Author Interview: Eden Knox
- fridaynightwritesi
- May 21
- 11 min read
Updated: Jun 6
Hello, everyone! It's Samantha here! This week, Friday Night Writes presents our featured guest, Eden Knox!
Thank you for joining us! Eden, tell us a little bit about yourself. Who are you?
I’m a romance author through and through! Mostly, I stay in hockey romance, but I have a few projects that branch out into other subgenres. When I’m not writing hockey romances, I’m trying to watch as much hockey as I can! I’ve been a die-hard Pittsburgh Penguins fan and my heart has been divided with the Columbus Blue Jackets. I swear it’s like having two kids and you say you love them both equally!
I also watch a lot of NFL (I’m a Steelers girlie!) and NCAA — Buckeye born and bred — but now I have to have a little allegiance to University of Kentucky because I’m studying there!
If I’m not immersed in sports things, I’m spending time with my family — my Army vet husband, our two girls, and our herd of animals. They’re all so supportive of me and my writing, as well as keeping the house afloat while I finish up my Masters in Library Science.
I’m also a full-time library worker. I have so many plates spinning in the air, it’s a wonder I get anything done! However, I wouldn’t have it any other way. Chaos goblin life is the only thing that works for me!
That's awesome! It's great getting to know a little bit about you. Let's do a little more of that! Tell us, what are a few of your favorite and least favorite things?
Oh goodness, where to start? I love books, I’ve been a bookworm since Kindergarten and it has never slowed down! Coffee is my lifeblood, naturally, so that gets a mention.
Least favorite things? Definitely raw onions in my food and lettuce on anything hot. I can’t stand how it gets slimy and it’s a texture nightmare. Internet trolls. Mean people in general. Definitely dislike the FOMO I get when there’s too many book events to see my friends and not enough budget or time to do them all.
Book events are definitely tantalizing. It's so much fun to get together with other members of the book community. Plus, the experience is completely different depending on whether you attend as an author or a reader. On that subject, did you always want to be an author?
Absolutely! I started writing my own stories early in elementary school and even attended a few Young Authors Conferences — those were cool events because they would have a children’s book author come in and talk and they’d have workshops for us.
Having supportive teachers and encouraging environments makes all the difference. When did you really get started with writing?
I’ve been writing for decades, but I never got serious about publishing until recently. I had a slight false start back in 2013 where I set up a pen name and socials, worked on a whole draft, and then put it on a shelf. I started writing Tripping For Number 68 and focused on the intent to indie publish in 2022, and here we are!
In middle school, I had an English teacher who really encouraged and challenged me and my writing. It may have taken me longer to publish, but I feel like this has always been the journey I needed to take. Dabbling with writing until 7th grade, it wasn’t solid, but sitting in English class that year and then working on the career planner for setting the high school schedule? That was it. Even if my guidance counselor tried to say I couldn’t be Stephen King or Anne Rice when I grew up because those “weren’t careers.”
Hey, just because something is passionate and creative doesn't mean it isn't viable! You're proof of that! I mean, look at you now! So, you ended up being an indie author? I’m indie and I’m happy about it. I watched other authors who spent literal years waiting to be noticed by an agent, then waiting for a publishing house to find them, and in the same time frame, an indie author could polish, promote, and publish several books. And after I saw the authors I’ve met who did make it through the agent gauntlet, only to do the exact same promotional work I was, I figured if I had to do all the work myself, I wanted to keep what royalties there were to be had.
Kudos to anyone who has the patience or drive, but I knew I didn’t have the mental bandwidth to be rejected over and over like the others. And if I sell enough books to keep my domain up? I’m happy. Definitely didn’t go into this line of work to get rich!
Either way you go, being an author definitely isn't easy. So, what are your favorite and least favorite parts of the process?
I love getting to play with new characters and journeys. I adore going to book signings and talking about books (not just my own!) with readers. I hate deadlines with the fire of a thousand burning suns.
Oof, deadlines are the worst, especially when we put so much pressure on ourselves. I've always found too much stress creates writer's block for me. How do you deal with that?
