Today we’d like to introduce you to Arielle Ford.
Hi Arielle, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
If you had told me 30 years ago that I’d publish my first novel in my 70s, I would have laughed you out of the room. Back then, I was running a high-flying PR firm in Los Angeles, working with luxury hotels, art galleries, and clients on Rodeo Drive. My life was fast, glamorous, and busy—until I had the realization that I only wanted to work with people and projects that were “good for the planet.”
That shift changed everything. It led me straight into the heart of the personal growth world, where I became a publicist to some of the biggest names of the era—Deepak Chopra, Wayne Dyer, Marianne Williamson, Louise Hay. I became known as the go-to person for helping authors and thought leaders share their ideas with the world.
And then came the first book I never intended to write. While working on the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, which I helped launch, I was invited to co-author a special edition. But when my favorite mystical “woo-woo” stories were cut, I walked away. A friend who was a literary agent found my draft, sold it to Penguin without my knowledge, and suddenly handed me a big advance check. Hot Chocolate for the Mystical Soul was born, evolving into a full series and kickstarting a new career as an author. Since then, I’ve published 11 nonfiction books.
But the biggest twist of all was in my personal life. In my early 40s, I had a moment of clarity: “Holy shit! I forgot to get married!” I had the thriving PR firm, the great friends, the Beverly Hills condo, the sports car. Life was good—but I was missing a partner. So, I did what I always do: I made a plan. I wrote down nine pages of notes on how I had manifested my business and then applied those principles to my love life. And it worked. At 44, I married the love of my life.
Once friends heard about my “manifesting love system,” they begged me to share it. That turned into cassette tapes, then into a book deal with a six-figure advance, and before I knew it, I was out there teaching workshops, writing columns for newspapers, and inadvertently becoming a “love expert.” It was never part of my plan—but life had bigger breadcrumbs for me to follow.
Fiction, however, was never on my vision board. But one day, a story started playing in my head—set in Rishikesh, India, a place I adore. I ignored it until two things happened: I took a Dan Brown MasterClass.com on writing thrillers, and I manifested a first-class plane ticket to India. That trip brought the story to life. Five and a half years later, after learning fiction from scratch, my debut novel, The Love Thief, was ready.
This summer, at 70+, The Love Thief hit shelves. It’s been described as Eat Pray Love meets Dirty John—a story about betrayal, healing, love, and revenge set against the spiritual backdrop of India (my happy place) and San Diego (my home). Almost every character is inspired by real people I’ve known, including women whose hearts were broken by sociopaths and a wise female guru who happens to be a dear friend. The villain? Let’s just say he’s very real, no longer a threat to anyone.
Now, there are conversations underway to make The Love Thief into a streaming series. My dream pick for the lead? Kristen Bell. Will I write another novel? Only if a new story arrives fully formed in my head and a publisher offers me a juicy advance. Writing this book was the hardest thing I’ve ever done—but also the most rewarding.
And maybe my ability to reinvent myself over and over again comes down to something I inherited from my parents. I like to joke that I’m a “Nepo Baby”—not in the Hollywood sense, but in the truest way. My dad didn’t hand me a trust fund, but he gave me something much better: fierce love, old-school values, and a Rolodex full of possibilities. He pushed me when I floundered, made phone calls when I needed a lifeline, and taught me the value of hard work, good politics, and service to others. He was the original breadcrumb layer in my life, always reminding me that being a good citizen means doing good.
And then there was my mom—an entrepreneur who shattered glass ceilings long before the phrase even existed. She became the first woman in the world to head her own Lloyd’s of London syndicate. She always told me, “You can do anything you put your index finger to,” and she was right. In her “spare time,” she flew airplanes and threw the best parties. Watching her live boldly and unapologetically taught me that nothing—absolutely nothing—was out of reach.
My secret to a career that’s taken me from PR powerhouse to bestselling love author to novelist in my 70s? Simple: follow the breadcrumbs. If it feels fun and a little magical, say yes. The rest always figures itself out.
