Julia Shelton is a fiercely resilient transgender woman, writer, and advocate whose journey is woven with courage, creativity, and an unyielding commitment to authenticity. She is the author of many books, including The Day the Colors Ran Away (2025), Becoming Me: A Trans Memoir (2025) and The Pronoun Party (2025). Through her memoirs, poetry, and children’s books, Julia offers fragments of her soul, stories that illuminate the often unseen emotional landscapes of transition and the power of embracing one’s true self. Her path has been marked by profound challenges, shifts in how others perceive her intelligence and worth, heartbreaks, and systemic barriers, but also by moments of deep spiritual awakening and quiet joy.
Julia’s story is one of transformation not just in appearance, but in spirit; of learning to love fiercely and forgive deeply, and of finding peace in finally stepping out from behind the mask she never knew she wore. As a woman who has fought to be seen, heard, and valued, Julia now channels her voice into storytelling and advocacy, dreaming of a world where healing and authenticity are celebrated, where LGBTQ youth feel protected and uplifted, and where every person can shine unapologetically. Her journey continues, bold, hopeful, and tender, building a legacy that lights the way for others to rise.
Monika: Hello Julia! Thank you for accepting my invitation.
Julia: It’s truly an honor, Monika! This subject is very important to me on many levels, and I am so pleased I could help. Thank you for the invitation!
Monika: For readers meeting you for the first time, could you share a bit about who you are and the journey that brought you here?
Julia: Of course. My name is Julia Shelton. I’m a transgender woman, a writer, a poet, and someone who has spent her life chasing truth, even when it was uncomfortable or painful. I write from the deep cracks in my heart because I know that's where the light gets in. My journey has been one of becoming, becoming brave enough to live out loud, to heal out loud, and to love out loud.
For years, I hid who I was to survive. But I reached a point where survival wasn’t enough. I wanted to live. And that meant embracing my identity, my femininity, and my voice. My books, whether memoirs, novels, or poetry, are rooted in that transformation. They speak to the heartbreaks I’ve endured, the identity I’ve reclaimed, and the kind of love I thought I’d never find. I write to give others the roadmap I never had, and to remind LGBTQ readers, especially trans women like me, that their stories matter, that they matter.
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| "You are worthy, exactly as you are." |
Monika: Your work spans memoir, children’s books, poetry, and self-help. What unifying message or purpose connects all your writing?
Julia: At the heart of everything I write is one core message: you are worthy, exactly as you are. Whether I’m telling my story through memoir, guiding others through heartbreak and healing in self-help, helping children understand identity and kindness, or writing poetry that drips with vulnerability and truth, the goal is always the same: to empower. My writing is a lifeline for anyone who has ever felt invisible, rejected, or misunderstood.
I write to hold space for the messy, the magical, and the in-between, because that’s where real transformation lives. Across every genre, I want people to feel seen, to feel less alone, and to walk away with a little more hope than they had before they picked up the book. No matter the audience, child or adult, queer or questioning, healed or healing, I want my words to say: Your truth matters. Your voice matters. You matter. That’s the golden thread that ties it all together.
Monika: From The Pronoun Party to Becoming Me, you explore identity in powerful ways. How do you approach writing about gender and self-discovery for different audiences?
Julia: I approach writing about gender and self-discovery with deep respect for the audience and a commitment to emotional truth, no matter the age. The core message is the same across my work: You have the right to exist fully, joyfully, and authentically. But how I deliver that message changes depending on who I’m speaking to.
In The Pronoun Party, I’m talking to kids, and to the adults who read with them. So, I use bright colors, joyful language, and characters who invite curiosity and compassion. It’s not about teaching gender; it’s about celebrating it. It's a safe, affirming space where everyone is welcome, no matter their pronouns or how they express themselves.
Monika: And when you're writing for older readers, how does that message evolve?
Julia: In Becoming Me, the tone shifts. That book is a memoir for older readers who are navigating their own journeys of transformation, loss, love, and reclamation. It’s raw. It’s vulnerable. It tells the truth that sometimes hurts before it heals. It’s for anyone who’s ever had to unlearn shame and fight for their reflection.
