“ Butch tightened his grip on his cell and wished there were an app that let you reach through a phone and bitch slap someone. “
Quotes by J. R. Ward
Introducing J. R. Ward
J.R. Ward, the pseudonym of Jessica Rowley Pell Bird Blakemore, is a powerhouse in the romance genre, celebrated for her addictive storytelling and richly imagined worlds. Born on April 19, 1969, in Massachusetts, USA, to W. Gillette Bird Jr. and Maxine F. Bird, she grew up with a passion for writing, filling diaries with stories as a child and penning her first romance novel the summer before college. A Smith College graduate with a double major in history and art history (focused on the medieval period), Ward’s intellectual roots shine through in the detailed lore of her books. After earning a law degree, she worked in healthcare, eventually becoming Chief of Staff at a top academic medical center in Boston—yet her heart stayed with writing.
In 2001, she married John Neville Blakemore III, whose encouragement pushed her to pursue publishing. Her debut novel, Leaping Hearts (2002), launched her career under her maiden name, Jessica Bird, with contemporary romances like Heart of Gold and An Unforgettable Lady. But it was as J.R. Ward that she soared, introducing the Black Dagger Brotherhood series in 2005 with Dark Lover. This paranormal saga of vampire warriors—featuring brooding heroes like Wrath and Rhage—has sold over 20 million copies worldwide, translated into 27 languages, and earned her three Romance Writers of America RITA Awards: one in 2007 as Jessica Bird for From the First (Best Short Contemporary Romance) and two as Ward for Lover Revealed (2007) and Dearest Ivie (2018) in Best Paranormal Romance.
She’s also notched multiple New York Times bestseller spots, including #2 in 2014. Ward’s other works include the Fallen Angels series, the Bourbon Kings trilogy, and spin-offs like Black Dagger Legacy. Living in the South with her husband and golden retriever, she thrives on crafting series that weave recurring characters into sprawling narratives, describing it as “meeting friends through friends.” Her alpha-male heroes—“the tougher, the cockier, the more arrogant, the better”—pair with smart, resilient heroines, a formula that’s made her a fan favorite. Ward’s ideal day? Slippers on, coffee in hand, and hours spent dreaming up plots with her dog by her side—a vision of heaven that’s fueled a literary empire.
In 2001, she married John Neville Blakemore III, whose encouragement pushed her to pursue publishing. Her debut novel, Leaping Hearts (2002), launched her career under her maiden name, Jessica Bird, with contemporary romances like Heart of Gold and An Unforgettable Lady. But it was as J.R. Ward that she soared, introducing the Black Dagger Brotherhood series in 2005 with Dark Lover. This paranormal saga of vampire warriors—featuring brooding heroes like Wrath and Rhage—has sold over 20 million copies worldwide, translated into 27 languages, and earned her three Romance Writers of America RITA Awards: one in 2007 as Jessica Bird for From the First (Best Short Contemporary Romance) and two as Ward for Lover Revealed (2007) and Dearest Ivie (2018) in Best Paranormal Romance.
She’s also notched multiple New York Times bestseller spots, including #2 in 2014. Ward’s other works include the Fallen Angels series, the Bourbon Kings trilogy, and spin-offs like Black Dagger Legacy. Living in the South with her husband and golden retriever, she thrives on crafting series that weave recurring characters into sprawling narratives, describing it as “meeting friends through friends.” Her alpha-male heroes—“the tougher, the cockier, the more arrogant, the better”—pair with smart, resilient heroines, a formula that’s made her a fan favorite. Ward’s ideal day? Slippers on, coffee in hand, and hours spent dreaming up plots with her dog by her side—a vision of heaven that’s fueled a literary empire.