Dozens of books by prolific romance author Brenda Jackson could soon be headed to the screen, Deadline reports.
Production company The Cartel has obtained the rights to more than 25 of Jackson’s novels, with plans to make film and TV adaptations of the books.
Jackson made her literary debut in 1995 with the novel Tonight and Forever, which introduced readers to the Madaris family. Since then, she’s written more than 140 books, including No More Playas, Love in Catalina Cove, and, most recently, One Christmas Wish, which was published in October by Harlequin.
Jackson was an executive producer of a 2011 film adaptation of her novella Truly Everlasting.
Bobby Smith Jr. (Jason’s Lyric, Their Eyes Were Watching God) will produce the adaptations of Jackson’s novels, along with Jackson, Jeff Holland, Ryan Saul, Stan Spry, and Eric Woods.
“I am incredibly excited to be embarking on this magnificent journey with Stan, Ryan, The Cartel, and the incomparable Brenda Jackson, of course,” Smith told Deadline.
Jackson returned the compliment, saying, “It is with great pleasure that I look forward to working with The Cartel and the accomplished Bobby Smith Jr., to bring more of my romance novels to life on the screen. This is an exciting moment.”
Michael Schaub is a Texas-based journalist and regular contributor to NPR.
