Jessica Bird
Jessica Rowley Pell Bird Blakemore | |
|---|---|
| Born | Jessica Rowley Pell Bird April 19, 1969[1] Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Pen name | J. R. Ward |
| Occupation | Novelist |
| Language | English |
| Education | Smith College Albany Law School (JD) |
| Period | 2002–present |
| Genre | Romance, paranormal romance |
| Notable works | Black Dagger Brotherhood series |
| Notable awards | RITA award – Best Short Contemporary Romance 2007 From the First RITA award – Best Paranormal Romance 2008 Lover Revealed |
| Spouse | John Neville Blakemore III (2001–present) |
| Website | |
| www | |
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]
Early life and education
[edit]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 law school, 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]
Personal life
[edit]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
[edit]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."[5] She explained that she is drawn to such characters because she "respect[s] strength and intelligence."[5] 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."[5]
The Romance Writers of America awarded Bird the RITA Award for Best Short Contemporary Romance in 2007 for From the First.[10] 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.[10] 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.[11] Bird has appeared several times on the New York Times Best Sellers list, reaching number one on three occasions.[12]
Bibliography
[edit]| Pen Name | Series / Stand‑alone | Title | Year Published | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jessica Bird | Stand-alone novels | Leaping Hearts | 2002 | Ivy Books. July 2002. ISBN 978-0-8041-1988-7. |
| Heart of Gold | 2003 | Ivy Books. June 2003. ISBN 978-0-8041-1989-4. | ||
| An Unforgettable Lady | 2004 | Ivy Books. March 2004. ISBN 978-0-345-45895-7. | ||
| An Irresistible Bachelor | 2004 | Ivy Books. March 2004. ISBN 978-0-345-45896-4. | ||
| Moorehouse Legacy | Beauty and the Black Sheep / The Rebel | 2005 | Silhouette. July 2005. ISBN 978-0-373-24698-4. | |
| His Comfort and Joy / The Player | 2006 | Silhouette. January 2006. ISBN 978-0-373-24732-5. | ||
| From the First / The Renegade | 2006 | Silhouette. April 2006. ISBN 978-0-373-24750-9. | ||
| A Man in a Million / The Rogue | 2007 | Silhouette. January 2007. ISBN 978-0-373-24803-2. | ||
| The O’Banyon Brothers | The Billionaire Next Door | 2007 | Silhouette. August 2007. ISBN 978-0-373-24844-5. | |
| Omnibus / Collaborations | Plain Jane’s Secret Life / Beauty and the Black Sheep (with Cathy Gillen Thacker) | 2005 | Harlequin Mills & Boon. September 2005. ISBN 978-0-7335-6219-8. | |
| From the First / What Are Friends For? (with Patricia Kay) | 2006 | Harlequin Mills & Boon. June 2006. ISBN 978-0-7335-6904-3. | ||
| Mistress: Taken by the Tycoon (includes The Billionaire Next Door) | 2010 | Mira. January 2010. ISBN 978-0-263-87701-4. | ||
| Jessica Ward | Stand-alone novel | The St. Ambrose School for Girls | 2023 | Gallery Books. July 2023. ISBN 978-1-9821-9486-4. |
| J.R. Ward | Black Dagger Brotherhood | Dark Lover | 2005 | Penguin. September 2005. ISBN 978-0-451-21695-3. |
| Lover Eternal | 2006 | Signet. March 2006. ISBN 978-0-451-21804-9. | ||
| Lover Awakened | 2006 | Signet. September 2006. ISBN 978-0-451-21936-7. | ||
| Lover Revealed | 2007 | Onyx. March 2007. ISBN 978-0-451-41235-5. | ||
| Lover Unbound | 2007 | Signet. September 2007. ISBN 978-0-451-22235-0. | ||
| Lover Enshrined | 2008 | Signet. June 2008. ISBN 978-0-451-22272-5. | ||
| Father Mine: Zsadist and Bella's Story: A Black Dagger Brotherhood Novella | 2008 | Berkley. October 2008. ISBN 978-1-4406-4161-9. (ebook) | ||
| Lover Avenged | 2009 | NAL. April 2009. ISBN 978-0-451-22585-6. | ||
| Lover Mine | 2010 | NAL. May 2010. ISBN 978-0-451-22985-4. | ||
