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<\/p>\nNovelist Jackie Collins Dead at 77<\/b><\/p>\n
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Novelist Jackie Collins, the author of more than 30 books which sold more than 500 million copies, has died at age 77 after losing a battle with breast cancer, People<\/em> reports<\/a>:<\/p>\n “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,” the Collins family tells PEOPLE in a statement.<\/p>\n “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<\/a> in fiction and a creative force. She will live<\/a> on through her characters but we already miss her beyond words.”<\/p>\n Actress Joan Collins, Jackie’s sister, told People<\/em><\/a>: “I admire how she handled this. She was a wonderful, brave and a beautiful person and I love her.”<\/p>\n Collins was always mindful of her gay<\/a> audience and fan base. She told The Advocate<\/em> in 2014<\/a>:<\/p>\n “It may sound cliché, but some of my best friends are gay<\/a> and I always have a better time with them than I do straight people. That’s why I’ve written gay<\/a> characters into so many of my books. Some have bigger parts than others, but I like to write about all colors, all identities, all sexualities – gay<\/a>, straight, whatever. I write characters that I see in my own life.”<\/p>\n If you have a reminiscence about Jackie Collins you’d like to share, please leave it in the comments below.<\/p>\n (image cyotethndr<\/a> – wikimedia commons)<\/p>\n The post Novelist Jackie Collins Dead at 77<\/a> appeared first on Towleroad<\/a>.<\/p>\n