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 highlight our authors’ journeys and celebrate their successes. From the initial idea to publication and beyond, these stories showcase their dedication, hard work, and passion in creating incredible page-turners and sharing them with the world!
Events
Tellwell author Alexandra Labrie recently launched her debut book, The Shadow of Her. Alexandra began her journey of self-discovery two years ago, turning personal milestones and past traumas into a compelling fictional narrative with the help of her therapist.
The essence of this book is to inspire readers to do the same with their own stories and to find hope amidst adversity. Based on my own experiences, I chose to share this story to bring hope to those who have encountered challenges early in their lives.
Celebrating another successful book launch, Tellwell author Cristina San Martin presents Married to Fiji: A Tale of Love Based on a True Story. Her journey through love, loss, and everything in between became the catalyst for rediscovering her heart and embarking on a healing journey.
This book, Married to Fiji, is dedicated to my family who lived through this journey with me. It’s also more than a memoir of a wild time of my life. It’s a testament to my resilience, dedication, and healing journey.
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
We’re putting the spotlight on Tellwell authors who shared their unique literary journeys, each emerging as a beacon of inspiration in the literary world!
Awards
Joanne Kimm, Tellwell author of the book The Enforcer’s Tale, received the 2024 International Impact Book Awards under the Young Adult Fiction category!
Tellwell author Hunter Snow was recently featured on Find Your Sounds and Tinnitist with her novel Rock Crush and Roll.
This book, at its core, is about navigating relationships. Friends, families, partners, colleagues, and what truly makes you happy at the end of the day.
Hunter Snow, in an interview with Find Your Sounds and Tinnitis
A former North Vancouver RCMP officer, Tellwell author Russ Grabb, shares his story on Global News about his book Traces Of A Boy.
Traces of a Boy is creative nonfiction at its best. True and accurate down to the last detail, it pulsates like a stylized novel. Above all else, it’s the out-loud narration diary of an injured child in search of untroubled peace. As a story that exposes the barbarity of opposite-sex incest, bone-breaking violence, and the depraved indifference of mainstream society, it is by design a hair-raiser with an intensity reminiscent of A Clockwork Orange.
Events
Tellwell author Millian Lloyd Jones was in Florabel, Eden, New South Wales, to launch his book Milli and Max
A unique alphabet learning book and a treasury of fun facts about each sea creature that will delight children and their parents alike. Grab your copy of The Adventures of Milli and Max here.
Growing Pains author Sarah Taylor-Malo recently had her book signing at Indigo Kingston, Ontario.
It’s a story about the ups and downs of: life, love, anxiety, expectations, and self-acceptance. Grab your copy of Growing Painshere.
Author of the book The Heights, Shaelyn Gaskin, was in Mississauga, Ontario, for her book signing.
Delving into the complications of grief, this story examines the hardships of losing a loved one while showcasing the different ways grief presents itself. Ada’s journey, while difficult, seeks to provide the reader with a sense of hope that even the toughest obstacles in life can be overcome with the love and support of those around you. Grab your copy of The Heightshere.
Reviews
Susanne Clark’s book Dishing Love Daily received a glowing five-star review from Reader Views!
I love how the author shares mindful words and concepts in the beginning of the book, how food played a role in pivotal moments in her life. She also describes the book’s origin story. You’ll find space to write down your ideas and inspiration, and extra tips for that special flourish. The tempting images will motivate you to try some of the recipes right away.
-Reader Views Book Review
It’s a five-star review from Literary Titan for Tellwell Author Joanne Kim, for her book The Enforcer’s Tale!
Joanne Kimm’s The Enforcer’s Tale stands out for its captivating plot, richly drawn characters, and thoughtful use of language. It is an excellent choice for those who appreciate novels that blend suspenseful narratives with complex characters and themes, offering a rewarding literary journey.
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!
We’re putting the spotlight to these remarkable wordsmiths!
With book reviews, public recognitions, and awards, it’s another month of celebration, admiration, and inspiration where we applaud the authors who have shared their literary journeys with us.
Awards
Tellwell author Craig Weidhunner has recently received the Literary Titan Award for his book: Mystical Force: Volume 5 Shadows and Darkness.
This book promises to be an engaging read, ideal for fans of riveting adventure, with themes of found family and a hint of enigma.
Literary Titan
Grab a copy of Mystical Force: Volume 5 Shadows and Darknesshere!
Reviews
A glowing five-star review from Reader Views was given to Sharon Bruce’s book, Shoebox Baby.
Overall, Sharon Bruce’s Shoebox Baby was an enjoyable read. For readers who love historical fiction focusing on familial relationships, this one will scratch the itch. Moreover, the focus on building strength and overcoming obstacles is wonderfully illustrated. Five stars!
Reader Views Book Review
A heartwarming book based on true story. Get your copy of Shoebox Baby by Sharon Bruce here!
It’s another five star review for Barb Locket! Easy Baking in Barb’s Kitchen also received an incredible review by Reader Views.
The recipes are easy and healthy, and I assure you they will be loved by all who taste them. I would highly recommend the book to anyone out there who loves to bake.
Reader Views Book Review
Have fun baking with Barb Lockert. Grab your copy of Easy Baking in Barb’s Kitchenhere!