| Lover Unleashed | 2011 | NAL. March 2011. ISBN 978-0-451-23316-5. | ||
| Lover Reborn | 2012 | NAL. March 2012. ISBN 978-0-451-23584-8. | ||
| Lover at Last | 2013 | NAL. March 2013. ISBN 978-0-451-23935-8. | ||
| The King | 2014 | NAL. April 2014. ISBN 978-0-451-41705-3. | ||
| The Shadows | 2015 | NAL. March 2015. ISBN 978-0-451-41707-7. | ||
| The Beast | 2016 | NAL. April 2016. ISBN 978-0-451-47516-9. | ||
| The Chosen | 2017 | Ballantine Books. April 2017. ISBN 978-0-451-47519-0. | ||
| Dearest Ivie: A Novella Set in the Black Dagger World | 2018 | Ballantine Books. March 2018. ISBN 978-0-525-62092-1. (ebook) | ||
| The Thief | 2018 | Ballantine Books. April 2018. ISBN 9780451475213. | ||
| Prisoner of Night (novella) | 2019 | Gallery Books. January 2019. ISBN 978-1-5011-9517-4. | ||
| The Savior | 2019 | Gallery Books. April 2019. ISBN 978-1-5011-9494-8. | ||
| Where Winter Finds You: A Caldwell Christmas (holiday novella) | 2019 | Pocket Books. November 2019. ISBN 978-1-9821-3547-8. | ||
| The Sinner | 2020 | Gallery Books. March 2020. ISBN 978-1-5011-9509-9. | ||
| A Warm Heart in Winter: A Caldwell Christmas (holiday novella) | 2020 | Pocket Books. December 2020. ISBN 978-1-9821-5970-2. | ||
| Lover Unveiled | 2021 | Gallery Books. April 20, 2021. ISBN 978-1-5011-9512-9. | ||
| Lover Arisen | 2022 | Gallery Books. April 2022. ISBN 978-1-9821-7999-1. | ||
| Lassiter | 2023 | Gallery Books. April 2023. ISBN 978-1-9821-8006-5. | ||
| Darius | 2023 | Gallery Book. September 2023. ISBN 978-1-6680-3538-2. | ||
| The Beloved | 2024 | Gallery Books. April 2024. ISBN 978-1-9821-8008-9. | ||
| Lover Forbidden | 2025 | Gallery Books. September 2025. ISBN 978-1-9821-7996-0. | ||
| Black Dagger Legacy | Blood Kiss | 2015 | Signet. December 2015. ISBN 978-0-451-47532-9. | |
| Blood Vow | 2016 | Ballantine Books. December 2016. ISBN 978-0-451-47533-6. | ||
| Blood Fury | 2018 | Ballantine Books. January 2018. ISBN 978-0-451-47534-3. | ||
| Blood Truth | 2019 | Gallery Books. August 2019. ISBN 978-1-9821-3171-5. | ||
| Black Dagger: Prison Camp | The Jackal | 2020 | Gallery Books. August 2020. ISBN 978-1-5011-9508-2. | |
| The Wolf | 2021 | Gallery Books. November 2021. ISBN 978-1-9821-7987-8. | ||
| The Viper | 2022 | Gallery Books. September 2022. ISBN 978-1-9821-7990-8. | ||
| A Bloom in Winter (holiday novella) | 2024 | Gallery Books. November 2024. ISBN 978-1-9821-8028-7. | ||
| Lost Dagger Society[citation needed] | Brother of Fire | TBA | ||
| The Bourbon Kings | The Bourbon Kings | 2015 | Berkley. July 2015. ISBN 978-0-451-47526-8. | |
| The Angel's Share | 2016 | Berkley. July 2016. ISBN 978-0-451-47528-2. | ||
| Devil's Cut | 2017 | Ballantine Books. August 2017. ISBN 978-0-451-47530-5. | ||
| Fallen Angels Series | Covet | 2009 | Signet. September 2009. ISBN 978-0-451-22821-5. | |
| Crave | 2010 | Signet. October 2010. ISBN 978-0-451-22944-1. | ||
| Envy | 2011 | Signet. September 2011. ISBN 978-0-349-40020-4. | ||
| Rapture | 2012 | NAL. September 2012. ISBN 978-0-7499-5700-1. | ||
| Possession | 2013 | NAL. October 2013. ISBN 978-0-451-24019-4. | ||
| Immortal | 2014 | NAL. October 2014. ISBN 978-0-451-24116-0. | ||
| Firefighter Series | The Wedding from Hell (3-Part prequel) | 2018 | Gallery Books. August 2018. ISBN 978-1-9821-0624-9. | |
| Consumed | 2018 | Gallery Books. October 2018. ISBN 978-1-5011-9490-0. | ||
| The Kingdoms of the Compass | Crown of War and Shadow | 2026 | Bramble. February 2026. ISBN ISBN 978-1-250-37363-2. | |
| Lair of the Wolven | Claimed | 2021 | Pocket Books. June 29, 2021. ISBN 978-1-9821-5037-2. | |
| Forever | 2023 | Pocket Books. March 28, 2023. ISBN 978-1-9821-8020-1. | ||
| Mine | 2024 | Pocket Books. January 2024. ISBN 978-0-349-43066-9. | ||
