For the month of September, we are thrilled to introduce you to Mark, one of our team’s gifted book-marketing associates. In this interview you’ll learn what keeps Mark inspired creatively, what a typical day at Tellwell looks like for him, and how he enjoys spending his free time when he’s not bringing author visions to life!
Tell us a bit about yourself!
Hey there! My name is Mark and I’m one of the book-marketing associates here at Tellwell. I recently celebrated my first work anniversary with the company in July.
My journey in the marketing world began back in 2018. I kicked things off by working in digital marketing for a jewelry brand. After that, I took a detour and worked as a consultant in the government sector. Now, I’m thrilled to be a part of the amazing Tellwell team as a book-marketing associate.
What does a typical day look like for you?
My workday starts with my ritual cup of coffee. With my caffeine fix in hand, I dive into the day ahead. Firstly, I go through emails and over my to-do list, ensuring that no important tasks in my book-marketing projects are missed.
As a book-marketing associate, my role is all about collaboration. I work closely alongside our marketing consultants, offering a helping hand whenever they need it. Whether it’s creating book backgrounders, designing promotional materials, setting up ad campaigns, organizing book blog tours, or tackling various other marketing tasks, I’ve got my hand in the mix.
I also take care of our website section. It’s my responsibility to keep track of website renewals for our authors, providing them with prompt, helpful responses to any website-related queries, and keeping their websites updated.
In a nutshell, my days are a blend of coffee, collaboration/teamwork, and ensuring that our authors’ book-marketing journeys are as seamless as possible.
What is your favourite part about working with authors?
The moment when I’ve completed their marketing services, and they express their satisfaction with the work I’ve done for them. It’s a reassuring feeling to know that I’ve made a positive impact on their marketing and, in some cases, even surpassed their expectations!
Whether it’s crafting a compelling book backgrounder or setting up their social media pages, it’s rewarding to receive kind words and appreciation from authors who recognize and value the efforts I’ve put into assisting them.
Your job requires a lot of creativity. What keeps you inspired?
My job does demand a lot of creativity, particularly when I’m crafting promotional materials or book backgrounders for our authors. What keeps me inspired is staying attuned to the unique elements of each book. I often draw inspiration from the book covers or the illustrations within the book. These visual cues provide good ideas and help me align the promotional materials with the book’s overall design.
When my creative juices run out, Pinterest comes to my rescue! Browsing through its wide selection of aesthetics and themes can be a great way to draw inspiration or fresh ideas. Additionally, it also helps to read the chapters of the author’s book. I think it’s a great way to explore new ideas for creativity.
Do you have a favourite project that you’ve worked on? What about it did you enjoy the most?
One of the projects that I enjoyed working on was for a fiction/fantasy book titled Futility of Defense by Bryan Cole. I had the pleasure of undertaking various marketing services for this project, including crafting a creative book backgrounder, setting up a Facebook and Amazon ad campaigns, facilitating a website update, and designing advanced social media graphics. While it was a lot of work, I enjoyed every moment of it, especially the creative design aspects.
What made the experience even more enjoyable was the author himself. Bryan Cole was an absolute delight to work with, remarkably laid-back and easygoing. All in all, it was a great project that I fondly look back on.
Outside of work, what are your favourite things to do?
I’m a big fan of travelling and chilling at the beach, where I can lose myself in a good book or enjoy quality time with my friends.
On other days, you’ll likely find me hanging out with my friends at food places. We’re all about the foodie scene, and we make it a mission to hit up the latest cafes in the city. Good food and great stories, that’s the recipe for a perfect day, in my eyes.
Lastly, I recently learned how to skateboard! I’m not a pro just yet but I’m steadily improving. Turns out it’s as exhilarating as surfing, and I’m loving every minute of it.
What book are you currently reading, and what’s next on your to-be-read list?
I’m currently reading some self-help books—my go-to genre lately. However, I’ve been thinking it might be a good time to take a break from it and explore new literary genres. I’m excited to read the book I purchased recently from a book fair. It’s a memoir titled Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup.
