Tellwell Author Stories: Behind the Books

Alison Williams: The Art of Storytelling

Oct 29,2024 / By Trixie Raboy / No Comment

Meet Tellwell author Alison Williams, a talented artist and storyteller who invites us into her creative journ ey! With a deep love for storytelling and a gift for visual art, Alison pours intention and heart into every project. For her, writing and illustrating go beyond simply creating books; they’re about building new worlds, embarking on thrilling adventures, and forging connections with readers. Each story she crafts is a reflection of her passion for art and the joy she finds in the creative process.

Living Stories: The Journey of Karen Harmon

Oct 29,2024 / By Trixie Raboy / No Comment

Tellwell author Karen Harmon shares her inspiring journey with us—an award-winning writer whose path is as heartfelt as the stories she tells. Karen lives with intention, finding joy in nature, connecting deeply with others, and drawing inspiration from life’s simple, everyday moments. For her, writing isn’t just about putting words on a page; it’s a way to connect, give back, and reflect on what truly matters.

With four impactful books already published through Tellwell—Looking for Normal, Where Is My Happy Ending, Fat and Beautiful, and Class of ’78—Karen now looks forward to sharing her fifth. Each book she crafts is a reminder that stories are not just written—they’re lived. Through her words, she invites readers to experience life as she does, with open hearts and a deep appreciation for the world around them.

Book Giveaways

October Books up for Grabs!

Oct 23,2024 / By Trixie Raboy / No Comment

Another month, another round of giveaways! From heartwarming children’s stories to captivating fiction and insightful non-fiction, there’s something for everyone.

Don’t miss your chance to score these great reads!

Ready to transform your life with a powerful read?

Explore Spirience by Mahāmahopādhyāya Bhadreshdas Swami, V. I. Lakshmanan, and S. Kalyanasundaram. This insightful book blends spirituality and science, providing practical guidance for personal growth and global peace. Discover valuable tools to navigate today’s challenges.

*Spirience: Experiencing Peace and Prosperity through Spirituality and Science* is a unique and comprehensive look at the importance of spirituality and science to guide our day-to-day living at a personal level, and to achieve peace and prosperity at a global. The term ‘spirience’ is a blend of two words: spirituality and science. It captures the essence of spirituality in its prefix “spiri-,” and the domain of science in its suffix “-ence”.

The importance of such a work lies in the challenges faced by the world today, conflicts between nations and ideologies at the global level and the explosion of mental health issues at a personal level. The book will first set the scene to understand the challenges faced by humanity today and the tools that we have to overcome them. An in-depth look at the treasure trove of texts from India’s Vedic past, highlighting the spiritual as well as scientific aspects, will be complemented by a study of the evolution of mankind over the past millennia, changes in the way of life and the current levels of extreme discontinuity brought on by an onrush of technological innovations.

Click here to get your FREE copy

Ready for a fun-filled Halloween adventure your kids will love?

A brilliant Little Witch counts the pumpkins in her pumpkin patch and discovers some surprising surprises. Join author and illustrator Crystal Beach (One Polar Bear and Two Polar Bears) as she captivates you with her latest adventure story and a brand-new series—One Little Witch. You and your child will be delighted by this hilarious tale as together you learn counting and sight words, and experiment with sound.

A charming holiday tale for autumn, or any time of the year, One Little Witch is filled with pumpkins and childlike enthusiasm for learning. This little book is sure to enchant, and will make a spooky addition to your child’s library.
If you can be anything, be inclusive.

Tellwell Author Stories: Behind the Books!

Oct 23,2024 / By Trixie Raboy / No Comment

Come along with us on Tellwell Author Stories: Behind the Books! In this exciting series, we’ll take you on a journey through the lives of our authors, exploring the moments and inspirations that have led to the creation of their books. Each author has a unique story to tell, filled with passion, perseverance, and creativity.

Join us as we uncover the layers behind their writing journeys and celebrate the incredible talent within the Tellwell community.

Meet Karen Harmon:

Karen Harmon, a Tellwell author, invites us to explore her inspiring journey. With a deep connection to books, nature, and the people around her, Karen approaches life with intention, infusing her heart into every page she writes. For her, writing transcends mere words; it’s about giving back, embracing the world, and drawing inspiration from life’s everyday moments.

An award-winning author, Karen has published four books with Tellwell: Looking for Normal, Where Is My Happy Ending, Fat and Beautiful, and Class of ’78. She is now on the path to publishing her fifth book with Tellwell.

Check out Karen Harmon’s author journey here!

Tellwell Team Stories

Tellwell Team Stories: Behind the Scenes!

Oct 22,2024 / By Trixie Raboy / No Comment

Check out Tellwell Team Stories! Get a glimpse of what inspires us and how we work together to bring our books to life. Join us as we share our daily experiences and the dedication behind the scenes.

Meet Simon:

Meet Simon Page, Tellwell’s operations manager! Simon takes us through his workday, where the magic happens in his home office. From project planning and meetings to managing customer feedback and overseeing updates like Octavo improvements, Simon ensures everything runs seamlessly behind the scenes. He also makes time for a refreshing nature walk and has some exciting personal news to share!

Check out Simon’s day in the life as Tellwell’s operations manager here.

