History & Social Science; Humanities (music, art, theater, literature); Adobe Creative Cloud; Multicultural stories; Nutrition & Health; Political Science & International Organizations; Theology/Religion; Family History Research/Genealogy; Languages/Interpretation; Teaching & Learning Activities; Vulnerability, Shame & Acceptance

Entrepreneurship & Your Life's Gifts

50 – 110 minutes. Award-winning publisher discusses finding your life's work and making a happy difference in the world. Examining one's life for gifts and passions can empower a person to know his/her strengths and purpose. Business owner Karl Beckstrand shares how to discover and craft one's unique life's work, and how to contribute to the larger community. Now THAT'S fulfillment! Beckstrand speaks on assembling a team to maximize reach. He guides people on business or organization set-up--and on sharing one's vision with the world. Participants will be able to evaluate whether their passion is something one can live on--or something to give in spare moments (includes Q&A and information on business start-up & resources, marketing, and networking. Can be a panel with advanced notice.

Areas of expertise: Advertising - TV/radio/print/online (SEO/PPC/Social Media); Agile Product Creation; HR, Diversity, Staffing & Contracts; Marketing & PR; Ethics; Public Speaking, Training & Instruction; Teamwork, Teambuilding; Sales & Business Development; Start-ups & Small Business Administration; Web Design. SEE ChildrenEarn.com

“In the decade-plus I've known Karl he has consistently exhibited creativity--and a focus and enthusiasm for life that I am quite proud to witness as his success in bringing his [works] to market. … I strive to help others live with the ease of joy Karl naturally possesses. This quality positively infects his books and enriches his [audience's] experiences.” - Simone da Rosa, wellness coach, speaker, writer

¿De dónde es su familia? ¿Qué se puede hacer con una banana madura? ¿De dónde vienen los cuentos y libros? ¿Ha estado usted asustado por sonidos en su casa? Hábil en español tanto como en inglés, Karl Beckstrand escribe y hable desde las experiencias personales, y le encanta compartir historias. Los temas incluyen: Escribir y publicar historias en forma tradicional y electronica; Elejir y disfrutar de una carrera por la vida; Crear y compartir historias de la familia; Actividades divertidas para el aprendizaje; y como escribir para la prensa, peliculas, o el Web. Se esfuerza para incluir ideas entretenidas para los adultos también. Él tiene libros con actividades de lenguaje, búsqueda, contar, y del cocino. Sus libros bilingües incluyen una guía de pronunciación en ambos idiomas. Uno de sus libros es la historia real de una inmigrante que no hablaba inglés. "Siempre intento incluir un mensaje de coraje o valor", dice.