It's a fascinating story when you...
Whether you're a mum, dad, granny or gramps... godparent, auntie, uncle... or ANYONE with a child to inspire... welcome to our world.
We're storytellers who love to set young minds racing.
We're artists who turn adventures into turnable pages.
We're techies who do the whizzy bits that make each story unique.
We're a team – giving stories a personal twist, so every child can see themselves in a book that's one-of-a-kind.
That's our whole reason for being here
Nothing can beat that moment when a child picks up a book for the first time and gets absorbed in the story. The TV goes off, toys sit still, and the house goes eerily quiet – because the maker of all the noise has found something wondrous, and it's lit up their mind like no cartoon or touch-screen ever will.
That's the moment we live for – the moment of wonder for the child, and the moment of joy for the parent as they see their child immersed in something magical and productive.
It's why we set up Tell It Your Way with the personal edge built in:
- To give reluctant readers a reason to open a book.
- To give avid readers the brand new stories they crave.
- To give every reader a chance to be the hero.
Through new tech and classic storytelling, we're here to make it happen.
Meet the gang
James Daniel
Founder & CEO
James spent 25 years writing his first children's book, The Pickle-Smith Trunk-Warmer. In that time, he squeezed in hundreds of radio skits, plus a clutch of scripts for sitcoms and video games. All while running his own copywriting agency.
Inspired by the potential of personalised storytelling, he set up Tell It Your Way in 2021. He's in it to encourage young readers and create some moments of wonder.
Marina Hauer
Head of Branding & Production
For as long as she can remember, Marina has been bringing imagination to life in pictures, shapes and colours. A professional designer of some 15 years (and tireless studier of what makes people love the things they do), she specialises in telling stories through engaging imagery.
Marina makes sure that everything inside Tell It Your Way looks magical, and that our books are the best they can be.
Tom Ingle
Technical Lead
In his 40 years on this earth, most have been spent tapping away at a keyboard.
Where James is the master of words and Marina is the master of design, Tom is the master of bits and bytes.
All things technical for Tell It Your Way spill out of Tom's fingertips.
And occasionally a bug here or there, but let's not tell James that, alright?
James's origin tale
When a stressed-out dad met a freshly-stuffed bear, Tell It Your Way was born...
I'll level with you. The first time I saw a personalised kids' book, I thought it was nothing special. The early Noughties was a simpler time, there was no "pick your own avatar" then. If the child was in it, they'd be drawn as an animal – so the only personal bit was dropping in their name.
It was all a bit gimmicky. And as the dad of a 4-year-old, I wanted something more. Something my son would read and re-read, and hold onto forever.
Then came a trip to one of those stuff-your-own-bear shops, where you dress and name your own custom cuddly pal. In the queue, my son was buzzing – planning all manner of escapades with his brand new bear.
And it hit me:
What if you could order a book – a unique story about your child and their new furry friend?
A book that's properly personalised. With a character that looks like the child, and lots of custom wording – dropping in all their favourite things, so it feels like a part of their life!
I got talking to some techie friends, and they all agreed: "Great idea James, but it can't be done yet. Come back later!"
So I got my head down and wrote some personalised stories:
- ... A child's first day at school.
- ... An elf on a quest for Santa.
- ... A greeting from a brand new sibling.
- ... And the story of a star named after a special child.
Then one day, I looked up from my notebook, and whaddyaknow?
It was happening!
A new publishing trend was springing up like a runaway beanstalk.
And parents were going nuts for these captivating new stories.
Had I missed the boat already?
Well, we only get one shot. So mid-pandemic, I pitched in with my own publishing dream. With Marina on board, Tell It Your Way was born in 2021 – the under-funded newbie in an exploding market.
It was hard going. We were guessing at first, with a tech crew playing catch-up as personalisation evolved. We made every mistake you can think of, and hundreds you'd never imagine. Until we met Tom, who reined in three years of chaos and set us on the right path.
Now we're motoring. With a crack team in place and some fab new stories in the offing, we're ready to take this to the world. Ready to inspire young minds, encourage new readers, and give every child the moments of wonder they deserve.
I guess I could have saved some hassle by starting a simpler business. Or by wrestling pumas for a living – anything is easier! But after 35 years as a jobbing writer, I know this is my calling, and nothing else on earth could bring the same rewards.
I just hope you'll be part of this now, so we can continue our journey...
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