Author Rachael Eckles on Her New Book Blind Trust, the Celeste Donovan Series, and How New York Inspires Her Writing
We caught up with Eckles to find out more about her new book, what inspires Celeste’s story, how New York City sparks her creativity, and what's on her to-be-read (TBR) list right now.
Blind Trust, book three in the Celeste Donovan series, recently came out. What can readers expect as Celeste’s journey continues? How is book three different from books one and two?
RACHAEL ECKLES: As a genre-defying blend of high-stakes thriller and romantic suspense, readers can expect even more global jet-setting, designer wear, and danger as they continue on Celeste’s path to finding escape as the co-founder of a billion-dollar hedge fund.
At the opening of Blind Trust, we find Celeste dealing with the aftermath of book two’s events, while trying to conjure newlywed bliss. Despite appearing to have it all, she is haunted by how much she has lost. Right when she commits to eliminating any threats to her new life, the past comes knocking. She finds herself entangled with a global crime syndicate that will stop at nothing for revenge. With secrets surfacing and enemies closer than ever, Celeste must navigate betrayal from unexpected sources.
Readers are in for a wild ride. From the beginning, I’ve wanted readers to see the growth in Celeste. In book one, Trading Secrets, she’s finding her feet in this dangerous world she’s caught up in. When the people she loves the most give her reason to question their loyalty in book two, Risky Assets, she begins to realize that the only person she can rely on is herself. By book three, she’s solidifying her new identity as the pressures of leading a double life mount.
What real-world Wall Street experiences shaped Celeste’s character or the high-stakes plots?
RE: My law practice focused on securities litigation for a time. While the Celeste Donovan series is undoubtedly fiction, I didn’t want it to be too far-fetched because world-building is incredibly important to me. The reality was that the women I encountered in this extremely male-dominated field were often sidelined by their male counterparts. I longed to see more women in positions of power, so I let that goal drive some of my character decisions.
The high-stakes plot was imagined for the entertainment factor and to prove a very important point. I wanted to tell the story of a complex female character who appeared to have it all, but underneath was battling the repercussions of a dark past. It was my intention for readers to see that even in the most desperate and challenging of times, we can dig deep inside ourselves and find the strength and skill to tackle a challenge head-on.
From the finance world to your Indiana upbringing—how do the different chapters of your own life weave into your writing?
RE: For me, this all comes down to the power of storytelling. I’ve always loved reading. As a child, I read dozens of books every month, searching for women I could relate to, women who had inspiring stories to tell. All too often, I found the opposite: female characters who waited to be chosen or did not stand in their power. I wanted to empower other women through stories of strong female characters.
Once I began taking creative writing more seriously, I realized that so much of my decades-long career involved storytelling as a tactic of persuasion. Regardless of the audience, whether it was a policymaker, a patient advocacy organization, or a judge, an impassioned argument with an underlying powerful anecdote would win over an audience more often than facts alone.
I’m so passionate about the power of storytelling. Time and again, I have seen powerful stories ignite personal and social change. That, coupled with my passion to give back, has given my writing a strong purpose. What lessons or meaning can we deliver through storytelling? It’s a question I encourage any writer to ask themselves.
Your books are often described as a mix of thriller, romance, and high-glamour escapism. Why do you think these themes resonate so strongly with readers today?
RE: It’s entertainment and escapism, with a touch of relatability. While Celeste appears to have it all with enviable standards and an unattainable lifestyle, she’s still dealing with the challenges of the modern woman: juggling difficult coworkers, trying to squeeze in her morning workout and daily protein requirements while making it to the office on time, and navigating a new relationship while protecting her heart.
These struggles make her an unexpectedly relatable character to so many women. Perhaps many readers can’t imagine being landed in the middle of Celeste’s complex double life, but they can imagine what it’s like struggling to find peace in a relationship.
Your path to publishing your first book was anything but traditional. Can you share that journey with us—and what you’ve learned from it?
RE: It has been a wild ride! It took me eight years to write and publish book one, Trading Secrets. I worked on it during my long daily commutes—train rides from the city to New Jersey—typing on an iPad mini with a tiny keyboard. It was hardly what most would consider ideal writing conditions, but in time, it became a respite from the demands of corporate America, time that I could immerse myself in a world that I created. I wanted the book to have a glittering backdrop of locales, so I traveled everywhere I could to find the most decadent meals, lavish hotels, and cities with an air of intrigue or danger.
The story really came together in summer 2018 when I began working with a writing coach. I decided to rewrite 75% of the story and, with her support, I had the revised draft rewritten within a month. Yet I still didn’t have the vision to bring the story to others. That happened the winter I turned 40 in 2020, when I realized that for the first time in 15 years, I was not traveling for work and suddenly had a lot of free time on my hands like so many of us did. Once the story was ready to go, I wanted it out in the world.
