Let’s kick off 2024 with some incredible literary success stories!
We’re shining the spotlight on our remarkable Tellwell authors who are rocking the literary scene. Whether it’s top-notch book reviews, exciting book events, public recognition, or book awards, our authors are out there creating more inspiring stories with every win!
Publicity
We are absolutely thrilled to share that Joseph Camel has graced the grand billboards of the iconic NYC Times Square, featuring his book Little Joe in The Big City.
Joseph’s book takes kids to an adventure to New York City, learning about the history of different landmarks. It gives kids an idea of what NYC is about, and how you can meet some really great people and new friends along the way.
Celebrate the start of the new year with some exciting new reads!
Kick off your 2024 reading list by taking a peek at our January book giveaway—because there’s nothing better than beginning the year with a fresh collection of great books!
Searching for your next favourite poetry book?
Dive into the profound world of emotions and wisdom with Paul Guerin’s Poetry from My Heart: A Journey Through Feelings.
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!
Meet Christian Añasco! As our talented book publishing consultant, Christian is dedicated to guiding you through every step of your publishing journey.
Take a moment to get to know Christian!
How did you first become interested in book publishing, and what led you to join Tellwell as our in-house publishing consultant?
I am a fan of dystopian and fantasy books, but the question of how exactly they were made never occurred to me. Before Tellwell, I had zero knowledge about how publishing works. I was at a stage where I tried to pinpoint unknown areas of my life that were causing me discontent and left my job of five years to breathe. After that break, I came across this opportunity, a total pivot from being in software development to publishing. I am a guy who believes in the importance of continuous learning, and it has been my goal to be proficient in something new, be it in knowledge or practical skills. Why not get a grasp of how these paperbacks are being put together? Very informative!
As the holiday season fills the air with joy, we’re excited to share these journeys of inspiring authors and their success stories. Come along on an enchanting ride through our December highlights, where each story sparkles brightly with the magic of success and perseverance.
With a festive spirit, we raise a toast to the incredible accomplishments of our authors this December!
Awards
Tellwell author Keith Hamilton has recently received the Silver Literary Titan Award for his book, Desperation Island.
An incredible review from IndieReader was given to Monique Britten for her book, The Day Before Tomorrow.
A challenging and emotional read in terms of subject matter, Monique Britten’s THE DAY BEFORE TOMORROW is not for the faint of heart—a beautiful narrative that addresses real-world hopes and fears unflinchingly, albeit with a potentially divisive ending.
IndieReader Book Review
A page-turner you don’t want to miss. Get your copy of The Day Before Tomorrow by Monique Britten here!
Exploring the world of The Adventures of Easton the Rescue Pet: An interview with author Elizabeth Retter
Just put pencil to paper and go for it.
Elizabeth Retter
Join us in an insightful conversation with Elizabeth Retter, a recently retired teacher of twenty-five years, whose love for children’s books and dedication to animal rescue shine through her debut series, The Adventures of Easton the Rescue Pet. Discover the inspiration behind Easton’s character and how Elizabeth aims to impact young readers’ perceptions of rescue animals and adoption. Gain insights into the adoption process, challenges, and rewards from an advocate for rescue pets. Elizabeth also shares valuable tips on finding reputable rescue organizations and her childhood inspirations, and provides encouraging advice for prospective children’s authors.
Don’t miss this engaging interview with a passionate storyteller and advocate for both literature and furry friends.
Can you tell us about the inspiration behind The Adventures of Easton the Rescue Pet? What motivated you to write a children’s book centred on a rescue pet?
As a recently retired teacher of twenty-five years, I have always had a great love for children’s books. Easton has proven to be quite a character who gets himself into a lot of silly situations that I believe children and pet owners can relate to. I also wanted to raise awareness of the importance and need of rescuing animals of all kinds.
Sri draws inspiration from her Russian tortoise, Tank, and her Indian Star tortoise, Radha
This November we celebrate our latest Author of the Month: Parimalasri Docktor, also known as Sri. She is the author of the children’s book Where Is He? Tank the Tortoise, and has recently released Tortoise Goes to the Vet: Radha – Indian Star Tortoise, a book she both wrote and illustrated. The story quickly ascended to #1 on Amazon USA, securing its place as the Top New Release in Children’s Reptile & Amphibian Books.
Sri took the time to sit down with us and discuss her love of animals and storytelling, and more about her process as an author.
Tortoises are central to your storytelling and art. When did you begin keeping tortoises as pets, and what do you love about them?
We have had our pet tortoises since 2019. I love the way they show affection. I love how they communicate silently. I just love everything about them.
Your books are from the viewpoint of your favourite pets, the tortoises. Can you elaborate on how your pets inspire your storytelling, and why you choose them to tell your stories?
Our tortoises inspire me to write about them, since it is first-hand knowledge about them. They are intelligent and show unconditional love. I choose to tell stories through them since I learned how similar their emotions and feelings are to humans.
