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 couldn’t keep it up. 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.
About Julie
I'm Julie Trelstad, and I've spent 36 years exploring what works in publishing versus what the industry says should work.
My journey started in architecture, where I learned that the best structures serve human needs. That principle followed me into publishing, where I've held executive roles at major houses like John Wiley & Sons and Sterling Publishing, founded my own press (Plain White Press, successfully acquired by Fox Chapel Publishing), and pioneered digital rights strategies at Writers House.
Why Creative Revolutionaries Work With Me
Here's what makes my approach different: I've walked every publishing path. I was the acquisitions editor who discovered The Not-So-Big House by Sarah Susanka—visionary content that changed how people think about home design. I've managed P&L responsibility for major franchises like Wiley’s Architectural Graphic Standards. I built an independent press from scratch and secured national distribution. I've navigated digital transformation as Head of U.S. Publishing for StreetLib and coordinated industry partnerships for Publishers Marketplace's prestigious Buzz Books initiative.
This cross-world fluency means I can help you choose your publishing adventure based on what serves your creative vision and business goals, not what serves industry norms.
Your Guide to the Publishing Ecosystem
My clients aren't trying to follow someone else's blueprint. They're Creative Revolutionaries—authors, storytellers, and idea-makers who see their work as a tool for conscious change. They want to build better worlds through their stories and ideas, and they need someone who understands both the craft of great publishing and the art of sustainable creative business.
Whether you're writing fiction that imagines hopeful futures, non-fiction that solves problems, or any creative work that asks "how can we build this better?"—I help you navigate the publishing ecosystem as a conscious creator who can choose their own path with confidence.
My Current Chapter: The Freedom-Builder Era
Right now, I'm demonstrating something crucial for creative professionals: you can build a sustainable practice that funds your artistic vision while amplifying your voice. I’m exploring how AI can help and hurt. I'm working on my own novel (hopeful future fiction, naturally) while helping other Creative Revolutionaries get their world-changing ideas into the right hands.
This isn't just consulting—it's proof that creativity can be both revolutionary and sustainable.
Ready to Build Your Publishing Strategy?
If you're a Creative Revolutionary ready to match your visionary ideas with a publishing path that serves both your creative integrity and your business goals, let's talk. I help authors who think differently navigate an industry that often doesn't understand them.
"Reader first" (unless your book serves a different sacred purpose). Let's figure out how to get your revolutionary work into the hands of the people who need it most.