Compared to DIY distribution services like Createspace, LightningSource, KDP and Smashwords, Tellwell offers a full-service team approach to publishing and a better distribution deal. The DIY services listed above are all great, but they don’t help with editing, design, or marketing. They don’t give you guidance at each step. You need to be technically savvy. So, for many authors, they just don’t provide the necessary level of support. Tellwell has better distribution than these companies by combining the best features of each!
Compared to full-service publishing companies like Author Solutions (Authorhouse, Xlibris, Trafford, Iuniverse, Belboa), Tellwell has a much better distribution deal. We work with many of the same distribution channels that they use (e.g. Ingram, Lightning Source, and KDP), but Tellwell doesn’t inflate the distribution costs, at all! The problem with inflated distribution costs is that it can negatively impact how you price your book, resulting in high retail prices and lower royalties. Tellwell offers the smartest distribution model.
We care about quality. We act with honesty and integrity. We listen and improve, constantly. We think long-term.
Tim Lindsay, CEO
Tim has a passion for books and publishing. He encourages and celebrates the entrepreneurial spirit that is so prevalent in indie publishing. With over 10 years in publishing, Tim came to realize that the book publishing industry was broken. All that authors really needed was a small team to help edit, design, distribute and market a book. Passion, teamwork, talent, honesty, and entrepreneurial spirit. These are the values Tim strives to exemplify and cultivate at Tellwell.
Monica Martinez, Head of Marketing
Monica has more than 20 years experience in storytelling, journalism, and marketing. She works on Tellwell’s content and digital marketing, corporate communications and public relations, to help craft and share the Tellwell story. She also oversees Tellwell’s marketing services program.
Prior to Tellwell, Monica worked as a television journalist and news anchor for CHEK News, CBC and Global News. She has also worked in various marketing, and communication roles in both the corporate and non-profit sectors. Learn more about Monica and hear her book promotion advice to authors.
Pamela Pasco, General Manager
Pamela leads the operations at Tellwell’s Center for Publishing Excellence (CPE) in Cebu, Philippines. She worked in the indie publishing industry starting in 2004 and worked her way up from customer service to leading a publishing operations department.
Pamela’s mandate at the CPE is to find innovative solutions to publishing challenges such as timely workflows, online collaboration, and software development while building a team of talented publishing professionals.
Simon Page, Operations Manager
Simon is passionate about ensuring Tellwell’s publishing process provides an exceptional experience for each author we work with. Having joined Tellwell as a Project Manager in 2018, he has overseen the illustrations, design, printing and distribution of hundreds of book projects. In his current role as Operations Manager he supervises multiple facets of our book production departments while working tirelessly to improve our processes. You may also recognize Simon from Tellwell’s series of webinars and video tutorials. Outside of work, he can be found foraging for great coffee and food, reading, doing yoga or tai chi, playing hockey, or exploring Vancouver Island’s nature.
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Alison Strumberger, Managing Editor
Alison brings to the Tellwell team fifteen years of professional publishing, writing, and editing experience. She has worked in trade, travel and educational publishing houses; taught communications at La Trobe University in Australia; lectured on writing at the University of Melbourne; and traveled extensively while teaching English and freelancing as a writer and editor. She holds a BA in English Literature and Creative Writing from Concordia University, and an MA in Publishing from the University of Melbourne. Her writing has appeared in publications across Canada and Australia, and her first book, Redrafting Winter (BuschekBooks, 2015), was a finalist for the A.M. Klein prize for poetry.
Kevin Matz, Software Engineering Manager
Kevin has been building software since teaching himself programming on the family’s home computer at a young age. He previously designed and developed ChapterLab, a specialty word processing and project management application for academic authors and technical writers, and wrote and self-published a book, Designing Usable Apps.
Kevin has a BSc in Computer Science and an MSc in Software Development. He earned an MBA at the University of Amsterdam, and holds a PMP certification.
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Redjell Arcillas, Assistant Manager – Production
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John Henrick Abella, Sales Supervisor
Rhea Mae Inot, Author Satisfaction Specialist
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Katie’s marketing experience began during her time working for an international real estate company, but her love for reading started from a young age. Her focus and specialty is in all things children’s literature; although she works with all genres. She enjoys researching new book trends, creating custom materials, and educating authors about all the extraordinary resources available to them. Katie holds an English Literature degree with a minor in Political Science from The University of Victoria.
Katie is a self-proclaimed bibliophile, so when she is not aiding authors at Tellwell, she is likely curled up in one of her favorite book nooks – reading, or rereading, a good book series and she will never turn down a games night.
Get to know Katie better and read her book marketing advice to authors over on our blog.
