Lori Wilde

Lori Wilde – Life, Career, and Memorable Insights

Discover the life and work of Lori Wilde — American romance novelist, former nurse, author of dozens of bestselling novels. Explore her journey, themes, awards, and lessons.

Introduction

Lori Wilde (born Laurie Blalock) is an American author best known for her prolific output in the contemporary romance genre. Over decades, she has written dozens of novels and earned accolades, building a large and loyal readership. Her life story—from balancing nursing to writing, to achieving bestseller status—offers inspiration for aspiring authors and romance readers alike.

Early Life, Background & Writing Beginnings

Lori Wilde was born Laurie Blalock in Texas, United States.

At sixteen, she submitted a story to Alfred Hitchcock Magazine. Though it was rejected, she was encouraged by a handwritten note to keep writing.

Meanwhile, Wilde pursued nursing as a practical career. She chose it partly because it provided a schedule flexible enough to allow time for writing on the side.

A pivotal moment came in 1994, when she sold her second completed novel to Silhouette Romance, writing under the pseudonym Laura Anthony.

Career, Works & Achievements

Pseudonym & Early Novels

Under the name Laura Anthony, Wilde published a sequence of category romances. These early works helped her develop her voice and gain industry foothold. Raleigh and the Rancher, Second Chance Family, Undercover Honeymoon, Look-A-Like Bride, Baby Business, I Married the Boss, and others.

Under Laura Anthony, one of her novels became a finalist for the Romance Writers of America RITA Award.

Writing as Lori Wilde

Eventually, she adopted the pen name Lori Wilde for her romance work.

Some notable single titles include License to Thrill, As You Like It, Gotta Have It, Shockingly Sensual, Saving Allegheny Green, Destiny’s Hand, You Only Love Twice, The Right Stuff, Sweet Surrender, High Stakes Seduction, Intoxicating, and many more.

She has also created multiple romance series, such as:

• The Bachelors of Bear Creek

• Cooper Sister series

• Wedding Veil Wishes series (which was later adapted into Hallmark movies)

• Perfect Anatomy series, Eros Vacations, Twilight, Texas, Texas Rascals, Jubilee, Texas, among others.

Her output is prolific: by some counts she has published over 90 (or more) works of romantic fiction.

Awards, Recognition & Bestseller Status

• Lori Wilde is a New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestselling author.

• She has been nominated three times for the RWA RITA Award.

• She has won multiple awards such as the Colorado Award of Excellence, More than Magic Award, Wisconsin Right Touch, Laurel Wreath, Desert Rose Golden Quill, and the Lories.

• In 2007, she was honored as a distinguished alumna by Weatherford College.

• Some of her books have appeared on bestseller lists for multi-weeks (e.g., The First Love Cookie Club was on USA Today and NYT lists for five weeks).

Themes, Style & Audience

Wilde’s novels typically center on romantic relationships, with emotional arcs, humor, conflict, and redemption. She often balances passion and warmth, tension and resolution.

Her earlier works in category romance sharpened her skill at delivering satisfying romantic arcs under tight constraints. Later, in single-title and series work, she had more space to develop characters, settings, and subplots.

Her Wedding Veil Wishes series, with its romantic, small-town, familial settings and strong heroines, resonated sufficiently to inspire Hallmark movies.

Personality & Authorial Philosophy

From interviews, biographical notes, and her “About” pages, several elements of Wilde’s authorial ethos and personality are evident:

• Persistence & resilience: She wrote for years despite rejection (especially in short fiction) before breaking through with a novel sale.

• Balancing life & art: Her choice to become a nurse was pragmatic—but also strategic—so she could sustain financial stability while pursuing writing.

• Deep love of storytelling: She has said she “can’t remember a time when she didn’t want to write.”

• Comedy & heart in romance: She references discovering her flair for integrating humor into her romantic fiction, not just dramatic or passionate arcs.

• Giving readers emotional satisfaction: Like many romance authors, Wilde aims to provide payoff, hope, and emotional catharsis to readers who invest in characters’ journeys.

Famous Quotes & Excerpts

While Wilde is less quoted in the public domain than some mainstream authors, here are some statements and remarks attributed to her:

• “I can’t remember a time when I didn’t want to write.”

• On her nursing and writing balance: she explained that nursing was a job that “allowed her a schedule flexible enough to write on the side.”

Additionally, in the domain of romance writing, many of her titles carry evocative taglines and lines that reflect her voice (for example: Racing Against the Clock, Shockingly Sensual, The First Love Cookie Club), though full, lasting quotations are less widely documented in free sources.

Lessons from Lori Wilde’s Journey

1. Patience and perseverance matter
   Years of rejections in short fiction didn’t deter her—but eventually, persistence led to breakthrough.

2. Parallel careers can sustain creative pursuit
   Her nursing career supported her financial and emotional stability while she built her writing career.

3. Write continuously, even when discouraged
   The many short stories she wrote—even though they were rejected—helped her hone craft and stamina.

4. Evolve as a writer
   Starting in category romance gave structure and discipline; later, single-title work allowed more freedom.

5. Connect emotionally with readers
   In romance, satisfying emotional arcs, chemistry, growth, and resolution are central. Wilde’s success is rooted in delivering those consistently.

6. Diversify output
   Series, stand-alone novels, collaborations, adaptation of her series into movies—all these expand reach and resilience in a volatile publishing world.

Conclusion

Lori Wilde’s story is one of sustained craft, dual dedication, and incremental momentum. From a nurse with a writing dream, she became a bestselling romance author whose work has touched millions, been translated widely, and inspired adaptations.