MVP Summit 2026 offered a simple reminder: some of the most valuable learning resources in tech are written by the community itself. In this post, we’re celebrating MVP authors—the people behind books that turn real-world experience into clear, practical guidance—and sharing how the Summit’s MVP Authors Roundtable and Book Nook helped make their impact visible.
At MVP Summit 2026, we put a special spotlight on MVP authors, community leaders who turn hard-won experience into practical, trustworthy resources. Their books don’t just share information; they help people everywhere build skills, solve real problems, and grow confidence with Microsoft technologies.
A dedicated MVP Authors discussion was held, complemented by a “Book Nook” experience in the Community Hub, where authors were invited to bring copies of their books to share with attendees. It sparked the kind of easy, organic moments that make Summit special, flipping through a chapter between sessions, swapping recommendations, and finally meeting the MVPs behind the resources so many in the community already know and trust.
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Author Spotlight - My basic philosophy for writing is to help developers get up to speed on a topic faster and get a product to market sooner. Writing ideas come from different sources. Addressing common technical issues has been one of my inspirations. Other ideas come about when I see something that is missing or not communicated as clearly as it should be. The ideas turn into articles that focus on a specific topic or a book that tells a more cohesive story for bigger topics. Sean has a resource for anyone interested in self-publishing: https://www.annabooks.com/Articles/SelfPublishing-v1.4.pdf. — Sean Liming, MVP (IoT) United States |
Why MVP Authors Matter
Writing a technical book is an act of generosity. It takes months (often years) of planning, testing, revising, and simplifying so someone else can learn faster. MVP authors help create a smoother on-ramp for every kind of learner: the person shipping their first solution, the admin modernizing a tenant, the developer moving into cloud architecture, or the leader trying to understand what’s possible.
- Helping learners go from “I read the docs” to “I shipped the solution.”
- Creating study paths for certifications and role changes.
- Sharing repeatable frameworks, not just one-off tips.
- Bringing clarity to fast-moving products and new features.
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Author Spotlight - I wrote this book in dedication to Professor John Gray, a mentor from the University of Hartford who shaped my career and spent his life teaching the next generation. Writing it felt like the most fitting way to honor his impact and carry his spirit forward of who he was. Jared’s book is Microsoft Copilot Studio Quick Start: Learn to Create and Deploy Personalized AI Solutions — Jared Matfess, MVP (M365) United States |
MVP Summit 2026: making authorship visible
The MVP Authors Roundtable created space for authors to compare notes on what readers need, what’s changing across the tech landscape, and how to keep content accurate and approachable. The Book Nook brought that same spirit into the Hub—an inviting place to browse, discover new topics, and connect face-to-face with the people behind the pages.
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Author Spotlight - As a .NET developer and IT Consultant many years ago, I was involved in a cloud migration project to migrate a legacy .NET app to Microsoft Azure. And I learned a lot, the hard way and tried it all. Back then, there weren't any AI tools such as Copilot or ChatGPT to ask or to help and the documentation about cloud fundamentals and strategies were a few. Therefore, one night, I decided I want to document and write what I learned in action in that project. So, I reached out to O'Reilly, one of my favourite publishers. I had never written a book before, but I wanted to write one. That brave move became my first big masterpiece - Learning Microsoft Azure: Cloud Computing and Development Fundamentals book for everyone, organizations, developers, and learners who wants to build with Azure, but don’t know where to start. — Jonah Andersson, MVP (Azure) Sweden |
And the celebration doesn’t end when Summit wraps. MVPs are invited to share a selfie with their book on social media using the hashtag #MVPSummit, a simple way to amplify community-created content and make it easier for others to discover trusted resources across the program.
Because in the MVP community, authorship isn’t just about publishing - it’s about sharing, connecting, and helping others learn.
How you can support MVP authors:
- Share a recommendation with a teammate who’s learning something new.
- Post what you’re reading (or what chapter helped you) and tag #MVPSummit.
- Leave a thoughtful review—specific examples help authors understand what’s working.
- If you meet an author at an event, tell them how their work helped you (those stories matter).
To every MVP author: thank you for investing your time and expertise in the community. Your work helps others take the next step, whether that’s earning a certification, delivering a project, or simply finding the confidence to keep going. If you’re an MVP author, share your book and join the celebration with #MVPSummit.
Want to Learn More About the MVP Program?
To find an MVP and learn more about the MVP Program visit the MVP Communities website and follow our updates on LinkedIn or #mvpbuzz.
Join us for a future live session through the Microsoft Reactor where we walk through what the MVP program is about, what we look for, and how nominations work. These sessions are designed to help you connect the dots between the work you’re already doing and the impact the MVP Program recognizes — with time for questions, examples, and real conversations.
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