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Jessica Bird
American novelist From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Jessica Bird (born Jessica Rowley Pell Bird; now Jessica Rowley Pell Bird Blakemore; April 19, 1969) is an American novelist. She writes contemporary romance novels under the name Jessica Bird and paranormal romance under the pen name J. R. Ward. She is a three-time winner of the Romance Writers of America RITA Award, once as Jessica Bird for From the First, and twice as J. R. Ward for Lover Revealed and Dearest Ivie. Her books have appeared on The New York Times Best Seller list. According to Louisville Magazine, her books have been published in 25 countries and in several different languages, with over 16 million copies reported in print. The same article notes that her works have been bestsellers in the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, and several South American countries.[2]
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Early life and education
Jessica Rowley Pell Bird was born in Massachusetts to W. Gillette Bird Jr. and Maxine F. Bird.[3] She developed an interest in writing at an early age, reportedly completing her first story at the age of eight [4] and writing her first romance book the summer before she attended college.[5] She has described becoming interested in romance fiction at the age of thirteen.[4]
Bird attended Smith College, where she majored in history and art history with a concentration in medieval studies.[6] According to a 2013 profile in Kentucky Monthly, Bird was then encouraged by her mother to pursue publication of her writing.[7] However, instead of immediately pursing a writing career, Bird chose to earn a Juris Doctor degree from Albany Law School.[4] After earning her law degree, Bird, who is licensed to practice law in two states,[8] began working in healthcare administration in Boston, where she spent several years as Chief of Staff at a major academic medical center.[4]
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Personal life
In 2001, Bird married John Neville Blakemore III.[3] The couple relocated from Boston to Louisville, Kentucky, where Bird has since made her home.[7]
Career
Summarize
Perspective
Bird has mentioned in interviews that her husband discovered some of her early writing and helped her gain an introduction to a literary agent.[7] The following year, her first novel, Leaping Hearts, a contemporary romance, was published.[6]. After publishing several books that did not sell strongly, she was released from her publishing contract.[7]
A longtime fan of Stephen King, Bird discovered paranormal romance while browsing in a bookstore.[7] Inspired by the genre, she created a fictional universe centered on vampires and began writing standalone paranormal romance novels under the pen name J. R. Ward.[7] These novels comprise the Black Dagger Brotherhood series. The series was later adapted into a mini-series by Passionflix and released in June 2025.[9]
In describing her writing style, Bird says the stories are presented “in short clips, similar to movies, as though she is witnessing their lives firsthand.”[7] She then “puts these bites into chronological order and decides which point of view is the best way to let the book unfold”.[7] She has stated that she prefers writing series in which characters from earlier books reappear, likening the process to “meeting friends through other friends".[5]
In a 2004 interview, Bird described her preference for writing "alpha males," stating, "The tougher, the cockier, the more arrogant, the better."[10] She explained that she is drawn to such characters because she "respect[s] strength and intelligence."[10] She also noted she likes her heroines "to be very smart" and "strong enough to triumph over the obstacles that are placed before them," and emphasized that they "have to be intelligent and know what they want."[10]
The Romance Writers of America awarded Bird the RITA Award for Best Short Contemporary Romance in 2007 for From the First.[11] Writing as J.R. Ward, she also won the RITA Award for Paranormal Romance twice: in 2008 for Lover Revealed and in 2019 for Dearest Ivie.[11] She has been nominated six times for the RT Book Reviews Reviewers’ Choice Awards, winning three times for Lover Awakened, Lover Unbound, and Lover Unleashed.[12] Bird has appeared several times on the New York Times Best Sellers list, reaching number one on three occasions.[13]
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Bibliography
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Filmography
Awards and reception
- 2006 – RT Book Reviews Reviewers’ Choice Award, Best Vampire Romance – Lover Awakened.[12]
- 2006 - RT Book Reviews Reviewers’ Choice Award, Best Vampire Romance – Lover Unbound.[12]
- 2007 - Romance Writers of America RITA Award, Best Short Contemporary Romance – From the First.[11]
- 2008 - P.E.A.R.L. (Paranormal Excellence Award for Romantic Literature), Best Vampire Romance – Lover Enshrined.[15]
- 2008 - Romance Writers of America RITA Award, Best Paranormal Romance – Lover Revealed.[11]
- 2009 - P.E.A.R.L., Best Overall Paranormal Romance and Best Vampire Romance – Lover Avenged.[15]
- 2010 – Goodreads Choice Award, Best Romance – Lover Mine.[16]
- 2011 – Goodreads Choice Award, Best Romance – Lover Unleashed.[16]
- 2011 – RT Book Reviews Reviewers’ Choice Award, Best Vampire Romance – Lover Unleashed.[12]
- 2013 – Goodreads Choice Award, Best Romance – Lover at Last.[16]
- 2019 – Romance Writers of America RITA Award, Best Paranormal Romance – Dearest Ivie.[11]
- Ward has also appeared on The New York Times Best Seller list numerous times, reaching the number one spot on several occasions.[17]
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References
External links
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