Picture an American storyteller who weaves heartwarming tales of love and family against breathtaking backdrops—meet Susan Wiggs! With a knack for crafting historical and contemporary romance novels, Wiggs has captured readers’ hearts worldwide, earning multiple RITA Awards for her evocative storytelling. From the cozy Catskills of the Lakeshore Chronicles to the sun-drenched orchards of the Bella Vista Chronicles, her stories are like a warm hug on a chilly evening.
Born on May 17, 1958, Wiggs’s journey from a curious child scribbling stories to a New York Times bestselling author is as captivating as her novels. With over 70 books and millions of copies in print, she’s a romance genre titan, blending rich characters with settings that feel like home.
The Making of Susan Wiggs
Susan Wiggs’s love for storytelling sparked early. At eight, she penned her first novel, A Book About Some Bad Kids, a playful hint of her future flair. A Harvard graduate, she briefly traded her writing dreams for a career as a math teacher, but her passion for romance novels never waned. In 1983, after running out of books to read, she began writing again, crafting her debut novel, Texas Wildflower, published by Zebra Books in 1987. By 1992, she left teaching to write full-time, a leap that launched her prolific career.
Susan Wiggs’s Unforgettable Stories
Wiggs’s novels are a masterclass in romance, blending heartfelt emotion with vivid settings. Her Lakeshore Chronicles, set in the fictional town of Avalon in the Catskills, follows the Bellamy family through love, loss, and second chances. The series’ first book, Summer at Willow Lake (2006), introduces Olivia Bellamy, who renovates a crumbling resort while uncovering family secrets. Its Hallmark Channel adaptation brought Wiggs’s storytelling to new audiences.
The Bella Vista Chronicles transports readers to a lush California orchard. In The Apple Orchard (2012), Tess Delaney discovers a half-sister and inherits a farm, sparking a journey of family and romance. Wiggs’s historical romance shines in The Calhoun Chronicles, with The Charm School (1999) earning a RITA Award for its spirited heroine and 19th-century setting. Her prose, praised by Publishers Weekly for its “refreshingly honest emotion,” weaves themes of resilience and connection, making every story unforgettable.
Wiggs’s versatility spans eras and genres, from Tudor England in the Tudor Rose Trilogy to modern women’s fiction like The Lost and Found Bookshop (2020). Her ability to revisit characters across connected novels keeps readers coming back for more.
Why Susan Wiggs Matters
Susan Wiggs’s impact on romance literature is undeniable. Her three RITA Awards—for Lord of the Night (1993), The Charm School (2000), and Lakeside Cottage (2006)—cement her as a genre luminary. Her stories, translated into over 30 languages, resonate globally, celebrating love’s power to heal and unite. By adapting novels like The Secrets of Bella Vista into TV movies, Wiggs has expanded her reach, inviting new fans to her world. Her focus on family, community, and emotional depth makes her work timeless, inspiring readers to cherish their own connections.
- Born: May 17, 1958
- Key Works: Lakeshore Chronicles, Bella Vista Chronicles, The Calhoun Chronicles
- Awards: Three RITA Awards, Romantic Times Career Achievement Award
- Fun Fact: She commutes to her writers’ group in a 17-foot motorboat!
Ready to fall in love with Susan Wiggs’s world? Grab Summer at Willow Lake or The Apple Orchard and dive into her heartwarming romance today!