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.
Stories have always been a powerful way to share culture, history, and identity—and this month is a meaningful time to listen, learn, and reflect. Indigenous voices offer perspectives shaped by deep roots, lived experiences, and rich traditions that continue to inspire today.
This curated list highlights books that celebrate Indigenous stories, from heartfelt journeys to powerful reflections. Each one invites readers to better understand the past, connect with the present, and appreciate the voices that deserve to be heard, shared, and remembered.
They Called Me 33 by Karen Chaboyer
A powerful story of survival, healing, and reclaiming identity.
Karen longed for acceptance, validation and love, but had no ability to form healthy, meaningful relationships. Born into a large family already suffering the effects of two generations of residential school, and surviving her own nine years at St. Margaret Indian Residential School, Karen (like everyone she knew) had been systematically stripped of her dignity, identity, language, culture, family and community support systems.
Not wanting to be alone as an adult, Karen tolerated unhealthy relationships with family and partners. Still, she was coping. But after suffering further trauma, Karen turned to alcohol and other addictions to numb her pain.
Eventually, Karen found the strength to reach out for help. She learned to grieve through layers of shame and was finally able to embrace her identity. Karen also discovered what has long been known in her culture – the healing power of sharing your story. Karen would now like to share this book, her story, with you.
Peaceful Relationships by Wendy Hill
A journey through Indigenous wisdom, healing, and finding peace within.
This book is a collection of teachings and experiences from a Native traditional healer. Wendy shares her people’s history and her own personal experiences of bringing peace into situations where it was desperately cried out for. It’s a self-help book to give you ideas and different ways of thinking to help bring you back to peace within. If you have never known peace then this book will explain how to achieve it, and how to be very defensive about maintaining this essence of the spirit.
Courage and Complicity (1st Edition) by Claudette Languedoc
A reflective story of idealism, loss, and a return to truth shaped by time and experience.
In August 1947, Mary Brock boarded a train in Toronto. She was headed for the wilds of Northwestern Ontario and a teaching job at an Indian residential school. Her family was horrified. At the end of her first day of teaching, Mary was horrified too. This was not the exciting adventure she had imagined. But Mary wasn’t one to give up. Buoyed by her ideals and her pragmatism, she kept showing up. She lasted the academic year. When she boarded the train for home, she knew she had failed; in every way that mattered. The ideals she had come with had shattered on her classroom floor, and a big piece of her heart lay buried behind a small log cabin in the woods. Sixty years later, two unexpected gifts forced her to take a second look back and a more hopeful look forward. Maybe her ideals weren’t so naïve after all.
Strengthening Canadian Indigenous by Cathy A. Martin, Ed.D.
Mi’gmaq leader focused on education, governance, and community wellness.
Dr. Cathy Martin, Ed.D. is a Mi’gmaq woman who was raised and resided most of her life in the Listuguj First Nation. Dr. Martin has a Doctorate Degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Phoenix. Dr. Martin has been an elected member of council for three terms for the Listuguj Mi’gmaq Government; two of those terms she was elected Chief Councillor. Dr. Martin has a wealth of experience interacting at the grassroots level. Her diverse academic and career experiences, have demonstrated her research abilities, facilitation, and co-ordination skills. In addition, to the research skills necessary to obtain a Doctorate in Leadership, Dr. Martin was the main writer/researcher for the development of the First Nations Health Directors Curriculum Manual; which was an eight-module curriculum for Health Directors Association of British Columbia. Dr. Martin has also facilitated, at the grassroots level within her First Nation Community of Listuguj, in the development of a Community Safety and Wellness Accord; and in the grassroots development of domestic violence research and recommendations for a reduction of abuse program in the same community. Dr. Martin’s future goals include a return to consultation, research, writing and the facil
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.
Updated May 2026: We’ve added screenshots and examples of recent scam emails reported by authors impersonating Tellwell Publishing staff and services.
Scammers targeting authors have become more sophisticated than ever—using real staff names, photos, familiar industry language, and convincing emails that mimic legitimate publishing communication. If you’ve ever wondered:
“Is this person really from Tellwell?”
“How do I verify someone contacting me about my book?”
“Is this publishing offer legitimate?“
…this guide gives you everything you need to confirm whether someone truly represents Tellwell Publishing.
Below, you’ll find clear steps to identify legitimate communication, verify staff identities, and recognize red flags before they become a problem.
✅ Tellwell’s Official Email Domains
All legitimate communication from Tellwell will only come from the following email domains:
@tellwell.ca
@tellwell.com.au
@tellwellpublishing.com
@mytellwell.com
@tellwell.zendesk.com
@empoweredauthorsummit.com
@publishingmatch.com
If the sender’s email does not match any of these domains, the message is not from Tellwell.
Tim Lindsay, founder and CEO of Tellwell Publishing, officially released his new book, The Call to Authorship: How and Why to Write, Publish and Promote a Nonfiction Book, on November 5, 2025, at the Empowered Author Summit. The event brought together over 20 speakers and 800 aspiring and published authors committed to sharing their stories and making a meaningful impact through books.
“A book is more than a product to earn royalties—it’s a way of being of service, a process of becoming, and for some a powerful business tool. Most people want to write a book some day, but most never do. This book is my way of helping others navigate that process with clarity,” said Lindsay.
Tim Lindsay hosted live, in-person workshops entitled 10 Steps to Turn Life Lessons Into a Book, teaching some of the practical lessons from the book.
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.
Meet Ben Belding. As Tellwell’s Business Development Manager, Ben is all about finding new ways to support authors and grow the company.
He works on building meaningful partnerships, developing new programs, and helping publishing professionals and imprint leaders connect with the right tools and support. Ben’s goal is to make the publishing journey more accessible and community-driven.
Read more to see how Ben is helping authors succeed through smart ideas and strong relationships.
About the Role
Can you tell us about your role at Tellwell and what your typical workday looks like?
As Business Development Manager, I’m focused on expanding Tellwell’s reach by identifying new opportunities and building strategic relationships that support both our growth and our authors’ success. My days vary widely—they might involve exploring a new partnership idea, course and program development, publishing consultant, organizing a conference presence, or meeting with a potential imprint leader. At the heart of it all is the goal of making publishing more accessible, guided, and community-driven for authors.
