Tag Archives: publicity

Author Success - In the media, awards, reviews

December Delights: Sparkling Success Stories of Authors Embracing the Magic of the Season

As the holiday season fills the air with joy, we’re excited to share these journeys of inspiring authors and their success stories. Come along on an enchanting ride through our December highlights, where each story sparkles brightly with the magic of success and perseverance.

With a festive spirit, we raise a toast to the incredible accomplishments of our authors this December!

Awards

Tellwell author Keith Hamilton has recently received the Silver Literary Titan Award for his book, Desperation Island.

Grab a copy of Desperation Island here!

Lisa Oatway’s book The Dinosaur Encounter won the 2023 Canadian Book Club Awards in the category of Children/Early Reader!

Grab a copy of The Dinosaur Encounter here!

The author behind the book Shelter, Rebecca Brown, earned a bronze medal in the 2023 Living Now Book Awards in the Health and Wellness Category!

Grab a copy of Shelter here!

Reviews

An incredible review from IndieReader was given to Monique Britten for her book, The Day Before Tomorrow.

A challenging and emotional read in terms of subject matter, Monique Britten’s THE DAY BEFORE TOMORROW is not for the faint of heart—a beautiful narrative that addresses real-world hopes and fears unflinchingly, albeit with a potentially divisive ending.

IndieReader Book Review

A page-turner you don’t want to miss. Get your copy of The Day Before Tomorrow by Monique Britten here!

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Author Success - In the media, awards, reviews

Celebrating literary successes!

We’re putting the spotlight to these remarkable wordsmiths!

With book reviews, public recognitions, and awards, it’s another month of celebration, admiration, and inspiration where we applaud the authors who have shared their literary journeys with us.

Awards

Tellwell author Craig Weidhunner has recently received the Literary Titan Award for his book: Mystical Force: Volume 5 Shadows and Darkness.

This book promises to be an engaging read, ideal for fans of riveting adventure, with themes of found family and a hint of enigma.

Literary Titan

Grab a copy of Mystical Force: Volume 5 Shadows and Darkness here!

Reviews

A glowing five-star review from Reader Views was given to Sharon Bruce’s book, Shoebox Baby.

Overall, Sharon Bruce’s Shoebox Baby was an enjoyable read. For readers who love historical fiction focusing on familial relationships, this one will scratch the itch. Moreover, the focus on building strength and overcoming obstacles is wonderfully illustrated. Five stars!

Reader Views Book Review

A heartwarming book based on true story. Get your copy of Shoebox Baby by Sharon Bruce here!

It’s another five star review for Barb Locket! Easy Baking in Barb’s Kitchen also received an incredible review by Reader Views.

The recipes are easy and healthy, and I assure you they will be loved by all who taste them. I would highly recommend the book to anyone out there who loves to bake.

Reader Views Book Review

Have fun baking with Barb Lockert. Grab your copy of Easy Baking in Barb’s Kitchen here!

Readers’ Favorite gave another five-star review to David Giffen’s book Redemptive Trauma.

This is a taste of what readers will get when experiencing Giffen’s writing. Redemptive Trauma is a journey first written from the perspective of the author as a man, who then later gives us this complete visual understanding of what his childhood years were like as he later grew into the man he became.

Reader’s Favorite Book Review

Don’t miss out this masterpiece by David Giffen. Get your copy of Redemptive Trauma here!

Lara Knitter received an incredible review by IndieReader for her book The Dog Who Walks Himself.

The Dog Who Walks Himself is an allegorical tale for adults who have been inspired by older mentors and a beautiful book for children and dog lovers that can also be used as a means of addressing loss.

IndieReader Book Review

A heartwarming tale you would want to get lost into. Grab your copy of The Dog Who Walks Himself here.

Publicity

We are thrilled to present remarkable Filipino-Canadian Tellwell author Wendy Archard, who recently graced the pages of The Philippine Reporter with her book Just Breathe.

My hope is that my book resonates with little ones and their parents/families, helping them through a difficult time by reading a relatable story.

Wendy Archard, Author Interview with
The Philippine Reporter

A simple and beautiful rhyming story using illustrations and colours to help convey different emotions. Grab your copy of Just Breathe here.

Tellwell Author David Giffen graces the pages of Literary Titan with his book Redemtive Trauma.

Ultimately, Redemptive Trauma is about reconciling hope, and calling home prodigals of all kinds.

David Giffen Author Interview with
Literary Titan

Redemptive Trauma shares a story of learning the deep value of empathy, while tackling mental health and the associated stigma. Grab your copy here.

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Author Success - In the media, awards, reviews

Tellwell Author Success Stories – publicity and book launches

From book launches to media mentions to an exclusive IndieReader interview, Tellwell authors have had a busy month!

