In this month’s Meet the Team feature, we’re introducing Bruce, one of Tellwell’s publishing consultants. From helping aspiring authors navigate their publishing options to hearing the stories and motivations behind their books, Bruce plays an important role in helping authors take their first steps toward publication.
Get to know Bruce, his journey into publishing, what he enjoys most about working with authors, and the advice he has for anyone considering publishing a book.
Please introduce yourself and tell us a little about your role at Tellwell.
Hi, my name is Bruce Navarro, and I’m a publishing consultant at Tellwell. I’m often one of the first people authors interact with when they’re exploring their publishing options, so my role is really about helping authors understand the publishing process and figuring out how we can help bring their books to life.
This July, we’re introducing JM Vertudazo, Tellwell’s new post-publication manager.
From overseeing distribution, printing, and audiobook production to ensuring every book reaches readers smoothly after publication, JM works behind the scenes to support authors long after their books are released.
Get to know JM as she shares more about her role, her passion for helping authors succeed, and what goes into the post-publication journey.
Can you tell us a little about yourself and what you do here at Tellwell?
I’m JM Vertudazo, and I’m so excited to connect with you all. I live in Mindanao, located in the beautiful southern part of the Philippines. It is a vibrant melting pot of rich traditions, seamlessly blending Maranao, Christian, and Lumad (Indigenous) cultures. Ever since I was young, I dreamed of being a teacher. I used to gather my friends under our hut house and pretend to teach them, using a stick as a pointer on a makeshift classroom board covered in handwritten letters. This dream led me to study an Education major in Literature, which sparked my lifelong appreciation for great stories. I am a huge cat lover and enjoy staying active by going for walks. I’m also always up for a spontaneous road trip—whether that means driving out into nature or heading down to the beach or river, I find the adventure incredibly exciting!
My primary focus at Tellwell is leading the end-to-end delivery of all post-publication services, ensuring the seamless execution of our audiobook, distribution, and printing operations. A typical day for me involves overseeing operational workflows of the three departments, coordinating with print vendors, distribution channels, and monitoring service quality and turnaround times to guarantee author success. I help refine our processes, scale our operations, and ultimately deliver an exceptional, high-quality experience for all of our authors.
For this month’s Meet the Team spotlight, we are proud to introduce you to Michael! He is responsible for preparing books for print and creating polished ebooks, Michael plays a key role in ensuring every title is ready for readers. With a keen eye for detail and a strong understanding of both print and digital publishing requirements, he helps transform manuscripts into professional, high-quality books.
Get to know Michael and learn more about the work that goes on behind the scenes to bring our authors’ stories to life!
Can you tell us a bit about your role at Tellwell, and what you work on day to day? I prepare both interior and cover designs for printing, and I also create ebooks if the service is included in the package.
What does your process look like when creating an ebook from a manuscript?
It is similar to traditional print design, but with the added element of web scripting.
In today’s Meet the Team we talk to Debbie, one of Tellwell Publishing’s dedicated book-publishing consultants.
Passionate about helping aspiring authors bring their stories to life, Debbie works closely with writers as they begin their self-publishing journey. From answering questions to offering guidance and encouragement, Debbie is committed to making the publishing process feel clear, supportive, and exciting for every author he works with.
Read on to learn more about his role at Tellwell.
Can you tell us a little about your role as a book-publishing consultant at Tellwell, and what a typical day looks like for you?
I help aspiring authors take the first steps toward publishing their books. My role involves listening to their stories, understanding their goals, and guiding them through the self-publishing process in a way that feels exciting and manageable.
A typical day includes speaking with authors through calls and emails, answering questions, discussing their book ideas, and helping them understand the support available to them. What I enjoy most is meeting passionate writers from different backgrounds and being part of their publishing journey.
Meet Russel, one of our dedicated project managers helping to bring our authors’ books to life. From coordinating timelines to making sure each stage of the publishing process runs smoothly, she plays a key role in turning manuscripts into finished books.
Read on to learn more about Russel and her role at Tellwell . . .
Can you tell us about your role on the project management team at Tellwell, and what a typical day looks like for you?
