J. R. Ward is the pseudonym for Jessica Bird. Bird attended Smith College where she double majored in history and art history, concentrating on medieval period. She then received a law degree from Albany Law School.
She was first published in 2002 with her romance novel entitled, Leaping Hearts. The Romance Writers of America awarded her the RITA Award for Best Short Contemporary Romance in 2007 for her novel From the First.
With the name of J.R. Ward she has authored the "Black Dagger Brotherhood" Series. Her latest book---published in April 2009, Lover Avenged ---is the seventh book in that series.
(Bowker Author Biography)