Lori Austin aka Lori Handeland and a giveaway!
Nearly 20 years ago my first novel was published. This June my fifty-second novel will be released. One thing is different about #1 and #52–the author’s name. I published fifty novels under my own name, Lori Handeland, and the very first one was a western. I’ve come full circle with number fifty-two, which is a western as well, but the name on the cover this time around is Lori Austin.
I grew up watching John Wayne on Saturday afternoons. I graduated to Clint Eastwood, which meant one of the first historical romances I ever read was Rosemary Rogers’ SWEET SAVAGE LOVE. I love westerns! To me they were, and are, the quintessential American genre.
In between that first western (SECOND CHANCE) and the newest (AN OUTLAW IN WONDERLAND, Book #2 in my Once Upon a Time in the West series w/a Lori Austin) I wrote suspense, Americana, paranormal—both historical and contemporary—category, Urban Fantasy and historical fantasy, all under the name Handeland. However, when I was once again able to write westerns (and I’d written them at 3 different periods during the 50 books) I decided to publish them under the name Lori Austin.
I’m most often asked two questions about the new westerns. Number one, why did I change my name? That’s a long story that involves contracts and reader expectations and sales figures and the new state of publishing, and I fall asleep while I tell it, so let’s never mind that one.
The second question I’m asked is what are the differences you find between writing paranormal and western historical romance? To be honest, not much. I always write an action packed novel, with deep emotion and a little humor. That’s my choice and my voice, regardless of the name on the cover or the time period or world in which they are set.
Some would think there would be a difference in the amount of research for the westerns, but that wouldn’t be true. The research I do for my Nightcreature Novels is extensive. Just because the Nightcreature world comes from my imagination doesn’t mean I don’t have to research the Native American myths the creatures are based on. And for the 3 books set in New Orleans, I learned enough about voodoo to write 5 more.
My urban fantasy series, The Phoenix Chronicles, reveals our world in the midst of the end of times predicted in Revelation. When I wrote these books, I was up to my eyeballs in prophecy and theology, not to mention the origins of the creatures discussed in the Bible. There’s a reason Goliath was a giant. What happened to the angels that were on earth when the rest of them fell?
For my historical fantasy series, Shakespeare Undead, I needed to research Shakespeare’s life, his works, the myths surrounding him (how could one man write so many brilliant plays—some people think because more than one man wrote them, but I have a different theory) as well as the time period in which he lived. By the time I turned to the post-Civil War period of the Once Upon a Time in the West series, I was ready, and very able, to research anything.
I’d have to say the biggest difference in writing westerns to writing anything else is the clothing, the weapons and the vocabulary. What do women wear in 1870? A lot. What kind of weapons did people use? Very different ones from the ones used today. If you’re talking Union guns, you’re talking different guns from the ones used by the South. When did the Indians start to use firearms? Depends on which tribe you’re discussing. As for conversations and descriptions, I had to make certain my characters were using words coined by the late 1860s or how would they know them?
Whether I’m writing as Handeland or Austin, I write in the same way. Pantser not a plotter—I like to discover what happens to my characters as it happens, not as I decided it should happen before I got to know them. General research before I begin, light research while I’m writing, heavy research once I have my very rough first draft written. How do I know what I need to know until I need to know it?
I’ve discovered that when I read books written by the same author, regardless of the name on the cover, their voice and style shines through. While the books of Nora Roberts and JD Robb are very different kinds of books, the reason I enjoy them is because I love her voice. The same goes for Stephen King and Richard Bachman, Jayne Ann Krentz and Amanda Quick, Sherrilyn Kenyon and Kinley MacGregor.
Do you choose the books you read by author, genre, reviews, recommendations or something else? Will you read everything by a favorite author regardless of what genre it is, or do you prefer to read one thing and one thing only from an author? Leave a comment for a chance to win an autographed copy of my first Once Upon a Time in the West romance, Beauty and the Bounty Hunter.
January 23rd, 2013 at 7:30 am
Congratulations on number 52 Lori! There are so many wonderful books to choose from nowadays that I usually buy my stories based on an author I like reading, a story line that looks like one I would like and then sometimes a review that is from a site that has recommended stories that I have liked in the past.
January 23rd, 2013 at 8:20 am
Thanks, Maureen. There are so many great books these days it’s exciting.
January 23rd, 2013 at 8:22 am
I’d say all of the above, really – except maybe recommendations not so much. I also take the publisher into account, and am often influenced by the cover and especially the blurb. I’ll often try a new genre from a favorite author, and continue reading their new work in that genre if I enjoy it.
~Lindy
January 23rd, 2013 at 8:34 am
I just love to read so I usually get 2 of an author and if they are really good then I go back and buy everyone theat the author has written. Sorta like Lori Handeland, LOL!1 Now she caught me on just one book!!!
