Category : Tellwell News

Tellwell News

Celebrating Black Authors for Black History Month 2024!

It’s Black History Month, and we’re diving into a celebration mode! 🎉

Join us in honoring these Tellwell authors who have breathed life into stories to be read, cherished and shared.

Monica Buchanan

Monica Buchanan, author of the book Outsider has a PhD in psychology, as well as a master’s degree and a bachelor’s degree in Women’s Studies. She continues to be enthusiastic and committed to development of strength-based community resources for adults and youths from marginalized and under-served communities, thus she remains an active volunteer.

The book Outsider is for anyone who grew up in a toxic, abusive, and unhealthy home environment where they felt like they did not belong within the family unit. It is also a book about making changes, forgiveness, and letting go.

André Wade

AndrĂ© Wade has always been a big dreamer. Humble beginnings surrounded with love, advice, and instruction—the customer service he was used to growing up. The information gathered and the stories shared will be found in AndrĂ©’s newest book: AndrĂ©’s Customer Service Soapbox: And the Work-Life Balance We Need, with guide and inspiration on what customer service can be when we put our best foot forward, and the aftermath of when we don’t. AndrĂ© Wade penned the books Shoestring Dreams and AndrĂ©’s Customer Service Soapbox.

No one dream is greater than the other, and in this first part series of three, you enter in the lives of these four students in this coming-to-age book series, Shoestring Dreams. AndrĂ©’s Customer Service Soapbox provides the readers with a different perspective on what customer service is, and how it’s applied to our work and personal life.

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Tellwell News

A Look at Tellwell Publishing’s Key Moments and Milestones of 2023

As we get ready to say goodbye to 2023, it’s wonderful to reflect on the remarkable journey we’ve undertaken together at Tellwell, both on a personal and professional level. This year has been filled with significant moments, accomplishments, and the joy of connecting with talented individuals who make our community truly exceptional. Here are just a few standout moments at Tellwell from the past year:

  • We were a finalist for the Better Business Bureau Torch Awards for Ethics for the second year in a row, this year in the Customer Service category.
  • We launched new book coaching and ghostwriting services aimed at helping writers take their manuscripts to the finish line, either with the help of a book coach or a ghostwriter.
  • We launched our premium non-fiction packages, which include ghostwriting and publishing services, as a one-stop shop for authors looking for help writing and publishing their books.
  • Tellwell acquired the Australian publishing imprint IndieMosh, providing existing IndieMosh authors with a full suite of distribution, publishing, and marketing options. IndieMosh continues to operate with its existing name in Australia as a Tellwell Publishing imprint.
  • We had several well-deserved promotions: Michelle to finance controller, Jealou to software developer team lead, and Rhea to author success manager. Congratulations, and well-deserved!

On a personal note:

  • Our content creator, Alyssa, welcomed her second child this year, and is off on maternity leave.
  • Our head of operations, Simon Page, got engaged this year.
  • We welcomed back our book marketing team lead, Katie Hennessey, and head of marketing, Monica Martinez, from their respective maternity leaves.

Congratulations all! It’s been an incredible year. We cannot wait to help more authors share their stories in 2024! Let’s go!

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Tellwell News

Tellwell Publishing Announces Indigenous Voices Grant in Honour of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Since our inception, it has always been a prevalent part of our mission to help cultivate a vibrant culture through the telling of powerful stories. To align with this mission, we are launching a new program called the Indigenous Voices Grant, earmarking $10,000 in in-kind book publishing services to amplify the voices of Indigenous Canadians. 

The grant supports Tellwell’s commitment to contributing to the understanding of Indigenous communities, histories, and perspectives in Canada.

The guidelines for the Indigenous Voices Grant will be established in the coming months with the funding allocated and first book projects selected in 2024. The grant may support one or more book projects depending on the submissions received and their budgetary needs.

Stay tuned for additional information pertaining to eligibility criteria, application deadlines, and our official launch of this grant!

Learn more about the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

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Author of the Month Tellwell News

From Nashville bounty hunter to children’s book author: Paul Hart shares his insights & inspiration

Paul Hart shares advice for career transitions and talks about the magic of writing for kids

I let the books write themselves. Whatever I feel at that moment in time, I write.  

Paul Hart

This month we are featuring Paul Hart. Our interview delves into the fascinating journey of a man whose career has taken him from the high-stakes world of a Nashville bounty hunter to the enchanting realm of children’s literature. With eight years of experience in the thrilling bounty-hunting industry, Hart has now embraced a new passion as a children’s book author. As he embarks on this creative transition, we have the opportunity to gain insights from his unique perspective, seek his advice for readers considering a drastic career change, and discover the values he hopes to instil in the children who experience his stories.

