Heather Shtuka’s memoir, Missing from Me, is a powerful account of love, loss, and the strength it takes to turn personal tragedy into a mission of advocacy.
In the quiet beauty of a Canadian ski town, Heather’s life was changed forever when her son Ryan went missing. What followed was an unrelenting search for answers that transformed her from a devoted mother to a voice for families enduring the heartbreak of a missing loved one.
Joe Lyons-Rising’s story is a remarkable testament to resilience, empathy, and the power of turning personal tragedy into a mission of purpose.
Having faced the unimaginable loss of both parents to suicide during his childhood, Joe has dedicated his life to helping others navigate the complexities of grief, trauma, and mental health challenges. His book, Pain Remixed, is a heartfelt and deeply personal exploration of healing, offering practical tools and invaluable insights drawn from his own journey toward recovery.
As we step into a new year, we’re filled with gratitude and pride for the incredible accomplishments of our Tellwell authors!
From captivating media features and inspiring author spotlights to well-deserved book awards and unforgettable milestones, their passion and perseverance have truly stood out. It’s been an honour to witness their success stories unfold and to be a part of their journeys.
Let’s celebrate their remarkable achievements as we take a look back at the highlights and milestones our authors achieved over the past year!
Tellwell author Joseph Camel’s book, Little Joe in the Big City, is now featured on the iconic Times Square billboard in New York City.
Go behind the scenes with our talented content creator and graphic designer as they bring creativity and collaboration to life, helping stories shine.
At Tellwell, Alyssa’s days are a blend of creativity, collaboration, and storytelling. From editing episodes of our podcast, Demystifying Self-Publishing, to designing attention-grabbing thumbnails, managing social media, and curating our monthly newsletter, her work celebrates authors and their journeys.
Team collaboration plays a big part, inspiring new ideas and creative approaches. With her focus on storytelling and engaging content, Alyssa ensures every project resonates with our audience.
Check out the behind-the-scenes with Alyssa, Tellwell content creator lead, here.
Say hello to Ian De Guzman, our amazing senior graphic designer! His day is filled with innovative ideas, precision, and teamwork. He kicks off the day by reviewing assignments, responding to design requests, and handling projects to meet set timelines. Whether it’s chatting via Slack, ZohoMail, or Skype, Ian keeps in sync with the team, especially during their regular check-ins.
From focusing on Octavo design priorities to tackling creative challenges, Ian ensures everything is perfectly aligned with the overall goal. As the day comes to a close he follows up on tasks, resolves issues, and adds those finishing touches to his work, ready to take on another day of design magic!
Check out the behind-the-scenes with Ian, our amazing senior graphic designer, here.
Meet the Tellwell team! Take a behind-the-scenes look at the creativity and collaboration that power our passion for bringing stories to life.
Meet Katie, the talented lead of Tellwell’s book-marketing team! Katie is hard at work preparing an exciting new initiative for the upcoming year: a book-marketing webinar and workshop! 
Starting next year, this comprehensive presentation will be included in all publishing packages. It’s designed to provide authors with a go-to guide for marketing success. From identifying your target audience to planning impactful book launches, this workshop is here to support authors at every step of their publishing journey.
In addition to developing this exciting new resource, Katie leads our team of book-marketing consultants and associates. She ensures every author receives personalized support and exceptional marketing services. Whether it’s crafting effective campaigns or offering strategic guidance, Katie and her team are dedicated to helping authors connect with readers and achieve their goals.
Stay tuned for more updates about the webinar and other exciting plans for 2025—there’s so much more to come, and we can’t wait to share it with you!
Check out the behind-the-scenes with Katie, Tellwell book-marketing team lead here.
At Tellwell, working with authors isn’t just about publishing books—it’s about connecting with their stories and, sometimes, discovering new passions. For Christian, one of our publishing consultants, this connection led to an unexpected adventure. After working with an author whose story deeply resonated with him, Christian was inspired to visit Vietnam, a place vividly brought to life in the author’s work.
Publishing consultants like Christian play a vital role at Tellwell. They serve as the bridge between authors and their dreams, answering questions, providing guidance, and ensuring every step of the publishing journey feels informed and supported.
Stories have the power to inspire, connect, and transport us, both on the page and in the real world. Here’s to the incredible journeys they take us on!
Check out Christian day in the life as a Tellwell publishing consultant here.
This December, we’re sharing the latest author events, achievements, and success stories. From book launches and awards to exciting milestones and reader highlights, our authors have had a month full of meaningful moments.
Join us as we celebrate their hard work, creativity, and the impact their stories are making.
Tellwell author Monica Buchanan, author of Outsider, attended the 2024 Miami Book Fair alongside Tellwell’s head of marketing, Monica Martinez.
Russ Grabb recently shared his book promotion for Traces of a Boy in West Vancouver, Canada, engaging with readers and celebrating his work in the local community.
Ready for your next reading adventure?
This December, we’re offering a mix of fantasy fiction and non-fiction that will fuel your imagination and spirit of exploration, perfect for cozy reading during the holidays.
Saga of the Old Ones by Neil Henderson follows a man who, while strolling the Victoria harbour, encounters a mysterious young girl—a strange “Old One”—and a chance reunion that stirs deep, hidden truths. As he calls out, “Kittens,” the girl turns, sparking a connection that could change everything.
Click here to get your FREE copy
Every great story starts with a blank page, and for Sarah Taylor-Malo, that blank page was an invitation to turn her challenges into something extraordinary. Her debut book, Growing Pains, is a testament to resilience and self-discovery—a beautifully crafted narrative born from a time of uncertainty and self-doubt.
In Growing Pains, Sarah opens up about facing anxiety and navigating the weight of unmet expectations. Like many young adults, she found herself questioning her life’s direction and struggling to define her place in the world. But through these moments of doubt, she uncovered inner strength, clarity, and a renewed sense of purpose. Her journey is not just a personal story; it’s a message of hope for anyone seeking to overcome their own growing pains.
Beyond her work as an author, Sarah wears many creative hats. Her love for storytelling extends to photojournalism, with her work featured in publications like the Toronto Star and the Winnipeg Free Press. Whether through the lens of a camera or the pages of her book, Sarah’s curiosity about the world shines through.
Currently completing her BA in Global Development Studies at Queen’s University, Sarah continues to explore stories that inspire, educate, and connect people. Growing Pains is just the beginning of her journey, and we can’t wait to see where her passion for storytelling takes her next.
