Francis is one of the friendly faces helping authors navigate their publishing journey at Tellwell. With four years’ experience as both a project manager and a publishing consultant, Francis enjoys connecting authors with the right team members to help bring their book projects to life.
Read on to learn more about his role, his experience working with authors, and what he enjoys most about being part of their publishing journey.
Tell us a little about yourself and what you do here at Tellwell.
I’ve been working at Tellwell for four years now and am part of the project management team. I am the main point of contact for authors once they formally begin working on publishing their books.
What does your role as a book-project manager involve, and what does a typical day look like?
My role as a project manager is to connect authors with the rest of the team. Since most of our team members are able to work remotely, and with varying schedules and availability, I pass along any questions or voice any concerns between the authors and the team.
What a typical day is depends, as I could be battling the dragon known as “emails” or on the phone or virtual meetings with authors to help address any questions or concerns they might have.
You previously worked as a publishing consultant. What was that experience like, and how has it shaped the way you work with authors today?
I spent three years as a publishing consultant, which taught me the value of getting authors on the phone if there is a question or concern that needs to be addressed immediately. It’s also given me the unique opportunity to see both sides of author conversations.
What do you enjoy most about being part of our authors’ publishing journeys?
Being able to see the book come together, from the cover designs to illustrations, and all the way to the finalized book when it’s ready to hit the market!
What’s one thing you’ve learned from working with so many different authors and their books?
How little I really know, and how speaking with my authors has taught me new topics, from business and leadership to religion and faith. I have learned so much, and I appreciate how wonderful and friendly my authors are as they trust us with their publishing journey.
Every book and author is different. How do you approach helping authors with different goals, personalities, and needs?
I aim to be as honest as I possibly can with all of my authors, and hopefully find middle ground with them, because that is how I want to present myself and the process to them. My goal is to find solutions to problems, and ensuring that a collaborative spirit is always included is important to me.
Is there a particular part of the publishing process that you find especially rewarding? Why?
The moment where the book is ready for publication. Sometimes I get the chance to be on a call with an author on publishing day, and I’m always excited when I can congratulate them as they add “published author” to their list of achievements. Seeing all the work that it takes to get to that point culminate in a finished book that the author is passionate about is such a special feeling.
What’s one piece of advice you would give to an author who is just starting their publishing journey?
The advice I commonly give my authors is to just ask questions. There is no such thing as a “wrong” or “dumb” one, and when my authors ask me questions, it shows methat they are engaged and eager to keep their project moving!
Outside of work, what do you enjoy doing in your free time?
Aside from spending time with my loved ones, my main hobby is hosting games for my friends, as we all share a love for tabletop role-playing games. I’m very thankful for the friends who join me weekly as we dive into a story we made together.
