This July, we’re introducing JM Vertudazo, Tellwell’s new post-publication manager.
From overseeing distribution, printing, and audiobook production to ensuring every book reaches readers smoothly after publication, JM works behind the scenes to support authors long after their books are released.
Get to know JM as he shares more about his role, his passion for helping authors succeed, and what goes into the post-publication journey.
Can you tell us a little about yourself and what you do here at Tellwell?
I’m JM Vertudazo, and I’m so excited to connect with you all. I live in Mindanao, located in the beautiful southern part of the Philippines. It is a vibrant melting pot of rich traditions, seamlessly blending Maranao, Christian, and Lumad (Indigenous) cultures. Ever since I was young, I dreamed of being a teacher. I used to gather my friends under our hut house and pretend to teach them, using a stick as a pointer on a makeshift classroom board covered in handwritten letters. This dream led me to study an Education major in Literature, which sparked my lifelong appreciation for great stories. I am a huge cat lover and enjoy staying active by going for walks. I’m also always up for a spontaneous road trip—whether that means driving out into nature or heading down to the beach or river, I find the adventure incredibly exciting!
My primary focus at Tellwell is leading the end-to-end delivery of all post-publication services, ensuring the seamless execution of our audiobook, distribution, and printing operations. A typical day for me involves overseeing operational workflows of the three departments, coordinating with print vendors, distribution channels, and monitoring service quality and turnaround times to guarantee author success. I help refine our processes, scale our operations, and ultimately deliver an exceptional, high-quality experience for all of our authors.
As post-publication manager, what does a typical day look like for you?
A typical day for me is all about keeping the wheels turning smoothly across our post-publication services. I usually start by looking at the big picture—checking our production numbers such as books ready for submission to Ingram or KDP, all print jobs, audiobook projects, timelines, seeing how we are tracking against our targets, and making sure our productivity goals are exactly where they need to be. I really enjoy diving into the details to ensure our workflows are as efficient as possible from start to finish.
Beyond the daily operations, a lot of my time is dedicated to quality and communication between departments involved in book production. I regularly run checks to make sure everything we produce meets Tellwell’s high standards and platform requirements. I also spend a good part of my day connecting with my team and our partners so we stay perfectly aligned at every step. Whether I am mentoring the team to foster a culture of continuous improvement or stepping in to personally support our authors, my ultimate goal is to guarantee they have an exceptional and seamless experience.
What’s something that happens behind the scenes after a book is published that authors might not realize?
Authors often feel that hitting “publish” is the final destination, but for my team and me, it is really just the start of an exciting journey in publishing. What many authors might not realize is the sheer amount of daily, proactive coordination happening in the background to keep their books accessible online. Long after a book goes live, we are continuously monitoring distribution platforms and conducting quality audits to make sure everything remains fully compliant with strict platform requirements.
We are identifying and resolving operational issues through cross-functional coordination, ensuring that any potential bumps in the book publishing road are smoothed out before the author even notices them. It is all about making sure their post-publication journey remains incredibly seamless.
What do you find most rewarding about helping authors after they’ve published their books?
What I find most rewarding about this role is witnessing the moment those stories truly take flight. At Tellwell, our purpose is all about creating a vibrant culture and helping authors share their stories with the world. Being in post-publication means I get to see the real-world impact of that mission every single day.
After all the hard work an author pours into writing and producing a book, they are fully entitled to sit back and enjoy the journey. Knowing that my team is using our operational expertise to handle the complex, behind-the-scenes details gives our authors the peace of mind to simply celebrate their success. Much like the spontaneous road trips I love to take, the journey certainly doesn’t end just because you reached the publishing finish line. Helping our authors navigate that exciting post-publication adventure and watching their books thrive out in the world is an incredibly fulfilling experience.
Every project comes with its own challenges. What’s one challenge your team faces regularly, and how do you work through it?
In the post-publication phase, one of our most regular challenges is managing the many moving parts across our audiobook, distribution, and printing operations. Our distribution network involves a wide variety of platforms, each with their own strict requirements and timelines. Sometimes, unexpected delays or compliance issues pop up. When a hurdle arises, my team and I focus on proactive risk management. We closely track performance against our targets to identify any potential risks or delays early on, which allows us to implement corrective and preventive measures quickly. We also rely on structured escalation and cross-functional coordination to resolve these operational issues while minimizing any risks. By maintaining clear, well-documented communication with all our stakeholders, we ensure everyone stays aligned and that the author’s post-publication journey remains a smooth ride.
If an author is getting ready for the post-publication stage, what’s one piece of advice you’d give them?
Treat it like setting out on an exciting trip—pack your patience and trust the publishing journey. During the book distribution process, we are actively pushing your book out to various external vendors and retail platforms. Because each of these channels has its own unique processing timelines and strict compliance standards, it can sometimes take a little while for your book to fully populate and become available online—typically about 4 to 6 weeks. We deeply appreciate our authors having patience during this window, and I want to assure you that the Post Publication team is completely on top of making your book available online as quickly as possible.
My biggest piece of advice is to stay positive and lean on us. While you focus on celebrating your launch, marketing your book, and connecting with your readers, my team is diligently managing the operational workflows and vendor coordination behind the scenes to ensure everything goes off without a hitch. You have already done the incredibly hard work of writing your story; now, let us handle the operational steps of making it available to the world.
What do you enjoy most about working with your team at Tellwell?
Our shared drive for operational excellence, continuous improvement and the strong sense of camaraderie we have built. Navigating the fast-paced world of post-publication requires adaptability, trust, and everyone working together to reach the same destination. I take great pride in fostering a culture of accountability and operational discipline among the team, but it is their genuine dedication to delivering an exceptional author experience that truly inspires me. Whether we are collaborating to streamline complex operational workflows or just taking a moment to connect over our daily lives, it is incredibly rewarding to lead such a supportive, detail-driven group that shares my deep appreciation for bringing our authors’ stories to the world.
