Jackson, Brenda Streater

PERSONAL:

Born in Jacksonville, FL; married; children: Gerald, Jr., Brandon. Education: Jacksonville University, B.S.

ADDRESSES:

Home—Jacksonville, FL. Home and office—P.O. Box 28267, Jacksonville, FL 32226. E-mail—[email protected]; [email protected].

CAREER:

State Farm (insurance company), manager.

MEMBER:

Romance Writers of America (first coast chapter), Women Writers of Color (founding member).

AWARDS, HONORS:

Best Multicultural Romance, Romantic Times, 1998, for One Special Moment; Waldenbooks best-selling multicultural romance, 1999, for Fire and Desire; Shades of Romance Magazine author of the year awards, 1999 and 2000, and romance book of the year award, 1999, for Fire and Desire; Emma Awards: for favorite all nighter book for Secret Love, for favorite anthology for Welcome to Leo's, for favorite sequel in a continuing book series for True Love, for favorite hero for Jake Madaris in Secret Love, for book of the year for Secret Love, and for author of the year, all 2000, for favorite book of the year, steamiest romance book, favorite sequel, and favorite hero, all 2001, all for Surrender, and for favorite author, 2001, for steamiest romance for Delany's Desert Sheikh, 2002, for author of the year, 2004, 2005, and 2006, for achievement, 2006, for favorite steamy romance for The Chase Is On, 2006, for favorite novella for The Perfect Seduction in Big Girls Don't Cry, 2006, for favorite anthology for Big Girls Don't Cry, 2006, for favorite heroine, favorite hero, favorite sequel, and book of the year, all for Unfinished Business, 2006, for best romance for Solid Soul, and 2006, for author of the year; Romance in Color Awards, 1999, for excellence for Fire and Desire, 2000, for book of the year for Secret Love, 2000, for excellence for Secret Love, 2001, for excellence for One Special Moment, 2001 for excellence for A Family Reunion, 2001, for favorite hero and for favorite heroine in Surrender, 2001, for favorite author of the year, 2001, for favorite book of the year and best contemporary romance for A Family Reunion; Vivien Stephens Career Achievement Award, 2001, for excellence in romance novel writing; Romance Magazine Readers' Choice Awards, all 2001, for best romance of the year and best multi-cultural romance book, both for Surrender, for best multi-cultural fiction book for Family Reunion, and for all-time favorite romance author, best multi-cultural romance author, and best multi-cultural author; Shades of Romance Reader's Choice Awards, all 2004, for best multi-cultural romance book of the year and St. Martin's romance of the year, both for The Midnight Hour, for best multi-cultural fiction book of the year for The Playa's Handbook, and for best multi-cultural romance author of the year; e-Harlequin Readers' Choice Awards, both 2006, for favorite online read for Never Too Late, and for favorite love scene in Ian's Ultimate Gamble; Ebonyfly.com Reader's Choice Award, 2006, for best romance of the year for Night Heat; Waldenbooks/Borders best multicultural romance, 2006, for An All Night Man.

WRITINGS:

ROMANCE FICTION

Tonight and Forever, Pinnacle (Chicago, IL), 1995.

A Valentine Kiss, Pinnacle (Chicago, IL), 1996.

Eternally Yours, Pinnacle (Chicago, IL), 1997.

One Special Moment, BET Arabesque (Washington, DC), 1998.

Fire and Desire, BET Arabesque (Washington, DC), 1999.

Whispered Promises, BET Arabesque (Washington, DC), 1999.

Secret Love, BET Arabesque (Washington, DC), 2000.

True Love, BET Arabesque (Washington, DC), 2000.

A Family Reunion, St. Martin's (New York, NY), 2001.

Surrender, BET Arabesque (Washington, DC), 2001.

Delaney's Desert Sheikh, Silhouette (New York, NY), 2002.

Perfect Timing, Dafina (New York, NY), 2002.

Ties That Bind, St. Martin's (New York, NY), 2002.

Perfect Fit, Kensington (New York, NY), 2003.

Thorn's Challenge, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 2003.

A Little Dare, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 2003.

The Saavy Sistahs, St. Martin's Griffin (New York, NY), 2003.

Scandal between the Sheets, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 2004.

Stone Cold Surrender, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 2004.

Riding the Storm, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 2004.

The Playa's Handbook, St. Martin's Griffin (New York, NY), 2004.

The Midnight Hour, St. Martin's Paperback (New York, NY), 2004.

Madaris Saga: Tonight and Forever/Whispered Promises/Eternally Yours, Pinnacle (Chicago, IL), 2004.

A Whole Lotta Love, Signet-Penguin (New York, NY), 2004.

Unfinished Business, St. Martin's Paperback (New York, NY), 2004.

Jared's Counterfeit Fiancée, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 2005.

The Chase Is On, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 2005.

Big Girls Don't Cry, Signet (New York, NY), 2005.

