Q&A with Kandi Steiner

Your books have resonated with so many readers, some calling themselves “Whiskey Girls”—do you remember the moment you realized this was going to be your career?

When I released Revelry, which was the book I published about six months after A Love Letter to Whiskey, it shot up the Amazon charts. That was my third Amazon bestseller in a row. That was the first time I felt like this whole writing thing could actually be my career. It gave me the confidence to quit my full time job and pursue writing all in.

You’ve written everything from slow burns to angsty heartbreakers. How do you decide what kind of emotional journey a book will take? Was there a story that pushed you outside your comfort zone?

I am a mood writer as much as I am a mood reader — I just go with whatever my heart is telling me it needs! Sometimes, I'm in the mood for a fun, low stakes sports romance. Other times, I want to explore the human condition and how love can get complicated — fast. 

All of my books have pushed me in different ways, but one that really challenged me emotionally and pushed me to sharpen my writing chops was the What He Doesn't Know/What He Always Knew duet. It was my first time writing a duet and I was also surprising the reader with a third POV and a twist at the end of book one. It was difficult to pull off my vision, but I'm so proud of how it turned out in the end.

You’re known for creating emotionally raw and deeply human characters. Which of your characters has stayed with you the most, and why?

All of my characters take a piece of me when they leave my brain, and they all embed themselves into my heart forever. But one character who really sank his teeth into my soul was Emery from On the Way to You. He was profound and deeply emotional and I enjoyed the challenge he gave me to write him.

A Love Letter to Whiskey has such a passionate and polarizing response from fans—what was it like writing a story with that level of emotional complexity?

This book put me through the wringer just as much as it did my readers. I was consumed with the story, writing day and night and dreaming about it until it was complete. I cried, I squirmed, I felt all the gut-wrenching feelings that readers experienced. I will never forget what it felt like to lose myself in that book, and I firmly believe I wrote it at the perfect time in my life to do it correctly. I couldn't write it again today — even if I tried!

If you had to introduce a reader to your work with just one book, which one would you pick and why?

A Love Letter to Whiskey is always my number one choice, because it's the book that I feel captures the spirit of my writing and shows my style. 

You’ve cultivated a strong reader community. How has that influenced your career?

I am convinced I have the best readers in the world. They are loyal and enthusiastic about what they read, which leads to more readers finding my books. Without the readers who read, love, review, and post about my work, I wouldn't be here. I continually express my gratitude to them and remind them how much I appreciate them spending their hard earned money on my books when I know they have so many to choose from. 

Two of your most iconic novels are coming to bookstores for the very first time this summer, The Wrong Game followed by The Right Player. From what I hear, you have some exciting news coming this Fall. Are you able to share anything with us?

I'm so thrilled about The Wrong Game and The Right Player coming to bookstores this summer. And this fall, A Love Letter to Whiskey will join them — and it will re-publish in a stunning new deluxe edition with sprayed edges and a foiled cover. I can't wait!

If one of your books were turned into a movie or show, who would you dream cast in the lead roles?

It's my ultimate dream to see A Love Letter to Whiskey made into a movie. Since I dream-cased this book in 2016, I always saw Theo James and Zoe Saldaña. However, if it were to become a movie now, I'd want to find new-to-me actors and actresses who are more in the age range of B and Jamie and could play the role of a high school student all the way through an adult in their 30s. 

Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?

My advice to aspiring authors boils down to four things: be unapologetically you, treat writing like a committed relationship, surround yourself with a genuine support tribe, and live a story-worthy life. Write with intent: outline, set measurable goals, and use tools like PaceMaker. Edit ruthlessly. Market yourself authentically — people connect to real you. Budget wisely and expect the long haul. Embrace gratitude, prepare for rough patches with mindset tools, and never stop writing — even bad words count. Ultimately, believe in yourself; your voice and your story are worth showing the world.