Tag Archives: indie author success stories

Author Success - In the media, awards, reviews

Celebrating Creative Wins This June!

June has been a steady month of progress for our authors, with a mix of book awards, thoughtful reviews, public recognition, and well deserved spotlights. It is always encouraging to see their work continue to find its way to new readers and receive recognition in different spaces.

In this roundup, we are sharing some of these recent highlights and moments of success. Each one reflects the ongoing effort and creativity behind every book, and we are glad to take a moment to recognize these creative wins from the month.

Awards

Paul Smyth’s Deliveries has earned strong recognition in the independent publishing space, winning The International Impact Book Awards and The Brew Readers’ Choice Awards, and placing as a Finalist in the Ian Book of the Year Awards by the Independent Author Network. These achievements reflect the book’s positive reception among readers and within the literary community.

Deliveries follows bush pilot Paul Jackson as he navigates the demands of running a small air charter operation in a rugged, unpredictable landscape. What begins as routine flights quickly escalates into high-stakes situations that test his skills, judgment, and priorities.

As pressure builds, Paul and his friend Dave McMurray are forced to make difficult decisions that affect both their livelihood and their lives. The story explores passion, responsibility, and the unpredictability of life, grounded in Paul Smyth’s real-world aviation experience.

Author B. A. Agha’s The Sage and the General has been awarded The Literary Titan Gold Award, recognizing its thoughtful storytelling and themes of peace and conflict.

The novella follows the Sage, a peaceful leader who is forced into conflict when a General chooses violence in response to a threat in their Himalayan community. As tensions rise, the Sage is exiled for standing by his beliefs in balance and nonviolence.

At its core, the story is a reflective fable about peace, resistance, and human choice. This is B. A. Agha’s first literary work, drawing on his diverse life experiences.

Event

Gaia, Mother Earth by Lacey Clews follows Gaia herself, who grows weary from humanity’s neglect of her once thriving lands. Recently, Clews held a book signing event for her debut release. In response, Gaia sends a soulful call across the cosmos to her starseed daughters, asking them to return home and help restore balance so the Earth may heal and flourish once again.

Lacey Clews is a psychologist from Canberra, Australia, with over 25 years of experience in trauma-informed mental health and wellbeing. Alongside her professional work, she explores photography, sound therapy, spiritual wellness, and nature-based healing. Inspired by her role as a grandmother, she now brings her creativity into storytelling with her first book.

Publicity

House of Cards: Surviving Munchausen by Proxy and a Mother’s Web of Lies by Phillippa Mann was recently featured in an interview with The Chilliwack Progress, highlighting her work and author journey in a meaningful media spotlight.

The memoir shares a raw and unflinching account of survival, following a childhood shaped by fear, silence, and emotional trauma. Through her story, Phillippa Mann explores healing, truth, and self-forgiveness, showing how strength can be rebuilt even after deep personal pain.

Phillippa Mann is a Canadian author who writes to help others find healing through shared experience. She is inspired by her family, enjoys baking and crafting, and runs Nana’s Cookies and Gifts in memory of a close friend. She is also working on a children’s book titled Hop Hop and the Great Garden Adventure

Featured on KULR8 NBC in Billings, David Brandon’s Rings of Saturn: Enemy Within is a military sci fi thriller inspired by aviation and space exploration.

The story follows F-16 pilot Dan Russell, who joins a secret U.S. Space Command program and soon discovers a hidden interstellar conflict involving Solar Warden and an alien force near Saturn’s rings.

Written by commercial pilot and flight instructor David Brandon, the novel blends real aviation experience with speculative science fiction storytelling. 

Reviews

The Super Seeders by Miles Hillmann has received a five star review from Reader Views for its clear and insightful look at the people driving today’s plant genetics revolution.

The book explores how scientists and research centres are using genome technology to improve crops and strengthen global agriculture.

It also raises the important question of how these advances can reach smallholder farmers and support global food security.

This is a book that everyone should read, not only because it will educate them in the realities of what farmers go through in growing the food that we eat, but also in how science protects and improves farming on a global scale.

-Reader Views Book Review

The Sage and the General by B. A. Agha has received five star review from Literary Titan, recognizing its reflective storytelling and themes of peace, conflict, and human choice. 

The novella follows a Sage who stands for nonviolence as he faces a General pushing for armed response within their Himalayan community, leading to conflict and exile.