Readers’ Favorite gave another five-star review to David Giffen’s book Redemptive Trauma.
This is a taste of what readers will get when experiencing Giffen’s writing. Redemptive Trauma is a journey first written from the perspective of the author as a man, who then later gives us this complete visual understanding of what his childhood years were like as he later grew into the man he became.
Reader’s Favorite Book Review
Don’t miss out this masterpiece by David Giffen. Get your copy of Redemptive Traumahere!
Lara Knitter received an incredible review by IndieReader for her book The Dog Who Walks Himself.
The Dog Who Walks Himself is an allegorical tale for adults who have been inspired by older mentors and a beautiful book for children and dog lovers that can also be used as a means of addressing loss.
IndieReader Book Review
A heartwarming tale you would want to get lost into. Grab your copy of The Dog Who Walks Himselfhere.
Publicity
We are thrilled to present remarkable Filipino-Canadian Tellwell author Wendy Archard, who recently graced the pages of The Philippine Reporter with her book Just Breathe.
My hope is that my book resonates with little ones and their parents/families, helping them through a difficult time by reading a relatable story.
Wendy Archard, Author Interview with The Philippine Reporter
A simple and beautiful rhyming story using illustrations and colours to help convey different emotions. Grab your copy of Just Breathehere.
Tellwell Author David Giffen graces the pages of Literary Titan with his book Redemtive Trauma.
Ultimately, Redemptive Trauma is about reconciling hope, and calling home prodigals of all kinds.
David GiffenAuthor Interview with Literary Titan
Redemptive Trauma shares a story of learning the deep value of empathy, while tackling mental health and the associated stigma. Grab your copy here.
Richmond Hill author Rishma Govani has been generating a lot of positive buzz for her world-travelling children’s book Sushi & Samosas: A Trip of Tasty Transformations! 🍣
Each month, we’re always excited to highlight the successes of our authors! From top award nominations, to featured interviews, to rave reviews – we’re offering a huge congratulations to our authors for these terrific accomplishments!
AWARDS
Dr. Chelinay Gate, author of Lucky-Child: The Secret, just made it to the Prime Minister’s Book Club in Australia. A huge honor!
This compelling coming-of-age tale is the story of Lucy. Answering her dying great-grandmother’s call, Lucy is lured into the dark red heart of Australia’s Great Sandy Desert. Indigenous mother tongues Mangala and Wajarri exquisitely mimic the landscapes and evoke a feeling of timelessness that transports Lucy and the all-female search party into a Dreamtime World, where she learns to respect the Lore, Country and herself. “Like the striking of an ancient gong, I heard my name, Lucy Lucky-Child.”
Lucky-Child: The Secret also won first place in the Fiction category for the 2020 Next Generation Indie Books Awards! The book also won the grand prize in the First Novel category, and was a finalist in the Action/Adventure Category and Regional Category.
What started as research into her own family’s history during the settling of Western Canada in the 1900s, transitioned to an award-winning historical fiction novel and a long-term career as a writer and published author for Renée Veillet.
Inspired by the stories she learned of her ancestors, the Calgary-based author sought out to honour Canadian history in a medium that might be more entertaining and enjoyable for young adults.
“My ancestors endured hardships that were unimaginable; my great grandfather was forced to leave his family behind in order to seek work in Canada. The first family member he could afford to bring over travelled in steerage class on the Titanic and did not survive,” explains Veillet. “I feel a debt of gratitude towards my ancestors and want to honour them by sharing their stories with my children and the generations to come.”
By the fall of 2017, Veillet was a published author and Rings of Time quickly began to receive high praise. The book, which has been compared to the popular TV series Outlander, has been described by Goodreads readers as “[p]erfectly paced and beautifully descriptive” and “an entertaining escape into another time.”
Local bookstores have also expressed interest in the book, and it was even featured as a Staff Pick at the Crowfoot Chapters in December 2017.
“As a first-time author, having my book on the shelf of the local bookstore was a huge milestone,” says Veillet. “Having it chosen as a staff pick was an unexpected surprise.”
There is nothing better than the smell of a freshly cracked book spine – unless of course, that book is an advance reader copy (ARC). ARC’s are copies of a book that are given to certain people who are permitted to read it before its scheduled release date. They are typically given to bloggers, critics, and other online influencers to review and promote the work to a wider audience. For authors, sending out an ARC is a great way to gain buzz and publicity before the big release. Although this may open the door to potential negative criticism, this also gives authors the chance to make last-minute changes before releasing their book to the world. So how do you create an ARC for reviewers?
Making an ARC
An ARC does not need to be fancy, however, there are additional elements that need to be considered:
Disclaimer – A complete cover is not necessary, but there should be a disclaimer stating that this copy of the book is an advance reader copy that is not for resale.
Quick facts – Include a list that has information like: number of pages, price, release date, ISBN etc.
Formatting – While this may not be your final copy of your book, you should still make sure it appears clean and professional. Reviewers may have several ARCs to review, and an aesthetically appealing file could boost your chances of getting read first.
When it comes to distribution, you can choose an electronic copy, such as a PDF, or a print copy. Digital distribution is inexpensive and easy to deliver, however, this also makes it easier to leak. Print is the traditional route, but it does take more effort and time to produce.
