Tag Archives: creativity

Meet the Team

Meet Ralph, Tellwell’s Creative Book Designer!

Introducing Ralph Cavero, one of our skilled in-house book designers! This March we’re shining a spotlight on the creative journey involved in designing authors’ books.

Join Ralph as he uncovers the secrets behind book covers.

Tell us a little about yourself.

I’ve been happily married for 12 years and have three kids: two lovely daughters and an angel son. Spending meaningful time with my family is important for me. 

I completed my bachelor’s in computer engineering with a focus on computer networking at the University of San Carlos. Music is a passion of mine—I enjoy all genres and can play the guitar. Sports, particularly basketball, captivate my interest, and I also have a fondness for art, including drawing, design, and decoration. Nature, with its lush greens and serene blues, holds a special place in my heart.

How did you start your journey as a book designer, and what drew you to working with Tellwell Publishing?

During my college years, I began developing my design skills by taking on commissioned projects in my spare time. Upon graduating, I decided to pursue a career in design, alongside managing computer shops and laboratories, driven by my deep fascination in the field. 

I spent two years at Sunstar Publishing, followed by five years at Author Solutions Inc. Later, I joined Black Card Books for two years before settling into Tellwell, where I’ve been for the past three years. What attracted me to Tellwell was their commitment to valuing their employees. Even during the hiring process, I was impressed by their treatment of human resources. For me, work becomes less of a chore when you feel valued, acknowledged, and supported. Tellwell has demonstrated that it’s not just about what you contribute to the company, but also about receiving recognition and support that matches your hard work.

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Design Showcase Guest Post

The behind the scenes creative process to achieve this incredible YA fantasy cover design – Demons at the Doorstep

Guest post by Tellwell designer Tara Price

demons

Demons at the Doorstep is a young adult urban fantasy. Written by Rachael Bell-Irving, the story follows Jessica, a witch who must team up with her mortal enemy to stop mutated demons from destroying her city. Hard copies and eBooks are now available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Chapters Indigo.

Why did you choose this cover as a monthly focus?

This was a book that I started working on at the end of last year that wrapped up mid-April. It was a little out of our normal process because it required a custom illustration. A lot of the time, the cover is either done first or designed in tandem with the interior. For this one the interior was formatted well before the illustration was done. I had an initial idea of what I wanted for the title, but I knew that it may change drastically when the cover was on my plate. However, once I saw this amazing image, I was able to work in the title surprisingly well, with only minor re-working on spacing.

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Tips & Tricks

Five New Year’s Resolutions for Writers

1. Write every day

A study conducted by University College London claims that there is no definitive amount of days required for a habit to stick; it varies depending on the activity. However, most habits will become a part of your daily routine after several weeks. Once you have your flow going, it is easy to produce dozens of pages in a matter of hours. Unfortunately, the hardest part is getting started. Depending on your writing objective, your quota can be something like a blog post, diary entry, or a page towards your novel. What you write does not have to be Shakespearean quality. In fact, this resolution focuses more on the process of writing by encouraging you to incorporate this activity into your everyday routine. Here are a few tips to help you achieve this goal:

  • Schedule in time – Commit time in your agenda that is strictly dedicated to freewriting
  • Start small – Spend 10 minutes per day on writing for the first week but gradually add more time as this becomes a regular activity
  • Create projects – It might be difficult to write something if there is no purpose for the work. Write for a reason. Submit your pieces to a writing contest, start a blog, or send reviews to a media publication.

 

2. Read every day

Reading is just as important as writing when you are trying to perfect your craft. Similar to the tips mentioned in resolution one (see above), you are going to need to dedicate a bit of time out of your day to reading. Most people will choose to read for 15 minutes before hitting the hay to calm themselves before bed. Reading on a regular basis can help make you a better writer, since it will expose you to new words, writing styles, and perspectives. Additionally, reading makes you more intelligent, empathetic, and relaxed.

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