How it All Started
A Message from Gabriel Pelino, Founder of Julian Publishing Group
Julian Publishing Group emerged through the development of the book American Daddy, A Father’s Heart Revealed.
Initially I took the traditional approach to publishing American Daddy. I found a reputable literary agent-one I just loved-to shop my book around to various publishing companies. I was grateful to have someone in my corner that believed in me and loved my project. Though I continued to work on American Daddy during this time, I stepped back from a portion of the process and found that I did not enjoy being on the sidelines. Part of me has always felt I should self-publish because American Daddy has been so close to my heart.
The feedback we received from publishers was always the same: They loved American Daddy; they praised it; they could envision it. They would not, however, pick it up and move forward with it. Either American Daddy did not suit their current needs, or they just weren’t willing to invest in it. I had a difficult time receiving such praise without receiving a publishing offer to back it up. I was encouraged, however, by the response of people “on the street.” Everyone I spoke with about American Daddy seemed to “get it,” and their enthusiasm kept me going in spite of the frustrating dead-ends from publishers.
Meanwhile, I kept working on American Daddy: arranging photo shoots, consulting graphic designers, and gathering stories from the fathers. I began to realize just how much I loved working on this project. From the interactions with subjects, editors, and designers to the creative decision-making about the book’s layout, I found that I enjoyed all aspects of developing American Daddy, A Father’s Heart Revealed.
When American Daddy was close to finished, I made the decision to start my own publishing company, going ahead with my original inclination to publish the book myself. Ironically, once I made that decision, my agent called to say she had scored me a publishing deal.
It took almost three months for the company to make their offer. Once they finally did, I turned it down. It was just not a good business deal for me. Thus, the decision to move forward on my own was re-confirmed, and Julian Publishing Group came into existence.
JPG is a boutique-style publishing company dedicated to producing works that affect the lives of others through images and stories. We are committed to working closely with authors and to making the process easy and profitable for them. We believe in fostering a creative environment that nurtures the talents of those who join our team. Julian Publishing Group also supports causes that reflect the works of our authors. A percentage of revenues generated goes to support charities chosen by the JPG team.
Thank you for visiting and being a part of our dream.
Please submit project inquiries to info@julianpubgroup.com
