Aloha mai kākou!
Whether you are part of my reading ‘ohana (family) or new visitor to my mindful musings blog, I am so happy you are here. In this issue, I offer a bit of writing craft in an article I wrote for Killer Nashville Magazine, and excerpt from my recent paniolo (Hawaiian cowboy) family drama mystery, an early look at my O‘ahu and Hawai‘i Island travel and book event plans, and my recent book and audiobook recs. Fun, right? A little dis and dat for everyone to enjoy!
(Originally published in Killer Nashville Magazine)
I write and enjoy reading page-turning fiction. So I cannot afford to slow down the pace, no matter how much character development, cultural information, or history I include. The key for me is to choose the right moment to share relevant facts that will stick with the readers. The tricky part is how.
I’m one of those authors who begins every new project with a place and sometimes a topic or community I want to explore. I dive into research, regardless of how familiar the location or topic is to me. It is during this process that I discover my characters, and a hint of a story appears. Although I’ve been writing contemporary fiction, my last four novels have also entwined historical timelines and facts. But since I don’t want to give a history lesson, I pick and choose what I share.
My first technique is to create a family genealogy that is interwoven with the historical background I want to share.
I did this in THE NINJA’S OATH by tying the ancestry of Lily Wong’s “uncle” Lee Chang—whose grand-niece she would help rescue—to the history of Shanghai. This connection to place became so significant that it inspired the thriller plot of the book.
I created an even more intricate genealogy for Ranger Makalani Pahukula’s family in KAUA‘I STORM, beginning with Makalani’s great-grandmother Punahele and her ten children. The story’s drama and mystery emerged from the cultural differences of intermarrying and depleting fractions of Native Hawaiian blood each generation had.
In HAWAI‘I RAGE—a contemporary Hawaiian western and family drama mystery—the ancestry of Hiapo Ranch began with the son of an early Mexican vaqueros King Kamehameha III bought over from Alta California to teach his people how to ride. I was able to include a lot of this fascinating Hawaiian cowboy history because it was woven into Hiapo ancestry and pertained to my plot. In this way, the history moved the story forward and added character depth.
My second technique is to drop relevant information at a moment in my story when it will stick in the reader’s mind.
With a book as richly entwined with history and culture as HAWAI‘I RAGE, it was especially important not to dump exposition or overload my readers with facts. My primary goal, after all, is to entertain. That said, my protagonist just took a new position as an interpretive ranger at Pu‘u Koholā Heiau National Historic site that King Kamehameha I was instructed to build to help him unite the Hawaiian Kingdom. Readers are going to be interested in learning a bit about that history. Not all. And only the parts that are relevant to my story, especially if the information I share helps my protagonist solve the mystery in my book.
The following excerpt exemplifies what I mean. In this scene, Makalani is plagued by a conversation she overheard while trying to study the historical materials her supervisory ranger has assigned her to read. Makalani is surprised to find clues to her mystery in the heiau’s treacherous past.
Why else I do what I do?
Makalani had stared at the ceiling, unable to sleep.
What did you mean, Malu? What did you mean?
His words refused to wash away even as the evening rainstorm pounded her roof. And when she rolled out of bed in the morning, she found them stuck in her sleep-deprived mind like sticks in the mud.
Why did you say that? What did you mean?
The conundrum followed her to work. In Pidgin English, locals frequently used the present tense even when they referred to something in past. When Malu had said, “Why else I do what I do?” was he reminding Louie of something he was doing now or something he had done before?
Like kill Larry Hiapo so Kupunakāne could put Louie in charge.
The treachery was echoed in the story she was reading, about how Kamehameha’s trusted military adviser and uncle murdered Kamehameha’s rival cousin in Kawaihae Bay—the same bay where Hiapo’s stepfather was killed swimming a steer to a boat. Makalani dropped her head into her palms as past and present muddled into a convoluted mess.
“Need a break from reading?” Ranger Akaka asked from the doorway.
