Tamara Lush: From AP Correspondent to Award-Winning Novelist
Tamara Lush went from reporting on crime scenes to writing romance novels. After 30 years as a Florida journalist covering major events like mass shootings and environmental disasters, she turned to writing romance novels.
Tamara Lush lives on Florida’s sunny Gulf Coast. She spent most of her working life as a reporter with the Associated Press before making a bold career switch to become a full-time novelist. She now writes romance and cozy mysteries that keep readers hooked. Her years in journalism bring realism to her fiction, shaped by firsthand experience with real-life events.
You might recognize her byline from major news events or spot her name on bookstore shelves. Whether in news or fiction, Tamara Lush has made a name by telling impactful stories.
Who is Tamara Lush?
Tamara Lush started her journey at Emerson College, where she studied journalism. After graduation, she worked at several newspapers, honing her reporting skills and developing her direct writing style. Her strong reporting skills earned her a role as a Florida correspondent at the Associated Press.
For years, her days were filled with crime scenes, court hearings, and natural disasters. She interviewed people on their worst days and told their stories with accuracy and compassion. This training ground taught her how to craft narratives that grab attention and keep readers engaged—skills that would later serve her fiction writing.
Tamara stands out for switching from hard news to fiction writing in mid-life—something few journalists do. Few journalists make this leap, but she jumped with both feet and never looked back.
Author and Journalist
As a journalist, Tamara built her reputation on thorough reporting and clear writing. At the AP, she covered some of Florida’s biggest stories—like hurricanes, political campaigns, and even alligator attacks. She covered the Pulse nightclub shooting and the Parkland school massacre, events that require both sensitivity and unflinching accuracy.
As an author, she channels that same energy into creating page-turning fiction. Her romance novels bring characters to life with realistic dialogue and emotional depth. Her cozy mysteries draw on her crime reporting experience to create engaging puzzles.
This dual career path gives Tamara a unique voice. Her background in journalism keeps her writing tight, while fiction lets her dive deeper into emotions and relationships.
Career Journey
Tamara’s 30-year journalism career saw her byline on thousands of news stories. She covered Florida politics, environmental issues, and breaking news events that made national headlines.
Some of her most impactful work came during crisis moments. She reported from the scene of the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, where 49 people lost their lives. She also covered the aftermath of the Parkland school shooting, telling stories that helped readers understand both the tragedy and its broader implications.
Her environmental journalism was recognized with the George C. Polk Award for shedding light on Florida’s water crises, notably the harmful algal blooms affecting ecosystems and public health. This work required deep research and the ability to explain complicated scientific concepts in ways average readers could understand.
While building this impressive journalism portfolio, While still at the AP began writing fiction and published her first novel in 2015.
Notable Books
Tamara has created several beloved books across different genres:
- Hot Shade (2015)
- Tell Me a Story (2017)
- Constant Craving (2018)
- Cold Brew Corpse (2021)
- Best Women’s Erotica series
Achievements
Tamara’s trophy shelf holds awards from both her journalism and fiction careers:
- George C. Polk Award
- Romance Writers of America RITA Finalist
- Amtrak Writing Fellowship
- Amazon bestseller status
- Journalism awards
Personal Life
Tamara shares her Gulf Coast home with her husband and two dogs. She lives near Florida’s beaches, which inspire her writing.
When she’s not writing, she enjoys collecting vintage pulp fiction novels with their eye-catching covers. She has a soft spot for Sinatra-era jazz music that often plays in the background while she works. Her love of 1980s fashion adds color to her wardrobe and sometimes inspires character descriptions in her books.
Coffee plays a central role in her daily routine—not surprising for someone who wrote a mystery set in a coffee shop. She enjoys brewing different varieties and has even experimented with making her kombucha.
Today, her life is a big shift from her fast-paced journalism days, giving her more time to focus on creativity.
Is Tamara Lush Married?
