Brenda Jackson

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Brenda Jackson
Born abt 1953
Jacksonville, Florida
Occupation Writer
Nationality American
Genres Romance

Brenda Jackson (b abt 1953) is an American novelist who writes contemporary multicultural romance novels. She was the first African-American author to have a novel published as part of the Silhouette Desire line, and has seen many of her novels reach the New York Times and USAToday Bestsellers lists.

Biography

Brenda Jackson was born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida.[1] She got married to Gerald, her high school sweetheart, in 1972 after graduating from high school.[2][3] She went on to earn a degree in business administration from Jacksonville University, and to expand their family by having two sons, Gerald Jr. and Brandon, who is a Political Officer in the US Foreign Service.[3]

To relieve job-related stress in the early 1990s, Jackson began reading romance novels. Although she enjoyed the novels, she was dissatisfied with the lack of cultural and ethnic diversity in the characters. After complaining to her husband that she could do better, he registered her for a romance writers conference and encouraged her to try her hand at writing. At the conference, Jackson met then-unpublished authors Francis Ray and Rochelle Alers and became inspired to write.[1]

Jackson was determined to write novels that are multicultural romances, featuring African-American characters, that "convey the belief that love is every[where]."[2] Her first novel, Tonight and Forever was published in 1995.[2] This and the next few books followed the fictional Madaris brothers, giving Jackson an opportunity to portray professional African-American men who were both "appreciative and respectful of women."[1] Her heroes are in many ways inspired by her husband, whom she considers to be "a very strong African-American male [who] is supportive and centers his life around his family."[1]

In 2001, Jackson released her first mainstream women's fiction novel, A Family Reunion. As with her previous romance novels, this book contains a "sexy spark," as well as Jackson's familiar "polished and confident" writing style, which allows her "characters [to] burst with color right off the page."[4] The following year, in 2002, she became the first African-American author to have a novel published as part of the Silhouette Desire line.[5]

Despite publishing 11 books in the first ten years of her writing career, as of 2005, Jackson considers writing to be her hobby, and she continues to work full-time as a manager at State Farm Insurance.[3]

Throughout her writing career, Jackson has written for several publishers, including St.Martins Press, BET, Kensington, NAL, Harlequin/Silhouette and Harlequin Kimani Romance.

Recognition

Jackson has received awards and made accomplishments by being the first African-American author to have a book published under the Harlequin/Silhouette Desire line of books and the first African-American romance author to make USA Today's Bestsellers List and to make the New York Times Bestsellers List.[1]

Jackson is the recipient of the RWA Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award 2012, the highest honor bestowed by RWA in recognition of significant contributions to the romance genre. Additionally, she received the Sara Blocker Award 2012 from Florida Memorial University, the highest award given to a female for exceptional service to the university and for community service. Additional she was a "NAACP Image Award Nominee" 2012 for Outstanding Literary Fiction for her novel, A Silken Thread. She has won the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award and four of her books have been nominated for Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice.[6] One of her novels, One Special Moment, won the Reviewers' Choice Award in 1998 for Best Multicultural Romance.[7] She received twelve nominations at the Romance Slam Jam 2001's first annual Emma Awards, which recognize excellence in African-American literature. Jackson won in six of her categories, Favorite Hero, Favorite Author, Favorite Book of the Year, Favorite Sequel Continuing Book Series, Favorite Anthologies, and Favorite All-Nighter. The same year she also won the Romance In Color Award of Excellence for her novel Secret Love.[4]

Jackson is a member of the First Coast Chapter of Romance Writers of America. She retired after 37 years in management for a major insurance company.

Jackson has added film-maker to her list of superlatives when in 2011, as an Executive Producer, she released a movie based on her novella, "Truly Everlasting." This movie is based on her beloved Madaris Series novel. Partnering with her son, Gerald Jackson, Jr.'s film company - Five Alive Films, she released the movie, Truly Everlasting, to DVD in November 2011. The movie also included a soundtrack of 10 original songs by BreMaDa Productions, as well as the reissuance of a commemorative edition of the novel, Truly Everlasting. The movie was filmed in Jacksonville, Florida.

