Gov. Tim Pawlenty has inked a deal with speakers bureau Leading Authorities to handle his speaking appearances once he leaves office.

The company, which has a client list ranging from Gen. Stanley McChrystal to Rev. Al Sharpton, announced Wednesday an exclusive speaking deal with Pawlenty in 2011.

"This is an extraordinary opportunity to hear directly from one of the nation's most respected governors and a leading voice in the Republican Party," Mark French, president of Leading Authorities, said in a statement announcing the deal.

In addition to Pawlenty's speaking gig, the Minnesota governor's book, "Courage to Stand," will be released on Jan. 11 next year, just days after he leaves the governor's mansion. The publisher, Tyndale House, put a promo video on YouTube earlier this week.

The deal with Leading Authorities is just the latest sign pointing to Pawlenty's presidential aspirations in 2012. The governor, who has three more months left in office, says he'll make a decision whether he's running for president early in 2011.