Discover the inspiring journey of author and filmmaker Paul Cade, Tellwell’s Author of the Month
Meet Paul Cade, our Tellwell Author of the Month, whose life story reads like a captivating whirlwind of creativity and resilience. From unconventional beginnings to a remarkable career spanning the realms of art, film, and writing, Paul’s memoir, Shades of Influence, offers a candid glimpse into his fascinating journey. Delving into his childhood memories, diverse creative pursuits, and battle with cancer, Paul’s narrative is a testament to the power of perseverance and the triumph of the human spirit. Join us as we explore the intricate tapestry of Paul’s life and work in this exclusive interview.
After years of working in the advertising and film businesses I was used to showing up every day and putting in the work. Every morning at a coffee shop I would do storyboards for each new project, or I would be teaching myself to write screenplays, or I would be sketching in a sketch book that I always carried with me. When I started to write my memoir, I already had developed a habit of showing up every day and putting in the work.
It’s International Women’s History Month, and we’re raising a toast to our incredible women and their herstories!
Let’s take a moment to shine the spotlight to the remarkable achievements of our talented women authors who continue to inspire us with their incredible stories.
Blaise Hunter
Blaise is a writer, multi-award-winning humanitarian, international speaker, fertility expert, certified human rights advocate, Mother of Purpose, and Breaker of Chains. Her mission is to heal with her humanity.
Every day we experience assumptions, conflict, triggers, and disconnect, but we never really hone our communication skills. Blaise Hunter, the author of Heroine: Embrace Your Flaws & Own Your Awesome, takes you on a journey of becoming a Captain Communicator.
Rita Kakati-Shah
Rita is a three-time winner of the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, and the recipient of multiple international awards in recognition of advancing gender equality, diversity, and inclusion, and empowering women, girls, and youth around the world.
The Goddess of Go-Getting tells the compelling story of Rita’s journey with candor and authority as she calls for policy and societal changes that support the backbone of the economy.
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
André 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 André’s newest book: André’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. André Wade penned the books Shoestring Dreams and André’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.André’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.
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.
(left to right) – Monica Martinez – Head of Marketing, Timothy Lindsay – Founder & EO
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!
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!
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 cliché, 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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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?
