Why the 1455 Books Vision Matters Right Now
On publishing, uncertainty, and building literary space in a chaotic moment
I had the privilege of sitting down with Jenna Blum—NYT bestselling author and co-founder of A Mighty Blaze—to discuss the launch of 1455 books. As always, Jenna’s generosity as a literary citizen shines through as we explore the origins of 1455 Lit Arts, the challenges and opportunities of building a nonprofit from the ground up, and how my corporate experience shaped the journey.
Our conversation inevitably turns to fundamental questions: Does art still matter in 2026? Is launching a publishing imprint advisable in today’s landscape? The answers reveal why this work is more critical than ever, and how publishing books extends 1455’s mission to champion authentic voices, foster community, and support storytellers across every genre, age, and experience level.
Why should this work exist in a world rife with problems: homelessness on the streets, terrible things flooding our social media feeds? Because we’re storytelling creatures, and that’s not just a cliche—it’s true. Story has evolved from cave drawings to TikTok, but we need to make sense of our lives by relating what we’re feeling and experiencing. The fact that I feel closer to certain characters from books than to real people speaks to something ineffable and powerful that’s always been my North Star. If people didn’t want to support the arts, they wouldn’t, and often they don’t, taking arts funding for granted. But once these things get taken away, we’re reminded why we have a strong military: to protect our First Amendment and the freedom to enjoy the fruits of these labors.
Launching 1455 books is somewhat facetious but true: it’s the absolute worst time to do an endeavor like this, therefore it has to happen. I’m seeing opportunities disappearing, and with my tech and academic background, I’ve watched the music industry crest and become streaming platforms; I see elements of book and movie industries going that way. I can’t stop AI, streaming platforms, or another Marvel superhero movie getting all the budget, but can we use technology to democratize content? That’s the belief I have. The answer is yes: it’s more affordable than ten years ago, we can put books in the world, so the hard part is just making it happen, but the impetus is crystal clear to me.
Visit 1455litarts.org to find out more, get involved, or help support our mission.