Publishing guidance from the other side of the desk.
First Spine Consulting is led by the founder and publisher of Sūtra House, an independent press publishing ideas that matter.
Most publishing consultants teach theory. We practice it.
First Spine Consulting was founded by the publisher behind Sūtra House, an independent press with imprints spanning literary fiction, children’s books, business, and technology. Every recommendation we make comes from daily experience — acquiring manuscripts, negotiating contracts, managing production, and launching books into a market that is more crowded and more confusing than ever.
We started First Spine because we kept meeting brilliant authors who were making avoidable mistakes. Signing contracts they didn’t understand. Choosing publishing paths that didn’t serve their goals. Spending thousands on services they didn’t need while skipping the ones that mattered. The publishing industry is designed to be opaque, and authors pay the price.
First Spine exists to change that equation. We give authors the same knowledge, perspective, and strategic thinking that a publisher would bring — except we work for you, not for the press. Your goals. Your timeline. Your book.
Three things that set us apart.
We publish books. Every day.
We’re not former publishing professionals who left the industry to consult. We are actively publishing books right now. When we advise you on contracts, we’re referencing contracts we signed this year. When we build your launch strategy, we’re using the same frameworks we use for our own titles. Theory has an expiration date. Practice doesn’t.
We work for you, not for a publisher.
Literary agents work for publishers. Hybrid presses work for themselves. We work for you. Our only incentive is to give you the best possible advice, whether that means pursuing traditional publishing, going independent, or deciding your manuscript isn’t ready yet. We’ll tell you the truth, even when it’s not what you want to hear.
We don’t do the work. We make sure the work is done right.
We are strategists, not service providers. We don’t edit your manuscript, design your cover, or manage your social media. We help you find the right people for each of those jobs, vet them, and make sure the decisions you’re making serve your goals. You get a trusted advisor who sees the whole picture — not another vendor trying to sell you their piece of it.
Sūtra House is an independent publisher with the tagline “Publishing Ideas That Matter.” The press operates multiple imprints — literary fiction, children’s books, business, and technology — and is built on a philosophy of editorial excellence, intentional publishing, and genuine partnership with authors.
First Spine Consulting is a separate practice, but it’s informed by everything Sūtra House has learned about what makes books succeed — and what makes them fail.
Ready to talk about your book?
Start with a Strategy Session. 90 minutes of focused, honest guidance from a working publisher.