Meet Author Tori Eldridge
Meet Author Tori Eldridge
Tori Eldridge is the bestselling author of the Lily Wong mystery thriller series—The Ninja Daughter, The Ninja’s Blade, The Ninja Betrayed, and The Ninja’s Oath—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’s Brazilian dark fantasy thriller, Dance Among The Flames, was inspired by her Academy Nicholl Fellowship semi-finalist screenplay, The Gift. Her shorter works appear in numerous anthologies, including Back In Black, Crime Hits Home, and the inaugural reboot of Weird Tales Magazine. Tori kicks off her Ranger Makalani Pahukula Mystery Series with Kaua‘i Storm, coming from Thomas & Mercer, May 20, 2025.
Before writing, Tori performed as an actress, singer, dancer on Broadway, television, and film in such shows as the original first national company of Cats, The Love Boat, and Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within. Born and raised in Honolulu—of Hawaiian, Chinese, Norwegian descent—Tori graduated from Punahou School with classmate Barack Obama. After living in NYC and Los Angeles, for over 35 years, she now lives and writes from Portland, Oregon. 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.
Heritage
The cultural diversity in Tori’s Lily Wong Series and her upcoming Ranger Makalani Pahukula Mystery Series stems from her own multi-cultural heritage—a Hawaiian-Chinese mother from Maui and a Norwegian father from North Dakota and who met, married, and raised Tori’s sisters in Japan. This unusual family melting pot, combined with the amalgamation of Asian-Pacific Islander traditions that make up modern Hawaiian culture, gives Tori a unique perception, deep fascination, and an inclusive appreciation not only for her own heritage but for world cultures as a whole. This photo shows Tori’s Hawaiian-Chinese grandparents, mother, aunts, and uncles. Her upcoming novel, Kaua‘i Storm (coming summer 2025), features a Native Hawaiian protagonist with a wonderfully diverse and culturally rich ‘ohana.
Ninja
Tori “Myotoshi” Eldridge holds a 5th degree black belt in To-Shin Do ninjutsu (the contemporary evolution founded by Stephen K. Hayes) and an additional black belt in the Korean martial art Tang Soo Do. Tori has taught taijutsu (ninja body techniques), archaic and modern weapon use and disarmament, self-defense, and empowerment to students ranging from military and law enforcement to moms and kids. Tori enhances her awareness and inner calm with Tendai Buddhist practices and daily meditation. After years of intensive study, she was awarded the warrior name Myotoshi (Warrior of the Unfathomable Blade) to signify her deeply layered nature and never-ceasing quest for hidden ninja secrets.
Performer
Tori began her professional acting career in Honolulu where she guest starred on The Brian Keith Show. Following her goal to perform on Broadway, Tori understudied Rose in The Little Prince and the Aviator with Michael York, toured the country with Anthony Quinn in Zorba, workshopped Marvin Hamlisch’s Broadway musical Smile, and played Tantomile in the original first national company of Cats. From there, she moved to Los Angeles and landed a series regular spot on The Love Boat as one of The Love Boat Mermaids (along with Teri Hatcher), co-starred in a television pilot, appeared in half dozen episodes of Valley of the Dolls, did uncountable voice overs, performed the motion capture for Aki and Jane in Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within, sang in clubs, and recorded with Brian Wilson.
Traveler
Tori graduated from Punahou School with President Barack Obama before moving to the mainland to attend Northwestern University. From Chicago, she moved to Manhattan, Boston, D.C., and toured across the United States before settling in Los Angeles. Of the twenty-nine states and nine countries Tori has visited, her greatest adventures have come from book research trips to Bali, Rio de Janeiro, Shanghai, and Hong Kong.
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