Running Wild Press
Running Wild Press is an independent Los Angeles-based publisher founded in 2016 that produces cross-genre novellas, short story anthologies, and novels for readers seeking unconventional narratives and emerging authors whose work defies traditional genre categories, distributed globally via Amazon and its own website.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersLos Angeles, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Running Wild Press does
Running Wild Press is an independent, bootstrapped publishing company organized as Running Wild Press LLC, founded in 2016 by Lisa Diane Kastner and headquartered in Los Angeles, California. The company operates a direct-to-consumer publishing model focused on cross-genre, boundary-pushing fiction that does not fit neatly into traditional publishing categories, including novellas, short story anthologies, and novels from emerging and established authors. It serves two primary customer segments: readers seeking stories outside genre conventions, and emerging authors whose work is rejected by mainstream publishers for being genre-defying; a wholly-owned sub-brand, the RIZE imprint, specifically targets writers of color to address the lack of diversity in traditional publishing. Running Wild Press also operates the Running Wild Podcast, an author-interview series hosted by Tone Milazzo, and supports authors through a quarterly internship program.
The business makes money primarily through one-time book sales across print, ebook, and audio formats, distributed globally via Amazon (primary retail channel), the company's own e-commerce storefront on runningwildpress.com, and print-on-demand production. Its underlying technology is a modest stack: a WordPress website built on the Make theme with the Seriously Simple Podcasting plugin, supplemented by Submittable.com for manuscript submissions. Marketing is community-driven, relying on social media (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn), an email newsletter, the podcast, and third-party virtual book tours run via partners such as Goddess Fish Promotions.
Operationally, Running Wild Press runs as a fully distributed team across the continental United States, working remotely via web-based tools. The editorial team is led by Founder & Executive Editor Lisa Diane Kastner and includes Acquisitions Editor Andrea J. Johnson (also leading the RIZE imprint), Director of Education Dr. Lisa Montagne, and a roster of editors with MFA credentials from institutions including Seton Hill, Vermont College of Fine Arts, Antioch University Los Angeles, and the University of Tampa. The company self-describes as evolving from a 'bootstrappin'-labor-of-love' to a 'revenue-generating-machine,' with internships currently unpaid during its initial startup years and no disclosed venture or institutional funding.
Running Wild Press firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Running Wild Press
- Legal name
- Running Wild Press LLC
- Website
- https://runningwildpress.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Running Wild Press is an independent Los Angeles-based publisher founded in 2016 that produces cross-genre novellas, short story anthologies, and novels for readers seeking unconventional narratives and emerging authors whose work defies traditional genre categories, distributed globally via Amazon and its own website.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Running Wild Press industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Independent Book Publishing
- NAICS
- Book Publishers (513130), Book Publishers (51313), Other Publishers (51319)
- SIC
- Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731), Book Printing (2732)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Trade Book Print-on-Demand (Fiction & Nonfiction) (MPAJANAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Print-on-Demand Production (Book POD, Short-Run Fulfillment) (MPAJALAG), Mass Market & Paperback Publishing (MPAJAAAD)
Keywords
Where Running Wild Press is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Los Angeles
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Running Wild Press business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Book Sales: Revenue generated from selling published books including novellas, anthologies, and novels through Amazon and direct website channels. Books available in print, ebook, and print-on-demand formats.
- Anthology Submissions: Short story submissions accepted during open windows, with full-length fiction and nonfiction open year-round. Review time approximately 3-6 months.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Unpaid Internship Program |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Running Wild Press product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Running Wild Press is an independent book publisher that discovers, develops, edits, produces, and distributes cross-genre fiction titles, including novellas, anthologies, and novels in print, ebook, and print-on-demand formats. Through its RIZE imprint, the company specifically publishes works from writers of color. The press operates an in-house podcast, sells books directly through its website and Amazon, and runs an unpaid editorial internship program to support new talent.
