Author Success - In the media, awards, reviews

Tales and success stories!

Nov 22,2023 / By Trixie Raboy / No Comment

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.

Grab a copy of The Day Before Tomorrow here!

Reviews

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 God here!

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 Island here!

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’s masterpiece 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 Plessis Author 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

Grab your copy here!

We are honoured to witness Tellwell author Parimalasri Docktor featured in CBS News Philadelphia with her book, Tortoise Goes to the Vet.

“She makes me understand how much more beautiful the world is.”
Parimalasri Docktor Author feature in
CBS News Philadelphia

Inspired in a true story with a heartwarming message. Grab your copy of Tortoise Goes to the Vet here.

October author success stories

Oct 25,2023 / By Alyssa Humphrey / No Comment

We have an extensive assortment of author successes to celebrate this October. Join us as we round up 5-star reviews, new chart-toppers, and award-winners!

Publicity

Parimalasri Docktor reached #1 on the Hot New Release charts in Children’s Reptile and Amphibian Books with Tortoise Goes to the Vet. In addition to soaring on the charts, Parimalasri Docktor and her book have been featured on CBS News!

Daniel McMillan was recently featured on the Inside Scoop Live! podcast discussing his book Badger and Turtle Face the Storm. His book follows a pair of friends who learn to work together under stress. This book is meant for not only children to enjoy, but as a tool for families to better understand a common, hurtful pattern that can occur, particularly between parents.

Brother Bo recently scored a #1 hit on two charts with his book on sacred masculinity, The Father’s Seeds. Learn more about this chart-topper.

Meet the Team

Digital marketing expert Scott Friesen gives a behind-the-scenes look at Tellwell

May 26,2023 / By Alyssa Humphrey / No Comment

To start, tell us a little bit about yourself and your role at Tellwell.

My name is Scott Friesen and I am big into almost all sports, as well as travelling. My current sports pursuits include padel tennis and disc golf, but I am pretty much down for any sport. I have travelled to over 50 countries in the past ten years, and have worked abroad in countries like France, Spain, Mexico, and Colombia.

I have been a digital marketer for the last eight years and am going on two years working with Tellwell. At Tellwell I manage and assist with all things digital marketing, from online advertising and automation to sales funnels and our newly launched referral program.

Unlike some of our other Meet the Team features, your role is predominantly behind the scenes. Can you tell us what a typical day looks like for you?

The cool thing about Tellwell is that no day is typical. We are always testing and working on new projects to improve our online presence. Most days I will be reviewing our current online initiatives, analyzing the results of current campaigns and optimizing their performance. We are also constantly running new online campaigns. Operating in multiple countries and having so many different services in the self-publishing space truly gives us a large range of possibilities. I also generally spend time helping improve our automation, tracking, and analytics and helping out members of our team with the various software we use to make their jobs easier.

Meet the Team

Behind the scenes with Nelson Ty, our in-house book-publishing consultant

Apr 25,2023 / By Mark Mionda / No Comment

At Tellwell Publishing, we’re extremely proud of our team of experts who work tirelessly to help our authors succeed. One of these experts is our resident book-publishing consultant, Nelson Ty.

In this Meet the Team, we’ll be taking a closer look at Nelson’s role at Tellwell and learn more about the valuable contributions he makes to our team. So let’s dive in and get to know Nelson Ty a little better!

Tell us your background and how you came to work in book publishing.

I’ve mostly worked in sales all my life. I originally used to sell business and first-class airline tickets and due to the pandemic I had no choice but to switch options. Luckily book publishing is one of the better options here in Cebu to work with, so here I am 😀

What does a typical day working as a book-publishing consultant look like?

Mostly prospecting and keeping constant communication with authors.
Making sure you I always have a healthy pipeline of clients.

How do you approach building and maintaining relationships with authors?

I present them with my natural personality in a strategic way. With every author I get a chance to talk with I always approach them with a process that I’ve developed toward closing a deal.

What changes have you seen in the book-publishing industry over the past years, and how are you able to adapt to these changes?

The publishing industry experiences business seasonality. Some months of the year will be tougher because some authors aren’t really in the publishing mindset yet, and some months will be extra rewarding. You just have to keep an open mind about these things and do what you do best everyday.

Can you share any advice or tips for authors who are looking to work with a publishing consultant?