The traditional publishing route takes a long time and I was working against a self-imposed deadline—I wanted to be a published author before I turned 41. Once I realized the traditional option timing, I decided to pursue self-publishing. I knew only the basics: I needed an editor, a cover, some sort of file from which I could print a hard copy book and create an e-book, and an LLC, but I was determined to do whatever it took. With equal parts reckless abandon and grit, I released Trading Secrets at the height of the pandemic quarantine in May 2020.
In going down the self-publishing route, I established my own publishing company Aphrodite Books, which has enabled me to expand my business even further so that I can support more women authors with their own writing careers.
The whole journey has taught me that you are responsible for your own success. If you’ve got a dream or passion that is pulling you in a certain direction, you must follow it. We’re all meant to do the things that make us sparkle! Believe me, there were so many times during those eight years of writing Trading Secrets that I wanted to give up, either because I was too distracted or too unfocused. But at some point over the years, writing became part of my identity, and I kept going back to the series. It meant something.
Talk to us about your publishing company, Aphrodite Books, and your foundation, Aphrodite Gives.
RE: While on my self-publishing journey, I realized that setting up my own publishing company would allow me to pursue my passion for storytelling and also pay it forward. Aphrodite Books is dedicated to amplifying the voices of women authors and supporting nonprofits that are empowering women and communities globally, through its foundation Aphrodite Gives. A portion of proceeds from the sale of books is donated to the foundation.
I’m so pleased to share that we are now accepting submissions from authors or aspiring authors interested in boutique publishing with a commitment to philanthropy.
On that same note, tell us about the launch of your new Aphrodite Authors Program.
RE: I’m really excited about this and its potential impact. The Aphrodite Authors Program enables me to support authors and aspiring authors to navigate those next steps in bringing their writing dreams to life. It has been designed to take the mystery out of the book-writing and publishing processes and is suitable for authors at any stage, whether they have a near-final draft or an abstract idea.
I know how much of a difference having a writing coach can make—it was the difference between a dream of being a writer and the reality of now having published a full trilogy. I’m just so excited to be able to get more women storytellers out there! I’m a firm believer that everyone has at least one story in them.
What is your top tip for aspiring authors?
RE: Write. Write as often as you can, and don’t get bogged down by other people’s processes. Do what works for you to maximize the amount of quality time you can spend practicing the mental muscle of turning a word after a word after a word into pages and chapters and books. Also, don’t buy into the mainstream sentiment that writing is somehow more difficult than other careers. Some of the most prolific and brilliant authors work smart, not hard. Treat writing with the same level of professionalism as you do your day job, continuing to show up even when you’d rather not, and you’ll do well.
What is on your TBR list?
RE: The list grows every day. In the months before a launch, I have an overwhelming desire to consume others’ work, finally having spent enough time with mine to need a break. So I start a list I’ll read when the book launches. Right now, I’m really excited about my winter TBR to get caught up on what I missed: The Mission, which is about the CIA in the 20th century, The Ambition Trap, Super Agers, The Doorman, Worthy, and finishing the Jessa Hastings Magnolia Parks series, which is pure indulgence.
What makes Blind Trust the kind of book readers will want to curl up with this fall and winter?
RE: First of all, if you haven’t yet read the previous books in the series (Trading Secrets and Risky Assets), I thoroughly recommend you do that first, so that you can get the full experience and understand the origins of the plot in Blind Trust.
It’s a bingeable series with fast-paced, high-stakes drama, a complex character to get lost inside the mind of, and incredible settings to armchair travel to. So grab your tea and most cozy blanket and dive in!
As someone based in New York, what do you love most about writing in and about the city? Any neighborhoods, cafés, or rituals that spark your creativity?
RE: New York is a dream for a writer introvert like me. It’s the only city where I can be completely lost in thought while working, whether it be working out a character arc or a plot hole, and not feel lonely. I love the buzz of white noise in New York and being among so many inspiring and creative people building with passion and purpose.
My two favorite neighborhoods are Hudson Yards and Meatpacking/West Village. I find that a long walk on the West Side Highway is the antidote for nearly any sort of writer’s block, and it’s wonderful to have so many options of cafes or lounges to tuck into. Black Fox and Bluestone Lane are great spots to grab a matcha latte, a pastry, and a table. If I’m venturing a little further outside the usual neighborhood spots, I’ll pop into a bustling hotel lobby like the Ritz NoMad or a vibrant hotel bar like Bemelmans Bar for a little work.
I love to sit at the bar or a small table of a bustling restaurant or café and write. It provides an interesting enough environment to keep me sharp without overwhelming me. Bonus if it’s somewhere I can bring my dog.
I also spend time at the library when I’m researching, so I love that Bryant Park is so convenient.
We heard you love trying New York City restaurants! What's your favorite one?
RE: There’s a tie for first place! I love taking friends to Pastis for the vibes and fabulous French bistro cuisine and Peak for the incredible views and cocktails. It seems there is a new restaurant popping up daily in Hudson Yards. Some of my other faves include: Ci Siamo, BondST Sushi, Milos, and Locanda Verde. Bringing Oyamel and Eataly to the neighborhood is fun for quicker meals.
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