What connects them both is my belief that identity isn’t something we owe to others; it’s something we uncover, protect, and nurture for ourselves. I write to reflect that discovery in all its forms, playful, painful, poetic, and to let people know: who you are is always enough.
Monika: Resilience and healing appear throughout your books, whether in poetic affirmations or relationship guides. What role does personal experience play in shaping these themes?
Julia: Personal experience is the heartbeat of everything I write. I don’t speak from theory, I speak from survival. Every poem, every piece of advice, every line in my books is born from something I’ve lived, endured, or risen from. Resilience, for me, isn’t just a theme, it’s a muscle I’ve had to build in the dark. I’ve known the ache of being unseen, the heartbreak of loving someone who didn’t love me back the way I needed, and the quiet courage it takes to keep going when everything inside you wants to give up. I’ve walked through fire, and instead of letting it burn me down, I let it forge me into someone softer, stronger, and more self-loving.
Monika: And when it comes to healing, how do you translate such deeply personal lessons into words that resonate so widely with your readers?
Julia: That’s why my writing leans into healing. Because healing is not linear. It’s messy, sacred, and deeply personal. Whether I’m writing affirmations to help someone get through the day, or relationship advice that calls out narcissistic patterns and honors boundaries, I’m offering what I’ve had to learn the hard way.
As I wrote in Begin Again & Let the Light In:
“Your healing doesn’t need to look graceful, just real. Let the broken pieces shine. Let the pain be proof you lived. The light will find you, even in the wreckage.”
I write so others don’t have to feel as alone in their pain as I once did. And I write to remind them that healing is possible, even when it doesn’t feel poetic yet. Sometimes, surviving is the most sacred art form there is.
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| "I believe storytelling is how kids make sense of the world." |
Monika: Your children’s books use vibrant metaphors, like colors and parties, to explore complex ideas. How do you balance playfulness with deeper messages?
Julia: To me, children are the most emotionally intelligent audience there is; they just speak a different language. So I meet them where they are: in wonder, in color, in imagination. Metaphors like a rainbow, a party, or a missing color aren’t just playful, they’re powerful. They become safe bridges to talk about identity, inclusion, and empathy without overwhelming the child or diluting the truth.
I believe storytelling is how kids make sense of the world. When I wrote The Pronoun Party or The Day the Colors Ran Away, I didn’t want to just “teach” something; I wanted to invite children to feel something. To laugh, to question, to recognize themselves or someone they love in the pages. The playfulness is the wrapping paper. The message inside is self-worth, community, and belonging. And honestly? Kids get it. They feel the heart behind the words. My job is to make sure that heart is both joyful and honest. That’s how we raise not just inclusive kids, but empowered ones.
Monika: In books like Rich on Purpose and Love Smarter, you blend emotional intelligence with practical advice. How do you help readers grow in both heart and mindset?
Monika: In books like Rich on Purpose and Love Smarter, you blend emotional intelligence with practical advice. How do you help readers grow in both heart and mindset?
Julia: Because real change happens when the heart and the mind are in conversation with each other, not competition. I’ve lived through enough to know that mindset without emotional healing just becomes hustle culture, and emotional depth without direction can leave you stuck in the same pain with prettier words. I write to bridge the two.
In Rich on Purpose, I don’t just teach money strategies; I unpack the emotional stories we attach to our worth, our spending, our survival. I help people unlearn shame before they try to build wealth.
In Love Smarter, it’s not just dating tips or relationship rules; it’s about self-awareness, attachment styles, and recognizing red flags without blaming yourself for missing them. I guide readers with both truth and tenderness. One moment I’m giving them a journal prompt or a quiz to reflect, and the next I’m handing them a boundary script or a financial tool they can apply immediately. It’s about integration, healing while evolving. Because when people feel safe in their emotions and empowered in their thinking, that’s when transformation sticks. That’s when lives change.
