Come along with us on Tellwell Author Stories: Behind the Books! In this exciting series, we’ll take you on a journey through the lives of our authors, exploring the moments and inspirations that have led to the creation of their books. Each author has a unique story to tell, filled with passion, perseverance, and creativity.
Join us as we uncover the layers behind their writing journeys and celebrate the incredible talent within the Tellwell community.
Meet Karen Harmon:
Karen Harmon, a Tellwell author, invites us to explore her inspiring journey. With a deep connection to books, nature, and the people around her, Karen approaches life with intention, infusing her heart into every page she writes. For her, writing transcends mere words; it’s about giving back, embracing the world, and drawing inspiration from life’s everyday moments.
An award-winning author, Karen has published four books with Tellwell: Looking for Normal, Where Is My Happy Ending, Fat and Beautiful, and Class of ’78. She is now on the path to publishing her fifth book with Tellwell.
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.
Author Cristina San Martin on Love, Healing, and Her Journey in ‘Married to Fiji’ and ‘Healable the Journal’
Cristina San Martin step out in a photoshoot!
Introducing Cristina San Martin, an author whose works delve deeply into the realms of love, healing, and self-discovery. Her book Married to Fiji is a heartfelt memoir that chronicles her bold journey of moving to Fiji after just ten days with her future husband. It’s a story that captures the essence of love’s transformative power while also shedding light on the challenges and injustices she observed during her time on the island. Through her experiences, Cristina offers readers a candid look at the complexities of relationships, the struggle for justice, and the profound process of personal healing.
In addition to Married to Fiji, Cristina is also the author of Healable the Journal, a guide that encourages readers to embark on their own healing journeys. Cristina’s writing is deeply personal, informed by her own experiences with mental health, neurodiversity, and the challenges of fitting in. Her insights are not just about overcoming adversity, but about embracing it as a path to growth and self-acceptance.
Healing is humbling and a great reminder that we are far more than our struggles and the adversity we face. Go easy on yourself; the healing journey takes as long as it takes. Try not to hold yourself to unrealistic expectations, as we also have to continue living and navigating the 3D.
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!
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!
Exploring New Horizons: Karen Harmon’s Growth From Memoirs and Biographies to Fiction
With joy comes pain, and with humour comes tears. Life is hard, but it can be equally, if not more, lovely. Communication is the key, and trying to find the silver lining is a tremendous asset toward making a difference in your overall well-being.
Karen Harmon
Karen on Midday Show
Karen Harmon began her writing journey with memoirs and biographies before venturing into fiction. Her work, including the Book Excellence Award Finalist Looking for Normal, delves deeply into personal and family struggles. A sought-after guest on prominent media platforms, like CBC Daybreak with Shelley Joyce and the CFJC Midday Show with Tanya Cronin, Karen shares insights on her inspiration, the transition between genres, and advice for aspiring authors. Her experiences highlight the joy of exploring new creative paths and the importance of relatability and authenticity in writing. Stay tuned for her upcoming release, Class of ’56, a prequel to her successful novel Class of ’78.
Looking for Normal was a Book Excellence Award Finalist. Can you share what inspired you to write this memoir and how it felt to receive such recognition on such a personal story?
Karen with her books
I wrote Looking for Normal because both of my parents had passed away. My children never got to meet my father, and yet they had beautiful memories of my mother. When my son was 13, I used to tell him stories about my father riding the rails during the Depression at the age of 13. My dad’s life had been one adventure after the next, so my son kept telling me I should write a book. So I did. I was nervous and apprehensive, but I knew my parents’ story would be relatable to so many. When I received recognition in the category of Women’s Health, I was surprised and pleased. My mother struggled with mental health issues during a time when such topics were hush-hush and swept under the carpet. I know my parents would be very proud of me, and now my children have our family’s legacy.
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.
It’s International Women’s History Month, and we’re raising a toast to our incredible women and their herstories!
Let’s take a moment to shine the spotlight to the remarkable achievements of our talented women authors who continue to inspire us with their incredible stories.
Blaise Hunter
Blaise is a writer, multi-award-winning humanitarian, international speaker, fertility expert, certified human rights advocate, Mother of Purpose, and Breaker of Chains. Her mission is to heal with her humanity.
Every day we experience assumptions, conflict, triggers, and disconnect, but we never really hone our communication skills. Blaise Hunter, the author of Heroine: Embrace Your Flaws & Own Your Awesome, takes you on a journey of becoming a Captain Communicator.
Rita Kakati-Shah
Rita is a three-time winner of the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, and the recipient of multiple international awards in recognition of advancing gender equality, diversity, and inclusion, and empowering women, girls, and youth around the world.
The Goddess of Go-Getting tells the compelling story of Rita’s journey with candor and authority as she calls for policy and societal changes that support the backbone of the economy.
Adding an extra sprinkle of sweetness to your February with Tellwell’s book giveaways!
Packed with great stories and exciting adventures, let our literary fest be your go-to adventure this month.
