Jessica Bird

Jessica Rowley Pell Bird Blakemore
Jessica Rowley Pell Bird Blakemore
Born	Jessica Rowley Pell Bird; April 19, 1969(age 55); 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; 2007From the First; RITA award – Best Paranormal Romance; 2008Lover Revealed;
Spouse	John Neville Blakemore III (2001–present)
Website
	www.jessicabird.com

Jessica Rowley Pell Bird Blakemore(born April 19, 1969) is an American novelist. Under her maiden name,Jessica Bird,she writes contemporaryromance novels,and asJ.R. Ward,she writesparanormal romance.She is a three-time winner of theRomance Writers of America RITA Award,once as Bird for Best Short Contemporary Romance forFrom the Firstand twice as Ward for Best Paranormal Romance forLover RevealedandDearest Ivie,and her books have been onThe New York TimesBest Seller list.

Biography

Born Jessica Rowley Pell Bird inMassachusetts,United States, she is the daughter of W. Gillette Bird Jr. and Maxine F. Bird.^[2]She began writing as a child, penning her thoughts in diaries as well as inventing short stories. The summer before she went to college she wrote her first book, aromance novel.^[3]After that, she wrote regularly, but for herself.^[4]Bird attendedSmith College^[2]where she double majored in history and art history, concentrating on the medieval period.^[4]She then received aJuris Doctordegree fromAlbany Law School^[2]and worked in healthcare administration for several years,^[4]including as the Chief of Staff at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center inBoston, Massachusetts.^[2]

In 2001, Bird married John Neville Blakemore III.^[2]Her new husband encouraged her to try to get an agent and market her manuscripts. She found an agent, and in 2002 her first novel, a contemporary romance calledLeaping Hearts,was published.^[4]^[5]Several years later, Bird invented a world populated byvampiresand began writing single-titleparanormal romancenovels under the pen name J.R. Ward. These novels are a series, known as theBlack Dagger Brotherhood.^[5]

Bird likes to write series novels which incorporate characters from her previous books. She likens the process of creating a series to "meeting friends through other friends".^[4]Her heroes are most oftenalpha males,"the tougher, the cockier, the more arrogant, the better", while the heroines are smart and strong.^[4]

TheRomance Writers of Americaawarded her theRITA Awardfor Best Short Contemporary Romance in 2007 for her novelFrom the First.^[6]She has also been nominated six times forRomantic TimesReviewer's Choice Awards, winning once forLover Awakened.She was also number 2 on the New York Times Bestsellers List of 2014.^[7]

As Jessica Bird

Single novels

Leaping Hearts.Ivy Books. July 2002 [2002].ISBN 9780804119887.
Heart of Gold.Ivy Books. June 2003 [2003].ISBN 9780804119894.
An Unforgettable Lady.Ivy Books. March 2004 [2004].ISBN 9780345458957.
An Irresistible Bachelor.Ivy Books. March 2004 [2004].ISBN 9780345458964.
The St. Ambrose School for Girls.Gallery Books. July 2023. (as Jessica Ward).

The Moorehouse Legacy Series

Beauty and the Black Sheep.Silhouette. July 2005 [2005].ISBN 9780373246984.
His Comfort and Joy.Silhouette. January 2006 [2006].ISBN 9780373247325.
From The First.Silhouette. April 2006 [2006].ISBN 9780373247509.
A Man in a Million.Silhouette. January 2007 [2007].ISBN 9780373248032.

The O'Banyon Brothers Series

The Billionaire Next Door.Silhouette. August 2007 [2007].ISBN 9780373248445.

Omnibus

From the First / What are Friends for?.2002.

Collections in collaboration

"Plain Jane's Secret Life / Beauty and the Black Sheep" (2005) (withCathy Gillen Thacker)
"The Billionaire Next Door" inMistress: Taken by the Tycoon(2009) (withJan ColleyandKristi Gold)

