(Lisa Diane Kastner, Founder and CEO, Running Wild, LLC)
As the sun sets over the bustling city of New York, the neon lights of Times Square begin to glow brighter. Amidst the chaos, a small publishing company nestled in the heart of the city, Running Wild, LLC, is making waves in the literary world with its announcement of the highly anticipated 2023 catalogs for Running Wild Press and RIZE Press.
Running Wild, LLC is the brainchild of Lisa Kastner, a writer and editor for over two decades. Kastner’s vision for Running Wild and RIZE is simple yet revolutionary: to publish great stories that may not fit neatly into any one genre and to elevate the voices of underrepresented groups through genre storytelling. It’s an approach that has earned Running Wild books best of the year awards, multiple starred reviews and even featured in gift bags for Grammy nominees.
The 2023 catalogs promise to be nothing short of extraordinary. First up is Lachi, a charismatic member of the Grammy board and award-winning recording artist who has worked with everyone from hip-hop legends to international DJs. Lachi is known for her high-energy performances and dance/EDM music, but she’s also a master storyteller, weaving intricate narratives into her sets. Her debut novel, Death Tango, promises to be just as captivating.
But Lachi is not the only author causing a stir in the literary world. The RIZE Press slate features the groundbreaking novel by Shay Galloway, The Valley of Sage and Juniper, a riveting tale of siblings battling oppression in a reinvented Western saga that has captured the attention of Kirkus Reviews and Foreward Reviews.
Running Wild, LLC is on a mission to change the world through stories, and its target audience is anyone who loves a great tale, no matter the genre. For Kastner, it’s all about finding lesser-known authors who are doing great work and elevating those stories to reach a wider audience. With their unique approach to publishing, Running Wild and RIZE are filling the gap left by the acquisition models of major publishing houses.
As the night deepens and the city slows, Running Wild, LLC continues to forge ahead, making waves in the literary world and changing the way we think about storytelling. With their 2023 catalogs promising to be nothing short of groundbreaking, it’s clear that Running Wild and RIZE are just getting started.