Make sure they have a proven track record as a publisher and that you trust them. Just start your book project, because it can end in only two ways. Best-case scenario you’ll be a published author, and worst-case scenario you put everything on the back burner, and all those hours, days, months, or years of effort in creating the manuscript will be gone.

How do you and your team collaborate with other departments, such as editorial and marketing, to ensure the success of a book?

Book publishing is always a team effort, and that’s why I always make it a point to explain everything in full detail and set the right expectations to make sure everything is smooth sailing. And I always go the extra mile to help my authors transition to the production stage of their book.

What’s something about your role or your team that people might be surprised to learn?

I’m a very simple guy and I like to keep complicated things plain and to the point.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work, and how do you balance your personal and professional life?

I like everything fun. I’m basically a jack of all trades when it comes to my leisure in life.

April’s literary stars: Celebrating author success stories!

Apr 25,2023 / By Trixie Raboy / No Comment

New month, more moments to celebrate! We’re shining the spotlight on authors who have reached new heights in their careers. From book events to public recognition and earning top reviews with their incredible books, we’ll be celebrating their journey and sharing their insights and inspiration. So grab a cup of coffee and join us as we toast the hardworking and talented authors out there!

Events

To kickstart the exciting events, Tellwell author Marielle de Vassoigne recently had her book launch for her book Choosing Love Over Pride.

It’s a rollercoaster of emotions! Grab your copy of Choosing Love Over Pride here.

Unleash your imagination at another book launch with Barry Fellinger with his book The Not So True Adventures of Brandon, Josh, and Adam.

A hilarious and occasionally serious story of past, present, and future antics, based on some of the three cousins’ escapades in real life! Sounds like a fun read, doesn’t it? Wait no more and grab your copy of The Not So True Adventures of Brandon, Josh, and Adam here.

Step into the pages of another new release as Tellwell author Diane Martin launches her book When Time Stands Still.

A wonderful book full of mystery and adventure you don’t want to miss! Grab your copy of When Time Stands Still here.

Here’s another book to get lost in, as Mick Burke launches his page-turner, The Blue Mask.

Get ready to experience a range of emotions with this unforgettable read. Grab your copy of The Blue Mask here.

Reviews

To start the top reviewed books, Tellwell author Colleen Millsteed received a glowing five-star review from Reader Views for her book Battle Angel.

This book should be shared with all the women in your life. So often, women feel alone—wallowing in self-loathing, heartbreak, and feeling defeated. These poems create a sense of solidarity. What could be better than a collection of poems to ignite your soul and fill you with hope? This book may be what you need to get started. Read this five-star-worthy book and prepare to be inspired.
Reader Views Book Review

Find the inspiration and power you need from the poetry written in every page of this book. Grab your copy of Battle Angel here.

Jayda Addleston’s masterpiece, Unspoken Emotions, also earned a five-star review from Reader Views Book Review!

The poet is honest and genuine as she explores various incidences in her life, the result being a personable gala of 5-star poetry collections that are pushed on by the essence of hope and healing.
Reader Views Book Review

Get lost in this must-read poetry! Grab your copy of Unspoken Emotions here.

Dr. Sarah Zadek, the author of It Takes Two… And A Uterus, also earned an outstanding review from Reader Views Book Review!

A holistic approach to answering a wider range of questions than an OB or other targeted specialist may have.
Reader Views Book Review

Understand the science behind fertility with Sarah Zadek. Grab your copy of It Takes Two… And a Uterus: The Ultimate Guide to Understanding and Enhancing Your Fertility here.

Another glowing review from Reader’s Favorite for Indigo Johnson for her book, The Kindness Quilt.

Indigo Johnson writes this children’s book with a poignant simplicity. She captures a whimsical quality throughout the story with colorful illustrations.
Reader’s Favorite Book Review

It’s a heartwarming and adventurous read will surely enjoy! Grab your copy of The Kindness Quilt here.

Publicity

Dennis and Jenny D’Alessandro, authors of the book Chantry Island, have graced the pages of The Hamilton Spectator!

Dennis and Jenny describe it as an adult novel, mature in its content and style, meaning that “Chantry Island” deals frankly with men-women issues, sexuality and the pressures of life, morality and larger social and even political dynamics.
The Hamilton Spectator

This book will keep you on the edge of your seat with every page! Grab your copy of Chantry Island here.