As a project manager, I guide authors through every stage of their publishing journey. My typical day involves coordinating with authors, editors, designers, and other teams, ensuring deadlines are met and quality is maintained. I manage tasks, track progress, and proactively address any issues to keep the process seamless for both authors and our internal teams.
Behind every beautifully designed book and seamless ebook is a skilled professional who brings stories to life beyond the written word. In this edition of Meet the Team, we’re excited to introduce Ivan, one of our book designers and ebook specialists.
Can you tell us about your current role at Tellwell and what a typical day looks like for you?
I prepare and finalize book cover and interior layout files to ensure they meet the technical standards of online publishing platforms like Amazon KDP and IngramSpark. I also handle ebook conversions, making sure each title is properly formatted and optimized for digital distribution. A typical day involves reviewing manuscript and cover files; adjusting layouts; checking margins, bleed, and typography; and verifying that all specifications align with platform requirements. I carefully proof files, resolve formatting issues, and collaborate with the team to ensure every book is production-ready and professionally presented before publication.
This January, we’re shining a spotlight on Tracy, a Tellwell project manager and printing specialist, supporting authors by managing book projects and ensuring high-quality print production.
Read on to learn more about Tracy and her role at Tellwell!
Can you tell us a bit about your role at Tellwell and what a typical day looks like for you?
I oversee projects from initial planning through to final publication, ensuring that timelines, quality standards, and author’s expectations are met. A typical day involves coordinating with authors and internal teams, managing booked appointments and print specifications, addressing publication issues, and making sure each project moves smoothly from concept to completion.
This December, Tellwell Publishing is shining a spotlight on one of our talented editors, Melanie. As part of the Tellwell editing team, Melanie works behind the scenes to support authors and guide them through the book-editing process, from manuscript development to final polish.
Get to know Melanie, learn more about what it’s like working with a professional book editor, and read her advice for authors preparing their books for publication.
Can you tell us a bit about your role at Tellwell Publishing and what a typical day looks like for you as an editor?
With the various editorial options that Tellwell offers its authors, my role as an editor takes many forms. Each dictates the depth of editing I will perform. Sometimes I get the privilege of being the first eyes on the book to give a brief summary based on a light perusal. I comment on the general shape of the manuscript and advise on the extent of edits that would be most useful to the author. At other times, I’m reading the manuscript in its entirety, looking at the overall structure and quality of a work to be able to deliver a manuscript assessment report, advising the author on the main points for improvement. Still other times, I’m drilling deep down into the manuscript in the form of a substantive edit to strengthen character arcs, conflict, plot points, tension, pacing, and flow. Or, in the case of a non-fiction manuscript, organization and presentation of ideas, instruction or theories. And finally, as a copy editor, I get to go on a treasure hunt, sussing out errors and inconsistencies in capitalization, spelling, and punctuation, and looking for grammatical errors. Ultimately, I’m working hard to make sure the author is reaching their reader with a well-presented, structured story or argument that is professionally polished.
As far as what a typical day looks like for me, well, at any one time I can have any or all of the above types of editing on my task list. It’s these times, when I’m dealing with overlapping deadlines, that I have the freedom and room to choose what branch of editing best suits my mood that day, or I can tailor my day to doing a small job in the morning and a more in-depth job in the afternoon or vice versa. But no matter what my task list looks like, I’m always fully present and engaged in whatever manuscript I’m working on.
Ten years ago, Tellwell began with a simple idea: authors deserve dedicated guidance and support, transparency, and 100% royalties. What started as a side hustle for our founder, Tim Lindsay, quickly grew into something much bigger. Within just a couple of months—and an early wave of author sign-ups—Tellwell became a full-time venture, complete with a small but passionate publishing team and our very first office on Fort Street in Victoria.
Marjorie enjoys helping authors turn their book ideas into real publishing plans. With a warm and approachable style, she guides authors through their options, answers their questions, and makes the process feel clear and manageable. The best part of her job is hearing authors’ stories and helping them take their exciting first steps on their publishing journey.
Read on to learn more about Marjorie and her role at Tellwell!
