May brought plenty of moments worth celebrating in the world of books and authors. From public recognition to engaging events, it’s been a month of spotlighting the voices behind the stories. Whether through panels, signings, or special features, authors had the chance to connect with readers and share their journeys.
Here’s a look at some of the highlights and familiar faces from this month’s literary celebrations.
Events
The 2025 Los Angeles Times Festival of Books marked its 30th anniversary on April 26–27 at the USC campus, drawing over 150,000 attendees to celebrate storytelling, creativity, and community. As the largest literary event in the U.S., the festival featured author panels, book signings, exhibitor booths, and live performances—creating a space where readers and writers could connect.
The vibrant atmosphere also included storytelling for kids, food trucks, cooking demos, and live music. Among the many authors in attendance were a few familiar faces from Tellwell Publishing, including Richard Lowy and Peter Gribble, who were spotted engaging with readers and celebrating their literary journeys.
Maximiliano Moreno Sastre, author of Ain’t No Way This Is Real recently held his first-ever book signing at Indigo Langley. It was a meaningful experience for him, especially as it took place at one of his favorite bookstores.
Grateful for the opportunity, Maximiliano shared how special it felt to talk about his story and meet readers in person. Signing copies of his debut book, he marked an exciting moment in his publishing journey—one that he won’t soon forget.
Authors shape the world with their stories, offering new perspectives, sparking conversations, and leaving a lasting impact on readers. Their journeys are filled with dedication, creativity, and the courage to share their voices.
This month we’re taking a moment to highlight their work, celebrate their achievements, and recognize the power of storytelling in all its forms.
Publicity
Tellwell author Richard K. Lowy’s book launch was recently featured on Vancouver CityNews, highlighting the powerful story behind Kalman & Leopold: Surviving Mengele’s Auschwitz. Hundreds gathered at Congregation Schara Tzedeck Synagogue in Vancouver to hear Lowy discuss the true story of two boys who survived Auschwitz—a testament to resilience, survival, and the importance of remembering history. The event brought together readers, historians, and community members, all moved by the book’s message and its impact.
We’re kicking off 2025 by celebrating authors who are leaving a mark with their incredible stories. Dive into their journeys, explore their works, and discover the inspiration behind their books!
Publicity
Johnny Stanz, one of our talented Tellwell authors, was recently featured in Readers Views Kids for his heartwarming book, Everyone Is Perfect for Just Who They Should Be.
The answer to what inspired me to write this book would be the same answer if I were asked, “What inspires you in everything you do in life?” And that is an easy question to answer, but keep in mind, it is not so much what as it is who! Without question, my determination to do everything I can do in order to guide my daughter Charlotte toward being the best version of a human that she can possibly be throughout her life, which I’m confident will lead to her complete happiness, has become my sole purpose for existing on this earth!
– Johnny Stanz in an exclusive interview with Reader Views
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!
Author Spotlight
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.
With new book launches, glowing reviews, prestigious awards, and public recognition, these success stories are a testament to their talent and dedication.
Join us in celebrating their incredible success stories this month!
Book Awards
A huge congratulations to Tellwell author Peter Gribble for his incredible achievement at the 2024 L.A. BookFest! Peter’s debut novel, Threat, the first installment in his City of the Magicians trilogy, has won Gold in the Literary Sci-Fi category. This thrilling series, which also includes Within and Quickening, has captivated readers with its imaginative storytelling and now boasts a prestigious award for its outstanding debut.
To celebrate his well-deserved win, Peter paid a visit to the Tellwell office, where he was warmly welcomed by our head of marketing and his editor. It was a special moment of recognition for a truly talented author whose work continues to inspire and delight. Congratulations again, Peter—this is only the beginning of an amazing journey!
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.
From unboxing their new books to sharing personal stories and behind-the-scenes glimpses of their writing journey, stay connected and inspired by their creative adventures!
Joseph P Camel
Joseph Camel just shared his new book, The L.A. Adventure, on Instagram! Check out his latest post to get a glimpse of this heartwarming story about Little Joe and his Chihuahua’s Hollywood adventure.
My latest book, The L.A. Adventure, is dedicated to my dogs. In this book Little Joe finds a homeless Chihuahua on the streets of Hollywood and decides to take him on his journey around L.A.
Joseph Camel in his Instagram post
Kristyn Jewell
“POV: You get to hold your book for the first time.” Kristyn Jewell captures the magic of this moment in her latest book unboxing video on Instagram.
From Nova Scotia to the World Stage, Explore the Inspirations and Dreams Behind NEWBIA, the Debut Novel That’s Captivated Readers Worldwide.
Life is meant to be explored and enjoyed while loving each other, showing and giving respect, acceptance, and understanding while embracing the many gifts and talents placed upon each of us. – Chelee Cromwell
Chelee Cromwell, an author from Nova Scotia, has made waves with her unique blend of science fiction and romance. Chelee is recognized as the first Black woman in Nova Scotia to publish a combination science fiction, fantasy, and romance series. Born and raised in Lake Loon and Weymouth Falls, her roots deeply influence her storytelling.
Her debut novel, NEWBIA, gained international attention, resonating with readers from countries across the globe, including Norway, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Bahamas. Chelee’s inspiration for NEWBIA stemmed from a dream that came to her night after night, and it followed a coherent storyline.
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!
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