As J. R. Ward

Black Dagger Brotherhood Universe

The Black Dagger Brotherhood

Dark Lover.Penguin. September 2005 [2005].ISBN 9780451216953.
Lover Eternal.Signet. March 2006 [2006].ISBN 9780451218049.
Lover Awakened.Signet. September 2006 [2006].ISBN 9780451219367.
Lover Revealed.Onyx. March 2007 [2007].ISBN 9780451412355.
Lover Unbound.Signet. September 2007 [2007].ISBN 9780451222350.
Lover Enshrined.Signet. June 2008 [2008].ISBN 9780451222725.
Lover Avenged.NAL. April 2009 [2009].ISBN 9780451225856.
Lover Mine.NAL. May 2010 [2010].ISBN 9780451229854.
Lover Unleashed.NAL. March 2011 [2011].ISBN 9780451233165.
Lover Reborn.NAL. March 2012 [2012].ISBN 9780451235848.
Lover at Last.NAL. March 2013 [2013].ISBN 9780451239358.
The King.NAL. April 2014 [2014].ISBN 9780451417053.
The Shadows.NAL. March 2015 [2015].ISBN 9780451417077.
The Beast.NAL. April 2016 [2016].ISBN 9780451475169.
The Chosen.Ballantine Books. April 2017 [2017].ISBN 9780451475190.
The Thief.Ballantine Books. April 2018 [2018].ISBN 9780451475213.
The Savior.Gallery Books. April 2019 [2019].ISBN 9781501194948.
The Sinner.Gallery Books. March 2020 [2020].ISBN 978-1501195099.
Lover Unveiled.Gallery Books. April 20, 2021 [2021].ISBN 9781501195129.
Lover Arisen.Gallery Books. April 2022
Lassiter.Gallery Books. April 2023 ISBN 0349430861
The Beloved. Gallery Books. April 2024
Lover Forbidden. Gallery Books. September 2025

Christmas Novels

Where Winter Finds You: A Caldwell Christmas.Pocket Books. November 2019 [2019].ISBN 9781982135478.
A Warm Heart in Winter: A Caldwell Christmas.Pocket Books. December 2020 [2020].ISBN 9781982159702.
A Bloom in Winter: A Caldwell Christmas.Gallery Books. November 2024

Novellas

"Father Mine: Zsadist and Bella's Story" (October 2008) – ebook
"The Story of Son" (inDead After Darkanthology) (December 2008)
"Dearest Ivie" (March 2018) – ebook
"Prisoner of Night" (January 2019) – ebook
"Darius" (prequel) (September 2023)

Supplement

Ward, J. R. (October 2008) [2008].The Black Dagger Brotherhood: An Insider's Guide.Penguin.ISBN 978-0-451-22500-9.
The Black Dagger Brotherhood: An Insider’s Guide Volume 2.(December 2025)

Omnibus

Black Dagger Brotherhood,box set:Dark Lover,Lover Eternal,Lover Awakened,Lover Unbound,Lover Revealed,Lover Enshrined(2009)

Fallen Angels Series

Same universe but takes place in an earlier timeline.

Covet.Signet. September 2009 [2009].ISBN 978-0-451-22821-5.
Crave.Signet. October 2010 [2010].ISBN 978-0-451-22944-1.1
Envy.Signet. September 2011 [2011].ISBN 978-0-349-40020-4.
Rapture.NAL. September 2012 [2012].ISBN 978-074-995-700-1.
Possession.NAL. October 2013 [2013].ISBN 978-045-124-019-4.
Immortal.NAL. October 2014 [2014].ISBN 978-045-124-116-0.

Black Dagger Legacy

Spin-off series that details the trainees.

Blood Kiss.Signet. December 2015 [2015].ISBN 978-0-451-47532-9.
Blood Vow.Ballantine Books. December 2016 [2016].ISBN 978-0-451-47533-6.
Blood Fury.Ballantine Books. January 2018 [2018].ISBN 978-0-451-47534-3.
Blood Truth.Gallery Books. August 2019 [2019].

Black Dagger Brotherhood: Prison Camp

The Jackal.Gallery Books. August 2020 [2020].ISBN 978-1-501-19508-2.
The Wolf.Gallery Books. November 16, 2021 [2021].ISBN 978-1-982-17987-8
The Viper.Gallery Books. September 20, 2022
Brother of Fire: Lost Dagger Society 1.Gallery Books. 2025

Lair of the Wolven

Claimed.Pocket Books. June 29, 2021 [2021].ISBN 978-1-982-15037-2.
Forever.Pocket Books. March 28, 2023 [2023].ISBN 978-1-982-18020-1.
Mine.Pocket Books. January 23, 2024 [2024].

The Bourbon Kings

The Bourbon Kings.Berkley. July 2015 [2015].ISBN 978-0-451-47526-8.
The Angel's Share.Berkley. July 2016 [2016].ISBN 978-0-451-47528-2.
Devil's Cut.Ballantine Books. August 2017 [2017].ISBN 978-0-451-47530-5.

Firefighters

Consumed.Gallery Books. October 2018 [2018].ISBN 978-1-501-19490-0.

