Speaker Spotlights

Steven Aitchison

From Attendee to Speaker and Inspiring Friend

Sometimes the most interesting and powerful conference moments are unplanned.

In 2025, Steven Aitchison made a last-minute decision to attend Ireland’s Publishing Show. He arrived with openness, curiosity and an immediate willingness to connect.

Within minutes, he was networking like a pro, introducing himself, asking questions, offering insights and fully immersing himself in the experience. When an unexpected schedule change opened up a short slot on the Tuesday evening, thanks to Tony Lee’s quick thinking, we made a spontaneous decision to invite Steven to share part of his story.

It was one of the best decisions we made last year.

Steven spoke about the advertisement that transformed his trajectory, about taking chances, testing boldly and thinking differently. His story was not about overnight success. It was about experimentation, resilience and being willing to try.

Steven continues to grow his platform, particularly on TikTok, where he blends humour with genuine insight. He reminds authors that sharing knowledge does not diminish your success, it strengthens the community.

Writing books is not a competition. There are thousands of readers out there.You just have to find yours. We are thrilled to welcome Steven back as a speaker for 2026, this time officially on the programme and on the main stage.

Lorna Sixsmith

Author. Farmer. Speaker. Media Magnet.

Lorna Sixsmith is proof that authors do not fit into one neat box.

A talented writer, a mother, a friend and a farmer, Lorna balances creativity with rural life in a way that is both grounded and inspiring. When she is not writing her next book, she is in the cow shed managing the realities of farm life.

We met Lorna and built a great rapport with her through the writing community, and from the moment she was introduced by James Blatch at Ireland’s Publishing Show 2025, she made an impact. Her warmth, insight and honesty resonated deeply with attendees, and the feedback spoke for itself.

That is why we are delighted to welcome her back for 2026.

Lorna will be hosting a workshop on gaining press coverage, a topic she knows intimately. She has appeared on numerous radio shows and television programmes, gaining national recognition that many authors only dream of. The fact that she was crowdfunding fourteen years ago, when many of us did not even know such things existed, shows just how forward-thinking and informed she is.

For authors, particularly those living in smaller communities around the world, understanding how to secure media attention can be transformative. Lorna brings practical experience, real examples and achievable strategies.

If you are ready to step beyond your comfort zone and put your work in front of wider audiences, this is a session you will not want to miss.