I’ll jump ahead (yay, plantsing!!). I’m definitely a plantser. I use DabbleWriter, which has a section to do storyboarding with little index cards that you can nest in the chapters. It’s so visually satisfying! I usually do a few details and things on the cards, so I can figure out where to go next, but I can’t fully plot and outline, it doesn’t feel comfortable to me.
I’ll go to a chapter that has something fun planned and go there. It gets the creative juices flowing while still being productive and without staring blankly at my screen!
Gotcha, so you plan some and you explore it as you go. I do that, too. It's always fun. Do you have any routines, though?
Sort of? It depends on when and where I’m writing. If I’m off work and I don’t have schoolwork to do, I’ll sit down with my coffee as soon as I wake up. I’ll re-acclimate myself with the last part I wrote and then start to put down new words if I can. If I’m writing on my lunch hour, I’ll eat the first 30 and let myself sprint the last 30.
That sounds like a decent plan, and it's obviously worked for you so far. So, how many books do you have out right now?
Right now, I have two novels. I just had a charity anthology go out of print a couple weeks ago, and I’m compiling all of my short stories from the anthologies into one big anthology, and I’m planning to rotate the royalties through a few of my fave charities or for when big things happen.
I love that! It's always great to give back to the community. So, you have two officially published, but how many projects are you working on?
Oh. Um… 20? I’m almost done with book three’s draft, so that will come off the list soon. I also have a super-secret side quest I’m on that has Ferris Bueller’s Day Off vibes with demons. That’s going to be fun! I also have a Phantom of the Opera coded WIP, books four and five have current docs that I’m chipping away with — book 4 you already know some of the characters; they were in “On the Power Play” in the Love Sick Anthology and “Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice” that was in the Sugar & Spice Anthology, and they’re getting their big novel next.
Big plans, then! Where do you get the inspiration for your stories?
I have threaded some real life in and through some of the books. Standing rule for my single loved ones is that if someone hurts them, their exes will get the villain treatment in a book. Favorite foods have popped in before.
Fair enough. Revenge may be best served in written format! Do you prefer series or standalones?
I’m equal opportunity! I don’t lean one way or the other strongly.
Me either. I follow the dopamine. If I get bored, you'll be bored too, you know? Now, are there any other authors out there who have inspired you?
Kate Prada likes to say she’s “not a role model,” but she does share some top-notch advice. She’s on TikTok as @katepradawrites and is totally worth the follow! Also, read her books if you want to see strong freaking women handling things for themselves.
Of course! Who wouldn't want that? When it comes to your books, which one is your most popular?
Tripping For Number 68 is the most popular so far because it’s book 1. My personal bias is that Bishop’s book, Hooking Up with Number 36, or On the Power Play (the thick and uncut novel) will dethrone Tripping.
First books in a series definitely get the most love because they're the introduction to the world. Do you wish any other of your works received more attention than it does?
Fighting for Number 57, only because Kane’s redemption ark is so beautiful! He starts off the book as a total butthead that you just love to hate, but then he shows off his squishy soft heart and you can’t help but fall for him.
We totally need a good redemption ark. So, is Kane your favorite character, then?
Oh. Favorite? I have to say Robicheaux and Kozlov are my favorites, and that’s because they’re clearly a bonded pair of kittens or something. The black cat/golden retriever energy they give makes writing so freaking easy, even if there are way more body parts than I know what to do with on the page. My least favorite for the moment is Bishop, and that’s just because he stopped talking to me and I need more of him to finish his book.
That's the worst when they stop talking to you. I've been fighting with one of my characters for two years, myself. Drives me bonkers! But we can't write all the time, no matter how much we want to make them cooperate. So, how do you handle the work/life balance of being an author?
I handle the balance like walking on a tight rope. Holding knives. And torches. In a windstorm.
All that to say, it’s all chaotic energy and so far, the balance is good, but it has to look sketchy as hell from the outside!
It always does. What do you do to recharge your mental health?
Doomscrolling and watching comfort shows recharge me. Now that it’s warming up outside, I’m hoping some bike therapy will help. It’s been a minute since I’ve been able to do that!
