An Interview with Lori Handeland
Interview conducted c. early 2010s
Introduction
Lori Handeland is a prolific genre author whose work spans paranormal romance, urban fantasy, historical fiction, and myth-inflected adventure. With dozens of novels across multiple series, her career reflects long-term engagement with popular genre storytelling and sustained professional output.
This interview was conducted during a period when Handeland was actively writing across several genres while reflecting on process, revision, and the realities of producing work to deadline. The conversation focuses on instinctive development, persistence, revision discipline, and the practical habits that support a long-running writing career.
Handeland’s responses emphasize forward motion over perfection. Her approach privileges discovery on the page, iterative refinement, and the importance of continuing to write even in the absence of certainty or inspiration.
This interview is preserved as part of the Better Storytelling Archive, documenting the voices and working methods of contemporary genre creators.
LoriHandeland_Interview
The Interview
Life as a Writer
How did you get into writing?
I always wanted to be a writer but wasn’t sure how to go about it. I went to college to become a teacher, but during student teaching I read a book on writing romance and learned about Romance Writers of America. There was a local chapter, so I joined and began learning what I needed to know.
When did you first realize that you have what it takes to be a writer?
I entered a contest with the first five pages of my first book, even though it wasn’t finished. I won, and they asked to see the manuscript.
Premise
Where do you get your ideas from?
I don’t know. I just hope they keep coming.
How do you develop your ideas into a story?
I start with a lot of scribbling on a yellow pad, writing down everything that might happen. Then I start writing and see what stays.
Genre
What kind of stories do you enjoy working with?
I’ve always written in several genres. I enjoy that variety because it keeps my writing fresh.
What genres would you like to explore in the future?
I’ve always wanted to write a women’s fiction novel.
Structure
Do you work from an outline?
No.
Plot
How do you build your story?
I use The Writer’s Journey by Christopher Vogler to map out the large structural points. Beyond that, I discover the story as I write.
Character
For you, what makes a great hero?
Courage.
If one of your characters were to describe you, what would they say?
She wouldn’t leave me alone until I finished the book.
Setting
How much time do you spend researching the setting for your stories?
If I haven’t been there, I read books, look for images, and search online accounts from people who have visited the location.
What settings would you like to explore in the future?
I’d like to write more books set in the American West.
Theme
Do you like to know the purpose of your story before you sit down to write it?
Theme emerges as I write.
Dialogue
Do you have any favorite lines from your stories?
The opening paragraph of Doomsday Can Wait:
“A month ago I put a stake through the heart of the only man I’ve ever loved. Luckily—or not, depending on the day—that wasn’t enough to kill him.”
Writing Process
Do you have a routine?
Every morning I make coffee, clear my desk, check email, and begin. I work in a quiet home office and don’t listen to music.
How do you deal with writer’s block?
I keep writing. I can fix bad pages. I can’t fix a blank one.
Story Development
How do you go about fixing a story?
I print a hard copy and edit it by hand. I usually do several drafts before sending it to my editor, and then revise again based on feedback.
How do you know when to stop?
I would revise forever if I could. I stop when the book is due.
Words of Advice
What words of advice would you give to new writers?
The only way to fail is to quit. Keep writing, learning, and revising.
Final Thoughts
What’s the best thing you’ve ever written?
At the moment, Beauty and the Bounty Hunter, the first book in a western-inspired series.
What are you working on now?
The second book in that series.
Closing
This interview captures Lori Handeland’s emphasis on persistence, discovery, and professional discipline. Her reflections highlight a writing life grounded in forward momentum—writing through uncertainty, revising relentlessly, and meeting the demands of sustained production.
Presented here as part of the Better Storytelling Archive, this conversation preserves a practical, experience-driven perspective on storytelling as long-term craft.