From humble beginnings to making headlines, Yvonne Van Lankveld was recently featured on PelhamToday.ca with her remarkable book The Part Street Secrets.

The central themes of Van Lankveld’s novels deal mostly with real-life experiences like betrayal, reconciling relationships after they end, finding a new purpose in a life that’s somehow been messed up, and the need for human connection.
PelhamToday.ca

Get lost in this read and uncover the mystery of The Park Street Secrets! Grab your copy here.

Tips & Tricks

Should you consider joining a writer’s organization?

Mar 2,2023 / By Tellwell Publishing / No Comment

Much like running, writing has a tendency to be a lengthy independent exercise. The road can often get lonely and desolate, and it can certainly be reassuring to see some fellow runners, or in this case writers, alongside. Regardless of which publishing route you choose – traditional or self-published, there’s still a long journey of self-promotion that lies ahead.

As a self-published author, you’re essentially taking on a new profession, and if this is your first book, there can be a steep learning curve ahead. But, having an outlet to gain advice and support from other writers can help drive momentum and establish a solid foundation as a writer.

Many authors look to a writer’s organization as an opportunity to turn an independent effort into a team sport. Whether it be a national organization with smaller regional branches, a provincial organization, or a niche specific group, you may want to consider joining one as part of your marketing and promotion strategy.

Here are some of the advantages of becoming a member of a writer’s organization:

Support from a community of writers – In any given writer’s group, you’re guaranteed to have the opportunity to connect and interact with other authors, many of whom will have unique insights to bring to the discussion based on their own publishing experiences. In essence, they’re a great forum to gain feedback from fellow members of your craft.
Networking opportunities – Most writer’s organizations arrange events and other interactive opportunities for you to meet with professionals in the publishing industry. Whether they be editors, reviewers, booksellers or other high-profile authors, writer’s organizations offer good settings to increase your author network.
“How-To” guides and instructional information – One of the greatest advantages of writer’s groups (particularly at a national level,) is the knowledge base they can provide, especially to newcomers. From contracts and legalities to marketing and promotion, writer’s organizations are a great preliminary source for best practices in publishing.
Access to readings programs – Some writer’s organizations provide their members with the opportunities to participate in pre-established events and speaking engagements. These can include subsidies to invite writers to perform at a school or public reading, which can act as a great gateway to showcase your book to appropriate markets.
Access to apply for awards – Many writer’s organizations offer awards to recognize contributions to the literary industry, but the committee’s considerations are often limited to members only. By joining one of these organizations, you’ll have the opportunity to submit your work for award consideration.
Writer’s Coalition Benefits – Many writer’s organizations include eligibility to participate in the group health and dental benefits plan through the Writer’s Coalition. If your principal profession is writing, it may be worth your while to have access to benefits, which aren’t usually available at a group rate in this trade.
Credibility – In the publishing realm, having a membership to a writer’s organization can enhance your status and clout as an author. As a self-published author in particular, this can be an extremely valuable confidence boost when you’re first starting out.

We love to see our authors’ success stories!

Feb 21,2023 / By Trixie Raboy / No Comment

It’s that time of the month again, when we raise a glass to the amazing authors whose successful journey has inspired us all. Join us as we celebrate their triumphs and applaud their hard work as they create remarkable stories in the literary world!

Awards

We are thrilled to share that Last Darren E. Watling received the January WINNER of “Book Cover of the Month 2023” for his book, Last Chance: A Future Apocalypse Caught in a Trilogy!

Are you up for an adventurous sci-fi read? Grab your copy of Last Chance here.

If you’re a fan of incredible self-help books, you’re in for a treat! One of our Tellwell authors, Blaise Hunter, has just earned the Literary Titan Award for her book, Captain Communicator!

A must-read best-selling book you should not miss! Grab your copy of Captain Communicator here.

Meet the Team

Tellwell publishing consultant Josephine Cataluña talks about her personal inspiration and what each author brings to the world

Oct 20,2022 / By Ben St. James / No Comment

Authors rely on publishing consultants to advise, inform, and set expectations through the production process. Josephine Cataluña has dedicated herself to ensuring authors access the right services to achieve their goals and bring their dreams to life. In addition to her passion for literary projects, Josephine also finds inspiration from music and nature.

Tell us a bit about yourself.

