It's Pub Day for HAWAI‘I RAGE!

Kakahiaka nō!

Good morning, my friends. Today is the day my Hawaiian cowboy mystery, HAWAI‘I RAGE, is released by Thomas & Mercer into the world. I can’t wait for readers (and listeners—I narrated the audiobook myself!) to experience my homeland with the depth of cultural perspective they may not have experienced before.

I set HAWAI‘I RAGE in the North Kohala district of Hawai‘i Island because this is the birth place of the paniolo, of King Kamehameha I, and where I can trace my own kanaka maoli (Native Hawaiian) ancestors to 1783. Five short years after that, King Kamehameha I was gifted seven longhorn from a British sea captain.

Immerse yourselves in the rich culture and history of Hawaiian cowboys as Ranger Makalani Pahukula helps her extended family on Hiapo Ranch. But the more time she spends with her ‘ohana, the more she worries that the shocking death of her cousin’s father was not the tragic accident it seems.

A suspicious death on a Kohala Mountain ranch draws ranger Makalani Pahukula into a tangled family tree in an emotional and suspenseful adventure by the bestselling author of the Lily Wong series.

Makalani Pahukula, interpretive ranger for Pu‘ukoholā Heiau National Historic Site, craves some rejuvenating hard work on Hawai‘i Island. When cousin-in-law Rosie offers Makalani a chance to help at the Hiapo family ranch, it’s the perfect opportunity. But something else weighs on Rosie’s mind. Her father recently died in a gruesome accident―trapped and cornered in a pit by an aggressive bull.

The wrong place at the wrong time? Rosie suspects something more sinister.

Not long into her work, Makalani’s suspicions rise too. The Hiapos aren’t as close as Makalani thought. All family members―the grandfather, the widow, the adversarial brothers co-running the ranch, the sister who wants anything but a paniolo life for her son, and the cowgirl who becomes Makalani’s friend―are hiding secrets from one another. And from Makalani.

When more dangerous accidents occur, Makalani has no choice but to follow the clues that lead her into the dark history of Hiapo Ranch and draw out the culprit before someone else dies.

Tori Eldridge is the author of the Ranger Makalani Pahukula mysteries, the Lily Wong ninja thrillers, Dance Among the Flames, and numerous short stories. Born in Honolulu—of Hawaiian, Chinese, and Norwegian descent—Tori graduated from Punahou School with classmate Barack Obama before performing as an actress, singer, and dancer on Broadway, television, and film, and earning a fifth-degree black belt in To-Shin Do ninja martial arts. Her literary works have garnered Anthony, Lefty, and Macavity Award nominations and the 2021 Crimson Scribe for Best Book of the Year. Tori lives in Portland, Oregon near her precious grandchildren, where she narrated the audiobooks for Kauai Storm and Hawai‘i Rage.

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I love providing fun extras for my readers and listeners. Visit the For Readers section of my website that includes all seven of my books, or go directly to the HAWAI‘I RAGE BOOK CLUB PAGE.

I’ve had an absolute blast chatting with show hosts about this unusual book: a sweeping Hawaiian western, a multigenerational family drama, and a page-turning mystery for Ranger Makalani Pahukula to solve.

Here are three of my favorites shows so far:

I always enjoy launching my books at this iconic independent bookstore in Scottsdale, Arizona, where many of my Norwegian-side relatives and writer, reader, and ninja friends live. The owner, Barbara Peters, streamed our conversation live.

Terry is one of my favorite podcast hosts. He’s an insightful interviewer with a high-production show. This is a fast-paced interview with a deep view into my story, characters, setting, writing process, and even an extremely detailed description of my experience narrating this book with my director, Jennifer Aquino, for Brilliance Audio at Digital One recording studio in Portland, Oregon!

This show is a unique blend of conversation between these engaging Hawaiian hosts, Excerpts of me reading from my novel, their entertaining reactions (!), Hawaiian songs I selected to accompany my excerpts, and a quick Q&A at the end!

Hawai‘i + Cowboys + a Native Hawaiian Author = a thrilling, authentic, and deeply emotional experience I hope my readers and listeners will enjoy.

That’s all for now, my friends. Please check out my book and buy your paperback, eBook, or audiobook today. You have no idea how much this helps generate excitement and momentum during a book launch! I would also love you forever if you would help me buzz this very special book.

Mahalo nui wau iā ʻoukou a pau! I appreciate you all so much!

Me ke aloha,
Tori 🌺