Frequently Asked Questions

I wanted to see my books on film and I did it as a way to showcase the essence of black love and romance that is rarely shown on the big or small screen, and also to create more opportunities for black actors and actresses. And I was blessed to have a director in the family.

My oldest son has degrees in film from Columbia University and Florida State University Film School, so I decided to put him to work to show me what he could do and I’m pleased with the results.

There are listings that breaks my books down into series on this website under “All Series”. The majority of my books are in print, but if you can’t find then any let me know.

Yes, the majority of my books are available as e-books, with more to come.

Yes, and when I do I post my schedule of where I’ll be under the “Events” tab on this website.

Yes. Tonight and Forever remains my favorite because it was my first. Justin and Lorren’s story will always be near and dear to my heart.

But there is one book I consider my best work ever and that is Ties That Bind. It took 4 years of research for me to write that story, which took me an entire year to complete. That’s the longest I’ve ever spent on a novel. And it was a very emotional book for me to write. Randolph and Jenna’s love was all consuming and it surpassed the test of time. In my opinion it was one of the greatest love stories I’ve ever told, and I hope to see it in a movie one day.

Yes and no. I let my readers decide what they like, after all I am not writing to sell my book to myself, but to my readers’ for their enjoyment.

The majority of my readers love series books – stories that connect. I’m glad a lot of other authors see this to be true and have jumped on the bandwagon and are doing family sagas. I’ve always known it because I was a reader before I was a writer. And I always loved reading family series novels.

I remember going to different stores trying to find missing books in Linda Howard’s McKenizies series, and/or Nora Roberts’ MacGregors series. When I decided to write stories I figured there had to be something special with the letter “M”. Linda Howard had her McKenzies, Nora Roberts had her MacGregors, so I gave Brenda Jackson the Madarises and haven’t regretted it since.

I’ve made both the USA Today and New York Times Bestsellers lists with the Madaris family books. And for those who aren’t into family or continuing book series, I do unconnected books periodically. As long as I have readers who want to know about a particular family, then I let them decide when enough is enough with my connecting stories. And as far as new and fresh, I’ve started my Bachelors in Demand Series. And I’m excited about my first single title in three years, A Silken Thread, which introduces readers to a town versus a group of characters.

Because from my first book, I let my readers know they were special. It wasn’t any planned strategy I used, it was me being me, and wanting to treat my readers the way I would want to be treated. I was a reader before I became a writer, and I had encountered a lot of authors who wanted me to buy their book, but didn’t have the time or inclination to respect me as one of their readers. I refuse to be that way with my readers. I appreciate them. They are more to me than a cha-chang at the cash register and I’ve always let them know it.

Yes, I’m on Twitter and I have a FaceBook Fan Page and Facebook BookClub

No. Although I put out what I consider my best work possible, I don’t expect everyone to pick up a Brenda Jackson book and enjoy it. A review is one person’s opinion of the book and does not represent the views of the masses. Everyone has a right to their opinions, although I have to admit I’ve seen a number of reviews that were more author bashing done under the disguise of book reviews.

I ask readers to read the book for themselves and form their own opinions. And I believe my readers are doing that because some of the books that I receive the worse reviews turn out to be my biggest sellers. People who read romance novels have varied tastes and preferences. There is such a diverse range of stories that readers today can find a large number of books to suit what they are comfortable with reading.

I write hot, steamy romance stories. Hot and steamy isn’t for everyone. Romance is a work of fiction and is for entertainment purposes. If a person has read my books and continuously not enjoy them, then I recommend they stop buying them and spend their money on books they do enjoy.

Yes! Although my books are hot and steamy I won’t cross the line into erotica. I respect the authors that do, but I prefer staying away from certain words that still makes me blush.

I had someone write me to say that my hero and heroine don’t make love they have sex because anytime you take it out the bedroom it becomes just sex. I disagree. Any person who honestly think a certain room in a house defined sex versus making love didn’t know the first thing about either and probably had a boring love life. It’s not the act itself but the people involved in the act that defines it, regardless of wether they’re making out in the bed or on the kitchen table. Variety is the spice of life!