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| "I didn’t transition to hide." |
Julia: Absolutely! And not just once, quite often, actually. There’s a very human ache in wanting to just be , to walk into a room and not have your identity politicized or dissected. Sometimes I long to be seen simply as a woman, not a lesson or a headline. Not a conversation starter. Just me, someone looking to find their place and make their mark.
But the truth is, I didn’t transition to hide, I transitioned to live. And living fully means honoring all of who I am, not just the parts society finds convenient or palatable.
Monika: That’s such a courageous stand to take. What helps you continue showing up with pride, even on the days when visibility feels like a heavy weight?
Julia: I carry my womanhood and my transness with pride, not because it’s easy, but because invisibility was slowly erasing me. There’s a sacred power in visibility, but it comes with cost. And yes, some days I want to blend in, to rest, to not be the one educating or defending or explaining. But I think about the little girls like me, sitting in silence, wondering if there’s anyone out there who sees them. I think about the woman I’ve become, and the strength it took to grow her. And I know that staying visible, staying vocal, is not a burden, it’s a calling. I’m not here just to pass in the world; I’m here to change it. And if that means walking with layers others don’t carry, I’ll do it with grace, grit, and a lipstick shade that makes a statement.
Monika: Choosing a name is such a deeply personal decision, one that can hold layers of significance and meaning. How did you come to choose the name Julia? Does it carry a special resonance for you, perhaps representing a part of your journey or embodying a particular feeling or aspiration?
Julia: Choosing the name Julia wasn’t just about femininity; it was about freedom. It was about finally giving voice to the girl who had always lived inside me, even when the world couldn’t see her. For years, I was performing a version of myself to survive, and the moment I chose the name Julia, it felt like I was finally writing myself into existence. The name itself carries softness and strength. It’s classic, timeless, elegant, but there’s a quiet fire underneath.
Monika: That’s such a powerful image, “writing yourself into existence.” What does the name Julia represent emotionally or spiritually for you now, in your day-to-day life?
Julia: Julia feels like sunrise after the storm… graceful, but unshakable. She’s the part of me that never stopped dreaming, even when she was buried under layers of shame, silence, and sacrifice. I also chose Julia because it felt like home. It wasn’t trendy or performative; it was true. And in a world that constantly tells trans women that we have to prove ourselves, pass, or conform, choosing a name that simply felt like me was one of the first acts of radical self-love I ever made. Julia is who I am when I’m most at peace. She’s the woman I was always meant to be.
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| !Julia feels like sunrise after the storm." |
Monika: Transitioning is not just a personal journey; it also reshapes our relationships, especially with those who support us. Have you noticed a shift in how people treat you since your transition?
Julia: Yes, and in every way imaginable. Some people grew closer, others disappeared. Transitioning didn’t just reveal who I am; it revealed who everyone else was, too. Some saw my transition as a blossoming, and they met me with love, support, and awe. They saw Julia and didn’t question her existence; they celebrated her. And for that, I’m forever grateful. Those relationships have deepened in the most beautiful ways. There’s a softness, a sacred intimacy that comes with being fully seen and still fully loved.
Monika: And how did you navigate the more painful shifts, those who couldn’t or wouldn’t meet you where you are?
Julia: But there were also shifts that broke my heart. People I thought would stand by me fell silent. Some couldn’t reconcile their love for me with their discomfort around my truth. Others tried to reduce me to my transition, as if I was no longer the same soul, only now in color. I’ve been misgendered, minimized, and even mourned by people who couldn’t understand that this wasn’t a death, but a becoming. Transitioning teaches you how to grieve and grow at the same time. It teaches you that authenticity has a cost, but it also has infinite value. Because the people who remain, and the new ones who show up? They see all of me. And they don’t just accept me; they honor me.
So yes, there’s been a shift. But I wouldn’t trade this truth for anyone’s comfort. I’d rather walk alone in my light than be loved in someone else’s shadow. As I wrote in Becoming Me: “I did not transition to be tolerated. I transitioned to be free. And I will never shrink myself again to fit inside someone else’s version of me.”
END OF PART 1
All photos: courtesy of Julia Shelton.
© 2025 - Monika Kowalska
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