Trading Secrets Marks Six-Year Anniversary as Aphrodite Media Founder Rachael Eckles Reflects on the Novel That Launched a Literary Universe

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New York, NY — May 4, 2026 — Trading Secrets, the debut novel by Aphrodite Media founder and CEO Rachael Eckles, marks its six-year anniversary today, underscoring the enduring impact of a story that introduced readers to the world of Celeste Donovan.

Blending high-stakes finance with romantic suspense, Trading Secrets established Eckles as a distinctive voice at the intersection of glamour, power, and psychological intrigue. The novel follows Celeste Donovan, a formidable financier navigating ambition, secrecy, and desire—setting the foundation for a series that continues to expand in scope and readership.

Since its release, Trading Secrets has received editorial recognition from Kirkus Reviews, Midwest Book Review, and BestThrillers.com, and has become a cornerstone of Aphrodite Media’s publishing vision: stories that center women with agency, complexity, and lasting cultural resonance.

“The release of Trading Secrets marked a defining moment—not only in my career as a writer, but in the foundation of what would become Aphrodite Media,” said Rachael Eckles. “Six years later, it remains a reminder of what is possible when women claim space in storytelling with both precision and power.”

Originally published in 2020, the novel continues to attract new readers while anchoring the Celeste Donovan series, with subsequent titles Risky Assets (2022) and Blind Trust (2025) building on its legacy and expanding its reach.

Aphrodite Media, a women-led media and publishing company, was founded to support authors in developing high-quality narrative work while retaining ownership and long-term value in their intellectual property. Through its publishing arm, Aphrodite Books, the company continues to invest in stories that are both commercially compelling and culturally significant.

For more information, visit www.aphroditemedia.co.

Media Contact:
Rachael Eckles
Aphrodite Media
rachael@aphroditemedia.co