Jennifer’s dedication to helping writers find and share their voices is at the heart of her work. Jennifer is also an accomplished author herself having written and published two books:) Her passion for storytelling extends into the community, particularly in schools and prisons, where she utilizes proprioceptive writing techniques to tune writers to their inner voice and write from the heart.
Jennifer Chapin brings a lot of experience and passion to her role. She starts authors on their publishing journeys with a background in sales and a deep love for storytelling. Read on to get to know Jennifer better!
Can you tell us about your background and what inspired you to become a book-publishing consultant?
I have a background in professional sales that includes the hotel business here in Canada and in New York City. Prior to beginning with Tellwell I worked for a technology company that developed software to help non-profit organizations secure foundation funding. I helped my clients fine-tune their stories to attract funders. I also worked in Granada, Spain, for a short time while researching my novel, The Poet & The Angel, which Tellwell published in 2020. It was an easy transition for me, as I am both a writer and a reader—books are an important part of my world. The message of The Poet & The Angel is to always speak up and understand the power of your voice, and never let anyone curtail you from doing so.
What do you find most rewarding about your role as a book-publishing consultant at Tellwell?
That I help other authors bring their voices into the world. Every phone call is different and I enter the world of a particular author with great curiosity and gratitude. As I explain our publishing process to them, I also learn from them. Their stories are so varied and interesting. If I have encouraged an author to take the next step and join the Tellwell publishing process, overcoming any trepidation that they may have, I have been successful. It also helps a great deal that I have gone through the Tellwell publishing process myself, which makes it easier to explain to others.
We heard about your recent talk at a class in Pacific Christian School. Can you tell us more about that experience?
An English teacher from the school reached out to Tellwell, as he and his Grade 11 and 12 students were composing a children’s book. He sent me a couple of the books they were working on, and I gave some positive commentary and was invited to address the Grade 11 English class to talk about Tellwell and how we work with authors of all ages, and to share my own creative process as an author. A couple of the students brought their projects in with them: a Taiwanese cookbook and a children’s book. We used both to illustrate the Tellwell process and what they could expect as they worked alongside their project manager. I stressed editing and marketing as well! At first the group was quiet, but everyone started to relax as the session continued. It was a rewarding experience, and I ended the session by telling each of them to believe in their own creative genius, and to believe in the power of the word.
What impact do you hope to achieve by sharing your expertise with young aspiring authors?
Younger authors are notoriously hard on themselves and may feel that, because of their age, no one would be interested in hearing their voices. They worry that they would never be taken seriously, or that they have nothing to say. I tell them that, in fact, writers of their age are in tune in many ways, and they should not sell themselves short. They are the ones who will inherit the earth, and we need to hear from them. My hope is that they can grow in confidence enough to share their stories and leave a legacy. I believe they have a great deal to say, as we have seen with our child authors at Tellwell.
Can you tell us about the writing class you recently held for male parolees? What was the focus of the session?
The male parolees come from both maximum and minimum security prisons, in recovery from drug or alcohol addictions. The role of the writing exercise that I use, which is modeled after “proprioceptive writing,” or “writing the mind alive,” is designed to drill the participant down into their narrative in a way that is powerfully self-revealing. There were five men in the class I held most recently, and I provided a theme for them to focus on as they wrote: the word “hero.” They had twenty minutes to write after I provided a couple of quotes around the theme, and they wrote to Baroque music, as this quietens and focuses the mind. All the men in attendance wrote, and although this is voluntary, they all read their work aloud. Their words were powerful and haunting, each addressing how the word “hero” played out in their lives and the lives of their family and community. They wrote about their loss and how they try every day to stand up again. I got the sense that there was a great deal of trust in the room for them to share something this revealing.
How does this writing class align with Tellwell’s mission and values?
People who were touched by this exercise are now starting to think about the possibility of writing a book themselves. I think their voices surprised them in terms of the clarity of thought and the passion they brought to their narrative. Tellwell’s mission is built upon passion, integrity, and ethics, and these classes help those who participated to find that integrity and honesty within themselves. I also spoke to them about Tellwell before the actual writing session began and stressed other values, like transparency and strong customer support, so they could feel surrounded by a creative and caring team that will work alongside them when the time comes.