Yeah, the nicer weather will be great. We end up cooped up inside with our computers so often. You know, getting started with all of this can be so overwhelming. Do you have any advice you'd share with new authors or those who are thinking about starting this journey?
Find your people. Network. There are Discords of writers that gather together and it’s like equal parts employee break room and support group. The Romance Riot was my safety net when I first started writing, and I’m so freaking grateful for them. There’s so many groups out there that are welcoming, but network and bounce technical questions off each other. It is a game changer.
In the least gatekeepy way possible: Don’t enter into this field thinking you’ll get rich and quit your day job quickly. Be sensible and logical with your decisions. Marketing is hard, and sometimes you can go to a book signing and make back your table fee, and maybe a little extra! Don’t expect to turn into Stephen King overnight, though.
Definitely not. It took me a while to start earning my table fee back, and there are still events when that doesn't happen after nearly three years. Still, it's all worth it if you love it! But of course writing can't define everything we are, so do you have any hobbies or interests outside of writing?
I love riding on my husband’s motorcycle with him. I used to have my own, and one day I want to get another one again. In the meantime, I’ll take my spot as a Passenger Princess with pride.
That's pretty cool! Do any of your characters share the same interests?
It isn’t published yet, but I do have a couple drafts I’m playing with where the MMC’s do ride.
What about the bigger picture kind of stuff? Is there something outside of writing that you're truly passionate about?
Oh, so, so many. Some of them I’ve been in anthologies to support, like the Trevor Project and RAINN. I’m also big on disabled veteran and mental health support because those are close to my heart.
Such good causes. I'm a big supporter of RAINN, myself. And you're also a reader, right? What was your last five star-read?
The Prodigal Son by Sara Cate. It’s the last book in The Goode Brothers series, and the way it tore at my heart... This was by far the heaviest book in the series, though, so please mind the content warnings she gives.
Informed consent is important, even with the books we read. Trigger warnings are always a plus! Alright, let's have some fun. How about a few silly questions? Hmm, what's the most daring thing you've ever done?
I ran off and joined the Army after I turned eighteen. It partially started off as spite because I had been told I would never hack it, that it meant getting my nails dirty. So, I did it. As reckless as it was going blind into a major life decision, it’s also how I met my husband.
Spite turned success story then! Are you a clean or a messy person?
Oh, messy chaos. Every now and then I go through and do like a big organization/cleaning thing, but like, right now, I have three loads of clean laundry stacked almost to my shoulders waiting on me to fold them and put them away. It’s totally a “Later Me” problem.
I just folded three loads of laundry today, too. How ironic. Do you collect anything besides books?
Stickers, and in a way, shoes.
Alright, I'm intrigued. What's your favorite ice cream flavor?
Death by chocolate.
Oh, yum! I'm a Moose Tracks fan. Okay, be for we wrap this up, let's give our readers a few reminders. If we want to, where can we find you online?
You can find me all over the place!
Website: www.edenknoxauthor.com
your fave reads!
I also have a Discord channel that I keep forgetting I have, it’s small, but homey!
Awesome, and do you have any planned signing events?
I sure do! Here is the rest of my 2025 Calendar (subject to change, of course). The month of June I cancelled out-of-state events and opted to stay close to home because my husband had some serious health appointments coming his way. But barring any unforeseen circumstances, I’m still good for leaving Ohio in November!
And I heard you have a special offer for our readers, right?
I’ll put a book box out there! It’s going to be a long game because I want to make sure everyone has a fair crack on it. So… between now and September 1st (to align with the beginning of NHL pre-season!) I’ll log entries for the following:
The Book Box will contain signed copies of Tripping, Fighting, and some swag, including the custom Moxley candle exclusive from Blaze n’ Rose! Signed books available in the US only, but I could send bookplates!
I love that, Eden! That sounds so fun! Guys, be sure to do all of those things for a chance to win an awesome prize. Well, I think that's all we have for now, but thank you for joining us!
To everyone else, we hope you've enjoyed this interview with author Eden Knox! Be sure to follow our guest on their social media platforms and check back in next week for another interview.
See you soon!
The Friday Night Writes Crew
Evie Black & Samantha Moran
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