Ms. Brenda Jackson has written numerous romance novels over the past two decades. One of her most notable book series is for a family named the Westmoreland’s. I was able to speak with Ms. Jackson for a peek behind the writing curtain and found out how she went from novice middle school writer to full-time novelist for Harlequin, the world’s largest romance book publisher.

I was outside reading one her books entitled; The Secret Affair, a Westmoreland novel, and a complete stranger saw me and said, “that’s a good book.” I know. That was probably my 30th time reading it at that point! It also happens to be my favorite Brenda Jackson novel. Just in case you couldn’t tell.

I got a chance to interview the best-selling author with a Q&A session. You can read my interview with Ms. Jackson here and find out more about the woman behind the romance.

And here we go…

Thank you Ms. Jackson for taking the time for me to interview you. Let’s get right into it!

What made you become a writer? How did you get started writing romance?

My mother asked me what I wanted to be when I grow up. During those days many women went into the teaching profession because during the 1960’s and 1970’s, becoming a teacher was the job most available to women. I said that I want to be a professional woman, go to the office, and wear a nice suit.

However, until then, I liked to write stories. In school, around the 8th grade, after meeting my future husband Mr. Jackson, I started writing innocent little love stories.

What were your stories about?

I would write about school stories and outings. Like an American beach story. My church sponsored beach trips and I would write stores like the beach movies I saw. Similar to the Gidget and Moondoggie stories from the Gidget movies.

I would hand-write stories on notebook paper and write it out about four or five times and then pass it out to groups of kids at school.

How did you start writing for Harlequin?

It actually took some time. Harlequin was not my first publisher. This happened years later after writing books for another book publisher.

When did you start writing professionally?

I did not start out a writer. I went to work for State Farm and stayed there for over 30 years while working my way up into management before retiring.

While I was working and moving up the ranks, I ended up going to my high school reunion. It was there that people kept asking me what I did for a living and when I told them the most common response was that they all said they thought I would be a writer.

So, I decided I would start writing again. I sent out requests to get published, but major publishers and Harlequin rejected me. Those publishers said, unless there was a market for the types of novels I was writing that they were not interested.

I received 40 to 50 rejections.

However, I did not give up and was given a contract with Kensington books.

How did it feel to get accepted? What happened after you got your book deal?

It felt good. First, I started out writing as a hobby and now I am being paid for it. It was wonderful.

I started writing manuscripts with African-American characters. Those books were initially rejected and denied by other publishers, but Kensington was the one publisher that took a chance and felt there was a market for this genre.

I started writing and publishing my books and then they took off.

How did you get started with Harlequin?

After writing 20 or so books, I had a following and with that success Harlequin then reached out to me.

Harlequin wanted me write for them and so after my agent called and then speaking with them I decided to accept. At this point, I was writing for more than one publisher.

However, it took many years of writing and hard work before I started writing for Harlequin. I had positioned for that and one day I received an offer to write for them.

Harlequin later asked me to be exclusive. I told them that they would have to pay me for exclusivity. They made me a deal of a lifetime. My contract was good. Even more than Kensington.

The deal was so good that I left my six-figure salary job with State Farm.

I had made more money writing books than I ever dreamed of making.

How long have you been a writer?

I started writing over 20 years ago. I was still working for State Farm and began writing in the 1980’s and 1990’s. I would go away on conferences and write in my hotel room when I was not attending any workshops making sure to that I wrote on my time and not theirs.

While at State Farm, they supported my career and my dreams as a writer. They also helped promote my career. State Farm sent me to college and I majored in business at Jacksonville University in Florida. They would sponsor me to go on book tours. And I would do books signings.

I would represent my company wherever I went. I also later got football sponsors from HBCU’s such as the Bayou East West Classics.

In the beginning, I would go around to libraries and ask them if they would carry my books.

While in college, I mapped out what I wanted to do. I also became a Delta after joining their sorority and have kept a relationship with my fellow Deltas to this day.

Where do you write?

I essentially had two incomes while still working at State Farm and writing and made sure to purchase a home and paid off the mortgage. So, my home in Florida is paid for and I have no mortgage.

And this where I write. From home. I built an in-home office where I go and work. I still had a morning routine where I would get up, get dressed, and go downstairs to work.

What was your first published work?

The Madaris Family. One of their novels was my very first work. It was called Tonight and Forever.

What are your favorite characters? What types of romance novels do you like to write?

I have so many favorites. Just too many.

I like to write reunion books and about first love. How love starts, grows, and blossoms and becomes full circle. It feels so good.

Did your husband inspire any of the stories you have written? Are any characters based on him?

He always has and always will. He influences my writing. I write my characters as I see him, which is as the Alpha male. In my novels, you are the king. I get that feeling and like romance.  I feel that that could be in any man and so I write them that way.

I married my high school sweetheart, Gerald, and I still have the going-steady ring he gave me at 15.

I read that you are a New York Times (NYT) Best Selling Author. Congratulations! What book(s) have made it onto this prestigious list? Are there more than one?

I have had most of my books on the USA Today Best Sellers List but some titles like the Westmoreland’s and Madaris have made the NYT list series genre.

Some books do not qualify for the market so I started my own publishing company, Madaris Publishing Company. Those books as well as my other titles are sold on my online store.

How many books have you written?

I have written 120 books. I am now on my 124th book.

Wow! How many books do you write each year?

I used to write six to eight books a year when I started writing exclusively for Harlequin. I now write two to three a year. Typically, I submit a book for Harlequin every nine months or basically one a year.

Some of my books are now being turned into films. One of my publishers, BET, made one into a movie.

Do you have a favorite book you have written? Any favorite characters?

Ties that Bind is my favorite. It’s longer than my other books. It’s about four couples that met in 1968 on campus at Howard University. It’s during the time of MLK, civil rights, Black Panthers, and Vietnam. It was also featured in the Washington Post.

Zion is one of my favorite characters. He is a jewelry maker and a bad boy.

Are you currently reading any good books?

Not presently. I spend so much time writing that I do not always get a chance to read other books.

However, I am doing research for a book of mine that is being turned into a movie. The Grangers is a three book series and the climax is in the third book. I get script approval, so I am studying how to promote A Brother’s Honor. The film will be on the Passionflix network. We want to make sure the script still has the Happily Ever After (HEA) in there.

Any inspirational words or advice for aspiring authors?

Know your genre and do your research. Focus on tone. Write from the heart.

Where can people find you?

You can find me on Twitter, Facebook, via email, and my website.

Thank you Ms. Jackson for your time as it was an absolute pleasure to speak with you!

If you would like to know more about Brenda Jackson, as well as purchase any of her books, you can go to her website www.brendajackson.net

You can also connect with her on Twitter at @AuthorBJackson