I’m so excited to have Andi Rhodes on the blog today! If you aren’t familiar with her books, you definitely need to check them out – especially if you enjoy romances about bikers! Steamy, sexy stories that will keep you turning the pages…
BOOKS+COFFEE: How long have you been writing, and how long did it take before your first book was published?
ANDI: I’ve been writing for about 3 years and published my first book in January 2020 so there was about a year and a half between when I started and when I published.
BOOKS+COFFEE: Do you have a routine you follow when you’re working on a book? A certain time of day when you write, or a snack you keep nearby?
ANDI: I’ve learned that I am more productive when I write in the morning before doing anything else. I typically have music on in the background but every once in a while, I’ll put Netflix on. I don’t always have snacks nearby but when I do, it’s peanut butter M&Ms.
BOOKS+COFFEE: What is the scariest thing you face as a writer? How do you handle it?
ANDI: There are a few things that scare me… commas (lol), running out of ideas, ads. But the thing that scares me the most is one of my books not being good. As authors, we put our heart and soul, our blood, sweat, and tears into every story. We give so much and the idea that it still may not be enough is scary as hell. I’ve come a long way as far as that goes though. In the beginning, I used to agonize over every word in every review. I didn’t have a very thick skin. One or Two star reviews would trigger the tears and self-doubt. Don’t get me wrong, I still want readers to love my books but I don’t agonize over as much. My confidence in my ability to tell a story has gotten better. And I’ve learned that I can’t please 100% of the readers 100% of the time. That’s just not how it works.
BOOKS+COFFEE: What do you think is the most important thing to remember when following your dreams?
ANDI: You can’t always get to the top on your own. Especially with self-publishing, despite what the words say. Aside from writing books that make readers feel something or help them escape reality for a little bit, my dream is to hit a bestseller list. I’m not going to get there on my own. I’ve got a tribe behind me. I’ve got fellow authors who encourage me, friends, family, my husband, designers, an editor, my ARC team, and of course, my readers. None of this would be possible without them. So my advice is to find your tribe and love them hard. Appreciate them and support them in return. Don’t try to do it all by yourself.
Now, let’s talk a little about your current book…
What’s the title of your current release and is it part of a series?
Greaser and it’s the 4th Soulless Kings MC book
Who published Greaser?
It comes out Sept. 16th and I’m publishing it under my publishing imprint, Blue Journey Publishing. I publish all of my books.
Your cover looks amazing. Do you know who the artist is?
Thank you! Of course I know. Amanda Walker designed the cover and she did an amazing job.
Was there something in particular that inspired you to write this story?
I feel like the answer to this should be yes but it’s not. There wasn’t anything in particular that inspired the story other than I knew when Nicole Cypher and I started this series, there were certain characters that would get their own story. I’ve shifted to writing the stories on my own but I still want to give those characters a voice.
If there’s one thing a reader will take away from this story, what do you hope it is?
That you don’t always know what someone’s struggle is, even if you think you do. We all have a past, a story we may not share with those in our lives. I think people are really good at putting on a smile to cover up the pain (physical or emotional). I want people to sit back and remember to not assume you know how someone feels or what they’re thinking. And I want readers to remember that it’s okay to not be okay. It’s okay to have to rely on others to prop you up when you can’t stand on your own.
Any funny stories you can share about writing this book, or something that sparked the idea for it?
The story of Greaser and Trinity was sparked by Trainwreck, a prospect in the club. I LOVE Trainwreck and as each book has been written, that particular character has been written in a way that his story is a guarantee (wink, wink). To me, he’s hilarious, and I wanted to capitalize on that because so far, readers have seen him as this goofball who has a loyal streak a mile wide and who will do whatever he is told for the club. He’s gonna make a badass patched member someday and Greaser and Trinity’s story brings more depth to him. Because Trinity is Trainwreck’s twin. And NO ONE knew about her. Don’t worry, this book isn’t about Trainwreck but he plays a bigger role than he has in previous books and honestly, if it wasn’t for him, Greaser and Trinity wouldn’t have a story to tell.
Greaser…
The Soulless Kings are my family, my life. I would die for them, bleed for them, kill for them. Patched members, prospects, blood relatives… they all have my loyalty, no questions asked. What I won’t do is tolerate lies, no matter who they come from.
Until I catch a brother in one.
Danger shows up at our doorstep and I find myself reevaluating my boundaries. I don’t have a choice. It could mean the difference between life and death for the woman who’s done the impossible: risen from the dead.
Trinity…
People don’t come back from the dead. It’s impossible, yet it’s exactly what I’m doing. For twelve years, I ceased to exist. My family, my friends, the world thought I was gone forever. I was a statistic, a faceless number among millions. But I’m back and I need to be seen, to be heard, to be remembered.
My escape isn’t planned. It happens fast but I don’t look back. Not until I’m forced to. I manage to track down the one person who will recognize me, my twin. Looking at me should be like looking in a mirror. The problem is, his new family doesn’t know I exist and they don’t take kindly to lies or strangers.
And I represent both.
Where to find Andi Rhodes…