Prolific and very successful author Jackie Collins, 77, has died, her family confirms in a statement to People Magazine.
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Collins was the sister of actress Joan Collins.
The Collins family issued a statement on Facebook, saying, “It is with tremendous sadness that we announce the death of our attractive , dynamic and one of a kind mother, Jackie Collins, who died of breast cancer today”. “We already miss her beyond words”.
Collins said she had lived life like Frank Sinatra, and “done it my way”.
“I lost my mother to cancer, my husband of 25 years to cancer and then my fiance”. Sex is a driving force in the world so I don’t think it’s unusual that I write about sex.
Collins embraced Twitter in her later years, and loved the engagement with her over 150,000 followers.
Collins’ p ublicist Melody Korenbrot said the author died on Saturday in Los Angeles. And her tales of life among the rich and famous in Hollywood were often inspired by real-life experiences. Her latest book, The Santangelos, came out this summer; Collins gave numerous interviews about the book without mentioning her diagnosis or any treatments.
Sharon Osbourne @MrsSOsbourne tweeted, “Shocked & devastated at the death of @JackiejCollins. Loved & respected her. Thoughts & prayers go out to her family”.
“I like strong women”, she said. “I’ve asked them for reviews”.
Born Jacqueline Jill Collins in London on October 4, 1937, she began hand-copying Mickey Spillane novels in her teens.
Every one of them made it onto the New York Times Bestsellers’ List.
Just two days ago the writer, who was active on social media, tweeted her excitement ahead of the Emmy awards which take place in America tonight. “Who do you want to win?” She was a very sweet woman!
Collins was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer in 2009 but chose to keep her illness out of the public eye, and told People in an interview on September 14 that she had no regrets.
She is survived by her daughters Tracy, 54, Tiffany, 48, and Rory, 46.
For fans in the USA , that would be the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Organization, and for those in the United Kingdom , the Penny Brohn Cancer Care.
Dame Joan, who only found out in the last fortnight, paid tribute to her younger sister as her “best friend”.
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“My parents paid to get rid of me”, she told Morgan.
