Speaking Engagements, Author Appearances, Workshops

Gregg Olsen has been a featured guest and speaker on hundreds of national and international radio and TV programs and has appeared live before audiences ranging from twenty to several hundred. Although Olsen's presentations can be tailored to fit your audience's needs (cultural, educational, etc.), the following are some of his most popular talks:

Starvation Heights: Every Town Has a Secret

Olsen takes the audience through the story of Dr. Linda Hazzard, a self-proclaimed fasting specialist who might have killed as many as 40 patients over three decades. The author makes his home in Olalla, the locale of the devious doctor's clinic, nicknamed Starvation Heights.

"The audience really enjoyed Gregg's presentation. He was an outstanding speaker. He interacted with the audience, answered questions, signed books and was very friendly, entertaining and funny. The presentation was on a serious subject, but handled with humor and wit. It was a great evening."
–John Winslow
President of Manchester Friends of the Library
Manchester, Washington

Ten Things I Learned Researching and Writing about the Lives of Others

With his extensive experience as a journalist and crime writer, Olsen has learned what it takes to get the story right, the value of establishing genuine relationships, and the importance of allowing a story to take its own shape. He uses ten "real world" examples tied to the stories he's told.

"Gregg Olsen's presentation on the complexities of writing about people was a useful, energetic session for first-year college students who are engaged in research projects of their own. Instructors appreciated the focus on ethics and research, as well as on writing practices; students appreciated the good humor and vivid examples that Olsen used.
–Heidi Estrem, Ph.D
Director of First-Year Writing
Department of English
Boise State University

Bad Women and Why I Love Them

    The author takes on America's fascination with bad girls, Mary Kay Letourneau, Tonya Harding, Amy Fisher, Stella Nickell, Pamela Smart and more, in a talk that's funny, scary, and riveting at the same time. Water cooler talk the next day, guaranteed.

"Gregg's talk on "Bad Women and Why I Love Them" is without a doubt one of the most entertaining events we've had at our bookstore in the last few years. His observations were often funny and dead on target. The fact that he has an insider's perspective concerning one of the most infamous bad girls (Mary Kay Letourneau) made it even more enjoyable. He's welcome to come back anytime."
–Ruthanne Devlin
Community Relations Manager
Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Silverdale, Washington

Sunshine Mine Disaster: Every Man is a Hero

On May 2, 1972, tragedy struck the Sunshine Mine when a fire of unknown origin sent toxic fumes through the famed silver mine in Kellogg, Idaho. Ultimately, 91 men lost their lives, with two surviving for more than a week a mile underground. Olsen tells the story chronicled in his award-winning book, The Deep Dark, in a presentation you won't ever forget.

"The Everybody Reads Program tripled its community participation this year thanks to author Gregg Olsen and The Deep Dark. Gregg is an excellent presenter who connected with students and the public, many of whom had personal ties to the Sunshine Mine Disaster. He honors the people involved in the disaster while explaining the details of the mining culture and environment. If you have a program for which you need an author, you won?t do better than Gregg. He enthusiastically promotes the programs in which he is involved. It is a joy to host him."
–Jennifer B. Ashby
Asotin County Library Director
Clarkston, Washington

"Gregg Olsen connects to and with his audience, regardless of gender, race, or creed. His compassion for all people, his old fashioned good manners, and his sly and wry sense of humor make him a near-perfect speaker. He cherishes and values his humble role as guardian and caretaker of the ordinary and extraordinary as a reporter of the human condition. He's a blast of fresh air."
–James R. Hepworth
Professor of Humanities
Lewis-Clark State College
Lewiston, Idaho

New! An Evening with the Crime Rant Guys

The Crime Rant guys; New York Times bestselling author Gregg Olsen and acclaimed journalist M. William Phelps; are available for special events. Wired magazine says of the duo and their blog: "[the] gallows-humor-loving guys who write Crime Rant, [are] a great source of breaking news and weirdness in the world of crime." Both authors specialize in the female murderer. Phelps has been called "the nation's leading authority on the mind of the female murderer" by Radio America. He can bring that expertise to the event alongside Olsen's keen understanding of the some of the nation's most notorious female criminals. Olsen has interviewed Diane Downs and Mary Kay Letourneau; he's corresponded with Pam Smart and others.