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.
With a background in writing, editing, and publishing, Ashleigh works closely with authors to help them share their stories and connect with readers. She’s passionate about guiding authors through the marketing process and finding creative ways to bring their books to life.
Let’s get to know more about her journey and her role at Tellwell!
We’re thrilled to announce the launch of our brand-new podcast, Demystifying Self-Publishing with Tellwell, the ultimate guide to navigating the world of self-publishing. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed or uncertain about how to get your book out into the world, this podcast is for you. Whether you’re an aspiring author or already on your self-publishing journey, our mission is to help you break down the complexities of the industry and provide you with expert insights and practical advice that will help you succeed.
The self-publishing industry can often feel overwhelming. With so many options available and countless decisions to make, it’s easy to get lost in the details. That’s where Demystifying Self-Publishing with Tellwell comes in. This podcast will guide you through every step of the process, from the initial concept of your book to the final launch and beyond.
Episodes will feature in-depth interviews with industry professionals, successful self-published authors, and publishing experts who have been through it all and can share their valuable knowledge. Whether you’re curious about formatting, marketing, or distribution, or curious about how other self-published authors have found success, we’ve got you covered. Our guests will share their stories, struggles, and triumphs to give you an honest look at the journey of self-publishing.
Self-publishing is an exciting and rewarding journey, but it can also be challenging. The landscape has evolved so much over the years that what worked for authors in the past may not be as relevant today. That’s why staying informed is crucial, and Demystifying Self-Publishing aims to keep you up to date with the latest trends and tips.
For anyone looking to make their mark in the self-publishing world, this podcast will offer you everything from inspiration to actionable steps. Every episode is designed to leave you empowered and ready to take the next step in your publishing journey.
We’re kicking off the podcast with a series of episodes featuring some truly inspiring guests, including Tellwell’s very own founder and CEO, Timothy Lindsay. We can’t wait to introduce you to experts who can provide tips on navigating common challenges and authors who have successfully built their self-publishing careers.
The first episode is available now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen, and our full video episodes are available on YouTube. Whether you’re thinking about writing your first book or looking to grow your self-publishing career, Demystifying Self-Publishing with Tellwell is here to help you along the way.
So grab your headphones, hit play, and let’s demystify self-publishing together! Don’t forget to subscribe!
PS: Interested in being a guest? We are looking for authors or industry experts who have thrived in the world of self-publishing, overcome obstacles, or have unique perspectives to share with our audience. Apply now!
As we close the chapter on another year, it’s the perfect time to start a brand new one—literally. Whether you’re working on your first manuscript or ready to self-publish your magnum opus, 2025 is your year to take control of your writing destiny. Think of it as the opening lines of a brand new book, where the plot is in your hands, and the ending? Well, that’s up to you.
In this post, we’ll walk you through actionable steps to help you write, publish, and market your book like a pro. Here’s your blueprint for turning those writing and publishing dreams into a reality next year.
First things first—write down your goals. Here’s how to break down the massive task of writing and self-publishing into bite-sized, manageable chunks.
The world won’t pause just because you’re writing a book. Kids, work, laundry (ugh)—life has a way of taking up space. But to make 2025 the year of your book, you need to prioritize writing time.
Pro Tip: Set a timer for short, focused writing sessions. Aim for 30-minute bursts of writing. You’ll be amazed at how quickly those words add up.
Now that you’ve written your masterpiece (yay!), it’s time to take the next step: publishing. But no need to panic—the publishing options available in 2025 are diverse and there is something for everyone.
Okay, so your book is out in the world. Now, how do you get people to notice it? Spoiler alert: writing the book is only half the battle—marketing is where the magic happens.
Pro Tip: Use tools like Goodreads to run promotions. It may take some time to build up momentum, but it’s worth it. Need some extra marketing help? Our Book Marketing Team is always happy to chat.
Here’s the thing: you’re going to face setbacks and that’s okay. The important thing is to keep going.
2025 is your year. Write your book, publish it, and share it with the world. And remember, every bestselling author started just like you—sitting down and writing one word at a time.
So, what are you waiting for? Let’s make 2025 the year you stop dreaming and start publishing!
At Tellwell, we know how important your book release is. It’s more than a date on the calendar, it’s the moment your story meets its readers. That’s why we’re thrilled to introduce two exciting new features to give you even more control over your book’s big day!
Planning your release date just got easier! You can now choose a specific launch date for your book—whether it’s a special day, a milestone, or the perfect timing for your marketing efforts.
Here’s how it works:
With a specific launch date, you can confidently plan your promotions, book events, or online buzz knowing your book will hit the shelves when you’ve planned it to!
If your publishing package includes eBook distribution, you now have the option to set up pre-orders! This powerful tool lets readers place orders for your eBook before your official release date, giving you a head start on sales and creating excitement for your book release.
Here’s a quick breakdown of the pre-order process:
Start Date: This is when pre-orders begin. You’ll need to set a start date at least 2 weeks in the future to give everything time to align.
On-Sale Date: This is the big day! Pre-orders are processed and delivered to readers. The on-sale date must be at least 30 days after your pre-order start date.
If you’re also launching a print edition, the on-sale date for your eBook will align with the specific launch date for your book. While we strive to make sure both formats are available simultaneously, please keep in mind that occasional delays can happen due to unforeseen distribution issues.
A planned and strategic release can make all the difference in building buzz, boosting sales, and reaching your readers. With the ability to choose your release date and set up eBook pre-orders, you’ll have the tools you need to make your book release a success.
Ready to plan your perfect launch? Reach out to your Tellwell team to get started today!
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.
Get to know John, Tellwell Publishing’s design and illustration manager. From balancing creativity and structure to leading two dynamic teams, John shares insights into his role, challenges, and what keeps him inspired.
Can you tell us a little about being a design manager at Tellwell Publishing?
One word can sum it all up, CHALLENGING. Handling two different creative teams simultaneously is a great challenge. From project management down to quality control, you’ll have to be prepared for anything that comes your way each day, ensuring that both teams operate seamlessly like a well-oiled machine.
