A woman after my own heart.
That would be the dazzling, one and only best-selling novelist Jackie Collins who writes it like no one can.
We sat and waited excitedly for the iconic personality to arrive at the luxurious Bar Seine inside the Upper East Side’s elegant Hotel Plaza Athénée. Surrounded by 3-tiered trays of miniature pastries and tea sandwiches and an outrageous selection of fancy teas, and champagne just like out of one of her addictive novels, the glamorous and confident writer arrived with a huge smile and a “Hi Everybody” greeting to ease the room.
Far from the opening of her future autobiography where she shared the first line. “Don’t move bitch or I’ll blow your fucking head off!” Now that’s more like it.
About 20 of us in the media gathered around for a glorious ladies luncheon to chit chat about her newest THE SANTANGELOS, gossip, and gain words of wisdom from the original ‘Lady Boss’ herself, Jackie Collins.
A wild child at age 13 growing up in England, she said, “I did anything I wanted to do. At 18, I went to jazz clubs. It was a blast”.
An insider for years in Hollywood, Collins who married for the first time at 20, tells it like it is. “I write a lot from first hand experience.” My husband owned nightclubs for years and I’d see all these people f’d up.”
Sex, drugs and rock-n-roll vulgarities roll off her tongue like hello’s and thank you’s. We love it, and can’t get enough. Just like her many books. Her newest and soon-to-be 32nd best-selling page-turner is her latest foray into the sex, power and glamour-filled world of THE SANTANGELOS, just released through St Martin’s Press and already the talk of the town.
The ever powerful strong and unpredictable ‘Lucky Santangelo’ is back and readers are headed for a glorious ride around the world with epic family saga filled with glitz, drama and scandal.
Collins, who still writes in longhand runs her own show. “When my publisher asks when she’s getting my books, I say “I’ll deliver it when it’s ready.”
The younger sister of entertainment star Joan Collins, married to younger Percy Gibson for 13 years, loves writing strong women characters. “I saw inequality in men and women years ago and decided to create really strong female characters. I created Montana (from Hollywood Wives), a writer and director. I love writing strong women.”
No wonder she is adored by every women on the planet practically. Listen to this Collins gem. “I was at a NY paper meeting years ago and a man pinched me in the ass.” Deciding on how to deal with the situation, Collins handled it impeccably. “I pinched him back in his ass.”
I blatantly clapped as I devoured the tastiest scone I’ve ever had.
What’s next on the agenda?
I’m working on a sequel to ‘Power Trip’ right now and trying to get ‘Love Killers’ made into a movie. Maybe my next character will be a strong gay character or transgender.”
What a happening lady.