Tag Archives: book promotion

Book Marketing Tips & Tricks Writing Tips

Scoring a Hat-Trick as an Author: Writing a Trilogy That Wins Big

Avoid common pitfalls and craft a series that hooks readers from book 1 to the final page

There’s nothing quite like the thrill of playoff season—and nothing quite like the anticipation of writing your dream book series. Authoring a series is a bold move and, like hockey’s iconic hat-trick, there’s something deeply satisfying about pulling off three strong books (or more!) that keep audiences cheering.

But just as no hockey star makes it to the top without strategy and discipline, series authors need more than creativity and ambition—they need a game plan. At Tellwell we love helping authors develop that winning strategy, and we’ve seen the challenges that can throw even the most passionate writers off their game.

So, whether you’re dreaming of a trilogy or plotting a ten-book saga, here are three common mistakes authors make when writing a series—and how to avoid them like a pro.

Mistake #1: Skating in Without a Character Arc

It’s tempting to jump into book 1 and let the story and characters unfold organically, especially for first-time writers. But without a clear vision for the series you could find yourself rewriting the first book halfway through book 3.

Why it Matters
Characters grow. Plotlines twist. Themes deepen. But if your first book doesn’t lay a strong foundation, the rest can feel shaky. That’s why we always recommend knowing how your characters will grow. It’s easy to imagine how a story impacts an audience, but what are the story’s effects on its own characters? They should experience meaningful growth.

Pro Tips to Score Big

  • Create character sheets: Outline their core beliefs, internal struggles, and potential growth arcs. If each book features a different lead, show how they weave into the broader narrative.
  • Map out major turning points: Know where your story starts, where it’s going, and how each book builds the momentum.
  • Use contradictions: A character who’s loyal but craves freedom? That internal conflict can drive entire arcs if planned well.

Mistake #2: Saving All the Good Stuff for Later

If you’re promoting book 1 and someone asks, “What’s your favourite part of the story?” and you respond with something like, “Well, in book 2, which isn’t done yet . . .” you will have issues.

We get it. You’ve got amazing plot twists planned for book 2 and a jaw-dropping finale in book 3, but if book 1 doesn’t shine, readers probably won’t get there.

Why it Matters
Book 1 is your first impression—your handshake, your game opener. It has to hook readers, stand alone, and offer a satisfying story. If there’s no spark in the opening period, you won’t be making the playoffs.

Pro Tips to Score Big

  • Build a self-contained plot within book one: It can tease future developments, but it must feel complete and satisfying.
  • Include your favourite scenes: Don’t save the magic—use it to entice readers now.
  • Test your pitch: If someone asks, “What’s your favourite part?” your answer should light up book 1, not a future draft.

Mistake #3: Forgetting to Market While You Write

We know many authors are deep in their manuscripts, and enjoy the writing process. But if no one knows book 1 exists, books 2 and 3 will be harder to push.

Why it Matters
Marketing is part of your storytelling journey. It helps readers discover you, builds anticipation, and makes book launches feel like events—not surprises.

Pro Tips to Score Big

  • Start small: Even brief marketing sprints between drafts help build momentum.
  • Keep book 1 in the spotlight: It’s the gateway to your series—giveaways, excerpts, and promo posts can all funnel new readers into your world.
  • Think long game: Every reader who loves book 1 is a potential fan waiting to follow you through the whole series.

Final Whistle

Writing a series is a commitment, and a chance to build a world your readers never want to leave. With planning, pacing, and promotional power plays, you’ll be scoring your own author hat-trick in no time.

And remember: at Tellwell we love working with series authors. Whether you’re plotting your sequel or pitching a multi-book project, we’re here to coach, cheer, and champion your publishing goals.

Let’s make every book a winning goal!

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Author Success - In the media, awards, reviews

A December Celebration of Stories!

This December, we’re sharing the latest author events, achievements, and success stories. From book launches and awards to exciting milestones and reader highlights, our authors have had a month full of meaningful moments.

Join us as we celebrate their hard work, creativity, and the impact their stories are making.

