Wendy Wax

Wendy Wax writes novels that beautifully explore themes of friendship, self-discovery, and life’s many challenges, all sprinkled with a warm touch of humor. She takes pride in all her books, but she’s perhaps best known for her “Ten Beach Road” series, which includes the USA Today bestsellers Ten Beach Road and The House on Mermaid Point. Another favorite among readers is While We Were Watching Downton Abbey.

Wendy was born in St. Petersburg, Florida, and grew up on St. Pete Beach, just a stone’s throw from the Gulf of Mexico. She attended Sunshine Elementary School, where recess and art classes often happened right on the beach. One of the most memorable events each year was the annual fish broil, a tradition that surely added to the laid-back charm of her childhood.

Despite this easygoing environment, Wendy admits she has a type-A streak. She was so determined to read before starting school that she convinced a neighbor to teach her at age five and she hasn’t stopped reading since. Books have always been one of her greatest joys and the perfect form of escape, profoundly shaping her life.

Wendy went on to study at the University of Georgia, inspired by her many readings of Gone with the Wind. She re-read Margaret Mitchell’s classic almost every year, caught the movie whenever it played nearby, and could even recite large parts from memory. Today, she has a growing collection of Gone with the Wind memorabilia and treasures the experience of speaking at the Margaret Mitchell House.

Before fully dedicating herself to writing, Wendy worked in radio, television, and film. Like Olivia in 7 Days and Seven Nights, she has experience with live talk radio. In the 1980s, she hosted a show called Desperate & Dateless. While she never had the extreme experience of being locked in an apartment with a webcam running, as Olivia did, she did find love. Her husband, who works as a financial consultant, understands the practical side of life and is quite different from the fictional Matt Ransom. Wendy and her husband live in Atlanta with their two sons.