Bibliography

  • Tonight and Forever - September, 1995
  • A Valentine Kiss Anthology - Cupid’s Bow - February, 1996
  • Whispered Promises – August, 1996
  • Eternally Yours - October, 1997
  • One Special Moment - May 1998
  • Fire and Desire - August, 1999
  • Something to Celebrate Anthology (Truly Everlasting) - December 1999
  • Secret Love - January, 2000
  • True Love - September, 2000
  • Welcome to Leo's Anthology (Main Agenda) - November, 2000
  • Surrender – July 2000
  • Family Reunion – November, 2001
  • Perfect Timing – May, 2002
  • Perfect Fit - May 2003
  • Ties That Bind - November 2002
  • A Lover’s Touch – (an e-Harlequin on-line read) – October 2002
  • Delaney's Desert Sheikh - November 2002
  • The Living Large Anthology - Bare Essentials – January, 2003
  • The Best Man Anthology - Strictly Business – February, 2003
  • A Little Dare - September, 2003
  • The Savvy Sistahs – November, 2003
  • Thorn’s Challenge – December, 2003
  • A Whole Lotta Love – January 2004
  • The Midnight Hour – April, 2004
  • Scandal Between the Sheets - April, 2004
  • Stone Cold Surrender – August 2004
  • Let’s Get It On –The Playa’s Handbook – November, 2004
  • The Madaris Saga – BET’s Anniversary Collector’s Edition, November 2004. This 3-books-in-1 collection contains Tonight and Forever, Whispered Promises and Eternally Yours
  • Riding The Storm – December, 2004
  • Big Girls Don’t Cry – January, 2005
  • The All Night Man – February, 2005
  • Unfinished Business –April, 2005
  • Jared’s Counterfeit Fiancée, May 2005
  • Strictly-Confidential Attraction – September 2005
  • When You Least Expect It, September 2005
  • No More Playas, October 2005
  • The Chase Is On, November, 2005
  • Mr. Satisfaction, January 2006
  • Taking Care of Business, February 2006
  • The Durango Affair, May 2006
  • Never Too Late – May, 2006 (e-Harlequin on-line read)
  • Solid Soul (A Steele Novel) July 2006
  • Ian’s Ultimate Gamble, August 2006
  • Night Heat (A Steele Novel) September 2006
  • Beyond Temptation (A Steele Novel) - January 2007
  • What A Woman Wants - January 2007
  • Seduction, Westmoreland Style (A Westmoreland Novel) February 2007
  • Risky Pleasures (A Steele Novel) - April 2007
  • In Bed with Her Boss - August 2007
  • Stranded with the Tempting Stranger - October 2007
  • Slow Burn (A Madaris Novel) - November 2007
  • Spencer's Forbidden Passion (A Westmoreland Novel) December 2007
  • Taming Clint Westmoreland (Clint Westmoreland) – February 2008
  • Forever Mine Anthology (Includes Cupid’s Bow + 2 new stories, The Sweetest Taboo & Perfect Moments) – February 2008
  • Her Little Black Book – April 2008
  • Irresistible Forces (Taylor Steele) – May 2008
  • Cole’s Red-Hot Pursuit (Cole Westmoreland) – June 2008
  • Just Desserts – (Part of a 3-book Continuity Series, The Three Mrs. Fosters), July 2008
  • Winning The Race – NASCAR Holiday 3 – November 2008
  • The Object of His Protection – (Part of a 4-book Continuity Series, The Braddock’s Secret Son) November 2008
  • Quade’s Babies (Quade Westmoreland & Cheyenne Steele) – December 2008
  • Essence of Desire Anthology (Includes: Truly Everlasting + 2 new stories, The Makeover & Bound by Passion) – January 2009
  • Tall, Dark…Westmoreland (Reggie Westmoreland & Olivia Jeffries ) & (Book #1 of The Jeffries Family Series) – March 2009
  • Temperatures Rising – (Part of a 3-Book Continuity Series, Mother Nature Matchmaker) & (Book #2 of The Jeffries Family Series) May 2009
  • Some Like It Hot Special Collector’s 5-books-In-1 (Includes: Strictly Business/The Best Man; Main Agenda/Welcome To Leo’s; Irresistible Attraction/Let’s Get It On; The Hunter/The All Night Man & Extreme Satisfaction/Mr. Satisfaction – October 2008
  • A Taste of Passion (Luke Madaris) – June 2009
  • Intimate Seduction (Donovan Steele) – July 2009
  • One Night With A Wealthy Rancher – August 2009
  • Bachelor Untamed (Bachelor In Demand Series Book 1 - Uriel Lassiter's story) – October 2009
  • Westmoreland’s Way (Dillon Westmoreland) November 2009
  • Tis The Season …for Romance – Collection of 4-Brand New Stories including Uncle Corey Westmoreland’s story – December 2009
  • Wrapped In Pleasure – 2-in-1 Books; Reprint of Delaney’s Desert Sheikh (1st Westmoreland Series Book) + New Madaris Series Book (Sheikh Rasheed Valdemon), Seduced by A Stranger – January 2010
  • Hot Westmoreland Nights (Ramsey Westmoreland) – March 2010
  • Sensual Confessions (Blade Madaris) – April 2010
  • Spontaneous – (Jefferies Family Series #3) May 2010; Reprint November 2011 w/ Temptation
  • Hidden Pleasures (Galen Steele) – June 2010
  • In Too Deep (Part of 3-Books w/2-Novels-In-1 Continuity Series A Summer for Scandal) July 2010
  • Star of His Heart (Part of a 4-Book Continuity Series, Love In The Limelight) – August 2010
  • What A Westmoreland Wants (Gemma Westmoreland) – September 2010
  • Bachelor Unleashed (#2 Bachelor In Demand Series - Xavier Kane's story) – December 2010
  • A Silken Thread – March 2011 (NAACP IMAGE AWARD NOMINEE)
  • A Wife For A Westmoreland (Derringer Westmoreland) – April 2011
  • Inseparable (Reese Madaris) May 2011
  • The Proposal (Jason Westmoreland) June 2011
  • In The Doctor’s Bed (Part of a 4-Book Continuity Series, Hopewell General), August 2011
  • A Steele for Christmas (Eli Steele) – October 2011
  • Temptation (Part of the Texas Cattleman’s Club Continuity Series: The Showdown ) 2-in-1 includes Reprint of Spontaneous – November 2011
  • Bachelor Undone (Book #3 Bachelor In Demand Series - York Ellis) December 2011
  • Promises of Seduction (2-in-1 reissue – featuring Durango Affair and Ian’s Ultimate Gamble) January 2012
  • Private Arrangements (New Steele book featuring Jonas Steele) February 2012
  • Feeling the Heat (Micah Westmoreland) April 2012
  • Love Bites (anthology with Lori Foster, Catherine Mann, Jules Bennett and Virna DePaul - May 2012
  • Courting Justice (New Madaris novel featuring Peyton Mahoney & DeAngelo DiMeglio, friends of the Madaris Family) June 2012
  • Dreams of Forever (2-in-1 reissue featuring Seduction Westmoreland Style and Spencer’s Forbidden Passion) July 2012
  • All He Desires (Collection of special Brenda Jackson stories from Madaris Publishing; includes reissues from the Big Girl Series + 1 brand new story) September 2012
  • Texas Wild (Megan Westmoreland & Rico Claiborne) October 2012
  • One Winter's Night (Riley Westmoreland) December 2012

