Tori Eldridge
Author Interview - Tori Eldridge
Author of The Ninja’s Blade and Kaua‘i Storm
About Kaua‘i Storm:
After ten years away as a national park ranger in Oregon, Makalani Pahukula has come back to Kaua‘i for her grandmother’s birthday celebration. But she struggles to connect with her people and feels detached from their values, simpler way of life and slower pace. And she’s worried by the news that her cousins—a failed college football player and a rebellious teenage girl—have gone missing. Makalani hopes they just ran off for fun, but when hunters find a dead body in the Keālia Forest Reserve, she fears something ominous is at play. Making use of her ranger tracking and survival skills, she embarks on a search, although facing resistance from the locals and her own family. Makalani discovers that in her pursuit of the truth, the investigation opens her heart, reawakens her love for the land she calls home, and strengthens her bond with her family. Because no matter how long she’s been away, for Makalani, Hawai‘i is in her blood.
Author Interview - Tori Eldridge
About The Ninja’s Blade:
“Lily Wong—a Chinese-Norwegian modern-day ninja—has more trouble than she was bargaining for when controlling grandparents arrive in Los Angeles from Hong Kong at the same time she goes undercover in the dangerous world of youth sex trafficking. “
Author Interview - Tori Eldridge
Author I draw inspiration from:
2025: J.T. Ellison. Not only does she write consistently suspenseful and captivating novels, J.T. is a fascinating woman with rich life experience. I met her early in my publishing journey through ITW’s ThrillerFest conference in New York and have remained friends eve since. I highly recommend her most recent novel, A VERY BAD THING. I also recommend checking out what she’s sharing on Substack with The Creative Edge.
2020: I draw a lot of inspiration from F. Paul Wilson, from his books and as a mentor. His stories are exciting, well-researched, and beautifully written with efficiently descriptive prose. His latest "Panacea" and "The God Gene" from The ICE Sequence action-thriller series have a strong female protagonist. My Lily Wong ninja sleuth and his Laura Fanning medical examiner would be great friends.
Author Interview - Tori Eldridge | Author I draw inspiration from
Favorite place to read a book:
2025: Between, writing, editing, promoting, and caring for my grandkids and their family, I don’t have much unaccountable time. For that reason, I tend to listen to audiobooks more because I can listen while I’m cooking or cleaning. That said, I always have a separate book that I read at the same time, usually while lying on the floor doing leg lifts, hips lifts, or hamstring stretches.
2020: I listen to more audiobooks than I read, so my favorite places are in the hills while hiking and all around my home while exercising, cooking, and cleaning. Next up, "The Last Odyssey" by James Rollins.
Book character I’d like to be stuck in an elevator with:
2025: Joe Ledger from the series by Jonathan Maberry because he or his team would have us out in minutes. And since he’s heard of my ninja heroine, Lily Wong—who helped/interfered with his Echo Team during a mission in the JOE LEDGER: UNBREAKABLE anthology—I think we’d have interesting fodder for a good talk.
2020: Joe Ledger (Jonathan Maberry series) because he and his team at the Department of Military Services would have us out in a minute. Jonathan's latest, "Rage," teams Joe Ledger with a new Rogue Team International. Jonathan's action is spot on. Ninja approved!
Author Interview - Tori Eldridge | Book character I’d like to be stuck in an elevator with
The moment I knew I wanted to become an author:
2025: Although I wrote my first complete novel-length manuscript in my early 30s, I didn’t commit to becoming a published novelist until I turned 50. I had been completely focused on the ninja martial arts, training, teaching, and traveling around the US to attend and teach seminars. In order to apply myself 100% to my author goals, I transferred all of my attention, time, and resources into improving my craft, learning the business, building community, and writing books I could be proud of that would launch my career. It was in the moment of conviction when I planned this transition to happen on my 50th birthday that I began manifesting my goal.
2020: The first moment came decades before I was ready to commit to fiction writing as a career when I expanded one of my screenplays into a novel. The second came six months before my 50th birthday when I picked up that same novel. I stopped teaching ninjutsu, closed my online store, and devoted myself to the craft and business of writing!
Hardback, paperback, ebook or audiobook:
2025: Well…I’m not overly fond of hardbacks because I tend to read while I’m exercising or preparing to sleep. Their size and weight make them cumbersome, not to mention dangerous if I fall asleep while reading. Nothing like waking up when the corner of a hardback drops on your face! Paperbacks are much more friendly. However, I recently downsized and moved, which means I don’t have as much space. So, if I’m reading, I tend to prefer ebooks. That said, audiobooks are my favorite, provided I enjoy the narrator and the story (and writing) is engaging enough for me to want to enjoy the slower more immersive experience.
2020: I prefer audiobooks because I don't have much time to sit down and read. That said, I always have one book to listen and another ebook or paperback to read.
The last book I read:
2025: My friend John McMahon sent me a paperback copy of HEAD CASES, his new F.B.I. series debut. I really liked the unique F.B.I. team, the characters, and the plot. Highly recommend!