An All Night Man, St. Martin's Griffin (New York, NY), 2005.

No More Playas, St. Martin's Griffin (New York, NY), 2005.

Let's Get It On, Silhouette Books (London, England), 2006.

The Durango Affair, Silhouette Books (London, England), 2006.

Ian's Ultimate Gamble, Silhouette Books (London, England), 2006.

Solid Soul, Kimani (New York, NY), 2006.

Night Heat, Kimani (New York, NY), 2006.

Seduction, Westmoreland Style, Silhouette Books (London, England), 2007.

Risky Pleasures, Kimani (New York, NY), 2007.

In Bed with Her Boss, Kimani (New York, NY), 2007.

What a Woman Wants, St. Martin's Griffin (New York, NY), 2007.

Also author of Beyond Temptation, 2007, and the E-Harlequin online stories "A Lover's Touch" and "Never Too Late." Contributor to romance anthologies, including Something to Celebrate: The First Noel/Kwaanza Kupendi/Truly Everlasting (Arabesque), BET, 1999; Welcome to Leo's St. Martin's Paperbacks, 2000; The Best Man, St. Martin's Paperbacks, 2003; Living Large, New American Library, 2003; Let's Get It On, St. Martin's Griffin, 2004; Strictly Confidential Attraction' and 'Round-the-Clock Temptation, Silhouette Books, 2006; and Mr. Satisfaction: Four Sensuous Novellas, St. Martin's Griffin, 2006.

ADAPTATIONS:

One Special Moment was adapted as a television movie, broadcast on the BET cable channel.

SIDELIGHTS:

Brenda Streater Jackson is a prolific writer of romance stories prominently featuring African American characters. Gwendolyn Osborne, reviewer for Romance Reader, explained that Jackson "doesn't merely write novels," she "organizes reunions that reconnect her readers with the solid, multifaceted characters they have come to know and to care about." This aspect of her writing has gained Jackson's work a large following.

Among the recurring characters who feature in many of her stories are the Madaris brothers—Justin, Dex, and Clayton—as well as other assorted family members. Doctor Justin Madaris was the first to appear in Jackson's debut 1995 novel, Tonight and Forever. The author's Web site even includes a Madaris family tree and family trivia. Among the characters whose lives intersect with the Madaris' are Hollywood superstars Diamond McSwain and Sterling Hamilton. The Madaris clan possesses its share of glamour, wealth, and romance, but also plenty of hardships. Commenting on Secret Love, the story of the secret marriage of tycoon Jake Madaris and movie star named Diamond, Osborne stated that Jackson "is an excellent storyteller who has created wonderful connecting stories about strong African-American families." Also reviewing Secret Love, a contributor to Publishers Weekly praised Jackson's "talent for character development."

Jackson features a different cast of characters in Perfect Timing, in which a class reunion cruise reunites childhood friends Mya Rivers and Maxine Chandler, who parted ways after high school. The reunion comes at a perfect juncture in their lives when the two friends are struggling with emotionally difficult situations. Mya fears her husband is being unfaithful, and Maxine, who lost her fiancé just before their wedding, is now facing a hysterectomy. Booklist critic Lillian Lewis remarked that "the result is a warm reading experience."

Ties That Bind follows the entanglement of a group of Howard University students over the course of thirty years. While at college in the 1960s, Angela drugged Randolph in order to get him to sleep with her. Angela became pregnant and Randolph married her, even though he was in love with Jenna. Twelve years later, Jenna is widowed and Randolph and Angela are separated; the two old flames are able to rekindle their relationship. A host of other college friends figure in the story, and their lives become more entwined as their children date and marry. In a review for Booklist, Lewis wrote that the "novel is a wonderful, wholesome story about love, life, friendship, and family." Robyn Glazer, reviewing Ties That Bind online for Romantic Times, labeled it a "powerful book."

In True Love the bright, young Hayla Kirland is a Harvard M.B.A. graduate out to destroy Chenault Electronics, where she works. Hayla is seeking revenge against the company for accusing her mother of corporate spying two decades earlier. Before long, though, Shayla is having an affair with Nick Chenault, the young chief executive officer of the company. "Jackson's trademark ability to weave multiple characters and side stories together makes the shocking … truths all the more exciting," according to a Publishers Weekly contributor. In another book, A Family Reunion, three generations of the Bennetts gather together. "This is not an ‘everybody's perfect’ book," wrote Shirion Shropshire on the Romance in Color Web site. "There are kissing cousins, drunken uncles, loose women, crazy baby's Daddies, loud baby's Mammas, and gossiping Aunties."

Three women who became friends at a business meeting are the focus of The Savvy Sistahs: Amber Stuart, owner of Amber's Books & Gifts; Brandy Bennett, owner of the St. Laurent Hotel; and Carla Osborne, director of the Osborne Computer Network. In addition to being successful businesswomen, each has the common experience of catching their ex-husbands cheating on them. Writing on her Web site, Harriet Klausner noted that the novel "contains three prime intermingling story lines … [that] overlap just enough so that the audience feels like participants in a cleverly designed plot." Rashmi Srinivas, writing on the BookLoons Web site, commented that the author "has come up with another stunning tale about three savvy sistahs."

