Lisa Kastner and Running Wild LLC have been making waves in the publishing industry by bringing to market stories that have been traditionally ignored by other houses due to their acquisition models. This commitment to changing the world through story has resulted in impressive sales figures, with Running Wild LLC far exceeding sales numbers in 2022 compared to previous years and nearly doubling gross revenue in 2022 compared to previous years.

Lisa Kastner’s own journey to success has been nothing short of remarkable. Growing up in Camden, NJ, one of the most dangerous cities in America, Kastner faced significant challenges from a young age. However, she persevered and eventually earned her Bachelor’s, MBA, and MFA degrees while working full-time.

While Kastner had a successful corporate career, she was always drawn to publishing and founded Running Wild LLC to publish great stories with great writing that don’t fit neatly in a box. The company consists of two imprints, Running Wild Press and RIZE, which both have a unique focus. Running Wild Press publishes stories that push boundaries and engage readers, while RIZE publishes great genre stories written by people of color and other underrepresented groups.

Running Wild LLC’s success can be attributed to its commitment to meeting the needs of its target market, which includes licensing titles to audiobook companies, producers, and studios for television and film, and graphic novel publishers. Additionally, the company’s direct-to-consumer approach targets readers who are between the ages of 16 to 75, male and female, in all of North America and Canada who make at least $30,000 per year. These readers are looking for great stories that surprise and engage them, regardless of genre.

The company’s business-to-business approach focuses on partnering with independent bookstores, libraries, and book clubs that are looking for unique stories that represent their customer base as well as licensing the same stories across multiple forums such as television, audiobook, and translation to ensure eager fans have access to their favorite stories, no matter the forum. This includes stories that feature characters that are not typically found in most books, and that better represent their diverse readership.

Overall, Running Wild LLC’s commitment to publishing great stories that have been traditionally ignored by other houses has clearly resonated with readers and partners alike. As the company looks to the future, it is poised to continue bringing forward amazing stories and changing the world through story.