2020: "Into the Black Nowhere" audiobook by Meg Gardiner and "The Family Upstairs" paperback by Lisa Jewell
Author Interview - Tori Eldridge | The last book I read
Pen & paper or computer:
2025: My writing process typically begins with a place and culture I want to explore. In the case of KAUA‘I STORM, that place was my favorite island in the chain and my own Native Hawaiian roots. I like to use a pen and a new journal when I make notes on the research and characters. I’ll also copy/paste useful information on my computer. It all depends on my mood and where I feel like working. Once, I’ve established my characters and story, I move onto Scrivener, which allows me to see all of my chapters headings I the binder on the left while I write. When I have revised and polished my first draft, I compile it into a Word document and do the rest of my revisions on that.
2020: Computer for writing. Pen and paper for notes.
Book character I think I’d be best friends with:
2025: Violet Sorringail from Rebecca Yarros’ Empyrean series because, you know… dragons!
2020: Charlie Fox from Zoë Sharp's thriller series. My Lily Wong and her Charlie Fox would get along as famously as Zoë and I do. In fact, all four of us should definitely go on an adventure one of these days! Zoë just came out with "Bad Turn," her 13th book in thIs crime mystery thriller series!
Author Interview - Tori Eldridge | Book character I think I’d be best friends with
If I wasn’t an author, I’d be a:
2025: Ha, I actually did this in reverse! Before writing, I performed as an actress, singer, and dancer in Broadway musicals like The Little Prince and the Aviator, Zorba, and the original 1st national company of Cats). Then I moved to Los Angeles and was a series regular on The Love Boat, guest starred on a TV pilot with Michael Warren, and acted on and off camera in a few other shows. I also performed the motion capture for the female leads on the groundbreaking film, Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within and recorded an ill-fated album with Brian Wilson before it was scrapped. Then I caught the martial arts bug and didn’t stop until I had earned a 5th degree black belt in To-Shin Do ninja martial arts. I have no idea what I would do if I stopped writing now, but I think it would involve traveling the world.
2020: Ninja. LOL! Which is exactly what I was.
Favorite decade in fashion history:
2025: The 70s were fun!
2020: I've never been one for fashion, so I'll take this one because I'm wearing whatever I want!
Place I’d most like to travel:
2025: My most epic travel experiences have been for book research to Shanghai, Hong Kong, Bali, and Rio de Janeiro. I’m not counting Hawai‘i, since that’s where I was born and raised. Where to now? Since the only place in Europe I’ve ever been is Dublin—twice (laughs)— I think I would really love to spend time in Italy. The beauty and culture has a strong appeal.
2020: Singapore - if I could hang with the family of “Crazy Rich Asians.”
My signature drink:
2025: This is a no-brainer for me. I don’t drink alcohol and try to avoid too many flavored drinks, so hot tea is my drink of choice, especially Dragonwell, Sencha, and Darjeeling.
2020: Dragonwell Tea
Favorite artist:
2025: My oil painter sister, Vonnie Brenno Cameron! Check out her website (of the same name) to see her fine art of realism. She recently did a portrait series for the kūpuna (elders) on Moloka‘i, where some of our ancestors are from, that were not only stunning, but moved the soul. After an art show in Hawai‘i, she gifted the paintings to her subject. You can see them in the Portrait section along with a portrait of me in my twenties with tanned legs and a sun hat, lounging on a chaise at the Bel Air Hotel.
2020: My sister Vonnie Brenno Cameron. Look her up and you'll know why.
Number one on my bucket list:
2025: Traveling around the world.
2020: Spending a month on location (just about anywhere!) for one of my husband's movies. I love writing in cool new locations. "The Equalizer" movies were both set on the East Coast. I'm hoping one of his new movies will take us to Europe or Australia, post social distancing, of course.
Anything else you'd like to add:
2020: I adore video chatting with book clubs! Check out the book club page on my website for cool recipes, tea recommendations, ninja videos, and an awesome book club kit with discussion topics and interview.
Find more from the author:
https://www.instagram.com/writer.tori/
https://www.facebook.com/ToriEldridgeAuthor
https://www.threads.net/@writer.tori
https://www.tiktok.com/@torieldridgeauthor
https://x.com/ToriEldridge
https://bsky.app/profile/torieldridge.bsky.social
About Tori Eldridge:
Author Interview - Tori Eldridge
Tori Eldridge is the bestselling author of the Lily Wong mystery thriller series, which includes The Ninja Daughter, The Ninja’s Blade, The Ninja Betrayed, and The Ninja’s Oath, as well as a two-time Anthony Award nominee, Lefty and Macavity Awards finalist, and winner of the 2021 Crimson Scribe Award for Best Book of the Year.
Tori was born and raised in Honolulu—of Hawaiian, Chinese, and Norwegian descent—where she graduated from Punahou School with classmate President Barack Obama. Before writing, Tori performed as an actress, singer, and dancer on Broadway, television, and film in such shows as the original first national company of Cats, as a Love Boat Mermaid in the hit television series The Love Boat, and as the motion capture actress for the lead in the groundbreaking film Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within.
After living in New York and Los Angeles for more than 35 years, she now lives and writes from Portland, Oregon, where her children and grandchildren live. Her deep interest in world culture and religions has prompted her to visit nine countries, including Brazil, China, and Japan. Tori holds a 5th degree black belt in To-Shin Do ninja martial arts and has taught classes and seminars across the U.S. Learn more about her on her website: www.ToriEldridge.com.