Events

Tellwell author Monica Buchanan, author of Outsider, attended the 2024 Miami Book Fair alongside Tellwell’s head of marketing, Monica Martinez.

Russ Grabb recently shared his book promotion for Traces of a Boy in West Vancouver, Canada, engaging with readers and celebrating his work in the local community.

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Author Success - In the media, awards, reviews

November Author Highlights: Celebrating Success

It’s been a November to remember!

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!

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Author Success - In the media, awards, reviews

October Author Highlights!

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.

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Author Success - In the media, awards, reviews

September’s Author Success Stories!

September has been an amazing month for our authors! From earning book awards to hosting exciting events and receiving fantastic reviews, there’s so much to celebrate. We’re proud to share their accomplishments and highlight the incredible stories behind their success.

Let’s take a moment to recognize the hard work, passion, and dedication that have made this month such a standout for our authors!

Awards

Tellwell author Michael B. Davison, author of the book Defiant Valor, recently won Gold in the Non-Fiction Authors Association’s 2024 International Impact Book Awards!

Don Hunter won the 2024 International Impact Books Award for his book Chronic Pain under the Addiction and Recovery Category!

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Tellwell Author Updates

Keeping up with Tellwell Authors!

Check out the latest news from our authors . . .

Stay connected and inspired by their recent book updates, personal stories, and behind-the-scenes looks at their writing journeys!

Alexandra Labrie

What’s more exciting on vacation than diving into a good book? Tellwell author Alexandra Labrie shares a snapshot from her recent getaway on her Instagram, featuring her book The Shadow of Her!

Karen Harmon

Tellwell author Karen Harmon just shared on her Instagram reel that she has officially submitted her new book manuscript titled Class of ’56!

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Tellwell Author Updates

Keeping up with Tellwell Authors!

Dive into the latest buzz from our authors!

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.

Now this was a special moment ✨

Kristyn Jewell
in her Instagram Post
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Author Success - In the media, awards, reviews

June Author Highlights

This month we’re showcasing Tellwell authors who have shared their unique journeys, each serving as an inspiration in the literary world!

Publicity

Peter Gribble, the Tellwell author behind the The City of the Magicians series, was recently featured in Reader Views!

Writing a story can be a strange experience and has parallels with what happens in reality. There’s an occasional sense of being lost but that’s good. Some ideas come fully formed from some underlayer of the creative process. Many times, I just won’t know until it writes itself.

-Peter Gribble
in an exclusive interview with Reader Views

BL Ryan, the author of the book Greystone, also graced the pages of Reader Views Kids!

The work is writing the scenes using the best possible language and connecting the scenes to form a coherent story, usually with many plotlines because I find the back stories of the characters so interesting. 

-BL Ryan
in an exclusive interview with Reader Views Kids
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Author Success - In the media, awards, reviews

From Manuscript to Milestones: February’s Tellwell Success Stories 2024

Let’s embark on a literary journey that inspires and motivates, our Tellwell author continues to create waves in the literary world.

Join us in celebrating the milestones achieved by our authors as they generously share their stories of success and the remarkable paths they’ve traveled.

Publicity

Award-winning author Arwinder Kaur graciously shared with us about another chapter in her literary journey as the iconic billboards of New York City’s Times Square showcases her with her award-winning book, “Living while Human,” adding to the recognition of her exceptional storytelling.

Author of the book Rhapsody in a Minor Mode, Elaine Kozak takes us on a journey sharing her personal story and delving into the fascinating process of bringing her book to life in an exclusive interview with Reader Views!

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Author Success - In the media, awards, reviews

December Delights: Sparkling Success Stories of Authors Embracing the Magic of the Season

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.

Grab a copy of Desperation Island here!

Lisa Oatway’s book The Dinosaur Encounter won the 2023 Canadian Book Club Awards in the category of Children/Early Reader!

Grab a copy of The Dinosaur Encounter here!

The author behind the book Shelter, Rebecca Brown, earned a bronze medal in the 2023 Living Now Book Awards in the Health and Wellness Category!

Grab a copy of Shelter here!

Reviews

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!

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