Novelist Jackie Collins Is Dead at 77

Last night, British writer Jackie Collins died in her home in Los Angeles. Collins was 77. Her family said the cause was breast cancer which she was diagnosed with in 2007.

Collins was a prolific writer, producing more than 30 books throughout her career. The New York Times describes her novels as “filled with explicit, unrestrained sexuality.” She published her first book, The World Is Full of Married Men, in 1968, at a time when the romance genre was relatively prim, focusing on romantic love, yet demurring from frank depictions of sex. Collins’ style was anything but, it was considered so graphic that Australia and South Africa banned the sale of that book.

But readers eagerly responded to Collins’ novels, making her one of the best-selling novelist of the 20th century. She sold more than 500 million copies of her books. Many were also adapted for film and television.

Yesterday Joan Collins, Jackie’s sister, told People that she is completely devastated by her sister’s death. “She was my best friend,” Joan said. “I admire how she handled this. She was a wonderful, brave and a beautiful person and I love her.”

Fellow writers paid tribute to Jackie Collins on social media, and many remarked on her unusual style of writing. Collins wrote her books in longhand and kept all of the original drafts.

Collins’ last novel was published in June. She is survived by her three daughters and her sister.