Len Handeland

Len Handeland is a multi-award-winning author. Over the years, his creativity took him from attending FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology) in Manhattan to hair. He studied fashion illustration, then, years later, a long and successful 27-year career in the hair industry as a sought-after hairstylist, hair colorist, and salon owner. Len owned a salon in San Francisco's Union Square for nine years and two salons in Sonoma, Wine Country, for eight years; now fully retired from hair, Len became a full-time writer in the spring of 2021.

Len specializes in fiction, specifically horror, vampire, paranormal, supernatural, serial killer, and crime drama novels. His books have won several awards, including The Spring 2022 Booksfest, Literary Titan, and Firebird awards. Len has enjoyed writing since middle school.

 

To further enhance and improve his writing, Len has taken many creative writing classes and, in 2017, attended The San Francisco International Writer's Conference, which inspired him to write his first book, "The Darkest Gift," based on his love of vampires. He credits the late Anne Rice as the author who inspired him the most to write his dark vampire story. His first book earned him 5-star reviews from readers and professional book reviewers. His first novel became a finalist in the American Book Fest contest in the fall of 2021. 

 

In the spring of 2022, Len's novel "The Darkest Gift" was awarded first place in the Bookfest 2022 awards in the category of Fiction/Horror. In addition, Len's book and author interview were featured in the fall literature issue of "DeMode" magazine, with Len's book named one of the ten must-read books of 2021. With the completion of Len's second novel, which recently won the Literary Titan Award, "Requiem for Miriam," he's just finished writing his third book ("Tales from the Chair"), which is a collection of sordid tales, gossip, and advice to both hair professionals and those that see someone professionally for their hair. It is based on Len's 27 years in the hair industry. The book was released in mid-July.

 

Len recently released his fourth novel, "Transplanted Evil," a supernatural thriller set in Boston involving teenage suicide, demonic possession, Satanic worship, and paranormal activity. Len started writing his fifth novel, the sequel to his first book , "The Darkest Gift," called "Dark Passages." He hopes to have it released by the spring of 2024.

His first novel, The Darkest Gift, is currently being considered by HBO, Apple TV, Playtone, and Paramount-Plus for adaptation into either a television miniseries or a major motion picture. Stay tuned!  

 

When Len isn't writing, his hobbies include hiking, biking, playing billiards, and vegetarian cooking. He has trained in various forms of martial arts for over twenty years and has also appeared on stage in several plays in Sonoma's Community Theater. In addition, Len is a singer who has performed at numerous wineries in the North Bay and Rotary events.

The writer lives full-time in Palm Springs

with his husband, Byron Hancock, and their two cats and siblings (Felix and Felicia.)