Interview with Lori Handeland - In The Air Tonight, first in the new Sisters of the Craft Trilogy

Please welcome NYT bestselling author Lori Handeland to the blog. She's here today to talk about her new, first in her new Sisters of The Craft trilogy, In The Air Tonight.
I'm excited to read this new novel and as soon as you read our interview I bet you'll be too!
Enjoy!

• ISBN-13: 9781250020123
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press
• Publication date: 6/2/2015
• Series: Sisters of the Craft Series, #1
• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Pages: 352

Overview

Four centuries ago, in a small Scottish village, three baby girls escaped the wrath of a witch hunter. Today, one young woman will learn about her secret history, her heart's destiny, and the sisters she never knew she had...
With her blue-black hair and dark eyes, Raye Larsen has never fit in with the Scandinavian community of New Bergin, Wisconsin. Being adopted is part of the reason she feels like an outsider, but what really sets Raye apart is her ability to see dead people. Everywhere. She's learned to keep her visions to herself...until she stumbles onto the ghost of a murder victim who needs Raye's help. Enter Bobby Doucet, a distractingly handsome homicide detective who has been tracking a killer all the way from New Orleans. Could this be the break in his case he's been looking for all along? Meanwhile, the deeper Raye gets involved with the case-and with Bobby-the closer she comes to unlocking the mystery of her own origins. What she discovers about herself could destroy everything she knows...and everyone she loves. Is finding the truth worth the risk?

Filled with dark magic, dazzling romance, and dire suspense, In the Air Tonightis the first book in a thrilling new series by New York Times bestselling author Lori Handeland.

Interview with Lori Handeland 

Hi Lori, Welcome to The Reading Frenzy

Thank you so much for inviting me.

Tell us a bit about your new novel In The Air Tonight.

In the Air Tonight is the first book in a trilogy about triplet sisters who, as infants, are sent forward in time from 17th century Scotland to the present.  They all "land" in different areas of northern Wisconsin and grow up unaware they have sisters and that they are witches, whose parents used their magic to save them from the witch hunters.  Each sister has powers of her own.

Raye, the heroine of In the Air Tonight, can see ghosts.  This causes problems in her small Wisconsin hometown.  Until the murders begin. 

Bobby Doucet, New Orleans homicide detective, believes he's chasing a serial killer.  When someone dies in northern Wisconsin with the same MO, he is sent to check it out.  He runs into Raye--almost literally--on his first night in town.   Then he doesn't want to leave for more reasons than one.

This is the first in your new Sisters of the Craft series released in June, July and August.
Is this a trilogy or are there more to come?

This is a trilogy.

Lori it seems you have another “Handle” as Lori Austin writing western historical romance.
Why the separate identities?

While my Lori Austin books have the same voice and tone as my Handeland books--my fans definitely knew she was me and I was her--the Austin books are not scary.  They are both dark and humorous, as well as sexy.  They were also written for a different publisher as my Handeland books, so there were contractual things going on.

So Lori you write in several genres but is there one that rules your heart?

I love them all.  I should probably stick to one, but I just can't.  One of the reasons I adore romance novels is that there are so many kinds.  You can never get bored.

Lori you're a bestselling and multiple award-winning author, but is there one you still want to see on your awards shelf?

I'd love to be in the Romance Writers Hall of Fame.

Lori I love hearing the “how I became an author” story from novelists.
Would you share yours with us please?

I wanted to be an author since I was ten and panicked that I might someday read all the books in the world and have none left.  But if I wrote them, hey I'd never run out!

I became sidetracked by that pesky "need to make a living" thing and went to school to become a teacher.  When I was expecting my second son, I began what would become my first published novel, Second Chance--a western historical romance.  I won a contest where the prize was having an editor at Harlequin read my first chapter.  She loved the book and asked to see it. 

It wasn't finished!  Horrors.  I spent the three months before son #2 was born finishing the book.  Sent it off on August 31 and had the baby September 11.  That editor ended up passing but Alicia Condon at Dorchester did buy Second Chance, as well as 7 more novels from me.  As son #2 is now 23, that'll tell you how long I've been doing this.

Lori you’ve been a published author for a number of years.
What change in the industry from then to now has impacted you the most?

