Julia Byers – Editor

I'm a former children's book publishing professional turned freelance book editor. Outside of my work with Reedsy, I currently work in a variety of roles in the entertainment industry, including being part of the writing team for a podcast for Disney.

I previously worked as an Assistant Literary Agent and Foreign Rights Manager for iconic children's literary agency Sheldon Fogelman Agency, where among other responsibilities, I read slush, edited client books, and assisted in selling titles to Big Five and independent publishers alike. Before that, I interned in the editorial department of Scholastic, at the Elizabeth Kaplan Literary Agency, and at Folio Literary Management. I've worked with NEW YORK TIMES bestselling and award-winning authors of picture books, middle grade novels, and young adult novels.

I recently graduated with my MFA in Film & Television Production from the University of Southern California - School of Cinematic Arts. Before that, I earned my BA from the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor, where I studied Creative Writing & Literature and Global Media Studies, along with certificates from the Summer School in English Literature at St Peter’s College, Oxford University and the Columbia Publishing Course UK. In addition to my podcast work, my writing has received a variety of recognitions, including Highest Honors for my creative writing undergraduate honors thesis, a Hopwood Award and Arthur Miller Award from U of M, and first place in the children’s/YA fiction category of the WRITER’S DIGEST Annual Writing Competition. Additionally, I have been a staff writer on a student sitcom pilot and am the screenwriter behind a number of short films, which began hitting the festival circuit in 2025.

My passion for storytelling is at the core of everything I do and I would love to share that passion and my publishing industry knowledge to help your writing become the best it can be.