Tortoise Goes to the Vet highlights the importance of family acceptance. How do you believe children can benefit from the themes of inclusivity and support portrayed in the book?
Our tortoises are like children. They can be taught to do activities as a routine, just like children. They are very playful; they are stubborn and have emotions like children. Children can relate to my stories since some of them go through similar situations.
When did you decide to become an illustrator? What was it like illustrating an entire book for the first time?
I have always been good at art since I was a small child. I could draw naturally. I decided to do my own illustrations for my second book since I had the confidence. Illustrating successfully for the first time is a humbling experience. It was a blessing and a learning curve. It sure was fun!
What children’s book authors/illustrators inspired you to create books?
I wanted my books to be unique, fun, and educational. I wanted my books from my own thought process and creativity. My tortoises inspired me to start my writing journey.
Outside of your writing, you mention enjoying meditation, creating artwork, and observing nature. How do these activities contribute to your creativity as an author, particularly when crafting stories for children?
Nature is a beautiful thing. Silence is bliss! The stillness and the expansion of silence in Nature helps me tap the essence of beauty. It invokes my creative thought process and helps craft stories for children.
To discover more about the wonderful world of Parimalasri’s tortoises, visit www.parimalasridocktor.com. You can also pick up her new book on Amazon.
Say hello to Simeon from Tellwell Publishing, our talented developer! Simeon loves simplifying processes. From improving payments to creating smooth online spaces, he’s our digital wizard. Read on to get to know Simeon a little better!
Tell us a little about yourself.
Hi! I’m Simeon, but you can call me Mon. I’ve been working as a developer for almost ten years, and I really enjoy taking photos and videos to capture memories.
Another month, another celebration of authors’ success stories!
We are putting the spotlight on our authors who continue to make waves in the literary world. From book reviews to public recognitions and awards, we applaud these remarkable achievements. We share a toast to these authors and their masterpieces as we celebrate their literary triumphs!
Awards
Tellwell author Monique Britten has recently received the Silver Litarary Titan Award for her book, The Day Before Tomorrow.
A glowing five-star review from Reader Views was given to Dr. Mark Burns’ book, A Light Amongst the Stars.
Dr. Mark W. Burns writes a concise biography of Amelia’s beginnings and family history with the gift. He describes the inner workings of Amelia’s service to individuals who come to her for readings and enables the reader to get inside the mind of a psychic medium to learn how she deals with clients, divine and dark energies, and messages from beyond the grave.
Reader Views Book Review
A must-read you don’t want to miss! Get your copy of A Light Amongst the Stars by Dr. Mark Burns here!
Don Hackett, author of the book A Lesser God, also received an insightful review from IndieReader!
The patient reader will be rewarded by Don Hackett’s A LESSER GOD (Reason Else Demise), a thought-provoking and philosophical novel that is more interested in posing challenging questions than giving easy answers.
IndieReader Book Review
A fascinating narrative that will keep you turning pages. Grab your copy of A Lesser Godhere!
IndieReader gave another review to Keith Hamilton’s book, Desperation Island.
Keith A. Hamilton’s solidly-written DESPERATION ISLAND (21st Century Pirates in the Caribbean) is an enjoyable, if slightly simplistic, maritime thriller with plenty of drama.
IndieReader Book Review
Don’t miss out this masterpiece by Keith Hamilton. Get your copy of Desperation Islandhere!
Tellwell author Elaine Kozak also received an incredible review by IndieReader for her book Rhapsody in a Minor Mode.
A touching, heartfelt character study, Elaine Kozak’s RHAPSODY IN A MINOR MODE resonates with family drama, vibrant characters, and uptempo melodies.
IndieReader Book Review
A heartwarming literary gem you’ll want to get lost in. Grab your copy of Elaine Kozak’smasterpiece here.
Publicity
We are thrilled to present a retired Olympic rower and one of Tellwell’s incredible authors who recently graced the pages of the Times Colonist with his book, I Hate Bouillabaisse!
The protagonist of I Hate Bouillabaisse! is named after Vandor’s daughter, Sophie. It is about a girl whose imagination scares her before she learns how to harness it positively.
Time Colonist with author Douglas Vandor
An entertaining must-read packed with valuable lessons for kids! Grab your copy of I Hate Bouillabaisse!here.
Tellwell author Dewalt du Plessis was featured in an exclusive interview with Reader Views for his book, Ash Moonlight.
The primary inspiration was some song lyrics I was working on years ago, and I thought to myself this could be an interesting story, and so it just went on from there.
Dewalt du PlessisAuthor Interview with Reader Views
Ash Moonlight takes you to a journey that will have you flipping pages! Grab your copy here.
The author behind the book Badger and Turtle Face the Storm, Daniel McMillan, was also recently featured in an exclusive interview with Reader Views.
“Badger and Turtle Face the Storm” is about a pair of friends who learn to work together under stress. This book is meant not only for children to enjoy, but as a tool for families to better understand a common, hurtful pattern that can occur, particularly between parents.
Daniel McMillan,Author Interview with Reader Views