A Publishing Home for Craft, Imagination, and Community
Relics Press LLC is an independent publishing house based in the Pacific Northwest. We publish imaginative, character-driven stories across genres, united by a commitment to craft, care, and emotional authenticity. Our books are shaped with intention and guided by the belief that stories are built best through collaboration, clarity, and respect for both the creator and the reader.
What began as the publishing home for the works of founder Maurilio Velasco has grown into a working small press with professional infrastructure, established distribution channels, and deep roots in the regional literary community. Today, Relics Press supports authors through thoughtful publishing partnerships, editorial services, and community-forward events that bring books directly to readers.
What We Publish
Relics Press publishes fiction for all ages, including fantasy, adventure, speculative fiction, cozy and character-driven stories, young adult and middle grade fiction, illustrated children’s books, and select nonfiction. We are genre-flexible but quality-focused. Every project we publish must be grounded in strong character work, narrative clarity, and care for the reader experience.
We believe books can be comforting, curious, quietly powerful, or expansive in scope. Cozy stories sit alongside sweeping adventures here, as long as they are built with intention and heart.
Our Publishing Model
Relics Press operates under a hybrid publishing model designed to balance professional quality with ethical, transparent practices. We offer selective publishing partnerships across three tiers, allowing authors to choose the level of guidance, collaboration, and investment that best fits their goals.
Across all partnerships, authors retain full copyright, receive clear royalty reporting, and are supported through a defined editorial and production process. Editing, design, formatting, distribution, and launch planning are handled with clarity and collaboration, never shortcuts or hidden fees. Our goal is not volume publishing but sustainable, well-supported books that can grow over time.
In addition to publishing partnerships, Relics Press offers a limited range of à la carte editorial and production services for authors who are not publishing directly with the press.
Pacific Northwest Roots
Relics Press is proudly rooted in the Pacific Northwest, and that identity shapes how we work. We prioritize PNW authors, illustrators, editors, designers, bookstores, and creative partners whenever possible. Our catalog and community presence reflect the region’s love of storytelling, independent art, and meaningful connection.
We work closely with local bookstores, participate in vendor markets and literary events, and collaborate with regional businesses and creatives. Community engagement is not an afterthought for us. It is a core part of how our books find readers.
Community and Events
Relics Press is active beyond the page. We participate in book markets, host author signings, and create community-centered literary events such as Books and Brews, a seasonal Pacific Northwest author market that brings readers, writers, and local makers together in welcoming spaces.
These events are designed to foster genuine connection, celebrate independent publishing, and create access points for readers who want to discover new voices outside algorithm-driven platforms.
Our Approach
We believe publishing should feel human.
Relics Press values professional standards without rigidity, collaboration without exploitation, and growth without sacrificing care. We prioritize clear communication, realistic timelines, ethical contracts, and respect for creative voice. Authors are not treated as products, and readers are not treated as data points.
Our focus is long-term relationships. We aim to build a catalog and a community that grows thoughtfully over time.
Our Story So Far
Relics Press currently publishes multiple titles by Maurilio Velasco across fantasy, young adult, and children’s literature. These books form the foundation of the press and have helped establish bookstore relationships, event sales channels, and a growing reader base throughout the Pacific Northwest.
As we continue to expand, we are selectively welcoming new authors whose work aligns with our mission, values, and standards. Relics Press is becoming a shared home for storytellers who want professional support, creative respect, and a publishing partnership built on trust.
Why We Publish
We believe stories matter because they create connection. They give readers places to rest, imagine, reflect, and feel seen. They remind us that creativity thrives best when it is nurtured rather than rushed.
Relics Press exists to help those stories take root and reach the people who need them.
Join Us
Whether you are a reader searching for your next favorite book, an author looking for a thoughtful publishing home, or a community partner interested in collaboration, we invite you into the Relics Press ecosystem.
This is a place for stories built with care, for creators who value craft, and for readers who believe independent art deserves space to grow.
The next chapter is already unfolding.