Novelist Jackie Collins has died from breast cancer in Los Angeles aged 77, her family has confirmed.
In a statement posted to Collins' Facebook early on Sunday morning, they said: "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.
"She lived a wonderfully full life and was adored by her family, friends and the millions of readers who she has been entertaining for the past four decades."
They added that she had been an "inspiration" to many, and "a trail blazer for women in fiction and a creative force."
On Twitter, her sister, the actor Joan Collins, paid tribute to her "beautiful and brave baby sister," and said "I will love you and miss you forever".
Farewell to my beautiful brave baby sister. I will love you and miss you forever. Rest in peace.
Collins was diagnosed with breast cancer four and a half years ago, but had largely kept her condition private, People reported.
"Looking back, I'm not sorry about anything I did," she told the celebrity magazine in her final interview, earlier this month.
"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 travelled 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."
Collins told People that she was "proud" of her three daughters, Tracy, 54, Tiffany, 48, and Rory, 46. "I want them to feel secure and I want them to feel whatever happens, I'll always be there."
Born in 1937, Collins wrote 32 bestselling novels about love, sex, glamour, and power, most famously Hollywood Lives, and has been translated into 40 languages. Over 500 million copies of her books have been sold.
In 2011 she told the Associated Press, she "never felt bashful writing about sex."
"As a writer, you can never think about who is going to read your books. Is it going to be my mom? My children? A lot of people say to me, 'Oh, I read your books under a cover with a flashlight when I was really young and I learned everything I know about sex from you.' ... I think I've helped people's sex lives. Sex is a driving force in the world so I don't think it's unusual that I write about sex. I try to make it erotic, too."
Collins' 1968 scandalous debut novel, The World is Full of Married Men, was banned in Australia and condemned by British romance novelist Barbara Cartland.
Cartland reportedly told Collins that the novel was "filthy and disgusting and [she was] responsible for all the perverts in England".
Collins produced her most famous works, including The World Is Full of Divorced Women, during the '70s and '80s, and in 1985, Hollywood Wives was adapted for television by Dynasty producer Aaron Spelling.
Tributes from Collins' many famous admirers have flooded Twitter since the announcement of her death.
I'm shocked & saddened by Jackie Collins' passing. She was a true talent, a beautiful being & a dear friend.
I'm so sad to hear about the passing of Jackie Collins..my love and prayers go out to her family and… https://t.co/Lfe6naWFZo
I'm so very sad to hear about @jackiejcollins She was the definition of a class act. Everyone who met her was Lucky.
Horribly sad news about Jackie Collins. She was a lovely, very special woman. RIP.
@Philippa_Perry fortunately we don't have a pool. But if we did?...
Comedian Sandra Bernhard seemed to capture Collins' spirit best, remembering a time when they "both wore leopard & laughed our asses off".
i am devastated at the news about @jackiejcollins i knew her, she was a class act & a lady the diarist of hollywood at it's best & worst
german vogue did a story on me & @jackiejcollins it was a lunch & girl talk we both wore leopard & laughed our asses off
The Collins family have said that instead of sending flowers in tribute, well-wishers should make donations to Penny Brohn Cancer Care in the UK and Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Organization in the US.