Shirley Ann Wilder

From the time she could hold a pencil, Shirley Ann Wilder wrote stories. Being the youngest of six children, she was overlooked many times but found wonder and magic in reading books. As a youngster she was especially fond of horse books and read every one of Walter Farley’s Black Stallion books. That passion for horses carried over into her adult life, and with her husband and four children,she raised Quarter horses and German Shepherds. Shirley’s other passion was writing, but it was put on hold until her three sons and daughter were in high school. ABOUT After developing a severe allergy to the equine species and having to give up the major part of horse involvement, Shirley wrote a weekly column for a community newspaper and a monthly column entitled “On the Wilder Side” for the California Horseman’s News in which she recounted the humorous episodes that happened during the Wilder family’s horse era. Shirley also published in college literary magazines, but her real quest was to write novels. After amassing several unfinished manuscripts, a writing instructor suggested she join Romance Writers of America. Taking that advice, she became a member of the local San Diego RWA chapter and has since completed more than six novels. She served on the Executive Board as Co-President of RWA- San Diego for 2006 and 2007 and held several other chair positions. She credits her fellow writers for the support and encouragement that has kept her writing during recent difficult times. Shirley Ann was widowed in January of 2008 when her husband died of stage four colon cancer after battling it bravely for three years and four months. Two of her grown children live near her in suburbs of San Diego. The eldest and youngest sons live out of state. Shirley Ann is blessed with four granddaughters and one grandson. Since her husband’s death, Shirley has become an advocate for colonoscopies and is working on a non-fiction book about the grieving process and all one encounters when suffering the loss of a mate. “John was my hero and I will miss him forever, but he always encouraged me to keep writing and to stay strong.”