It is a spiritual fable about compassion, fear, and whether balance can survive in times of division.

For readers open to a clear-eyed, sincere, and thoughtful spiritual fable, this book has something real to offer. It feels like a conversation about how people lose themselves in conflict, and how th

-Literary Titan Book Review
Read More
Author Success - In the media, awards, reviews

A Look at Our Authors’ Journeys This March!

In March, our authors continued to make waves in the literary world. From author events and public recognition to new opportunities to share their work, book awards, and glowing reviews, it’s been an exciting month.

Beyond that, authors have been gaining even more visibility, with features and mentions helping their stories reach wider audiences. Here’s a look at some of the highlights from their journey this month.

Awards

Tellwell author Nataly Restokian’s Her Masks & His Truth has won a Gold Award from Literary Titan, earning recognition for its gripping and emotional storytelling. Based on true-life events, the novel follows Anna as an unexpected encounter with a globally recognized influencer turns her world upside down, forcing her to navigate love, loyalty, and life-changing choices.

Nataly, a top life and wellness coach in Quebec with a background in journalism and television, brings depth and insight to her writing. Her Masks & His Truth is the second book in her Masks series and marks another milestone in her journey as an award-winning author.

Her Masks & His Truth is perfect for readers who actively seek Christian fiction, inspirational romance, faith-based contemporary drama, and redemption narratives, especially those who like spiritual mentorship threads and conversion-centered storytelling.

-Literary Titan Book Review
Read More
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.

Read More
Author Success - In the media, awards, reviews

May’s Literary Successes

Welcome to our monthly spotlight on the success stories of our Tellwell authors, highlighting their journeys to acclaim through book awards and five-star reviews!

Awards

Tellwell author Terry Eissfeldt and his book, Anna Wells and the Mystery of the Dusty Duchess, received a 2024 International Impact Book Award in the Mystery and Detective Stories for Young Adults category!

Spinning On A Barstool by Glenda Toews has been recognized with a Silver Award in the category of Overall Grand Prize Non-Fiction by Reader Views!

Read More
Author Success - In the media, awards, reviews

In the News and Receiving Excellent Reviews – Tellwell Author Success Stories

Good Morning, Blake: Growing Up Autistic and Being Okay

by Blake “Crash” Priddle

Read IndieReader’s interview with Blake “Crash” Priddle, author of Good Morning, Blake, where he also shares his advice for other indie authors.

Blake also had great interviews in the National Autism Canada podcast, Calgary City News, and CTV News!

What’s the main reason someone should really read this book?


I feel that others on the spectrum, their families and those in their lives like teachers, might find comfort in many familiar issues autistic people face. Some may be inspired from reading what I’ve gone through, survived and thrived.  Readers who have little or no experience about autism (besides Rain Man or the Good Doctor), will gain compassion for folks that are ‘different’.

Blake “Crash” Priddle, author
Read More
Author Success - In the media, awards, reviews

Tellwell author success stories: Celebrating milestones in the media

Book marketing is a crucial aspect of a book’s success. It takes a lot of hard work and effort, but the payoff can be worth it. We are celebrating a number of authors this month who have done a wonderful job promoting their book in the media, speaking at events such as TEDx and even starting their own podcast. One of our authors even invested in a huge ad campaign with her local transit line.

Lisa Bournelis’ TEDx Talk is now live. Watch here!

Louie and the Dictator

by Lisa Bournelis

My Life is Nuts! and the Nutmeg the Chipmunk series

by Renata Quattro

Following her release of the Nutmeg the Chipmunk series, Renata Quattro held her second book signing at Chapters – Vega, in Mississauga, Ontario!

Read More
Author Success - In the media, awards, reviews

Tellwell author celebrations: reviews, publicity and events

From book signings to rave reviews and exclusive interviews, our authors had a busy end to 2021! Congratulations on your terrific accomplishments, everyone! We’re thrilled to highlight your successes.

REVIEWS

Blake “Crash” Priddle’s insightful memoir, Good Morning, Blake: Growing Up Autistic and Being Okay, received a 4.5/5 star review from IndieReader!

“A clear, thoughtful memoir with an upbeat tone, GOOD MORNING, BLAKE is both a delightful read and a valuable perspective on growing up autistic in a neurotypical world.” – Catherine Langrehr for IndieReader.

You can read the full review here.

Read More