I'd have to say sel- publishing.  It's changed everything.  Not only are there so many opportunities, but there's so much more to do to keep up with it all. 

So you’ve just put the final edits on your next novel and sent it all off to the publisher.
What’s the first thing you do when you finish a novel?

My husband and I usually go out to dinner.  There is champagne.  One of my favorite things.

Lori thanks so much for taking the time to answer my questions. Good luck with the new novel and series.

Thank you so much!  I'm very excited.

Will you be touring with these releases?

I'll be at the Heart of Dixie Readers' Lunch in Huntsville Alabama on June 13 and the RWA Literacy signing at Marriot Marquis in New York on July 22 and a Chicago Library signing on August 15.

Praise for Lori:

Pulblishers Weekly

04/06/2015

Handeland (Moon Cursed) begins the Sisters of the Craft paranormal trilogy with this smart, romantic tale. Raye Larsen feels like an outsider in her hometown of New Bergin, Wisc., so she hides her ability to talk with ghosts. Her secret may come out, though, after New Orleans police detective Bobby Doucet thwarts an attempt on her life by a cleaver-wielding killer. The miscreant carries a snarling wolf ring in his pocket that branded several NOLA victims and led the detective to New Bergin. Raye’s connection to the killer is part of a complex story involving the Venatores Mali, a 17th-century group of witch hunters led by a particularly nasty villain. Bobby has his own link to the spirit world: he’s trying to get past his guilt over the death of his young child, whose voice haunts him. Handeland punctuates smooth storytelling with dark humor and uses a mix of first- and third-person narration to amp up the emotional content. Agent: Robin Rue, Writers House. (June)

From the Publisher:

Praise for the Phoenix Chronicles by

LORI HANDELAND

DOOMSDAY CAN WAIT

"A striking series…with a decidedly sexy edge. Readers again view the world through the eyes of ex-cop turned humanity’s savior Liz Phoenix [in] this complex mythology." —Romantic Times BOOKreviews (4 stars)

"We really enjoyed it…and are looking forward to [more] in this series."—Robots & Vamps

"Cool…exciting."—Lurv à la Mode

"Fascinating, vivid, and gritty."—Fallen Angel Reviews

"Handeland does an amazing job of packing so much punch into the pages of this story without ever leaving the reader behind.　Doomsday Can Wait ups the paranormal and emotional content of the series, adding strength to the heroine and a more human touch to one of her closest allies.　 This is an action packed series that urban fantasy readers should thoroughly enjoy, and I’m looking forward to seeing where the author takes us next." —Darque Reviews　　　

"Handeland pens another tale that captured my heart…with captivating characters [and] an absorbing plot that will keep readers on the edge of their seats."—Romance Junkies

Romantic Times 4 Stars

"A striking series…with a decidedly sexy edge. Readers again view the world through the eyes of ex-cop turned humanity's savior Liz Phoenix [in] this complex mythology."

Robots & Vamps-

We really enjoyed it…and are looking forward to [more] in this series.

Lurv å la mode-

Cool…exciting.

Fallen Angel Reviews-

Fascinating, vivid, and gritty.

Darque Reviews-

"Handeland does an amazing job of packing so much punch into the pages of this story without ever leaving the reader behind.　Doomsday Can Wait ups the paranormal and emotional content of the series, adding strength to the heroine and a more human touch to one of her closest allies.　 This is an action packed series that urban fantasy readers should thoroughly enjoy, and I'm looking forward to seeing where the author takes us next."

Romance Junkies-

Handeland pens another tale that captured my heart…with captivating characters [and] an absorbing plot that will keep readers on the edge of their seats.

Connect with Lori - Website - Facebook - Twitter 

MEET LORI:

Lori Handeland is a two time RITA Award winner and the New York Times bestselling author of the Nightcreature Novels, a paranormal romance series; The Phoenix Chronicles, an urban fantasy series; and the Shakespeare Undead historical fantasy series. She also writes Western historical romance under the name Lori Austin. Lori lives in Wisconsin with her husband, and enjoys occasional visits from her grown sons.

Check out both of her websites at www.lorihandeland.com and loriaustin.net.

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Picasso's Two Girls Reading Puzzle
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