BREAKING NEWS! BEST SELLING AUTHOR JACKIE COLLINS DIES AT 77 OF BREAST CANCER

Best-selling British author Jackie Collins has died of breast cancer in Los Angeles aged 77, her family has said in a statement.

Collins was born in London in 1937 and wrote over 30 best-selling novels during her long career.She has been battling cancer since she was diagnosed in 2009, but kept the details of her illness mostly to herself, according to People magazine in the US.

"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 family said.

"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 four decades."

"She was a true inspiration, a trail blazer for women in fiction and a creative force. She will live on through her characters, but already miss her beyond words."

Collins gave an interview from her home in Beverly Hills five days ago, saying she had no regrets.

She said she had lived life like Frank Sinatra, and 'done it my way'.

In the interview with People, she said, 'Looking back, I'm not sorry about anything I did.

'I did it my way, as Frank Sinatra would say. I've written five books since the diagnosis, I've lived my life, I've traveled all over the world, I have not turned down book tours and no one has ever known until now when I feel as though I should come out with it.'

-- more details to come.