Great work getting your books out there, everyone!


Richmond Hill author Rishma Govani has been generating a lot of positive buzz for her world-travelling children’s book Sushi & Samosas: A Trip of Tasty Transformations! 🍣

In the last month alone, Rishma has participated in an interview with Global’s The Morning Show, an interview with the I just [blank]! Now what? Podcast hosted by Jessica Stephens, an interview with Global’s Good Morning Hamilton radio show, an interview with 105.9 The Region’s parenting talk show Where Parents Talk, an interview with Global radio show The Start, an interview with popular Calgary radio show Mornings with Sue and Andy, and an interview with Global’s The Shift. And there’s more to come!

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Author Success - In the media, awards, reviews

Author Highlights: Awards, Reviews and In-The-News!

Each month, we’re always excited to highlight the successes of our authors! From top award nominations, to featured interviews, to rave reviews – we’re offering a huge congratulations to our authors for these terrific accomplishments!

AWARDS

Dr. Chelinay Gate, author of Lucky-Child: The Secret, just made it to the Prime Minister’s Book Club in Australia. A huge honor!

This compelling coming-of-age tale is the story of Lucy. Answering her dying great-grandmother’s call, Lucy is lured into the dark red heart of Australia’s Great Sandy Desert. Indigenous mother tongues Mangala and Wajarri exquisitely mimic the landscapes and evoke a feeling of timelessness that transports Lucy and the all-female search party into a Dreamtime World, where she learns to respect the Lore, Country and herself. “Like the striking of an ancient gong, I heard my name, Lucy Lucky-Child.”

Lucky-Child: The Secret also won first place in the Fiction category for the 2020 Next Generation Indie Books Awards! The book also won the grand prize in the First Novel category, and was a finalist in the Action/Adventure Category and Regional Category. 

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Author of the Month

From historical research to staff-picked, award-winning novel – Renée Veillet shares of her accomplishments as an indie author

img_0002-180x300What started as research into her own family’s history during the settling of Western Canada in the 1900s, transitioned to an award-winning historical fiction novel and a long-term career as a writer and published author for Renée Veillet.

Inspired by the stories she learned of her ancestors, the Calgary-based author sought out to honour Canadian history in a medium that might be more entertaining and enjoyable for young adults.

“My ancestors endured hardships that were unimaginable; my great grandfather was forced to leave his family behind in order to seek work in Canada. The first family member he could afford to bring over travelled in steerage class on the Titanic and did not survive,” explains Veillet. “I feel a debt of gratitude towards my ancestors and want to honour them by sharing their stories with my children and the generations to come.”

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By the fall of 2017, Veillet was a published author and Rings of Time quickly began to receive high praise. The book, which has been compared to the popular TV series Outlander, has been described by Goodreads readers as “[p]erfectly paced and beautifully descriptive” and “an entertaining escape into another time.”

Local bookstores have also expressed interest in the book, and it was even featured as a Staff Pick at the Crowfoot Chapters in December 2017.

“As a first-time author, having my book on the shelf of the local bookstore was a huge milestone,” says Veillet. “Having it chosen as a staff pick was an unexpected surprise.”

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Tips & Tricks

The Art of the ARC – How advanced reader copies can add buzz, publicity and reviews to your book before the official release

There is nothing better than the smell of a freshly cracked book spine – unless of course, that book is an advance reader copy (ARC). ARC’s are copies of a book that are given to certain people who are permitted to read it before its scheduled release date.  They are typically given to bloggers, critics, and other online influencers to review and promote the work to a wider audience.  For authors, sending out an ARC is a great way to gain buzz and publicity before the big release.  Although this may open the door to potential negative criticism, this also gives authors the chance to make last-minute changes before releasing their book to the world. So how do you create an ARC for reviewers?

 

Making an ARC

An ARC does not need to be fancy, however, there are additional elements that need to be considered:

  • Disclaimer – A complete cover is not necessary, but there should be a disclaimer stating that this copy of the book is an advance reader copy that is not for resale.
  • Quick facts – Include a list that has information like: number of pages, price, release date, ISBN etc.
  • Formatting – While this may not be your final copy of your book, you should still make sure it appears clean and professional. Reviewers may have several ARCs to review, and an aesthetically appealing file could boost your chances of getting read first.

When it comes to distribution, you can choose an electronic copy, such as a PDF, or a print copy. Digital distribution is inexpensive and easy to deliver, however, this also makes it easier to leak. Print is the traditional route, but it does take more effort and time to produce.

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Author Success - In the media, awards, reviews

Authors in the Media

aroundtheworldTony and RL Read were featured in the Entertainment section of the Stratford Beacon Herald this month, showcasing the release of their light-hearted travel book Around the World: Stories from afar, but close to a bar. Read the full article here.