| Collaborative / Anthology Contributions / Stand-alone Novellas | The Story of Son: A Story of Dark Vampire Romance (Dead After Dark with Sherrilyn Kenyon, Susan Squires, Dianna Love) | 2008 | St. Martin's Paperbacks. December 2008. ISBN 978-1-4668-6783-3. | |
| Dark Lover (Boxset with MaryJanice Davidson, Christine Feehan) | 2010 | NAL. January 2010. ISBN 978-0-425-23619-2. | ||
| Lover Awakened (Boxset with MaryJanice Davidson, Laurell K Hamilton, Charlaine Harris, Katie MacAlister) | 2010 | Signet. January 2010. ISBN 978-0-451-94815-1. | ||
| Supplemental | The Black Dagger Brotherhood: 20th Anniversary Insider's Guide | 2025 | Blue Box Press. December 2025. ISBN 978-1-963135-79-4. | |
| The Black Dagger Brotherhood: An Insider's Guide | 2008 | NAL. October 2008. ISBN 978-0-451-22500-9. |
Filmography
[edit]| Title | Year | Type | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Black Dagger Brotherhood | 2025 | TV Mini-Series | Author, Writer, Executive Producer | Adapted by Passionflix; released June 2025.[13] |
| The Bourbon Kings | TBA | TV Movie | Author, Writer | In production.[13] |
Awards and reception
[edit]- 2006 – RT Book Reviews Reviewers’ Choice Award, Best Vampire Romance – Lover Awakened.[11]
- 2006 - RT Book Reviews Reviewers’ Choice Award, Best Vampire Romance – Lover Unbound.[11]
- 2007 - Romance Writers of America RITA Award, Best Short Contemporary Romance – From the First.[10]
- 2008 - P.E.A.R.L. (Paranormal Excellence Award for Romantic Literature), Best Vampire Romance – Lover Enshrined.[14]
- 2008 - Romance Writers of America RITA Award, Best Paranormal Romance – Lover Revealed.[10]
- 2009 - P.E.A.R.L., Best Overall Paranormal Romance and Best Vampire Romance – Lover Avenged.[14]
- 2010 – Goodreads Choice Award, Best Romance – Lover Mine.[15]
- 2011 – Goodreads Choice Award, Best Romance – Lover Unleashed.[15]
- 2011 – RT Book Reviews Reviewers’ Choice Award, Best Vampire Romance – Lover Unleashed.[11]
- 2013 – Goodreads Choice Award, Best Romance – Lover at Last.[15]
- 2019 – Romance Writers of America RITA Award, Best Paranormal Romance – Dearest Ivie.[10]
- Ward has also appeared on The New York Times Best Seller list numerous times, reaching the number one spot on several occasions.[16]
References
[edit]- ^ "Voter Information Center".
- ^ "The Anti-Romantic: J.R. Ward's Commercialized Creativity". Louisville.com. 2016-10-14. Retrieved 2025-10-13.
- ^ a b "WEDDINGS; Jessica Bird, Neville Blakemore (Published 2001)". 2001-10-07. Retrieved 2025-10-13.
- ^ a b c d "Author - Writerspace". www.writerspace.com. 2015-12-28. Retrieved 2025-10-13.
- ^ a b c d e "Debbies Den". www.aromancereview.com. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2025-10-14.
- ^ a b "Jessica Bird | Author | LibraryThing". LibraryThing.com. Retrieved 2025-10-13.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Kremer, Deborah Kohl (2023-09-28). "Her New Kentucky Home". kentuckymonthly.com. Retrieved 2025-10-13.
- ^ "Jessica Bird | Penguin Random House". PenguinRandomhouse.com. Retrieved 2025-10-13.
- ^ The Black Dagger Brotherhood (TV Series 2025– ) - Episode list - IMDb. Retrieved 2025-10-14 – via www.imdb.com.
- ^ a b c d e "myRWA : RITA Awards : RITA Award Winners". www.rwa.org. Archived from the original on 9 January 2016. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
- ^ a b c d "Jessica Bird Books and Reviews". www.romantictimes.com. Archived from the original on 2007-12-30. Retrieved 2025-10-15.
- ^ "Hawes Publications". www.hawes.com. Retrieved 2025-10-15.
- ^ a b "J.R. Ward | Writer, Producer". IMDb. Retrieved 2025-10-15.
- ^ a b "P.E.A.R.L. (Paranormal Excellence Award for Romantic Literature) Winners". www.goodreads.com. Retrieved 2025-10-15.
- ^ a b c "Goodreads Choice Award Winners". www.goodreads.com. Retrieved 2025-10-15.
- ^ "New York Times Adult Hardcover Best Seller Number Ones Listing". www.hawes.com. Retrieved 2025-10-15.
