BREAKING: Jackie Collins has died, aged 77

One of the most beloved and bestselling authors of our times, Jackie Collins has died at the age of 77 after a long and well-hidden battle with breast cancer.

People Magazine has just announced the news, with a statement from the Collins family.  “It is with tremendous sadness that we announce the death of our beautiful, dynamic and one of a kind mother, Jackie Collins, who died of breast cancer today.”

“She lived a wonderfully full life and was adored by her family, friends and the millions of readers who she has been entertaining for over 4 decades. She was a true inspiration, a trail blazer for women in fiction and a creative force. She will live on through her characters but we already miss her beyond words.”

Jackie was known to have been diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer six years ago but was very private about her struggle.  She had three daughters, Tracy, 54, Tiffany, 48, and Rory, 46.

People magazine interviewed Collins in her home less than a week ago on Sept. 14 in Beverley Hills.  She was at peace their article says.   “Looking back, I’m not sorry about anything I did.” She was referring to keeping her cancer battle private in many of these remarks.

“I did it my way, as Frank Sinatra would say. I’ve written five books since the diagnosis, I’ve lived my life, I’ve travelled all over the world, I have not turned down book tours and no one has ever known until now when I feel as though I should come out with it,”

Collins told People that her treatments over the years included a lumpectomy, radiation and various drug courses and combinations.

“Now I want to save other people’s lives.”

Collins has, in her outrageous career seen 500 million copies of her novels sold all over the world.  A remarkable achievement.

Women all over the world snuck their mother’s copy of “The Stud”, and “The world is full of married men”, “Lucky” and “Chances” under the covers in the 60s, 70s and 80s and had their first sexual learnings.  Many are comfortable to laugh about this today and Jacqui was always proud.

Last year when she toured on the release of her book Confessions of a Wild Child, she commented, “A lot of young girls write to me on Twitter or on my website and say, ‘I’ve been reading your books under the covers and you’ve taught me everything I know about sex… and my boyfriend’s not disappointed’,” she said recently in an interview with The Daily Mirror.

Jackie Collins early books created a lot of sensation and were labelled by other authors as nasty, filthy and disgusting.  Her first book was even banned in Australia for its content.

Every single one of Jacqui Collin’s books have appeared on the New York Times Bestseller lists.

Jacqui’s books are listed below… which have you read? Share your memories…

• The World Is Full Of Married Men (1968)
• The Stud (1969)
• Sinners (first published as Sunday Simmons & Charlie Brick) (1971)
• The Love Killers (first published as Lovehead) (1974)
• The World Is Full Of Divorced Women (1975)
• Lovers and Gamblers (1977)
• The Bitch (1979)
• Rock Star (1988)
• American Star (1993)
• Thrill! (1998)
• Lovers & Players (2006)
• Married Lovers (2008)
• Poor Little Bitch Girl (2009)—Although one of the novel’s main characters originates from the Lucky Santangelo novels, and the core character of the series, Lucky, makes a brief appeance, Poor Little Bitch Girl is not considered part of the series.
• The Power Trip (2012)

Hollywood Series

• Hollywood Wives (1983)
• Hollywood Husbands (1986)
• Hollywood Kids (1994)
• Hollywood Wives: The New Generation (2001)
• Hollywood Divorces (2003)

The Lucky Santangelo Novels

• Chances (1981)
• Lucky (1985)
• Lady Boss (1990)
• Vendetta: Lucky’s Revenge (1996)
• Dangerous Kiss (1999)
• Drop Dead Beautiful (2007)
• Goddess of Vengeance (2011)
• Confessions of a Wild Child (2013)

Madison Castelli Series

• L. A. Connections (serialised novel):
  • Power (1998)
  • Obsession (1998)
  • Murder (1998)
  • Revenge (1998)
• Lethal Seduction (2000)