- Brenda Jackson
Infobox Writer
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name = Brenda Jackson
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birthdate = abt 1953
birthplace = Jacksonville,Florida
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occupation =Writer
nationality = American
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genre = Romance
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website =Brenda Jackson (b abt 1953) is an American
novelist who writes contemporary multiculturalromance novels . She was the firstAfrican-American author to have a novel published as part of the Silhouette Desire line, and has seen many of her novels reach the "USAToday " Bestseller list.Biography
Brenda Jackson was born and raised in
Jacksonville, Florida . She got married to Gerald, her high school sweetheart, in 1972 after graduating from high school. She went on to earn a degree inbusiness administration fromJacksonville University , and to expand their family by having two sons, Gerald Jr. and Brandon.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 At the conference, Jackson met then-unpublished authorsFrancis Ray andRochelle Alers and became inspired to write.Jackson was determined to write novels that are multicultural romances, featuring African-American characters, that "convey the belief that love is every [where] ."cite web|last=Jackson|first=Brenda|title=Cameo/Excerpt: Tonight and Forever|publisher=Romantic Times|date=1995|url=http://www.romantictimes.com/books_review.php?cameo=1&book=1283|accessdate=2007-07-03] Her first novel, "Tonight and Forever" was published in 1995. 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." 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."
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."cite web|last=Henry|first=Shamaine|title=Cameo/Excerpt: A Family Reunion|publisher=Romantic Times|date=2001|url=http://www.romantictimes.com/books_review.php?cameo=1&book=14068|accessdate=2007-07-03] The following year, in 2002, she became the first African-American author to have a novel published as part of the Silhouette Desire line.cite web|last=Jeffries|first=McKenna|title=Bodies in Motion Interview - Brenda Jackson|publisher=McKennaJeffries.Com|date=2005|url=http://mckennajeffries.com/rifeatures/bimbrendajackson.htm|accessdate=2007-07-03]
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 .cite web|last=Hoahing|first=Cheryl A.|title=Cameo/Excerpt: Unfinished Business|publisher=Romantic Times|date=2005|url=http://www.romantictimes.com/books_review.php?cameo=1&book=25118|accessdate=2007-07-03]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 Bestseller's List. cite web|last=Coates|first=Jennifer|title=Author of the Month - Brenda Jackson|publisher=Romance in Color|url=http://www.romanceincolor.com/authormthjacksonB.htm Author of the Month - Brenda Jackson|accessdate=2007-07-03|date=
August 1 ,2001 ]Jackson has won the "Romantic Times" Career Achievement Award and four of her books have been nominated for "Romantic Times" Reviewer's Choice.cite web|last=|first=|title=Author Profile: Brenda Jackson|publisher=Romantic Times|date=2007|url=http://www.romantictimes.com/authors_profile.php?author=220|accessdate=2007-07-03] One of her novels, "One Special Moment", won the Reviewer's Choice Award in 1998 for Best Multicultural Romance.cite web|last=|first=|title=1998 Winners|publisher=Romantic Times|date=1998|url=http://www.romantictimes.com/books_awards.php?type=book&level=2&year=1998|accessdate=2007-07-03] 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."Jackson is a member of the First Coast Chapter of
Romance Writers of America . She currently works in management for a major insurance company.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 2007Awards
*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 Jacksonee also
List of romantic novelists References
* [http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/j/brenda-jackson/ Bibliography of Brenda Jackson]
External links
* [http://www.brendajackson.net Official site]
* [http://www.ereader.com/author/detail/12358?author=Brenda_Jackson Brenda_Jackson page at Ereader.com]
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