BRENDA JACKSON

Interview by La Sheera Lee

Brenda Jackson is a trailblazer in the world of entertainment. She is an award-winning author, a much sought after speaker, and a successful publisher. Known for her gentle spirit and business smarts, she is a force all by herself.

Brenda Jackson’s professional publishing career started in 1994. That year, she signed with Kensington Arabesque. Since 1994, she has published over 125 novels and novellas. Additionally, she has over 15 million books in print.

Over the years, she has written for some of the major publishing houses in the industry. She has written for the following publishers: St. Martins Press, BET, Kensington, NAL, Harlequin/Silhouette and Harlequin Kimani Romance. Presently, she is writing exclusively for Harlequin and is excited to have all of her books under one dynamic publishing house.

During her illustrious career, Brenda Jackson has accomplished many “first” in her journey. She was the African-American author to have a book published under the Harlequin/Silhouette Desire line of books. She was also the first African-American romance author to make USA Today’s Bestseller’s List and the New York Times Bestseller’s List for the series romance genre.

In addition to the aforementioned accolades, Mrs. Jackson has received numerous awards. She was the 2012 NAACP Image Award Nominee for my 81st book, A Silken Thread. Mrs. Jackson has received numerous Community Service Awards from the Delta Sigma Thetas, the AKAs and the Zeta Phi Beta Sororities. In addition, she received the Pioneer Award in Writing from Romantic Times Magazine. One of the highest honors a romance writer can receive was bestowed to Brenda Jackson in 2013. She received the Romance Writers of America’s (RWA) Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award.

La Sheera Lee: How are you able to maintain the same energy with your movies?

Brenda Jackson: Since my movies are/will be based on books I’ve written, the same level of energy continues because now I can focus on seeing the visual of what I’ve written.

LL: You have successfully independently produced a movie project. In addition, you have previously partnered with other entertainment entities, Passionflix and BET, to bring your characters to the screen. What did you learn through the various processes?

BJ: I learned that although I might want otherwise, you can’t make a movie 100% by the book. A book has a lot of introspection, which is why the characters think a lot. That’s not dialogued shared but their inner thoughts. You can’t speak that out loud so you have to find a way so the viewer can know what that person was thinking. In Truly Everlasting, I added a beauty salon scene that shared Felicia’s thoughts with her stylist and others in the salon. However, I always strive to at least get 80% of the book to the movies. There are some that only shoot for 25% or 30% and what you end up with is a movie that is not like the book, but only based on the book.

LL: How has working in the publishing industry prepared you for the movie industry?

BJ: I Am a businesswoman and every achievement/project has prepared me for the next level. Publishing and movie-making are vastly different. I think that’s why movie makers don’t get the fact that movie watchers who have read a good book want to see most of that book when it becomes a movie. It takes a person with knowledge of both to fully understand this.

LL:Artists are very sensitive about the content. Often, as readers, we notice that many books to films projects are quite different from the book. Do you attempt to have the script remain close to the plot of the book? Or are you comfortable with a lot of artistic liberties taking place?

BJ: I am one of those artists who want my script to remain close to the book. But because I’ve done both I know that can’t always be the case. However, I will shoot for a percentage of 80% or more. THE HEAT SEEKERS MAGAZINE

LL: Your partnership with Ashore Entertainment has made a huge splash in the entertainment industry. Several well-respected media outlets reported the news. Do you feel that your partnership will be a catalyst for more production companies to seek out African American Romance Authors?

BJ: I am hoping that it will. Authors need to make sure they are prepared when it happens. 1) Do they own the movie rights to their books? 2)Are there books available in all types- traditional, e-book and audio. This is important because the movie industry wants to make sure your book is available in all forms. They anticipate an increase in sales for you and your book and want to make sure it’s available in all forms. 3) Is your book a popular book in the way of book sales? figure if the book is a bestseller, then they will pull in a wide audience for the viewing of the movie. That doesn’t mean that a book has to be a best seller to be made into a movie, because a good book along with being transformed into a good movie can become popular on its own. However, the movie industry still takes this into account and the authors should, too.

LL: What movies are first slated for production?

BJ: This is a secret for now. A big announcement will be made in May or June. Still in contract negotiations.

LL: Streaming is currently the most popular method to view movies. Will your new projects be available via streaming?

BJ: Some will be streamed, some will be on regular TV channels and some will make the big screen. The movie industry looks at a script and determines which type of release will make the biggest impact.

LL: Well, you know we can’t leave without chatting about your books. What books have you released the last quarter of the year?

BJ: Right now I have 4 scheduled but that might change if I have to be on a movie set. 1) Desperate Measures - Book 2 of of the Men of Action Series 2) One Christmas Wish, which is part of the Catalina Cove Series 3) Masters of the Game, which is part of the Bennetts/Masters Series 4)What He Wants for Christmas, which is a new Westmoreland Legacy novel.