 

 

 

rock3dIan Mark joined The Homestretch’s host Doug Dirks this month to talk about his experience as a rock performance photographer in the 70’s. Mark recently published a collection of his photos titled Adventures of a 70’s Rock Photographer. He was also featured on CBC News Calgary. Listen to his interview on The Homestretch here.

 

 

purpose3dIn light of Autism Awareness Month, Mirian Sansalone spoke about her memoir – Purpose High: Living With Autism, with Jessi Cruickshank on The Goods. The book shares the author’s experiences as a mother of two autistic sons. Watch the episode on CBC TV here. Sansalone also shared five things everyone should know about autism on The Caledon Enterprise. Read the article here.

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Guest Post

Conversations from a Coffee Shop: Transforming my Personal Struggles into Success through Writing by Jason Lee

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“Why don’t you write a book about your life?” asked my ex-wife as she poured herself a cup of earl grey tea one summer afternoon.

We were sitting on the empty patio at Gallagher’s coffee shop in Port Moody, listening to the sounds of birds chirping in the background of our conversation.

“Nobody would want to read about my story,” I chuckled shaking my head. “No one cares about my childhood abuse, or how my anger destroyed so many relationships.”

She grimaced and coyly nodded in agreement about how my anger ripped apart our marriage over 15 years ago. She took a sip of her tea and smacked her lips. “You never know. I think you’re not the only person who’s struggled. And how you’ve turned things around for yourself can be uplifting to so many people and can bring hope.”

I looked up and stared into the bright blue sky. A gentle breeze brushed against my face as I paused for a moment in deep thought.

Later that evening in my apartment, I continued thinking about our conversation. Was she right? Do other people also struggle managing their emotions, namely anger? Does depression and anxiety affect others making them feel helpless and lost, just like how I felt? I picked up a pad and pen and began jotting down notes. Somewhere in there, I scribbled the words, “recovery…anger…abuse…mental health and living with the dragon.”

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Tips & Tricks

Pave the way to literary success with a pre-marketing strategy

Your phone rings; your best friend is calling. You answer and the congratulations and celebratory cheers pour in. The day has come, the daydreams have become reality. You’ve made the Globe and Mail’s bestseller list! The book you spent months crafting has gone viral and new readers are multiplying by the second! You’ve reached celebrity author status.

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It may seem far-fetched, but it’s certainly possible. The question is: how did you get to that unforgettable milestone?

As an author, whether you’re self-published or not, one of the most important things you’ll need to do to work towards that bestseller status is build an audience of readers who would be most interested in your book. But, growing a target market is no easy feat, and it definitely takes time and committed engagement.

And, if you want to hit the ground running when your book is launched, you’re going to need to get started sooner rather than later. Enter pre-marketing.

Having and executing a pre-marketing strategy is extremely important to build initial momentum – whether it’s your first book, or your sixth. Here are Tellwell’s top ten tips to consider when putting together your pre-marketing strategy:

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Author of the Month

YA author Rachael Bell-Irving uses pre-marketing to grow following, knowledge and experience for launch

rachael

We’ve all heard the saying ‘practice makes perfect’ at one time or another, and book marketing is no exception. So when Tellwell author Rachael Bell-Irving decided she was going to publish her first book – Demons at the Doorstep, she immediately began exploring and experimenting with marketing in preparation for her book’s release.

First, she embellished her online author presence with a Facebook Page and website, and began to establish a voice through social media and a blog. While she knew it was important to be on multiple online platforms, Bell-Irving decided to focus on the tool she felt most comfortable with: Instagram.

She did her due-diligence researching effective hashtags and exploring community spaces like “Bookstagram.” As she began to post content, she started to pick up on some of the nuances. Beyond the importance of imagery, Bell-Irving discovered the value of allowing your personality to come through.

insta-post-4-personal“People like to know who you are behind the scenes and behind the screen,” she says.

Some of her most well-received content on Instagram has been posts of herself – whether they were related to the writing process or not. Even online, the reading community seems to appreciate a personable, humanistic approach to brand awareness.

Another advantage of the pre-marketing process for Bell-Irving was getting a better sense of her genre and her target audience. Prior to exploring the literary community on social media, she didn’t realize her writing is tailored to young adult readers.

Having learned that, she found her approach online shifted to accommodate the interests and habits of YA readers specifically. The most prominent thing she discovered was the strength of the community she had become a part of through her writing. Not only are YA readers and writers extremely interactive with one another, but being genuinely invested is quintessential to building support within the community.

The concept of “being a reader as much as a writer” goes a long way, Bell-Irving explains. So, she started to get back into reading again to really immerse herself with her audience.

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