Your next favourite transformational read!
Jose and Lourdes Amoloria’s book, One of the Most Expensive, Iconic and Kinetic Maps of Australia in the World, will make you rethink how adversity, grief, and loss can cause so much pain, and yet these life challenges can facilitate creativity, and be transformed into gifts and blessings for a meaningful and productive existence.
Dream without fear. When dreams are nourished with faith and actions, dreams bloom into realities.
Jose, a self-taught artist, had no formal training in art, no scholastic qualifications and had very challenging life experiences as an international sailor, chef, watchmaker and stone mason. How can one be multi-skilled and pass international standards without proper educational training?
Get inspired by faith and determination that changed the course of life, and be entertained by the unconventional ways Jose educated and equipped himself with skills to achieve dreams and goals. The one-of-a-kind masterpieces in this book and Jose’s life are testimonials that creativity can really transform lives. Miracles do happen, and anyone can manifest miracles if they sincerely believe in themselves and in the intervention of the unseen power of the Supreme Creator.
Carleen Dehaney takes us to a fun adventure with her book, Toothbrush Animal Hunt!
Embark on a delightful adventure with Toothbrush Animal Hunt, the perfect children’s book to encourage daily toothbrushing habits in a playful and enjoyable way.
From a clapping sea lion at the beach to a cheeky squirrel in the forest, children will be fascinated as they learn about toothbrushing through the actions and antics of these charming creatures. And don’t forget to spot the toothbrushes hidden throughout the pages, making this hunt, a delightful game of discovery.
Say goodbye to toothbrushing struggles and let the adventure begin!
Another month, another celebration of authors’ success stories!
We are putting the spotlight on our authors who continue to make waves in the literary world. From book reviews to public recognitions and awards, we applaud these remarkable achievements. We share a toast to these authors and their masterpieces as we celebrate their literary triumphs!
Awards
Tellwell author Monique Britten has recently received the Silver Litarary Titan Award for her book, The Day Before Tomorrow.
A glowing five-star review from Reader Views was given to Dr. Mark Burns’ book, A Light Amongst the Stars.
Dr. Mark W. Burns writes a concise biography of Amelia’s beginnings and family history with the gift. He describes the inner workings of Amelia’s service to individuals who come to her for readings and enables the reader to get inside the mind of a psychic medium to learn how she deals with clients, divine and dark energies, and messages from beyond the grave.
Reader Views Book Review
A must-read you don’t want to miss! Get your copy of A Light Amongst the Stars by Dr. Mark Burns here!
Don Hackett, author of the book A Lesser God, also received an insightful review from IndieReader!
The patient reader will be rewarded by Don Hackett’s A LESSER GOD (Reason Else Demise), a thought-provoking and philosophical novel that is more interested in posing challenging questions than giving easy answers.
IndieReader Book Review
A fascinating narrative that will keep you turning pages. Grab your copy of A Lesser Godhere!
IndieReader gave another review to Keith Hamilton’s book, Desperation Island.
Keith A. Hamilton’s solidly-written DESPERATION ISLAND (21st Century Pirates in the Caribbean) is an enjoyable, if slightly simplistic, maritime thriller with plenty of drama.
IndieReader Book Review
Don’t miss out this masterpiece by Keith Hamilton. Get your copy of Desperation Islandhere!
Tellwell author Elaine Kozak also received an incredible review by IndieReader for her book Rhapsody in a Minor Mode.
A touching, heartfelt character study, Elaine Kozak’s RHAPSODY IN A MINOR MODE resonates with family drama, vibrant characters, and uptempo melodies.
IndieReader Book Review
A heartwarming literary gem you’ll want to get lost in. Grab your copy of Elaine Kozak’smasterpiece here.
Publicity
We are thrilled to present a retired Olympic rower and one of Tellwell’s incredible authors who recently graced the pages of the Times Colonist with his book, I Hate Bouillabaisse!
The protagonist of I Hate Bouillabaisse! is named after Vandor’s daughter, Sophie. It is about a girl whose imagination scares her before she learns how to harness it positively.
Time Colonist with author Douglas Vandor
An entertaining must-read packed with valuable lessons for kids! Grab your copy of I Hate Bouillabaisse!here.
Tellwell author Dewalt du Plessis was featured in an exclusive interview with Reader Views for his book, Ash Moonlight.
The primary inspiration was some song lyrics I was working on years ago, and I thought to myself this could be an interesting story, and so it just went on from there.
Dewalt du PlessisAuthor Interview with Reader Views
Ash Moonlight takes you to a journey that will have you flipping pages! Grab your copy here.
The author behind the book Badger and Turtle Face the Storm, Daniel McMillan, was also recently featured in an exclusive interview with Reader Views.
“Badger and Turtle Face the Storm” is about a pair of friends who learn to work together under stress. This book is meant not only for children to enjoy, but as a tool for families to better understand a common, hurtful pattern that can occur, particularly between parents.
Daniel McMillan,Author Interview with Reader Views