His newest book, Shirley the Perky Turkey, recently launched through Tellwell publishing and reached #18 on the Children’s Animal Stories Kindle chart on Amazon.com.

You’ve had a versatile career with 8 years as a Nashville bounty hunter, and now you are making the transition into children’s book author. Do you have any advice for readers who might be thinking about a drastic career change? 

 At the risk of sounding clichĂ©, my advice would be to go for it.  Sometimes, our life interests change with the passing years. In my case, I wrote poetry and a children’s book when I was a teenager, long before the bounty hunting opportunity popped up in my life. Now that chapter is closed. I’m revisiting an old friend: children’s literature.  

​Your last book, The Nashville Bounty Hunters, was a memoir, and your current book, Shirley the Perky Turkey, is a story for children. What challenges did this creative shift pose for you as an author?   

I have such a passion for all the different styles and designs of the craft of writing. Believe it or not, it wasn’t that challenging to transition. Firstly, it’s been ten years between publications of the two books.  Secondly—and this may sound strange—but I let the books write themselves. Whatever I feel at that moment in time, I write.  

What inspired you to write children’s books? 

What has inspired me to revisit children’s books is that I see a path we are headed down and I don’t like it. Some literature that is being put in the school libraries is completely and utterly disgusting. In my own small way, I would like to combat this by being an author that offers good, wholesome stories with a positive message.  

Who is your favourite children’s book author and why? 

That is a tough question.  I would have to say Aesop. His stories have stood the test of time and always contained a life lesson. Some of our favourite stories we’ve read as a kid were actually first created by Aesop: “The Lion and the Mouse,” “The Tortoise and the Hare,” and many others. 

What was your favourite part of the children’s book creation process? 

The very end. After the dust settles and the book is created, that’s when the magic happens.  I’ll show you what I mean. Attached is a photo recently taken of my friend’s great-niece reading Shirley The Perky Turkey with her father. That’s my absolute favourite part.   

Do you have anything else you’d like to share? 

Whether you are a reader or a writer, you’re helping keep the craft of writing alive. If by chance you pick up a copy of Shirley The Perky Turkey,  I hope it brings you joy.   

For more information on Paul Hart and his books visit www.PaulHartbooks.com

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Tellwell News Uncategorized

Her story, her voice: A celebration of female creativity this International Women’s Day!

For centuries, women writers have been making their mark on the world of literature, breaking through barriers and inspiring readers with their stories. From fiction, non-fiction, children’s books, classic novels, to modern memoirs, the works of women writers have left an indelible mark on the literary landscape.

As we celebrate International Women’s Day, we want to take time to honour female authors who have helped shaped the literary world as we know it today. So, join us as we take a closer look at some of the remarkable women who continue to inspire us today!

Rita Kakati-Shah

Award-winning entrepreneur, public speaker, media contributor, best-selling author, and recognized by President Joe Biden with the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award for her international mentoring and volunteering to support young people, women, and minorities of all ages.

Her book, Goddess of Go-Getting, has become the number-one bestseller across multiple categories on Amazon.

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Team Tellwell Scores A Hat Trick

Top-ranked books by master storytellers Diane Martin, Mike Ellis, and Shelley Snow

Three Tellwell authors have recently achieved a remarkable accomplishment by reaching the top spot on various Amazon charts. Diane Martin, Mike Ellis, and Shelley Snow are the masterminds behind these hit books, each of which has achieved #1 status in its respective category.

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Author of the Month Author Success - In the media, awards, reviews Book Giveaways Tellwell Books Tellwell News

Discover your purpose and find fulfillment with Azim Jamal’s latest book, Spark

Learn from the CEO of Corporate Sufi Worldwide and unlock your full potential

A dedicated person is guided by self-awareness and purpose, while a workaholic is guided by the frenzy of activity for the sake of activity. 

– Azim Jamal
Instagram @realazimjamal

Azim Jamal is a well-known figure in the world of personal and professional development, inspiring and empowering individuals across the globe to achieve their full potential. As the CEO and founder of Corporate Sufi Worldwide, he has helped countless people to find balance, purpose, and fulfillment in their personal and professional lives. With a dedicated following around the world, Azim’s expertise is widely recognized for its ability to help people make positive and lasting changes in their lives. In his latest book, Spark, he sets out to help young professionals discover their true purpose and find meaning in their work, offering valuable insights and practical advice to guide them on their journey.