More recent books including members of the Madaris clan are The Midnight Hour and Unfinished Business. In the former, Warren Drake loses Sandy, the love of his life, while the two are on a military mission. Years later, the bitter Warren is teamed with a new C.I.A. agent named Victoria Green. He admires and is soon attracted to Victoria, who is actually Sandy after undergoing plastic surgery and coming out of hiding. Lillian Lewis, writing in Booklist, noted that the author "has written another compelling drama about the Madaris family and their friends." A Publishers Weekly contributor wrote that "Jackson's knack for creating characters with emotional depth and distinct voices helps readers untangle the relationships in this tension-packed read." Unfinished Business tells the story of Christy Madaris and Alexander Maxwell. When Christy is just thirteen, the older Alex gives her a pinky ring and promises to marry Christy one day. Christy carries that promise with her and, when she graduates from college, goes to collect on her promise. Alex, however, says he was only humoring her, sending Christy off until he realizes his mistake. "This is an intriguing romantic suspense thriller that fans will enjoy," wrote Harriet Klausner on her Web site.

In The Playa's Handbook Jackson introduces psychologist Lance Montgomery, who writes the immensely popular seduction handbook of the title. Twice divorced, Lance dispenses controversial advice that is followed religiously by three friends, who all go on to develop satisfying relationships. Booklist contributor Lewis referred to The Playa's Handbook as "a pleasing, reassuring read." A Publishers Weekly contributor enjoyed "Jackson's clever, frothy story as independent, self-centered men cave to the irresistible lure of love." Lance Montgomery appears again in No More Playas. Here he has to deal with his feelings of love for his nemesis, psychologist Asia Fowler. Referring to the novel as "a refreshing read" on the Black Men in America Web site, Shirley Hardiman appreciated how "she delves into the minds of the men is remarkably believable."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Black Issues Book Review, July-August, 2002, review of Perfect Timing, p. 39.

Booklist, April 1, 2002, Lillian Lewis, review of Perfect Timing, p. 1306; October 15, 2002, Lillian Lewis, review of Ties That Bind, p. 386; October 1, 2003, Lillian Lewis, review of The Savvy Sistahs, p. 299; March 15, 2004, Lillian Lewis, review of The Midnight Hour, p. 1275; November 1, 2004, Lillian Lewis, review of The Playa's Handbook, p. 464; October 15, 2005, Lillian Lewis, review of No More Playas, p. 30.

Kirkus Reviews, September 15, 2005, review of No More Playas, p. 995.

Library Journal, November 1, 2002, Ann Burns, review of Ties That Bind, p. 111.

MBR Bookwatch, April 1, 2005, review of Unfinished Business.

Publishers Weekly, June 21, 1999, review of Fire and Desire, p. 65; December 13, 1999, review of Secret Love, p. 69; August 21, 2000, review of True Love, p. 55; November 3, 2003, review of Savvy Sistahs, p. 55; March 15, 2004, review of The Midnight Hour, p. 60; November 8, 2004, review of The Playa's Handbook, p. 36; September 19, 2005, review of No More Playas, p. 43.

ONLINE

Black Men in America,http://www.blackmeninamerica.com/ (May 6, 2007), Shirley Hardiman, review of No More Playas, Ashleé Lewis, review of No More Playas.

BookLoons,http://www.bookloons.com/ (May 6, 2007), Rashmi Srinivas, review of The Savvy Sistahs.

BWMMag.com,http://bwmmag.com/ (May 6, 2007), Eleanor S. Shields, review of Mr. Satisfaction: Four Sensuous Novellas.

Brenda Jackson Home Page,http://www.brendajackson.net (May 26, 2007).

Curled Up with a Good Book,http://www.curledup.com/ (May 6, 2007), Michal Lemberger, review of A Whole Lotta Love.

Harriet Klausner Web site,http://harrietklausner.wwwi.com/ (May 6, 2007), Harriet Klausner, reviews of The Savvy Sistahs, Unfinished Business and No More Playas.

Midwest Book Review Online,http://www.midwestbookreview.com/ (May 6, 2007), review of Mr. Satisfaction.

Romance in Color,http://www.romanceincolor.com/ (May 6, 2007), Shirion Shropshire, review of A Family Reunion; Jeanette Cogdell, review of One Special Moment.

Romance Reader,http://www.theromancereader.com/ (May 15, 2003), Gwendolyn Osborne, reviews of One Special Moment and Secret Love; (May 6, 2007), Gwendolyn Osborne, review of Fire and Desire.

Romantic Times,http://www.romantictimes.com/ (May 15, 2003), Robyn Glazer, review of Ties That Bind.