Tellwell Books

Tellwell Halloween Booklist

Oct 22,2024 / By Trixie Raboy / No Comment

Halloween has arrived, and so have the best spooky reads!

Ready for some spine-tingling chills? Dive into this booklist for your ideal October reads. 🎃📖

The Manhattan High-rise Horrors by Rene Tyo

The Hostage Chronicles II: The Manhattan High-rise Horrors takes readers through 18 dark stories filled with eerie characters, including a soul-hungry demon, a clumsy PI, a dangerous gum ball machine, and a fame-obsessed pop star. At its core is Roger Stafford, a man with a troubled past, caught in a hostage standoff in Manhattan. The discovery of his long-lost fantasy trilogy sparks a violent weekend, as those involved will stop at nothing to ensure his work is published. The tension and suspense unfold in this gripping installment.

The Cursed by Rene M Gerrits

A whimsical and fantastical compilation of poems and prose, from eerie encounters and grisly tidings to the joys and lusts of love.

The Cursed is a literature bound in enchanted imagination, delving into both dark stories and lighthearted poetry. There may very well be a poem or prose for every reader—what might it contain for you?

Meet the Team

From Author to Book-Marketing Consultant: How Ben St. James Drives Client Success

Oct 21,2024 / By Mark Mionda / No Comment

Marketing Consultant Ben St. James has worked with hundreds of authors since joining Tellwell just over two years ago. While he can’t read every manuscript in its entirety, he enjoys engaging with the stories and previewing numerous books.

His debut picture book, Guinea Pig Power, has received multiple accolades, including Bronze in the Early Readers (6–8) category of the Reader Views Literary Award, Silver for Juvenile Bedtime Stories, and Bronze for Cover Illustration at the L.A. BookFest, and an Honourable Mention (4th place) in the Readers’ Favorite Book Awards for General Picture Books, among others.

October Author Highlights!

Oct 18,2024 / By Trixie Raboy / No Comment

This month, we’re excited to share the latest updates from our talented authors, including spotlight features, recent book events, and some exciting milestones. From captivating readings to book launches, our authors have been busy making waves in the literary world.

Dive into this blog to catch up on all the memorable moments of this month and discover what’s next in their creative journeys!

Book Events

Our Tellwell authors gathered at the Word on the Street Book Festival in Toronto, where they proudly displayed their books and connected with a vibrant community of readers. Participating authors included Heather Shtuka, Samantha Solis, Angie Vanderwees, Sarah Malo, and Rebecca Brown.

Mahāmahopādhyāya Bhadreshdas Swami, V. I. Lakshmanan, and S. Kalyanasundaram recently celebrated the launch of their book, Spirience: Experiencing Peace and Prosperity through Spirituality and Science.

Kristyn Jewell recently hosted a book launch and signing event for her heartwarming children’s book, Poppy & Pa.

Author of the Month Uncategorized

From Football to Poetry: October’s Author of the Month, Darryl Sampson

Oct 9,2024 / By Ben St. James / No Comment

Learn about his creative process, reflections on life after sports, and the values driving his work with Yonge Street Mission and Finintel Coaching.

I have always felt that responsibility to give back to the community that I live in what they have given to me.
Darryl Sampson

Darryl Sampson, a former defensive back for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, has had an illustrious career marked by multiple Grey Cup victories and all-star recognition. After stepping off the field, Darryl has taken on new challenges as a coach, an accountant, and, now, an author. In this exclusive interview, he opens up about his journey from the football field to poetry, the lessons he’s learned from a life of sport, and how his passion for teamwork and giving back continues to shape his work today.

You had an impressive career with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, winning multiple Grey Cups and earning all-star recognition. How did those experiences on the field shape your approach to life after football?

The experiences of my career as a professional football player and the accomplishment of achieving the highest recognitions in the sport taught me that diligent and focused work habits pay off in the long run. It takes perseverance and determination to continue to do something repeatedly until you perfect your craft. It has taught me to stay in the game of life and not give up or I will miss the good things at the end of the tunnel.

Author of the Month

Tellwell’s Author of the Month for September: Cristina San Martin

Sep 25,2024 / By Ben St. James / No Comment

Author Cristina San Martin on Love, Healing, and Her Journey in ‘Married to Fiji’ and ‘Healable the Journal’

Cristina San Martin step out in a photoshoot!

Introducing Cristina San Martin, an author whose works delve deeply into the realms of love, healing, and self-discovery. Her book Married to Fiji is a heartfelt memoir that chronicles her bold journey of moving to Fiji after just ten days with her future husband. It’s a story that captures the essence of love’s transformative power while also shedding light on the challenges and injustices she observed during her time on the island. Through her experiences, Cristina offers readers a candid look at the complexities of relationships, the struggle for justice, and the profound process of personal healing.

In addition to Married to Fiji, Cristina is also the author of Healable the Journal, a guide that encourages readers to embark on their own healing journeys. Cristina’s writing is deeply personal, informed by her own experiences with mental health, neurodiversity, and the challenges of fitting in. Her insights are not just about overcoming adversity, but about embracing it as a path to growth and self-acceptance.

Healing is humbling and a great reminder that we are far more than our struggles and the adversity we face. Go easy on yourself; the healing journey takes as long as it takes. Try not to hold yourself to unrealistic expectations, as we also have to continue living and navigating the 3D.
Cristina San Martin