January 23rd, 2013 at 8:40 am
I to live westerns. You are a new author for me. I can’t wait to start reading your new western series. And no I DONOT always read everything and author writes. I don’t care for paranormal, or vampires. I was on Facebook when one of the authors I read mentioned your new western series so I decided to give it a try. Sorry but right now I can’t recall who the author was that recommended you
January 23rd, 2013 at 8:46 am
Wow, 52 – congratulations!! I tend to read everything a favorite author writes, regardless of genre. That said, I do tend to favor certain genres above others. I am enjoying some genre mashups, though, especially with steampunk.
January 23rd, 2013 at 9:15 am
Lindy-I thought I was the only one who turned the book sideways to see the publisher. LOL!
January 23rd, 2013 at 9:16 am
Cindy-that Lori Handeland is amazing.
January 23rd, 2013 at 9:16 am
How nice, Roberta. I hope you enjoy the series. Thank you.
January 23rd, 2013 at 9:17 am
Rebe-I am the same way, reading everything a favorite author writes.
And hey, I did a mashup! Two! Shakespeare Undead and Zombie Island. Well, Lori H did anyway.
January 23rd, 2013 at 9:19 am
When there’s an author I like I will try any genre they write. It has led me to some intersrting discoveries, including my newfound like for historical romances. I’ll take recommendations from people who know what I like to read, like my sister. Or my local librarian. DH, on the other hand, is always reading things I consider too depressing so our tbr piles rarely match. I get some suggestions from facebook and goodreads, and I follow some sites like the Penguin group and mystery reader. I can’t wait to read the Once Upon a Time in the West series!
January 23rd, 2013 at 10:36 am
Cindy-I was always a big historical romance fan, then I slid away, and now I’m coming back. Have you read Eileen Dreyer’s historical series? I really enjoyed that one.
January 23rd, 2013 at 12:33 pm
Thanks for the recommendation! I haven’t read Eileen Dryer. I tried a sample from one of her books on amazon and it looks great! I’ll have to start the Drake’s Rakes books now. I’ve been reading Eloisa James and Sabrina Jeffries.
January 23rd, 2013 at 12:58 pm
Wow 52 books! Congrats that is wonderful!
My book choices… first are the authors I have already read and enjoyed… if I find out they have another pen name I will look for those books too as long as the genre is within romance… then I will look for books that grab my interest from visiting blogs like this one… my list of books and authors I want to read has grown bigtime!
January 23rd, 2013 at 1:53 pm
CindyC-Also excellent choices!
January 23rd, 2013 at 1:54 pm
Colleen–My list, my book pile–they are ridiculous. But at least I’ll never run out of things to read. One of my childhood phobias.
January 23rd, 2013 at 2:03 pm
I decide to read books based on the blurb.
bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com
January 23rd, 2013 at 3:09 pm
Bn-a good blurb can definitely sway the choice.
January 23rd, 2013 at 9:08 pm
It’s hard to say how I choose books, mostly it’s by the blurb – if it sounds like a good story, I’m interested, whether it’s paranormal, historical, etc. There are a few genres I don’t normally read, but if the story sounds intriguing, I’ll go for it (with a few exceptions). When it comes to a favorite author, unless the book in a different genre doesn’t sound interesting, or they’re gone a route that I just don’t care for, I’ll read their work because I’ve enjoyed them in the past. An example would be if a favorite historical romance author started writing erotica, that just wouldn’t interest me no matter how much I like the author.
January 24th, 2013 at 1:57 am
Hi Lori,
I usually go to Authors I love first. My favorite genre is Scottish Historical romance and will try every Author once who writes SHR. After that it’s by the blurbs, if it grabs me I’m there. 
Congrats on # 52. Amazing.
Carol L
January 24th, 2013 at 5:33 am
Barbara-I’m the same.
January 24th, 2013 at 5:34 am
Carol L-I wrote a Scottish paranormal once, but haven’t gotten to historical. Yet.
January 24th, 2013 at 11:24 am
I would love to read your books. I love the Western romance aspect in Beauty and the Bounty Hunter. I mainly choose my reads based on the blurb. If it sounds good then I’ll read it. Reviews can help but won’t factor in unless it’s overly good or bad. Usually if I try an author and like their books I’m likely to read more
Cambonified(at)yahoo(dot)com
January 24th, 2013 at 2:41 pm
I would like to read one of your western books. They sound really interesting
January 25th, 2013 at 2:23 am
the blurbs
and Congrats on #52 !
January 27th, 2013 at 10:16 pm
I read my favorite authors across whatever genres they choose to write. As for what influences my purchases, I pick up a book often from word of mouth but buy only if I like the excerpt I read while in a store.
February 8th, 2013 at 4:44 pm
The winner is…
Congrats Cindy C.
please send your snail mail addy to chaoscat@ romance junkies.com
Thanks everyone for stopping by and joining in!
February 21st, 2013 at 1:05 pm
Cindy C. I need to hear from you!
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