Diane Merrill Wigginton

Diane Merrill Wigginton (born 1963 in Riverside, California) is a bestselling, award-winning author of historical romance, suspense, and children's fiction. Raised in San Diego and inspired by summers on her grandparents’ Idaho ranch, she developed a deep love for animals, nature, and rich storytelling. After marrying in 1998, Diane and her husband settled on a rural ranch in Herald, California, raising a blended family of six children while she pursued a career and nurtured her creative passions.

Her debut novel, Angelina’s Secret (Jeweled Dagger Series, Book One), jointly won the Silver Benjamin Franklin Award in 2017 and marked her entry into publishing in her 50s. Since then, she has published five novels and one children’s book, including Isabella’s Heart, Olivia’s Promise, Lara’s Story, and A Compromising Position. Lara’s Story captured Reader’s Favorite First Place in Historical Fiction in 2019, while A Compromising Position earned multiple honors in 2023, including the International Firebird Book Award (Suspense Romance) and the Outstanding Creator Romance award.

Diane’s stories are known for immersive historical settings, well-rounded heroines, and unexpected suspense woven into emotionally resonant narratives. Her scope ranges from 18th-century London intrigue and 19th-century immigrant struggles to contemporary political thrillers.

Now living in Kalispell, Montana—near Glacier National Park—she writes full-time and enjoys spending time as a grandmother to eleven grandchildren. Diane remains active in writing communities and has been featured on multiple platforms, inspiring aspiring authors through her own late-in-life success.