Chelsea has worked in marketing and communications for over a decade. Her career spans the hospitality and tourism industry to post-secondary institutions; and, most recently, the start-up industry. She’s held roles as a marketing manager, events and promotions coordinator, public relations intern, and social media manager. Chelsea is a graduate of Royal Roads University where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Professional Communication. She also holds a diploma in Public Relations from Algonquin College.
The through-line in her career is her passion for storytelling and connecting with others through collaboration and meaningful communication.
Having relocated from her hometown of Ottawa, she takes advantage of the year-round hiking on Vancouver Island. When she isn’t outside for a hike or run, you can find her knitting, reading, or searching the web for new music.
Get to know Chelsea more and read her marketing advice to authors on our blog.
Angela joins the Tellwell team with a background in marketing, social media, and public relations, and has been in the industry for nearly five years. From an agency that represents children’s toy brands to a not-for-profit entertainment company, Angela has developed a variety of skills to market your upcoming book effectively! Angela is a graduate of the Bachelor of Public Relations program at Conestoga College in Kitchener, Ontario.
An aspiring author herself, Angela is currently writing two books, enjoys walking the trails with her dog, playing card games, and curling up with a good fantasy book.
Learn more about Angela, and her book marketing advice for new authors on our blog.
Colleen joined Tellwell with 20 years of experience in customer service, sales, marketing and business. Additionally, she has an entrepreneurial background that includes launching and operating two businesses, one in fashion retail and another in the coworking office industry.
At Tellwell, Colleen enjoys building rapport with new authors while guiding, mentoring and supporting them in their book marketing journey.
When away from her desk, you can find Colleen sailing around the Gulf Islands of the Pacific Northwest, or at the local soccer pitch cheering on her two children.
Get to know Colleen more on our Tellwell blog and read her advice on why marketing your book is just as important as writing it!
Tyler is a part-time marketing consultant with Tellwell. He has a bachelor’s degree in history and English, and a master’s degree in history. He has a strong writing and media background and particularly loves reading non-fiction. His favorite authors include Erik Larson, Sebastian Junger, David Grann, Shirley Jackson, H.P. Lovecraft, and Cormac McCarthy.
Tellwell editors are publishing professionals with years of experience supporting all genres. We know that entrusting your work to a stranger is daunting, so you’ll find our suggestions supportive and clear as we discuss ways to strengthen your writing and harmonize your voice
Simon, Editor
Elliot, Editor
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Merielle, Editor
Jen, Editor
Darin, Editor
Lara, Editor
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Kim, Editor
Kerry, Editor
Tereza, Editor
Hélène, Editor
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Lauren, Editor
Melanie, Editor
Rebecca, Editor
Jocelyn, Editor
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Katie, Editor
Jessica, Editor
Helen, Editor
Joy Comendador, Project Manager and Title Distribution OIC
Gezel Zozobrado, Project Manager
Jun Mark Vertudazo, Project Manager and Printing Services OIC
Charlyne Calisang, Project Manager
  Sem Delima,   Project Manager
 Joseph Ragaza,  Project Manager
 Eden Brillo,   Project Manager and Audiobook Service Fulfilment OIC
Mary Grace Gange, Project Manager
Atheena Carilla, Project Manager and Marketing Services Associate
Lyndon Trinidad, Project Manager
Tellwell works with Ingram and their print-on-demand operation Lightning Source with printing operations in:
We also print books in Ontario and Quebec Canada, and in Asia.
At our head office we spend a lot of time working on how to give better guidance to authors at each stage of publishing and how to help publishing teams collaborate to achieve their greatest potential.
We are also leading the development of Octavo, our publishing software.
After launching at the beginning of 2015 Tellwell won Douglas Magazine’s 10 to Watch award and we were a finalist for Viatec’s Start-up of the Year.Â
Our main office is on the West Coast, so what better way to get to know each other than getting outside! Here are some photos from our Fall team-building activities: some canoeing, tightrope obstacle course, and a nice hike. The last photo is an award for being in the Top 50 Growth Start-ups.
The Heart of the Publishing World
Cebu has played and will continue to play a very important role in the evolution of the publishing industry. In the late 1990’s and early 2000’s Barnes and Noble and Random House both invested heavily in upstart indie publishing companies and these ventures both culminated with large book publishing operations in Cebu. Since then thousands of people in Cebu have worked in publishing.
But big companies don’t alway provide the best place for top talent to flourish. What has been missing is a smaller company that celebrates talent and teamwork and the pursuit of excellence in publishing. Enter Tellwell! Two of our goals at the Center for Publishing Excellence include being recognized as a great employer so that we can attract and retain the top tier of publishing talent. We are very proud of the team we have built so far! Â