Awards

  • RWA Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award 2012
  • Sara Blocker Award 2012 - from Florida Memorial University, Miami, Florida
  • NAACP Image Award Nominee -Outstanding Literary Fiction - A Silken Thread 2012
  • CataNetwork Reviewer's Choice Award - Bachelor Undone 2011
  • African American Literary Award - The Proposal 2011
  • African American Literary Award - Hidden Pleasures 2010
  • Romance Writers of America Honor Roll of Bestselling Authors 2010
  • RT Book Reviews' Career Achievement Award for Series Romance 2010
  • Borders Multicultural Award - Taste of Passion - 2009
  • Romance Slam Jam's Emma's Trailblazer Career Achievement Award 2008
  • RT Book Reviewer Choice Award for Best Book in a Series - Stranded with the Tempting Stranger - 2007
  • Waldenbooks/Borders Best Multicultural Romance 2006 - An All Night Man
  • African American Literary - Best Romance Award 2006 - Solid Soul
  • Emma Award for Author of The Year 2006
  • Emma Award for Book of The Year 2006 - Unfinished Business
  • Emma Award for Favorite Sequel 2006 - Unfinished Business
  • Emma Award for Favorite Hero 2006 - Alex Maxwell from Unfinished Business
  • Emma Award for Favorite Heroine 2006 - Christy Madaris from Unfinished Business
  • Emma Award for Favorite Anthology 2006 - Big Girls Don't Cry
  • Emma Award for Favorite Novella 2006 - The Perfect Seduction from Big Girls Don't Cry
  • Emma Award for Favorite Steamy Romance 2006 - The Chase Is On
  • Emma Award for Author of the Year 2005
  • Best Multi-cultural Romance Book of the Year - The Midnight Hour
  • Best Multi-cultural Romance Author of the Year
  • Best St. Martins Romance of the Year - The Midnight Hour
  • Best Multi-cultural Fiction Book of the Year – The Playa’s Handbook
  • Best Romance of the Year 2001 - Surrender
  • All Time Favorite Romance Author 2001 - Brenda Jackson
  • The Best Multi-Cultural Romance Book of 2001 - Surrender
  • The Best Multi-Cultural Fiction Book of 2001 - Family Reunion
  • The Best Multi-Cultural Romance Author 2001 - Brenda Jackson
  • The Best Multi-Cultural Fiction Author 2001 - Brenda Jackson

See also

List of romantic novelists

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Coates, Jennifer (August 1, 2001). Author of the Month - Brenda Jackson "Author of the Month - Brenda Jackson". Romance in Color. Retrieved 2007-07-03. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Jackson, Brenda (1995). "Cameo/Excerpt: Tonight and Forever". Romantic Times. Retrieved 2007-07-03. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Hoahing, Cheryl A. (2005). "Cameo/Excerpt: Unfinished Business". Romantic Times. Retrieved 2007-07-03. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Henry, Shamaine (2001). "Cameo/Excerpt: A Family Reunion". Romantic Times. Retrieved 2007-07-03. 
  5. ↑ Jeffries, McKenna (2005). "Bodies in Motion Interview - Brenda Jackson". McKennaJeffries.Com. Retrieved 2007-07-03. 
  6. ↑ "Author Profile: Brenda Jackson". Romantic Times. 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-03. 
  7. ↑ "1998 Winners". Romantic Times. 1998. Archived from the original on 2007-06-13. Retrieved 2007-07-03. 

External links

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