Yes, Tamara Lush is married. She lives with her husband on Florida’s Gulf Coast, where they share their home with two dogs. While she mentions her husband in interviews, she keeps most details about their relationship private.
Her experience with romance in her own life likely informs the authentic relationship dynamics she creates in her novels. Many writers draw from personal understanding of love and partnership, even when the specific stories remain fictional.
The support of her spouse played a role in her successful career transition from journalism to fiction writing, as making such a significant professional change often requires a strong personal support system.
How Old is Tamara Lush?
Tamara Lush’s exact age isn’t publicly disclosed. Based on her career timeline, we can make an educated guess that she’s in her mid-50s. She completed college and began her journalism career in the early 1990s, putting in three decades of reporting work before pivoting to full-time fiction writing.
Age factors into her success story, as her mid-life career change shows how professional reinvention can happen at any stage. Many aspiring authors find inspiration in her willingness to pursue her passion for fiction after establishing herself in journalism.
This life experience gives her writing a depth that comes from decades of observing human behavior and societal trends firsthand through her reporting work.
Lifestyle, Hobbies, and Passions
Tamara lives a creative life surrounded by things that inspire her. Her home showcases her collection of vintage pulp fiction covers—those dramatically illustrated paperbacks from the mid-20th century that combined mystery, romance, and suspense. These artistic influences sometimes appear in her writing style.
She’s a fan of 1980s fashion, which adds flair to her wardrobe. The bold patterns and distinctive styles of that decade satisfy her artistic eye and occasionally inspire character descriptions.
Strong coffee fuels her writing sessions. As a true coffee enthusiast, she enjoys trying different brewing methods and bean varieties—knowledge she put to good use in her coffee shop mystery series.
She appreciates street art and local culture, often exploring her Gulf Coast community for creative inspiration. The Florida setting appears in various forms throughout her novels, showing her connection to her home state.
Jazz music, particularly from the Sinatra era, provides the soundtrack for many writing sessions. This musical preference reflects her appreciation for classic American cultural touchstones.
Where Tamara Lives?
Tamara makes her home on Florida’s Gulf Coast, an area known for beautiful beaches and a relaxed lifestyle that suits a writer’s needs. This location provides both inspiration for her Florida-set stories and a comfortable place to write them.
Before settling in her current home, she likely lived in various Florida locations during her AP career, possibly including Tampa and Orlando, where major news bureaus operate. Her college years at Emerson would have placed her in Boston temporarily.
Her home also doubles as her writing space, with spots set up just for working on her books. Many authors create personalized office spaces that support their creative routine, filled with books, research materials, and inspirational items.
The Gulf Coast setting appears in various forms throughout her fiction, showing how her physical surroundings influence her storytelling.
Tamara Lush Net Worth
While no official figures exist for Tamara Lush’s net worth, estimates based on her career path suggest a range between $500,000 and $1 million. This estimate considers her long journalism career with the Associated Press, subsequent book royalties, and likely investments.
Career journalists at major news organizations like the AP typically earn solid middle-class salaries that allow for saving and investment over time. Adding successful book publications creates additional revenue streams that can boost financial standing.
Authors with multiple books, like Tamara, earn money through sales, publishing deals, and rights licensing. Mid-list authors with Tamara’s publication history typically build gradually increasing income as their backlist (previously published books) continues to sell alongside new releases.
Her financial situation reflects her successful dual career path and smart transition from journalism to fiction writing.
Final Thoughts
Tamara Lush shows us what happens when journalism skills meet creative passion. Her shift from reporting hard news to writing novels proves that career changes can lead to new success at any stage of life.
Her Florida home continues to inspire stories that bring readers joy, quite a change from the often-difficult news she once covered. By following her creative instincts, she found a second career that lets her use her writing skills in fresh ways.
Want to experience her work? Pick up one of her romance novels or cozy mysteries at your local bookstore or online. You’ll discover how a former reporter’s eye for detail creates fiction that feels authentic and engaging.
