Author Archives: Trixie Raboy

Tellwell Author Stories: Behind the Books

Traces of a Boy: A Story of Survival, Strength, and Truth

A story of survival, told without fear. In Traces of a Boy, Russ Grabb takes readers on an unflinching journey through his deeply personal memoir—a gripping work of creative nonfiction.

For Russ Grabb, writing Traces of a Boy was not just about revisiting the past—it was about breaking the silence and giving a voice to the child he once was. His journey as an author is one of resilience, honesty, and the unshakable belief that storytelling can illuminate even the darkest truths.

Russ writes with an intensity that demands attention, blending creative nonfiction with the raw emotion of lived experience. His work doesn’t just recount trauma—it challenges, exposes, and invites readers to witness the strength it takes to survive. Through Traces of a Boy, he transforms painful memories into powerful prose, proving that even the most difficult stories deserve to be told.

By sharing his truth, Russ not only reclaims his own story but also offers solidarity to others who have faced unimaginable realities. His writing is a testament to the power of survival, the necessity of speaking out, and the enduring impact of an untold story finally brought to light.

Traces of a Boy is not an easy read, nor was it meant to be. This haunting memoir blends the depth of creative nonfiction with the gripping intensity of a novel, drawing readers into the life of a wounded child navigating a world of unimaginable hardship. Russ exposes the harsh realities of betrayal, bone-breaking violence, and society’s indifference, crafting a story that is as harrowing as it is necessary.

With haunting prose and unflinching detail, Traces of a Boy is more than a memoir, it’s a reckoning. It compels us to confront the darker corners of human experience while recognizing the unbreakable spirit of those who endure. It’s a book that lingers, challenges, and ultimately serves as a powerful reminder that some stories must be told, no matter how difficult they are to hear.

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Tellwell Author Stories: Behind the Books

A Calling Beyond Belief: Celia McBride’s Journey to Faith and Publishing

Celia McBride’s journey is anything but ordinary. In her forties, she felt an undeniable calling—to explore life as a Catholic nun, despite not being Catholic. Her memoir, O My God: An Un-Becoming Journey, chronicles this deeply personal path of faith, transformation, and self-discovery.

Celia’s story is one of unexpected twists, deep introspection, and profound change. Raised in an atheist household, she never imagined she would one day consider a life devoted to faith. But an inner pull led her to a convent, where she spent time exploring what it meant to live a life of spirituality and devotion. Her journey wasn’t just about religion—it was about seeking truth, embracing vulnerability, and following an unknown path with an open heart.

Writing a memoir is a brave act, especially when it involves such a deeply personal transformation. For Celia, putting her journey into words meant revisiting some of the most profound moments of her life, embracing honesty, and trusting that her story could inspire others.

Through the publishing process with Tellwell, she has not only brought her book to life but also extended an invitation to readers—to reflect on their own journeys, question their beliefs, and remain open to transformation.

In O My God: An Un-Becoming Journey, Celia shares the highs, lows, and eye-opening moments of her transformative path. Her story challenges beliefs, embraces uncertainty, and uncovers truths in the most unlikely places. But beyond her own experience, it serves as a powerful reminder that life often leads us down unexpected roads—and sometimes, the boldest leaps of faith bring us exactly where we’re meant to be. Whether you’re drawn to spiritual exploration or personal growth, her memoir is a compelling and thought-provoking read.

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Book Giveaways

Fresh Reads for the New Year!

Hey book lovers, start the year off right with our January book giveaway! We’re kicking things off strong with over 190 FREE books across a variety of genres, ready for download. Grab your free reads today and dive into a new story to make your year even brighter.

Check out our January book giveaways—from romance and poetry to fantasy fiction, there’s something for everyone!

Ready for a journey of love and new beginnings?

Sunset Bay by Karen Stewart follows Joy, a 54-year-old divorcee, whose world is turned upside down by a stranger and her sassy mother. Will love find its way to her?

A self-professed hot mess express, Joy Sinclair is a 54-year-old divorcee living back at home in Sunset Bay. Tired of blind dates and a lack of eligible men, she’s resigned to being single. That is until she is literally knocked off her feet by a good looking stranger. Jeremy is only staying long enough to help his father recover from a broken foot. Is there any point even getting to know him? Joy’s mother Helen Sinclair is 80 years young and a real sassy molassy. She dresses outrageously, talks to her dead husband Sam and nudges Joy out of her comfort zone as often as she can. Meeting Jeremy’s father Hank at the local seniors centre, Helen suddenly finds herself with a busy social life.
Love is in the air with a wedding, birthday party, prom night and a major weather event all conspiring to shake things up.
Celebrating the messiness of finding yourself and the courage to follow your heart, Sunset Bay is a journey of love, loss, hope and new beginnings.

Click here to get your FREE copy

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Author Success - In the media, awards, reviews

Stories to Start Your Year: January’s Author Spotlights

We’re kicking off 2025 by celebrating authors who are leaving a mark with their incredible stories. Dive into their journeys, explore their works, and discover the inspiration behind their books!

Publicity

Johnny Stanz, one of our talented Tellwell authors, was recently featured in Readers Views Kids for his heartwarming book, Everyone Is Perfect for Just Who They Should Be.

The answer to what inspired me to write this book would be the same answer if I were asked, “What inspires you in everything you do in life?” And that is an easy question to answer, but keep in mind, it is not so much what as it is who! Without question, my determination to do everything I can do in order to guide my daughter Charlotte toward being the best version of a human that she can possibly be throughout her life, which I’m confident will lead to her complete happiness, has become my sole purpose for existing on this earth!

– Johnny Stanz in an exclusive interview with Reader Views
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Tellwell Author Stories: Behind the Books

‘Missing from Me’: Heather Shtuka’s Story of Loss, Love, and Advocacy

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.

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Tellwell Author Stories: Behind the Books

Joe Lyons-Rising: Transforming Pain into Purpose with ‘Pain Remixed’

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.

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Tellwell News

Celebrating Success: A Look Back at Our Authors’ 2024 Highlights

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!

Author Spotlight

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.

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Tellwell Team Stories

Tellwell Team Stories: Behind the Scenes!

Go behind the scenes with our talented content creator and graphic designer as they bring creativity and collaboration to life, helping stories shine.

Meet Alyssa:

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.

Meet Ian:

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.

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Tellwell Team Stories

Tellwell Team Stories: Behind the Scenes!

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:

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.

Meet Christian

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.

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Tellwell Author Stories: Behind the Books

Discover the Festive Cheer of ‘The Christmas Adventure’ by Stephen Moore!

This holiday season, get ready for an unforgettable journey with two unlikely heroes—Murgatroyd and Archimedes, a pair of adventurous mice on a daring Christmas Eve mission to recover a stolen refrigerator. Packed with laughter, fun, and a sprinkle of holiday magic, The Christmas Adventure is a heartwarming reminder of what Christmas is truly about: adventure, kindness, and a little help from Santa.

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