We had the good fortune of connecting with Lisa Kastner and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lisa, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I realized that a lot of great stories and characters were being left by the wayside because they couldn’t be defined by conventional means/genres. That doesn’t mean that people don’t want to read them or wouldn’t be fans of them,. It simply means that conventional publishers didn’t necessarily know how to quantify the sales. So, I decided to start a press that focuses on those voices that need to be heard and have fans, they just need to be given a platform.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?

At Running Wild, LLC we publish great stories with great writing that don’t fit neatly in a box. At RIZE we publish great genre stories written by people of color or other underrepresented groups. Every day is a joy and a challenge. We are constantly looking for the next great story. That said, the journey to it is a pleasure.

Our biggest lesson has been that you cannot go around standard marketing and publicity. Bookstores, libraries, and the like have specific places they go in order to get info on the latest books. Try as you might, you cannot go around it. All marketing and publicity need to be a combination of grass roots and classic methods.

What do I want the world to know? That we have FANTASTIC stories and characters that are simply waiting for you to pick them up and dive right in.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
We’d hike up Griffith Park and stroll along Venice Beach and Santa Monica Blvd. We’d search LA websites to find the best places to eat since I have no idea who is open now and who may have had to close.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I have tons of people. My husband, Bobbie Rae, for encouraging me to start the press. My friends, Taylor Grant, Jonathan Maberry, M.G. Lord, all of my authors, all of my editors, Lisa Montagne for being our champion (she hosts our events), everyone at Fairfield University’s MFA program, everyone at Breadloaf Writers Conference, everyone at Squaw Valley Writers Conference, everyone at Pennwriters, and everyone at Yale Writers Workshop. 

Website: www.runningwildpress.com

Instagram: running.wild.press

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-kastner-a4a2ab2/

Twitter: @runwildbooks

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/runningwildpress

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDZsgnRW_PakI0LSvMXN5og

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