We had the good fortune of connecting with Liani Kotcher, who writes bestselling thrillers under the pen name Rektok Ross, and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Liani, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
As a trial attorney turned bestselling author, I firmly believe that the most important factor behind the success of my author career is perseverance and believing in myself. In any career, but especially as a creative and entrepreneur, it is imperative that the “nos” and rejection don’t stop you! You have to always keep going and believe in what you are doing.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I was a trial attorney for over a decade before I made the career transition to become an award-winning, bestselling author, screenwriter, and producer. An avid reader myself, I write the kind of books I love to escape into: exciting thrillers with strong female leads, swoonworthy love interests, and life-changing moments.

I’m most proud of my books and the stories they tell–exciting, thrilling reads but with important themes about society that make for great discussions. I love to entertain but to also make people think. I’m also very excited that my thriller SKI WEEKEND is being optioned for a major motion picture and has won numerous awards like the American Fiction Awards, IAN Book of the Year Awards, Readers’ Favorite Book Awards and the Chanticleer Dante Rossetti Book Awards and my follow-up thriller SUMMER RENTAL has also been incredibly well received.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Of course I’d definitely take them first to the bookstore! I love Barnes & Noble so that would absolutely be on the list as well as indie bookstore Books & Books — my favorite Books & Books location is in Coral Gables near my alma matter The University of Miami School of Law. I love clothes shopping so a trip to Lincoln Road and also the Bal Harbour shops is a must-do. For food, you have to get Cuban food when in Miami so Versailles is always a stopover. Another favorite for me is the equally iconic Joe’s Stone Crab. Finally, I love the Miami nightlife so we’d definitely go grab cocktails at the Faena Hotel, Seaspice, and LIV!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d love to shoutout my family. My mother was a Florida school teacher and instilled a love of reading and writing in me from a young age. My father and brother are also incredibly supportive of my career as is my husband, Mike, and my wonderful three stepchildren. And, of course, my readers! I couldn’t do any of this without them.

Website: www.RektokRoss.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rektokross

Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/lianikotcher

Twitter: https://twitter.com/rektokross

Facebook: www.facebook.com/therektokross

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/RektokRoss

Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rektokross Facebook reader group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thebooknookbyrektokross

Image Credits
Credit Getty Images Phillip Faraone

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