“Yes!”
He laughed. “Come on. We can talk while we walk.”
She glanced down the hall for her supervisor. “Won’t Ranger Machado mind?”
Ranger Akaka smiled. “He’s on Maui today.”
The warmth of the midday sun eased the tension from Makalani’s shoulders as they walked along the visitors’ path. The stone heiau stood on the mauka side of the flat, barren land, muddy now because of the previous night’s rain. The lava platform was huge, over two hundred feet wide and twenty feet high. She had never seen one this large or with multiple tiers.
“How did they actually use it?”
“Good question.” Ranger Akaka said. “The kahuna or ali‘i—King Kamehameha I was both—would perform religious ceremonies or hold political meetings on this space. The attendees would sit on the lower two levels according to their standing in the community. Structures were sometimes built on the top level to offer shade for chiefs and advisers. Pu‘ukoholā’s size reflects its importance.”
He gestured toward the ocean. “When the visiting chiefs and their entourages would sail their outriggers into this bay, one of Kamehameha’s top warriors would throw a spear at the chief. If he caught the spear it meant he had enough mana—divine power and authority—to proceed.”
Makalani thought about the treacherous bit of history she had been reading that morning. “Was that how Kamehameha’s uncle killed his rival cousin?”
“No. Instead of throwing the spear, Keʻeaumoku opened his arms for a hug. Although the rival cousin knew Kamehameha would kill him as a sacrifice for the heiau, he had come to save his people from war.”
“Then why murder him?”
“Kamehameha wanted to talk with his cousin first. Keʻeaumoku feared the rival would deter the king from his destiny, so he and his men slaughtered all but one. But the treachery happened on both sides. Although the cousin had come willingly, he had mutilated his body to taint the sacrifice. One version of this story says the rival chief had even decided to live and planned to assassinate Kamehameha when they met.”
“So Keʻeaumoku acted without Kamehameha’s knowledge?”
“There are many versions of this story, but the one I believe makes Keʻeaumoku seem like the General Patton of the Pacific and a mafia hitman rolled into one.”
Makalani stared down at the beach, envisioning the multilayered treachery at play. In many ways, it reminded her of the Hiapo family today.
I’m beyond excited to be coming home to Hawai‘i from September 21st through October 14th. That’s a three-and-a-half-week stay! I haven’t been home for this long of a stretch since I was in my twenties. Even then, I’m not a hundred percent sure I stayed for this length of time. I’ve always been in too big of a hurry to return to my performing, writing, family, and/or martial arts life in New York, Los Angeles, and now Portland, Oregon. This time, I wanted an opportunity to lay back and chill. Or as chill as an energetic person like me can be. LOL!
I plan to swim often in the ocean, hang out with friends and family, and eat the food of my childhood I still crave. I’m still bummed ‘Ono Hawaiian Foods in Kapahulu closed down. but hey, fifty-seven years is a heck of a long time to run a family restaurant.
What are your go-to places on the island for grindz?
While on O‘ahu, I’ll be staying in Kailua with my high school friend Kim, who introduced me with her calabash uncle, hall of fame paniolo, Henry “Uncle Bud” Gibson. Last year when I visited, we talked story for hours in Uncle Bud’s office at the New Town and Country Stables in Waimanalo about horses, ranching, and paniolo life. Oh the stories and knowledge he shared! Much of which made it into HAWAI‘I RAGE and provided readers with nuance and authenticity they could feel.
I finish my stay on O‘ahu with a special author talk and writing craft event. Please join me or encourage your friends to come if you and/or they are on the island at that time. I would love to greet you in person!
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27TH at NATIVE BOOKS
2:00 to 2:40 p.m.
Author talk about my Ranger Makalani Pahukula Mysteries
2:40 to 3:00 p.m.
Talk story, refreshments, signing KAUA‘I STORM and HAWAI‘I RAGE
3:00 to 4:30 p.m.
