Lori Handeland is a highly accomplished author, having written over 60 works of fiction in various genres, including historical romance, urban fantasy, and paranormal romance. With over twenty-five years of experience in the industry, Handeland has achieved significant success and won numerous accolades, including being a five-time nominee and two-time winner of the prestigious RITA Award from Romance Writers of America. In 2018, she published "Just Once," a bestselling novel that marked her entry into women's fiction and tells the multilayered story of two women who love one man.
Handeland's writing covers various genres, and she has published sexy and gritty western historical romance under the pen name Lori Austin. Despite the difference in genre, Handeland's writing style remains consistent, characterized by its humor, darkness, and sexiness. She chose to write under a pseudonym to branch out into a different genre, as her publisher would not let her until she had fulfilled her contractual obligations. In addition to her success as a published author, Handeland has also won several awards, including Best Paranormal Romance, Best Long Contemporary Category Romance, Romantic Times Award for Best Harlequin Superromance, and a National Reader's Choice Award for Best Paranormal.
Handeland's passion for writing began at a young age when she was ten years old. She recalls sitting at a typewriter before she knew how to type, pecking out a story about a family who went into space. Growing up as an only child, Handeland spent her summers with her typewriter, television, and books, dreaming of writing her own books one day. After getting sidetracked by the need to make a living, Handeland eventually returned to her childhood dream of becoming an author. She joined Romance Writers of America and began learning all about the craft and business of writing, eventually selling her first novel, a western historical romance, in 1993. Since then, Handeland has written numerous novels, including eleven books in the popular Nightcreature Novels, five installments in the Phoenix Chronicles, six works of contemporary romance about the Luchettis, and a duet of Shakespeare Undead novels, among others.
Handeland currently lives in Southern Wisconsin with her husband of over thirty-five years. In between writing and reading, she enjoys long walks with their rescue mutt, Arnold, and occasional visits from her two grown sons and perfectly adorable grandsons. Her books can be found on her website, as well as on various social media platforms. Handeland's writing has won both critical acclaim and coveted awards, making her a respected and successful author in the industry.