Four years ago, when I dreamed up the idea for Blasta Books, I vividly remember sitting in my back garden (we were still in covid lockdown and stuck at home) and honestly not being sure if anyone else would think it was a good idea too.
What if I launch it on Kickstarter and fail?
What if I can’t figure out how to start a publishing company?
Or what if … it actually all works out?
I figured the worst that could happen is that I’d publish a few nice books and have to go back to freelancing.
But then the indie bookshop account manager I work with now as part of the incredible team at Abrams & Chronicle Books in the UK sent me this photo yesterday of the famous London cookbook shop, Books for Cooks.
It was taken back in May (so the books won’t still be in the window if you go looking in Notting Hill), but talk about a pinch me moment. And there have been so many since that day in the garden, wondering if my idea would resonate with anyone else.
The photo landed in my inbox after a tough few months. I have a lot of friends who have founded their own small business too, so I knew the first couple of years would be hard. But knowing that in theory at the start of the journey and really knowing it now, three years in, are very different things.
All the adrenaline of that exhilarating first year is gone now, replaced with the cold, hard day-to-day reality of running a business – or perhaps more to the point, trying not to run a business into the ground.
I’m an English major who spent 20 years working by myself in my freelance editor silo. What the hell did I know about P&Ls, cash flow projections or publicity campaigns?
I’m figuring it out as I go – but I don’t have to do it all by myself anymore. I’m building a small but mighty team who are helping me to play to my own strengths (commissioning, editing) while they play to theirs (PR, operations).
Together, we’re not just building a publishing house – we’re building a publishing POWERhouse.
And always, I remind myself of my new mantra – be bold, be brave, be blasta1 – because guess what? It’s all working out.
About me
I’m Kristin Jensen, the founder, publisher and editor at Blasta Books and Nine Bean Rows. Before I started my publishing house, I was a freelance editor and food writer for over 20 years and I’ve co-authored three books. I pretty much eat, sleep and breathe books and food. You can also find me on Instagram @edibleireland.📚
Loved reading this, Krisin. I spend so much time thinking about the things that could go wrong, but what about the things that could go right. I rarely give those things a moment's thought! :)
Great stuff, just graduated from culinary arts and thinking about the publishing game (specifically cookbooks) myself, it’s inspiring to hear and to see clear hard work pay off!