Interactive Writing Workshop on Revealing Heritage, History, and Character without Slowing the Pace
This event is sponsored by the Lō‘ihi Arts Foundation, supporting kanaka maoli and kama‘āina artists and writers through workshops and residencies, and Native Books, “a place with pride and respect for Hawaiians and Hawaiian culture,” founded by Maile Meyer, who graduated from Punahou School a couple years before me.
After O‘ahu, my hubby and I will fly to Moku o Keawe (Hawai‘i Island) for three different events. Please join me if you’re on the island, and spread the news to your Big Island friends! (P.S.: I always recommend reserving your copies in advance.)
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3 at BEACH DOG BOOKS, 11:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M.
In conversation with Sarah Ackerman, reading short excerpts, talk story, and book signing.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6 at KONA STORIES, 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M.
Words and Wine Author Night with fellow Hawai‘i authors Heather A. Herrick and Shay Keawe.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10 at BASICALLY BOOKS, 12:00 P.M. to 2:00 P.M.
Hanging out in Hilo to talk story about KAUA‘I STORM and HAWAI‘I RAGE.
As I mentioned in my previous musings, I’ve been voraciously reading, listening, and watching books, audiobooks, and shows by other creatives as I take a mini-vacation from work. I paused my vacation for my developmental editorial review for my upcoming standalone, which will hit the shelves May 2027. But my editors were so pleased with what I had turned in, that I was able to edit and send it back quickly.
GOOD DIRT by Charmaine Wilkerson
Engrossing Black literary fiction with emotion, history, and complex relationships.
TEN YEARS GONE by Wendy Walker
The deliciously slow burn tension of Wendy Walker’s latest domestic psychological thriller had me compulsively reading straight through to the end. With my eyes glued to the digital pages every moment of the day, it’s a miracle I didn’t burn my hand on the stove or walk off a curb! If you enjoy richly imagined characters, relationships, and suspense, TEN YEARS GONE is for you.
PROMISE ME NEVER by Liv Constantine
Whether writing alone or in collaboration, any thriller by Liv Constantine grabs quick, builds steadily, and lands hard with a satisfying and unexpected twist. I devoured PROMISE ME NEVER in a day. Highly recommend!Audiobooks:
THE DEATH ROW CLUB by V.A. Vazquez (novel)
MAD LOVE by Wendy Walker (short scripted audio novel)
YOU’LL MISS ME WHEN I’M GONE by A.R. Torre (short story from Deadly Ambition Collection)
SEE HOW THEY RUN by Rachel Howzell Hall (novella)
LAW ABIDING CITIZEN - Gerard Butler, Jamie Foxx, Leslie Bibb
APEX - Charlize Theron, Taron Egerton, Eric Bana
ARTHUR THE KING - Mark Wahlberg, Simu Liu, Juliet Rylance, Nathalie Emmanuel, Ali Suliman, Bear Grylls, Paul Guilfoyle
DEVIL WEARS PRADA 2 - Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, Stanley Tucci
SONG SUNG BLUE - Hugh Jackman, Kate Hudson
LADIES FIRST - Sacha Baron Cohen, Rosamund Pike, Tom Davis
LUCKY - Anya Taylor-Joy, Annette Bening, Clifton Collons Jr.
MAXIMUM PLEASURE GUARANTEED - Tatiana Maslani, Jake Johnson, Jessy Hodges
Harlan Coban’s FOOL ME ONCE - Michelle Keegan, Adeel Akhtar, Richard Armitage
That’s it for now. I’m off to swim laps and percolate on ideas for my next book. Enjoy your end of summer, my friends. And read more books!
And if you want to support your favorite authors, be sure to leave reviews. Goodreads, Amazon, Audible, BookBub, Barnes & Noble, and wherever else you share with your reading community.
Aloha pumehana,
Tori 🌺
My posts, novels, and all other writing works are written and created entirely by me without the use of generative AI.
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