Novella

"The Wedding from Hell" (3-Part ebook prequel forConsumed)-July–August 2018

The Kingdoms of the Compass

Untitled Book 1 (Winter, 2026)

Collections in collaboration

"The Story of Son" inDead After Dark(2008) (withSherrilyn Kenyon,Susan Squires,Dianna Love)
"Dark Lover" inBlood Lust 6(2010) (withMaryJanice Davidson,Christine Feehan)
"Lover Awakened" inBlood Sample 7(2010) (withMaryJanice Davidson,Laurell K Hamilton,Charlaine Harris,Katie MacAlister)

Awards and reception

2006 – RT Book Reviews Reviewers Choice Award for Best Vampire Romance forLover Awakened^[8]
2006 - RT Book Reviews Reviewers Choice Award for Best Vampire Romance forLover Unbound^[8]
2007 - Romance Writers of America RITA Award for Best Short Contemporary Romance forFrom the First^[9]
2008 - P.E.A.R.L. (Paranormal Excellence Award for Romantic Literature) for Best Vampire Romance forLover Enshrined
2008 - Romance Writers of America RITA Award for Best Paranormal Romance forLover Revealed^[9]
2009 - P.E.A.R.L. (Paranormal Excellence Award for Romantic Literature) for Best Overall Paranormal Romance AND Best Vampire Romance forLover Avenged
2010 – Goodreads Choice Award Winner for Best Romance forLover Mine^[8]
2011 – Goodreads Choice Award Winner for Best Romance forLover Unleashed^[8]
2011 – RT Book Reviews Reviewers Choice Award for Best Vampire Romance forLover Unleashed^[8]
2013 – Goodreads Choice Award Winner for Best Romance forLover at Last^[8]

References

^"Voter Information Center".
^^a ^b ^c ^d ^e"Weddings; Jessica Bird, Neville Blakemore",New York Times,October 7, 2001,retrieved2007-11-14
^"Jessica Bird's Bio at eHarlequin".Harlequin Enterprises Limited. Archived fromthe originalon 2010-02-01.Retrieved2010-10-17.
^^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^fAlice, Kris (September 2004),Jessica Bird,A Romance Review, archived fromthe originalon 2016-03-03,retrieved2007-11-14
^^a ^bGentle, Dee (January 2006),An Interview with J.R. Ward,PNR Paraphrenalia, archived fromthe originalon 2007-11-10,retrieved2007-11-14
^RITA Awards: Past Winners,Romance Writers of America,2007, archived fromthe originalon 2007-09-27,retrieved2007-11-14
^"Author Profile: Jessica Bird".Romantic Times. 2007. Archived fromthe originalon 2007-12-30.Retrieved2007-11-14.
^^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f"Awards for J.R. Ward".www.fictiondb.com.Retrieved19 April2018.
^^a ^b"myRWA: RITA Awards: RITA Award Winners".www.rwa.org.Archived fromthe originalon 9 January 2016.Retrieved19 April2018.

External links

Jessica Bird Official site Archived2018-06-20 at theWayback Machine
J. R. Ward's Official Site
BookPage interview with JR Ward
J. R. Wardat theInternet Speculative Fiction Database

[1] "Voter Information Center".

[nyt-2] "Weddings; Jessica Bird, Neville Blakemore",New York Times,October 7, 2001,retrieved2007-11-14

[eHarlequin-3] "Jessica Bird's Bio at eHarlequin".Harlequin Enterprises Limited. Archived fromthe originalon 2010-02-01.Retrieved2010-10-17.

[alice-4] Alice, Kris (September 2004),Jessica Bird,A Romance Review, archived fromthe originalon 2016-03-03,retrieved2007-11-14

[gentle-5] Gentle, Dee (January 2006),An Interview with J.R. Ward,PNR Paraphrenalia, archived fromthe originalon 2007-11-10,retrieved2007-11-14

[rita-6] RITA Awards: Past Winners,Romance Writers of America,2007, archived fromthe originalon 2007-09-27,retrieved2007-11-14

[7] "Author Profile: Jessica Bird".Romantic Times. 2007. Archived fromthe originalon 2007-12-30.Retrieved2007-11-14.

[fdb-8] "Awards for J.R. Ward".www.fictiondb.com.Retrieved19 April2018.

[rwa.org-9] "myRWA: RITA Awards: RITA Award Winners".www.rwa.org.Archived fromthe originalon 9 January 2016.Retrieved19 April2018.

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Jessica Rowley Pell Bird Blakemore
Born	Jessica Rowley Pell Bird (1969-04-19)April 19, 1969(age 55)^[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 2007From the First RITA award – Best Paranormal Romance 2008Lover Revealed
Spouse	John Neville Blakemore III (2001–present)
Website
www.jessicabird.com