Interview With Author Anneliese Rider
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
There are a few things in life that I really, really love: family, Jesus, biking, teenagers, writing, donuts, and fun.
I grew up in Colorado (mountains—YAY), rounded out my teenage years in Indiana (Great Lakes—YAY), and attended Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, where I earned my BA in Communications, met Curtis (he’s very wonderful), and learned editing and customer service skills from The Greats.
Somewhere in there Curtis and I got married, moved across the country, had a baby, acquired a dozen-or-so dogs (mostly gone now), some ducks (they’re gone too, waterfowl is not my specialty), some cats, and 12 acres of woods and streams and apple trees.
We live in a one-stoplight town in middle-of-nowhere Michigan where everybody knows everybody (mostly because they’re related), and nothing is open after 9 p.m. I’m thoroughly charmed by small-town life, and wouldn’t chose to live anywhere else on the planet.
I’ve written 5 books, and published 3, and I’m never planning to stop.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Finley Pike and Sable’s Secret—it’s the sequel to Finley Pike and the SODD. It’s inspired by the charms and idiosyncrasies of small-town life and people, and by my work in a middle school with students. Everyone can be a detective, under the right circumstances.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I am wildly distractable, so when I’m really doubling down to write, I have to do it in a quiet place with no internet access. Some days I’m better at disciplining myself than other days. It’s remarkable how many random tasks and ideas come to mind when I’m supposed to be writing.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Lately, for fiction, To Kill a Mockingbird. It’s a beautiful masterpiece that both handles a gargantuan human theme with grace, and exhibits flawless character development. For non-fiction, I read The Road Back to You last year. It’s a study on the enneagram, and what I learned has helped me to grow as a person and a dedicated writer.
What are you working on now?
I’m currently editing the third book in the Finley Pike series—hoping to have it out in the next few months.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Marketing is hard for me—I don’t have unlimited time, so it’s a challenge for me to know where to invest the little time I do have. I can honestly say I don’t have a great answer to this, because I’m just trying to be more intentional with what I do. Check back in five years. 😉
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write a lot. Way more than you want to. And don’t be discouraged when you can’t quit your day job right away. Even though it can feel like drudgery, there’s beauty in the consistency of a paycheck from a 9–5.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Forget success. Forget failure. Just be brave.
What are you reading now?
An Agatha Christie novel.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Right now, I’m just working on the Finley Pike series. Someday, I’ll probably write more books about high schoolers living regular life—but I’m trying to just do one thing at a time (see: Wildly Distractable).
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
My Bible. To Kill a Mockingbird. A volume of Sherlock Holmes stories. Pride and Prejudice.
Author Websites and Profiles
Anneliese Rider Amazon Profile
Anneliese Rider’s Social Media Links