How do these engagements shape your approach as a book-publishing consultant at Tellwell?
They help me to give back to the community some of the knowledge I have learned at Tellwell in my seven years of being here. When you see the power of the word being embraced in the way I have through these engagements, it further solidifies my underlying philosophy of encouraging authors to bring their narratives forward and speak their truth. The writing exercises in the prison system, for instance, are a way for authors to connect to the truths inside them that they may be trying to ignore. You can’t ignore yourself any longer, because you will reveal the truth to yourself. It helps to clear blocks and provide healing.
What are some common challenges authors face when publishing their books, and how do you help them overcome them?
Fear and uncertainty are the common challenges. I hesitate to say that budget is a challenge, because I feel (and have seen) that if an author is convinced they need to bring their story out and Tellwell is the vehicle for that, then they set aside the money to make it happen. I understand fear and uncertainty coupled with a strong sense of feeling vulnerable and exposed with the publishing of your book, because I have felt the same way myself. So this is my focus with authors, to uncover those challenges head on and talk through them honestly and openly, and encourage them.
How has the book-publishing landscape changed since you started in the industry, and what trends do you see emerging?
One is in the marketing of a book. I believe that the pandemic caused a rise in creativity from those who did not want to postpone the publishing of their books, or who felt that the book they wanted to publish had been inside them for long enough. The tenor of the books changed as well. In the days prior to the pandemic, children’s books did not deal with issues of mindfulness, meditation, and grief, but this started filtering into the vernacular. Playing outside and being in nature also came to the fore, perhaps because of the lockdown. Alongside this came the rise in the sophistication of book marketing. In a crowded arena, how does one get the maximum exposure for a book? Reflecting on Tellwell’s growth, I marvel at how we have grown in complexity as a technology company as much as a publishing company. We were not a global company when I first started with Tellwell, and now we are working with authors around the world in a seamless manner. Our team is global, whereas when I first began, we were Canadian only. As we grew, this sophistication expanded to include the relevant and vital services that an author needs in editing, design, illustrations, and marketing. Our team interactions are solid, and we always keep the author as the centre of our focus. It is wonderful to see this growth and the team with their fingers on the pulse of the changes in the industry.
What advice would you give to aspiring authors looking to publish their first book?
Don’t let fear stop you from bringing forward your dreams. Don’t feel that you have nothing to say, or that others won’t be interested in reading your narrative. Don’t talk yourself out of writing your book. Get rid of the critic on your shoulder. If it is your intention to publish your book and it becomes a burning need inside of you, it will materialize in its own time and way. If you feel strongly compelled to write, follow those promptings, because your book will reach many others and change them. As our CEO Tim Lindsay says, “Even if you touch one heart with your book, you will be successful.”
Can you share any stories from authors you’ve helped that particularly stand out?
I have to say that all my authors have inspired me, and I have learned a great deal from them. However, I will never forget the first conversation I had with Heather Shtuka, whose memoir Missing from Me came out in 2022. This is an account of the loss of her son Ryan, who disappeared in Sun Peaks, Alberta, a little over five years ago. He was nineteen at the time and did not make it home from a party. They have never found his body. On our first call, Heather moved rapidly through a description of her book to talk about packages. I stopped her and said, “Excuse me, can we go back a couple of sentences? Did you just tell me that you lost your son?” This opened the floodgates for her. We were competing with another Canadian publishing company and Heather told me that she came to Tellwell because the other company didn’t want to know about her son, so consumed were they with thrusting packages and services at her. I was stunned that a powerful omission of something so deeply tragic and personal was not part of the conversation with the other company, but I was intensely grateful that she chose Tellwell. When her memoir came out, she was ranked 3rd place on Amazon, after Michelle Obama and Prince Harry.
What are your favourite activities or hobbies outside of work?
I am writing constantly these days, as I am a contributing author to a site that focuses on human consciousness and the marriage of science and spirituality. I love photography. I am an avid reader of all genres, with a focus on historical fantasy/fiction, YA, and science fiction. I have a passion for travel and visiting different countries and cultures. Travel enriches me and takes me out of my comfort zone. I learn from the cultures that I visit, and I grow in tolerance and respect as a result. Below are images from trips I have taken, including Old Jerusalem, the River Ganges, and Marrakesh.
