My Story
I grew up in Topeka, KS, reading every book I could.
I was the first kid on the block to have a home computer, a TRS-80.
Moved to New York to study architecture at Columbia and swim on the swim team
My first job was at Progressive Architecture Magazine, where I was the first editor to use desktop publishing and I covered Computer-Aided Design.
I studied Architectural Criticism at Parsons School of Design with Herbert Muschamp. Fun Fact: I published an essay about the offices of the hedge fund where Jeff Bezos worked in the 2nd issue of Wired magazine.
I was a book editor for architecture and home design books at VNR, Taunton Press, Wiley, and Sterling (a division of Barnes & Noble). I acquired approximately 70 books, but only 2 through agents.
I went to all the early Digital Book World, Tools of Change (O’Reilly) and some un-conferences.
I started my own press after I learned what Print-on-Demand could do, but I went all-in for high production value print-in-China instead. I got national distribution, but I got caught in the Borders bankruptcy. I ultimately sold the press to Fox Chapel Publishing.
I was the Director of Digital Rights at Writers House, a literary agency, where I ran the self-publishing program and helped authors build their digital platforms.
For the past 10 years, I’ve been helping authors publish, dabbled in writing, and have studied building an online business. I’ve been consulting and floating about the publishing industry.
I still live in the NYC area (in the Not-So-Big-House we built), have adult twin daughters and four cats.
Meet Julie Trelstad:
Your Publishing Architect
My career is built on a single principle, learned not in publishing, but in architecture: the best structures are the ones designed to serve human needs.
For 36 years, I’ve applied that blueprint to the publishing world—a world often more interested in industry norms than in the needs of its authors or readers. I believe that a sustainable, successful author career isn’t about following a rigid playbook; it’s about designing a publishing structure that perfectly fits your work, your goals, and your audience.
This isn't theory. I've built from every angle of the industry:
As a Traditional Publishing Editor & Executive: I acquired groundbreaking books like The Not-So-Big House and managed major franchises like Architectural Graphic Standards at houses like John Wiley & Sons and Sterling Publishing. I know how the traditional system works from the inside.
As an Independent Publisher: I founded my own press, Plain White Press, built it from the ground up, secured national distribution, and led it to a successful acquisition. I know the grit and strategy required to build something new.
As a Digital Pioneer: I led digital rights strategy at Writers House, headed U.S. Publishing for StreetLib, and managed industry partnerships for Publishers Marketplace's Buzz Books. I've been on the front lines of every major technological shift for the last two decades.
I don't work with followers; I work with architects of ideas.
My clients are authors and publishers who are building something new. They are driven by a desire to solve a problem, imagine a better future, or create a body of work that lasts. They need a guide who is fluent in every publishing model—traditional, indie, and hybrid—and can help them design a path that serves their unique vision.
Today, my work is focused on designing the two most critical structures for authors:
The Framework for the Future (Amlet.ai): Technology, especially AI, is reshaping our industry. As Head of Amlet.ai, I help authors and publishers navigate this new terrain, providing the tools and clarity to leverage AI ethically and effectively.
The Blueprint for Your Career (The Authors Studio): A visionary idea needs a sustainable business to support it. As the guide for The Authors Studio, I help authors design the strategic blueprint for their career, moving from overwhelm to a clear, sustainable creative practice.
My own creative work continues—I’m currently writing a novel—because I believe in proving the model: you can build a thriving creative business that funds your art and amplifies your voice.
Let's design a better way to build your author career.