A lot of my heroes and heroines might think they’re just having sex in the beginning, but they eventually wake up and smell the coffee. I love writing a story and getting them from point A to point B. So those who think a romance book is truly not romantic if the two people have sex on page 1 versus page 101 needs to rethink that opinion, because it happens and the two people can live happily, ever after. In fact, I recently read such a book (The Perfect Solitaire by Carmen Green). It was a very good book and yes, it had a happy ending.

No. I’m sure all authors think after they finish a book it could have been better, but I’m happy with the way I presented all my books to my readers. The story was written the way I thought it out at the time.

Yes, Night Song by Beverly Jenkins. I’m almost embarassed to say how many copies of that book I own. And recently one of my readers sent me the hardback version so I’m in hog heaven. I fell in love with Chase Jefferson the moment I read the story. I also like the model on the cover of the book and thought he represented Chase well. In fact, years later I asked for that same model (Kendall McKarthy) to be on the cover of one of my books. He is Uncle Jake on the cover of Secret Love.

No, because that’s what I am. Although I like to try different things and have written stories that are considered mainstream, I still like giving whatever story I write a romantic twist. I love reading love stories and that is why I enjoy writing them. I truly am a romantic at heart. I’ll take a happy ending over an unhappy one any day.

Time management. I love my day job.  I’m a supervisor for a major insurance company.  I like the work I do and the people I meet.  I also enjoy being in the business sector.  I’ve been working at my place of employment for 35 years.   Writing is my fun time.  I don’t consider it as work and that’s why I enjoy doing it.   Writing is the time I come home from work and relax.  It’s my stress reliever.   I put everything out my mind and go into my office and escape with my

characters.  Taking them to places I’ve never been and involving them in a love story that I feel is just right for them.   And writing is a way for Mr. J and I to spend time together.  With both of my sons grown and out, I love taking Mr. J with me for weekend trips to places I want to write about in my stories while I do research of those places.

Yes! Thanks to all my readers who had made their desires known to Harlequin, a decision was made to reissue Delaney’s story as an e-book in early 2007.  Now for those of you like me who prefer the hard book instead of reading a book off the computer or IPOD, I am working with Kimani to make Delaney’s story as a reissued 2nd story in another sheikh book I plan to write.  For those who have kept up with my Madaris Series, you probably remember a sheikh by the name of Prince Rasheed Valdemon (Fire and Desire and Unfinished Business).  I plan to write his story and connect his family to Sheikh Jamal Ari Yasir’s family through marriage.  More information about this union will be posted in future newsletters so make sure you are on the list to receive my monthly newsletters.

Yes!! Due to the overwhelming success of my 3-books-in-one, The Madaris Saga, Harlequin plans to come out with a couple more books 3-in-one-books that will include the remaining books in the Madaris Series such as Fire and Desire, One Special Moment, Secret Love etc.   Check future newsletters for more information about this huge reissuance program.

This book looks into the lives of 4 women to determine just what they want.   I had fun writing his book, as well as introducing the 4 heroes.   One particular couple in his book is very near and dear to my heart.  Those of you who have read Ties That Bind, will remember Anna Ross-Fuller and Zack Wainwright.  After that book I received a lot of requests for Anna and Zack’s story.

Most readers wanted to know did they eventually fall in love and marry.  That question will be answered in this book.  Also, I wanted to write about heros that are connected to other guys I’ve written about before.  In this book you will meet Shane Masters (brother to Quinn Masters from A Family Reunion and brother to Grey Masters from The Savvy Sistahs.  Then there is Adam Corbain, brother to Linc Corbain (Welcome to Leo’s) and Sydney Corbain (Let’s Get It On).  And last but not least is Lyle Montgomery – brother to Lance Montgomery (The Playa’s Handbook and No More Playas).   I’m hoping my readers will enjoy meeting these handsome men as well as the reunion of characters from former books.  What A Woman Wants will hit the stores in January and in some places will be in the stores in time for Christmas.