Jackie Collins, the British best-selling author of numerous romance novels, has died after a bout with breast cancer on Saturday at the age of 77. Her publicist Melody Korenbrot confirmed the news to CNN. Collins was behind several hit novels about the lives of Hollywood stars and the rich elite, and has sold more than 500 million copies worldwide. Some of the British author's best-selling works include "Hollywood Wives," "Hollywood Divorces" and "The Stud." Thirty of her novels were New York Times bestsellers, according to TMZ.
"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," Collins' family said in a statement, according to People.
The family said that Collins was "a true inspiration, a trail blazer for women in fiction and a creative force."
Collins was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer six-and-a-half years ago, but chose to keep the information private and only confided in her three daughters Tracy, 54, Tiffany, 48, and Rory, 46.
The family will hold private memorial services both in the United States and the United Kingdom. They have also requested that donations be sent to the Penny Brohn Cancer Care and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Organization instead of flowers.