I am a peaceful person who wants to enjoy life with my favourite people. I love animals and nature, especially white sand beaches. Summer is my favourite season. I do yoga and sing a lot. I was a bit of an introvert, especially during my younger years. I just hang out and open to a couple of friends. People who have high self-confidence who get to speak or perform in front of a huge crowd amazed me, maybe because I was not as confident then as I am now. I also enjoy learning about different cultures, cuisines, and fashion styles. I am a fan of romantic-comedy novels and movies.

What do you enjoy most about your role?

What I enjoy most about my role is being able to talk with different people from different walks of life and hearing about their life experiences and inspirations for writing their books. I get to understand things from their perspective, and I gain wisdom with each encounter, because more often than not I resonate with the stories they share. And when the book project is already done, it gives me a different fulfillment knowing I have helped an author figure their way forward in terms of publishing.

What does a typical week look like for you at Tellwell?

It gets quite busy at the start of the week with all the booked appointments and inquiries (by phone or email), talking with different authors, all at a different stage on their publishing journeys. Then I spend the middle part of the week towards Friday negotiating contracts while keeping in mind their service needs and what solution I could bring to each author.

What is a question you get asked the most by authors? How do you answer it?

The question I get asked the most is “How much does it cost to publish?” and I answer it with full transparency, making sure that they understand the value of each service they will be paying for.

Do you have an achievement that you are most proud of? What inspires you to succeed?

I am proud of my Sales Rookie 2022 award, because it means a lot of authors trust me and my consulting. I might be a neophyte at book publishing, but I am very passionate at delivering quality service and genuine advice. I understand the value that each author brings to the world.

If you authored a book, what would it be about?

If I were to publish a book, it would probably be about love in general and how it impacts a person’s transformation in becoming the best version of themselves.

What do you enjoy doing most outside work?

Singing and spending quality time with the people I love.

Do you have any good books or content to recommend?

I do have a short list of romance novels that I would love to get a hold of by the end of the year. A couple of them would be the latest releases by Nicholas Sparks.

What inspires you?

Ambition, happiness, and doing new things. Seeing someone achieve their dreams, seeing someone’s smile, doing adventures and thinking about happy moments with my daughter, family and friends—these are what inspire me. The beauty of nature, too!

Celebrating Tellwell’s August authors success stories

Aug 31,2022 / By Mark Mionda / No Comment

We’re always proud to celebrate with our authors, and share how amazing they are!

August has been an incredible month for Tellwell authors. Keep reading to find out our most recent author celebrations, including awards, media mentions, reviews, and events!

Awards

We’re starting strong on this one. Kyrie Wang received a Bronze award from the Readers’ Choice Spring 2022 Book Awards for Enemy’s Keeper: Forbidden Ties!

Are you a fan of an adventurous and thrilling read? Grab your copy of Enemy’s Keeper here!

Meet the Team

From the NHL to Tellwell, President Jason Farris shares why indie authors should consider Tellwell

Jul 15,2022 / By Tellwell Publishing / No Comment

Meet Tellwell’s new president, Jason Farris! A jack of all trades, Jason has worked in the marine world, the banking industry, the software industry, and the NHL before joining us here at Tellwell. Read on to learn about what attracted Jason to the self-publishing industry, and what he wants authors to know about publishing with Tellwell.

Tell us about your role at Tellwell.

I am the president of Tellwell, working closely with our founder to take the wonderful things that have already been built and find ways to take those capabilities and services to new authors. We’re just starting to expand outside of North America, and there’s a whole world out there of authors we can connect with to continue to support creativity and contribute to a broader cultural enrichment, helping to grow the opportunities for new authors, and providing top-notch arts-based jobs.

What did you do beforehand?

Before this, I was in the electric marine world, helping bring to market a 50-horsepower electric outboard motor. We developed a world-leading product, began delivering to our large list of pre-order customers and brought in General Motors as a 25% partner in the business.

Prior to that, I was chief operating officer of the Dallas Stars hockey club, helping bring them out of bankruptcy as part of the management team that rebuilt the franchise in an important market in the US for the National Hockey League.

I’ve had the benefit of working in a variety of industries before that as well, including banking and software. So, coupled with being a self-published author myself, I’ve had a range of experiences that give me the ability to connect with our authors about what they do and want to accomplish, but also enable me to share my company-building experiences with our employees to help them grow and develop as Tellwell grows.

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