The Darkest Passages: A Vampire’s Journey Through Love and Betrayal.

The Darkest Passages is the sequel to my first novel, “The Darkest Gift.” It is a vampire paranormal romance novel set in 1980s San Francisco and New Orleans. It continues the story of Fabien Levesque, a 250 year old reluctant vampire who has been to hell and back ever since Stefan, his maker and ex-lover, sunk his fangs into him.

Their tumultuous relationship, a mix of love and profound betrayal, and Fabien being a reluctant vampire and forced by Stefan to join him in killing humans indiscriminately, making humans an endless food chain, has turned into a nightmare that isn’t over because the powerful voodoo high-priestess Raphaella is intent on revenge.

After the destruction of Stefan at the hands of Fabien and Stefan, Raphaella summons Stefan’s spirit back from the fiery pits of hell to spiritually possess the body of Fabien’s lover, Laurent Richelieu. Fleeing the city of New Orleans, a city he loves, and the man he loves, Fabien’s escape to San Francisco is a heart-pounding journey, where he crosses paths with vampire royalty and a renowned deadly vampire hunter. United in their thirst for revenge, they stand as a formidable force against Stefan. They are the world’s only hope in defeating him and saving the world from eternal darkness brought by Stefan’s army of vampires.

The Darkest Passages: Continuing the story left untold in The Darkest Gift.

Years later, after writing “The Darkest Gift,” I felt that the story needed to continue, which is why I wrote the sequel, “The Darkest Passages.” The original narrative felt unfinished, and the ending in my mind wasn’t complete. It seemed as if I had left the characters in limbo, with their stories still yearning to be told.

For Fans of Anne Rice and Stephen King: A Must-Read Vampire Tale.

Many readers who enjoy vampire stories, particularly fans of the late author Anne Rice’s works, such as “Interview with the Vampire,” “Queen of the Damned,” “The Vampire Lestat,” and “Tales of the Body Thief,” as well as Stephen King’s “Salem’s Lot,” are likely to appreciate my vampire novels. I believe that those who have enjoyed these classic titles will find my books appealing as well.

For Fans of Anne Rice and Stephen King: A New Tale of Vampire Intrigue.

Most of the characters in both novels, “The Darkest Gift” and “The Darkest Passages,” are Gay or Bisexual males who are looking for a soulmate, someone to love and protect. I hope that one of the things readers will take away after reading both vampire novels is that love, in all its forms, is universal. It transcends gender, sexuality, and even species. The only thing that truly matters is being able to love and having found someone who returns that love equally.

From Page to Screen: Exploring Audiobooks, Trailers, and a TV Adaptation for The Darkest Gift.

I am planning to have my novel recorded as an audiobook, similar to “The Darkest Gift.” Additionally, I will be creating a book trailer. Currently, I’m collaborating with a screenwriter named Alan Roth, who has written a pilot episode based on the first four to five chapters of “The Darkest Gift.” He pitched the book to several major Hollywood studios, hoping to have my novel adapted into a limited television series. I also hope that, if this happens, they will be interested in “The Darkest Passages” as a continuation of the story.

Len Handeland: Award-Winning Author of Gripping Tales Across Genres.

Len Handeland is a multi-award-winning, self-published writer who is a passionate storyteller and fictional novelist. His literary journey spans across various genres, including vampire, paranormal, supernatural, and murder crime drama. Len’s passion for writing began in his middle school days and has since led him to take numerous creative writing classes and attend The San Francisco International Writer’s Conference in 2017.

This event inspired him to write his first book, “The Darkest Gift,” A reflection of his love for vampires and the influence of the late renowned author Anne Rice. The book received positive feedback from readers and professional book reviewers, earning him a finalist spot in the American Book Fest contest in the fall of 2021. In the spring of 2022, Len’s novel “The Darkest Gift” won first place in the Bookfest 2022 Fiction/Horror category awards.

Honored by DeMode and Readers House: Recognized as a Must-Read Author of 2021.

The book and author interview were featured in the fall literature issue of “DeMode” magazine, and it was named one of the “10 must-read books of 2021.” Additionally, Len recently was given an editor’s choice award from the prestigious “Readers House” magazine in London in recognition of exceptional contributions to the world of literature and unwavering dedication to the craft of writing.

Len’s second novel, “Requiem for Miriam,” won first place in the Literary Titan awards for fiction/horror. Len’s third book, “Tales from the Chair,” is his only nonfiction book, drawing from his 27 years of experience in the hair industry.

It won the Firebird award in the beauty category. His fourth novel, “Transplanted Evil,” has also received positive feedback from readers.

With the completion of Len’s fifth novel, “The Darkest Passages,” the sequel to “The Darkest Gift,” he is currently writing his sixth novel, “The Haunting of Wellsley Manor,” which he describes as a good old-fashioned ghost story, set in Ithaca, NY where he lived with his family for several years. Len hopes to have it released by December of 2024. Several live-streaming networks and Hollywood studios are considering adapting Len’s first novel, The Darkest Gift, into a mini-series or major motion picture. For more information about the author, his other books, and where to purchase them in paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats, please visit LenhandelandAuthor.com.

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