Hi Arielle, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I have had many major challenges and all of them eventually turned out to be the BEST thing that ever happened to me. In 1984 I was lured out of a job I loved, promised the sun, the stars, and the moon, to be the PR and Membership Director for a very high-end yacht club in Miami. 90 days later I was blindsided when I was fired by the club owner. The GM I reported to confided in me he would soon be leaving the Club to operate a new luxury hotel in Coconut Grove and if I could wait six months I would be his head of PR with a great salary and lots of perks. The dilemma was, what do I do for six months? I had been to Beverly HIlls once and found it fascinating so I decided I would move there and see what Magic I could make happen knowing that if it didn’t work out, I had a cushy job waiting for me back home. On September 12, 1984 I flew to LAX, picked up my Rent-A-Wreck car and began my amazing ne life. WIthin 3 weeks I had a fabulous job, fabulous apartment in Brentwood and a new best friend. 15 years later I ran into the ex-wife of the man wo had lured me into the Yacht Club and I made her promise to tell her EX Mille Grazie for firing me — it was the best thing (up until that point in my life) that had ever happened to me. (I have a few more stories in this vein)
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about The Ford Group, Inc?
I shut down the business in 2005 and since then went on to become a full time author/speaker / expert.
About Arielle Ford
Arielle Ford is a leading personality in the personal growth and contemporary spirituality movement. For the past 30 years she has been living, teaching, and promoting consciousness through all forms of media. She is a celebrated love and relationship expert, author, and speaker. Her mission is to help people Find Love, Keep Love, and Be Love.
Recognized as the book publicist who launched some of the world’s top self-help and spiritual authors in the 1990’s, including Deepak Chopra, Wayne Dyer, Marianne Williamson, Neale Donald Walsch, Louise Hay, don Miquel Ruiz, her sister, the late Debbie Ford, the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, and many others, she retired from book marketing in 2007.
Arielle is the author of 11 non-fiction books including The Hot Chocolate for the Mystical Soul series, the international bestseller The Soulmate Secret: Manifest the Love of your Life with the Law of Attraction and others including Turn Your Mate into Your Soulmate: A Practical Guide to Happily Ever After and Wabi Sabi Love: The Ancient Art of Finding Perfect Love in Imperfect Relationships.
Her 12th book and debut novel, The Love Thief, Hay House, July 22, 2025) is The Love Thief, a story of love, betrayal, and unexpected transformation with a juicy revenge sub-plot and a surprise ending. (and, it’s inspired by actual events!)
This is a roller coaster ride of love lost and found that will surprise and delight any romantic. When creative, food-loving Chef Holly gets swept off her feet by the handsome and sophisticated man of her dreams, she cannot help but be blindsided by the betrayal that follows. Her journey into the depths of self-doubt are not only soul-crushing, but edge-of-your-seat suspenseful, as she discovers a devastating, hidden truth about her former fiancée. With her future hanging in the balance, she finds herself transported to–and deeply transformed by–India’s most sacred city, Rishikesh. And, in the end karma reigns supreme.
Sheri Salata former Executive Producer of The Oprah Show says:
“The Love Thief is a rip-rollicking spiritual love story that leaves you gasping with all the feels and clamoring for the sequel. Complete with a narcissist villain and magnetic healers and sages, what a tale Arielle Ford has cooked up as she guides us on a delicious trip to magical India. The Love Thief is a must read.”
The Love Thief is being developed into a streaming series by a top Hollywood producer Suzanne Todd, who says this book is “Eat, Pray, Love meets Dirty John.
Arielle has been called “The Cupid of Consciousness” and “The Fairy Godmother of Love.” She lives in La Jolla, CA with her husband/soulmate, Brian Hilliard and their feline friends.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
My classic line about San Diego is this: “The only way I am leaving San Diego is in a body bag. I love it here!”
For me, San Diego is paradise. I love the people, the weather, the variety of music (Rady Shell!), theater (La Jolla Playhouse! The Globe!), culture, Balboa Park, Petco Park (go Padres!), and beaches. hiking trails, food…I love it all!
What I don’t like is the difficult and expensive parking in La Jolla and Little Italy and Gaslamp.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.arielleford.com
- Instagram: @arielle_author
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/soulmatesecret
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/arielleford
Image Credits
Jeremiah Sullivan for headshot