Product overview
Running Wild Press is an independent publishing company operating as a single unified platform focused on finding, developing, and distributing cross-genre fiction and literary works. The company publishes through its main press and the RIZE Imprint (focused on writers of color), offering print-on-demand books, audiobooks, and ebooks. Their product portfolio includes novella anthologies (Running Wild Novellas Anthology Volumes 1 and 2), short story anthologies (Anthology of Stories Vol. 2), individual novella and novel titles, and the Running Wild Podcast featuring author interviews. The company operates sustainably with green printing choices and supports authors through professional development and internship programs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- RIZE: An imprint of Running Wild Press focused on writers of color, offering stories that represent diverse voices and combat the lack of diversity in traditional publishing.
Products and services
- Anthology of Stories Volume 2
Companies that use Running Wild Press
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Running Wild Press technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Running Wild Press partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Goddess Fish PromotionsminorVirtual book tour promotion services for authors including Magic Forgotten by Jack Hillman. The tour ran October 23 to November 10, 2017, with author availability for guest posts and interviews.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Running Wild Press competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Bellevue Literary Press: Independent nonprofit press publishing literary fiction and nonfiction at the intersection of arts and humanities. Comparable scale and curatorial mandate focused on distinctive, category-resistant work.
- Soho Press: Independent publisher of literary fiction and crime fiction through its Soho Crime imprint. Comparable as an indie house combining literary and genre work with strong author relationships.
- Graywolf Press: Nonprofit literary publisher focused on poetry, fiction, and nonfiction from authors whose work defies easy categorization. Highly comparable editorial mission to RWP's cross-genre, voice-driven approach.
- Akashic Books: Independent Brooklyn-based publisher known for noir anthologies and genre-bending fiction from emerging voices. Closely comparable as a small independent press curating unconventional manuscripts and operating outside the Big Five distribution model.
- Two Dollar Radio: Independent publisher of bold literary fiction from emerging authors, with a strong DIY ethos and direct-to-consumer distribution. Comparable scale, ethos, and curatorial focus on boundary-pushing work.
- McSweeney's: Independent literary publisher founded by Dave Eggers, known for experimental design and unconventional literary voices. Comparable as a design-conscious, voice-driven small press publishing genre-defying work.
- Coffee House Press: Independent literary press publishing innovative fiction and nonfiction. Comparable as a small-press curator of unconventional literary work with a strong community-engagement orientation.
- Tin House Books: Independent literary publisher of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry with a reputation for curating distinctive cross-genre voices. Closely comparable curatorial philosophy to RWP's cross-genre mandate.
- Melville House Publishing: Independent publisher of literary fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Comparable as a design-forward indie press publishing genre-crossing literary work from emerging and established authors.
Emerging players
- Curbside Splendor Publishing: Independent press publishing literary fiction, poetry, and nonfiction from emerging voices. Comparable as a small indie focused on cultivating debut and underrepresented authors.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Running Wild Press social profiles
Digital presenceRunning Wild Press financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Running Wild Press leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Running Wild Press subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Running Wild Press funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Running Wild Press M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Running Wild Press
What does Running Wild Press do?
Running Wild Press is an independent book publisher that discovers, develops, edits, produces, and distributes cross-genre fiction titles, including novellas, anthologies, and novels in print, ebook, and print-on-demand formats. Through its RIZE imprint, the company specifically publishes works from writers of color. The press operates an in-house podcast, sells books directly through its website and Amazon, and runs an unpaid editorial internship program to support new talent.
Is Running Wild Press a public or private company?
Running Wild Press is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Running Wild Press founded?
Running Wild Press was founded in 2016. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Running Wild Press based?
Running Wild Press is headquartered in Los Angeles, United States, in the North America region.
How does Running Wild Press make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Book Sales are the primary driver. The others are anthology Submissions.
Who are Running Wild Press's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Bellevue Literary Press, Soho Press, Graywolf Press, Akashic Books, Two Dollar Radio, McSweeney's, Coffee House Press, Tin House Books and Melville House Publishing. Curbside Splendor Publishing is listed as an emerging player.
Does Running Wild Press have an API?
No public API is recorded for Running Wild Press.
What industry is Running Wild Press in?
Running Wild Press's product category is Independent Book Publishing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJANAA, Trade Book Print-on-Demand (Fiction & Nonfiction), with a secondary code of MPAJALAG, Print-on-Demand Production (Book POD, Short-Run Fulfillment). Its NAICS code is 513130 and its SIC code is 2731.