Spark is your tenth book. How does it stand apart from the corporate Sufi series?

This is a fable, thus different from most of my other books. The only other book written as a fable was What You Seek is Seeking You (WYSISY), co-authored with Brian Tracy. In WYSISY, the underlying emphasis was on attraction, whereas in SPARK the underlying emphasis is on significance and SPARK. SPARK is an acronym which encompasses S: service, P: purpose, A: attraction, R: resilience and K: knowing. None of the other nine books cover all of these five elements together in one book. 

What sparked you to write this particular book?

I have been working with successful people for the past 25 years, and I have learned that they are successful outwardly; however, they still struggle to find purpose, fulfilment, inner happiness, and balance.

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Tellwell News

The New Self-Publishing Lexicon

Why “Vanity Publisher” Is an Outdated Misnomer

By Tim Lindsay, Founder & CEO of Tellwell

You’ve written your book! Congratulations on such a significant accomplishment. So many people start, but so few finish! Moreover, the book you’ve written is good (you don’t tell many people this, but it’s way better than you thought it would be). It’s so good, in fact, that you know you need to take the next step and find a way to publish.

If you begin researching book-publishing options online, it’s possible you’ll read about the exciting growth and accessibility of self-publishing—the “indie publishing” revolution that has democratized access to publishing. You may read about “authorpreneurs” taking control of publishing timelines, bypassing the old gatekeepers, earning higher royalty rates, and building intimate and direct relationships with readers. Exciting, right? 

But then the term “vanity publisher” also shows up in your search results, making you pause, since the term vanity carries with it pejorative connotations. Wait a second . . . should you be ashamed to self-publish? Is self-publishing “vanity publishing,” or is it legit? And if self-publishing is indeed a credible option, is it possible to get help, or must you do literally everything yourself? 

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Tellwell Books Tellwell News

Celebrating Canadian Indigenous Authors

We are celebrating and recognizing the tremendous history, heritage and diversity of First Nations, Inuit and MĂ©tis peoples in Canada. We also acknowledge the inequalities and injustices Indigenous people face every day.

Our hearts ache for the thousands of lives lost and stolen across the country.

We encourage our family, friends, staff, and fellow Canadians to educate ourselves about the land we live on, the history of the Indigenous Peoples who cared for it, and the issues facing Indigenous Peoples in our communities. Let’s become a country worth celebrating. 

Here is a selection of moving stories by Indigenous indie authors. 

Calling My Spirit Back

by Elaine Alec

Indigenous Peoples have always carried the knowledge necessary to heal. When our people heal, our families heal, our communities heal and our land will heal. You cannot have one without the other.

These stories are teachings, prophecy, and protocols shared throughout the years by elders, language speakers, medicine people, and helpers. They have been the foundation to individual healing and learning self-love. They teach us how to make good decisions for ourselves and for all other aspects in our lives.

When our people were young, they were sent on the land to gather as much experience and knowledge as they could, and when they returned, they would contribute what they learned.

I am Syilx and Secwepemc and although many of my teachings come from this place, they also intertwine with indigenous knowledge shared through ceremony from many other nations.

People from all backgrounds have embraced concepts from other parts of the world that promote self-love, healing, and well-being through practices of discipline and meditation.

Very little has been shared about indigenous systems and how it promotes self-love and approach to healing.


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Tellwell News Uncategorized

Tellwell Books on Mental Health

For May’s Mental Health Awareness month, we are acknowledging some of our Tellwell authors whose books include themes of anxiety, depression, insecurities, and emotional expression. These books aim to give the reader a better understanding around mental health and how to recognize and communicate various feelings.

I Don’t Want to Go to School

Abosede Oderinde

I Don’t Want to Go To School is a book that is intended to help children and families deal with separation anxiety, especially when it’s their first time at school. For some children, every day is like the first day because they are afraid their families will not return to pick them up. I wrote this book to reassure children who are still working on a secure attachment, that school is fun and families always come back because they are loved. Most books that address these issues use animal characters, but I chose real-life illustrations that the children can relate to. Lastly, this book will help teachers present classroom transitions to little children more effectively.


Worry!

Karli Coulter Gillespie

A story about a young girl who has a worry bully that keeps visiting and making her tummy and her head hurt. Whether it’s when she’s trying to join a game with friends, speak in front of her class or go for a check-up, he keeps showing up. He seems to be EVERYWHERE! But with help from some people who care and a big dose of bravery, she begins to learn just how to send her worry bully away.

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