‘To Selena With Love:’ Book By Husband Of Late Tejano Star To Be Adapted For Television

The love that guitarist and singer-songwriter Chris Perez had for his late wife, Tejano superstar Selena Quintanilla-Perez, has yet to cease despite the Amor Prohibido performer’s sudden and tragic death in 1995 at the age of 23.

Now, more than two decades after her passing, a tome written to help the now 47-year-old heal from the loss, 2012’s To Selena With Love, is being reworked for both English and Spanish-speaking television audiences.

As reported by KVUE, To Selena With Love has been optioned through television production companies Endemol Shine (Big Brother, The Biggest Loser) and Major TV.

“I spent several years [after Selena’s death] keeping the memories of my late wife bottled up inside,” Perez admits in a press release. “To Selena With Love allowed me to finally embrace my experience and understand the void it could fill in the hearts of so many others. I am now ready to take the important step of being fully transparent and bringing my everlasting relationship to life on the screen.”

CEO of Edemol Shine North America, Cris Abrego, additionally remarked on the impact that Selena still holds to this very day, such as the recent unveiling of a make-up line through MAC Cosmetics that sold out on the first day of release, according to the Daily Mail.

“Selena is one of the most influential Latin artists of all time, and her legacy continues to live on long after her tragic death,” Abrego added. “Chris Perez’s beautiful book, To Selena With Love, captured their amazing life together and will make for the perfect foundation for a TV series that our team is currently developing for both English and Spanish audiences worldwide.”

Often likened to contemporaries such as Madonna and Janet Jackson, Selena’s landmark career began in the early 80’s as the lead singer of a family-oriented music group, Selena y Los Dinos. As time progressed, the enigmatic entertainer managed to break through several boundaries in the once male-dominated world of Tejano music with her charm, grace, and unmistakable talent.

In 1995, following her first ever Grammy win for the album, Selena Live!, Quintanilla-Perez was shot and killed by her close friend and fan club president, Yolanda Saldivar, outside of a Days Inn motel in her hometown of Corpus Christi, TX. The album she was working on before death, Dreaming of You, her first-ever English language LP, was released later that year to worldwide acclaim and became the fastest-selling album of 1995. Additionally, it remains, as relayed by ComoLaFlor.net, one of the best-selling albums ever recorded by a Latin artist.

Founder of Major TV, Raymond Garcia, who incidentally led the offshoot publishing house that released Perez’s novel, Celebra at Penguin Random House, also shared his excitement about seeing To Selena With Love translated for television.

“I could not be more honored and humbled to launch Major TV with Endemol Shine and the captivating love story of the legendary Selena Quintanilla and Chris Perez,” he said. “Having published To Selena With Love, I witnessed legions of fans moved to tears with a rare glimpse into the heart and soul of their eternal icon. I am very proud of Chris for sharing his deeply personal relationship for the first time on television.”

Should the option be pushed to a full-time series, it would follow the popular 1997 biopic, Selena, that catapulted another icon of Latina descent, Jennifer Lopez, to worldwide super-stardom. In the film, Perez’s character was portrayed by Oz and New York Undercover star Jon Seda.

Casting choices for To Selena With Love have yet to be announced. The full statement can be read via Perez’s Facebook page.

[Featured Image by Selena & Chris Perez Fan Page/Instagram]