Publisher Feature Week: Meet Blaze Founder Krystal Wade

Tell us how you came to create Blaze, and what kind of vision do you have for the company?Creating Blaze came with a realization, a personal revelation of sorts, one that smacked me in the head and said, "Krystal, you don't need anyone's approval. You have the knack for business, and you WANT to run a publishing house. Never mind people always tell you to start one, so what are you waiting for?" Yeah, that was the realization, that I was holding myself back because I wanted approval of some fancy agent, or a posh NY publishing house. But any time I sought those things, my career suffered. The months passed by without more books published, each rejection letter made me crawl backward, into myself, and think I wasn't worthy, and then when the fulls were passed on with little explanation? I thought it was all over. And it was all over, my need for that pat on the back anyway. So I dug out plans I've been putting together since 2012 and launched Blaze. My vision is to have a happy house of authors, readers, and reviewers. Period. I want everyone to know if we say we're putting out a book, that we follow through. And I want that book to be loved.
2.     What does your job entail? Everything! I'm an accountant, web designer, graphics designer, video producer and actress, editor, and answerer of questions. Since we have such a small group, and a small publication schedule, we're all partnering up on our duties. When an offer is made, everyone is involved. When a video is posted, we're all aware. We are open, visible, and always in communication with each other. And I love it, but my primary focus is on finding the books, editing them, and building our business brand.

3.     What do you enjoy most about working with everyone at Blaze? We have fun. Even though publishing is a lot of hard work, we all love what we do, and we do it well.
4.     What have your experiences been like throughout the journey from the dream to founding to now?Rewarding. I'm the type of person to look at every situation as a learning situation. As I've encountered setbacks in my career, I've asked myself what I can take away from them. So, while I'm not rich and living in the mountains with my husband, wearing slippers as I write books and drink coffee all day long--yet--I can't imagine not being where I am right now, publishing others. That doesn't mean the road for me hasn't been bumpy, sometimes washed out, but I've forged new paths for myself, as everyone should. There's no such thing as an impossible dream--unless we're talking teleportation, and even then....
5.     What is the hardest part of running a small press?I don't know that I've encountered anything hard, exactly, but the concern that I do right by my team and the authors we publish weighs heavily on me. Always. Which is why we've crafted lengthy, well-thought out plans for the books we publish.
6.     And what is the best part?Being there to tell an author YES! Yes, I love your book. Yes, I will publish your book. And the ability to share in that excitement with my team. Which is amazing.
7.     Last question; If you could meet anyone in history, who would it be and why?
Does it have to be in history? Can't I just state that I'd like to meet Jensen Ackles, even if we don't exchange words, just so I can drool for a bit? Yeah, enough said!