Lara Love Hardin Books In Order

Publication Order of Non-Fiction Books

About Lara Love Hardin

Lara Love Hardin is a celebrated novelist renowned for her exceptional storytelling abilities. Her extensive array of awards showcases her talent for weaving intricate tales that captivate readers from start to finish. Hardin excels in the art of character creation, skillfully crafting protagonists that are not only relatable but also deeply compelling. This knack for character development makes her books a delightful journey for anyone who dives into her fictional worlds, as well as real-life.

One of Hardin’s notable achievements as an author is her adeptness in drawing from true-life experiences to enrich her narratives. Collaborations with individuals such as Anthony Ray Hinton have allowed her to tell profoundly moving stories grounded in reality. Hinton’s own harrowing tale of spending three decades on Death Row for a crime he didn’t commit is brought to life through Hardin’s gifted writing. Her books inspired by real events resonate with authenticity, offering readers an immersive glimpse into the lives of others.

Furthermore, Lara Love Hardin has emerged as an influential figure in literature, thanks to her ability to create impactful narratives. Her storytelling doesn’t just entertain; it engages, pulling readers into the narrative and keeping them hooked until the very last page. This power to craft such compelling stories has solidified her place as a vital voice in her field.

Hardin continues to inspire and connect with readers through her well-crafted and engaging narratives, delivering tales that echo long after the final chapter is read.

Early and Personal Life

Lara Love Hardin’s multifaceted career as a literary agent, author, and president of True Literary is a testament to her lifelong appreciation for the written word. She also obtained her MFA in creative writing, a crucial step that honed her craft and allowed her passion for storytelling to flourish. With a background enriched by diverse literary roles, including her tenure as co-CEO of Idea Architects, she has cultivated a broad insight into the world of writing and publishing.

Balancing personal and professional life, Love Hardin resides in La Selva Beach, California, with her family and a bustling array of pets. Together with her husband, Sam, they nurture a lively household comprising four children, two stepchildren, and a menagerie that includes five dogs, three cats, a flock of twenty-one chickens, and four ducks. This vibrant home environment undoubtedly provides a wellspring of inspiration and joy that fuels her creative endeavors.

As a devoted advocate for prison reform, Love Hardin is not just committed to her craft but also to meaningful social causes. She co-founded The Gemma Project, an organization that upholds the values of integrity and compassion while serving incarcerated and formerly incarcerated women.

Through this work, Love Hardin’s experiences have undoubtedly enriched her perspective, adding depth to her as an individual and, by extension, to the characters and narratives she brings to life.

Writing Career

Throughout her career, Lara Love Hardin has achieved remarkable success as a collaborative writer, achieving four New York Times bestsellers to her name. Her work includes the widely acclaimed “#1 New York Times bestseller” ‘Designing Your Life’ (with Dave Evans and Bill Burnett) and ‘The Sun Does Shine,’ which was selected as an Oprah Book Club pick in 2018.

The latter, co-authored with Anthony Ray Hinton, poignantly recounts his wrongful incarceration on Alabama’s death row for three decades and has won widespread recognition and accolades.

Her writing prowess has been celebrated with a Christopher Award, affirming the uplifting nature of her narratives, while her work has also been nominated for an NAACP Image Award and short-listed for the Dayton Literary Peace Prize. The collective impact of her books, with over a million copies sold, underscores the significant footprint Love Hardin has left in the literary world thus far.

Recognized alongside notable figures like Nelson Mandela and John Gottman, her influence extends through multiple works that have earned her a place on both title pages and in acknowledgments as a valued contributor and writer.

The Sun Does Shine

‘The Sun Does Shine: How I Found Life and Freedom on Death Row’ is a collaborative memoir authored by Anthony Ray Hinton, and co-written by Lara Love Hardin, and includes a foreword written by Bryan Stevenson. Published by St. Martin’s Press on March 27, 2018, it was later nominated for the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Memoir & Autobiography in 2018.

Anthony Ray Hinton was wrongfully convicted of capital murder in Alabama in 1985, a victim of mistaken identity at twenty-nine. Facing a biased legal system, he received a death sentence and spent three years on Death Row in despair. His spirit eventually shifted, and over twenty-seven years, Hinton became a source of hope, positively influencing others even as executions occurred close by.

With assistance from attorney Bryan Stevenson, Hinton secured his freedom in 2015.

As a memoir it captures the emotional depth of Anthony Ray Hinton’s harrowing yet inspiring journey. The book’s powerful narrative invites deep reflection on the human spirit’s capacity for transformation under unthinkable circumstances.

It’s a compelling read that has left a lasting impact on those who journey through its pages.

The Many Lives of Mama Love

Penned by Lara Love Hardin, this was released on August 1, 2023. The memoir is a standalone memoir, brought to the shelves through Simon & Schuster. Deeply personal, it speaks to Lara’s own troubles in the past, and how she overcame them.

Lara Love Hardin, a suburban mother living in a spacious home, faces an unexpected turn when police uncover her involvement in theft to support her heroin addiction. After her conviction with thirty-two felonies, she adapts to the complex social hierarchy of jail life, eventually becoming a key figure among the inmates, instilling positivity and change.

Beyond her incarceration, Lara transforms into a successful ghostwriter, collaborating with notable figures and cultivating a new, legitimate existence. However, she must confront the lingering effects of her past deeds and learn self-forgiveness to truly move forward.

This memoir stands out with its raw, honest account of personal downfall and the resilient journey towards redemption and self-discovery. Lara Love Hardin offers a story of profound transformation that truly resonates.