Jackie Collins on writing. And what she read in bed at age 13.

(CNN) -- Best-selling author Jackie Collins recently released her 20th novel, "Lethal Seduction," and has sold more than 200 million copies of her books. Born in England and transplanted as a teen to Hollywood -- where she joined her actress-sister Joan Collins -- the writer is an icon of populist fiction today. And that means her career involves more than writing. Even as she joined us for this CNN.com/career chat, she was in London on a promotional tour for the release of her new book in Europe. From there, she wished us all "a seductive Christmas."

CNN Chat Moderator: Thank you for joining us today, Jackie Collins, and welcome.

THE 'WILD CHILD' SPEAKS
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Jackie Collins: Hi there, everyone. It's great to be speaking with you today.

Question from Hi: I'm really interested to know how Ms. Collins chose to be an author.

Jackie Collins: It was my lifetime ambition to tell stories. Ever since I was a little kid, I made up stories and sold them to my friends, and made money. Writing books is my passion.

Question from TheRam: My Question, Ms. Collins, is how did you get your first novel published?

Jackie Collins: I read a lot of books, and I had just completed the manuscript of "The World Is Full of Married Men," and I chose a publisher from whom I'd bought many books. I figured that if I liked what he published, he would like what I wrote. And I was right.
Question from Hi: How did you find your niche?

Jackie Collins: If you're a true storyteller, you tell stories about the people and events around you. I was raised in a show-business family, so I was never in awe of famous people, and I decided they were the perfect subjects for me to write about.

Question from TheRam: What kind of response do you get from people who recognize themselves as characters in your novels?

QUICK VOTE

Jackie Collins: Well so far, nobody has recognized themselves in "Lethal Seduction," my latest book, but when I wrote a book called "The Stud," every guy in Hollywood thought it was him.

CNN Chat Moderator: Can you tell us a little bit about "Lethal Seduction?"

Jackie Collins: "Lethal Seduction" is a book about three strong women, and the cheating men in their lives. My heroine, Madison Castelli, was the main character in my serial novel, "LA Connections." And in "Lethal Seduction," I bring her back and she discovers all of these shocking secrets about what she thought was her perfect parents. There will obviously have to be a sequel, as everyone who's read "Lethal Seduction" is begging me to know what happens next. It's also the story of a would-be New York socialite called Rosarita who wants to kill her husband. It's a very humorous book, and intentionally so.

Question from ianbnyc: I hear "Lethal Seduction" is the best-reviewed novel of Ms. Collins' career. True?

Jackie Collins: Absolutely true. The critics seem to love this book. I think they're pleased with the humor and the characters, who range from Dick Cockranger, who changes his name to Dexter Falcon, and the return of Kris Phoenix from my book "Rock Star." One critic said nobody writes sex in the back of a Bentley better than Jackie Collins.

Question from Moses: Are most of your readers men or women?

Jackie Collins: Interestingly enough, I've just been doing several signings, and it's certainly a mixed bag. Men are buying two copies, so I asked them if there was one for the wife and one for the mistress. They gave me weak smiles. I have a lot of women in their 20s who read my books, and tell me that they learned everything about sex from me because they started reading me under the covers with a flashlight when they were 13. I asked them, "What does your boyfriend think of this?" They reply, "He has no complaints."

Question from david: Can a 15-year-old start writing? I mean real books?

Jackie Collins: Well, I did, but of course I wasn't published until my early 20s. I think if you want to be a writer, you can just start as young as you want and just keep going. Eventually, if you're very good, somebody will discover you.

Question from Guest20000: What were you reading under the covers with a flashlight when you were 13?

Jackie Collins: Harold Robbins.

Comment from Moses: I'm from Kenya, thought you might find this interesting: You have a loyal base of readers there who have named their children after you. I know three Jackie Collins.

Jackie Collins: Oh, I'm very flattered. I think that's great. My agent was visiting Kenya once and was taken to a tribal chief's hut, way outside the city, whereupon the chief showed him his treasures. They turned out to be all of my paperbacks. It's the first time I've heard my agent impressed by anything.

Question from Haley: Ms. Collins, how did you come up with some of the names of the characters in your latest book?

Jackie Collins: A lot of people are amused by the name Dick Cockranger, but it's quite a normal name. Just check out the phone book, and you'll see stranger names than that. I like strong names for my heroines, and in past books I've had Montana, Jade and of course the wickedly wonderful Lucky Santangelo.

Question from TheRam: Do you have a set schedule for writing?

Jackie Collins: Yes, I write my books in longhand, so I have to be extremely disciplined. When I'm working on a book, I usually write from 8 a.m. until 4 or 5 in the afternoon. It's not as easy as some people seem to think.

Question from MWGirl: Do you keep a diary?

Jackie Collins: Yes, I do. I keep a journal because I think it makes interesting reading for myself when I want to capture some of the characters I've met -- and I change their names to protect the not-so-innocent.

Question from LMH: Lucky Santangelo is such a strong woman in your books. Is her character based on someone you actually know?

Jackie Collins: She's a woman that a lot of other women would like to be like. She's not actually based on a real person. More, the person I'd like to be in another life. Lucky empowers women. She's a fabulous character to write about, and I hope that my readers like Madison in "Lethal Seduction" as much as they like Lucky. Any comments from anyone who has read "Lethal Seduction?"

Comment from LMH: I enjoyed it very much. It leaves you wanting to know what happens next.

Jackie Collins: I'm glad you feel that way because I'm itching to write a sequel, which will be called "Deadly Embrace." It will tell the story of Madison's father, Michael, and go back in time, to before Madison was born. But right now, I'm writing "Hollywood Wives: The New Generation," so that's keeping me pretty busy.

CNN Chat Moderator: What's the most important piece of career advice you've ever received? And did you follow the advice when it was first given?

Jackie Collins: When I was very young, I met Harold Robbins, and showed him some of my work. And he said, 'Keep on doing it, kid. You've got the storytelling talent." That meant a lot to me, coming from a master storyteller.

Question from Guest20000: Would you ever try writing something different? Say, like science-fiction or historical fiction?

Jackie Collins: I appreciate good science-fiction writers, and historical, but those kinds of books don't appeal to me personally. I've written 20 books, and as far as I'm concerned they are all totally different. "Rock Star" explored the rock-star lifestyle. My Hollywood books put the magnifying glass on Hollywood. "Lovers and Gamblers" is about a plane crash in Brazil. And then there are five Santangelo books and plenty of others. So I think my subjects are pretty varied.

CNN Chat Moderator: In your opinion, has the Internet opened more publishing opportunities for writers? Would you consider publishing specifically for the Internet?

Jackie Collins: I like the process of writing too much to do it on the Internet, although I know some of my books are (available as) e-books at the moment. In fact, I think "Lethal Seduction" is. Personally, there's nothing like holding a real book in one's hands, one of my favorite things to do.

Question from Haley-CNN: Any plans on writing about the Hollywood and Washington connections?

Jackie Collins: I was planning on taking Lucky to Washington, but then the Clinton scandal happened and there was nothing I could write that would be as bizarre. When the Starr report came out, the newspapers said this was like a page from a Jackie Collins book. I responded that if it were a Jackie Collins book, the sex would be a lot better.

CNN Chat Moderator: Do you have any final thoughts to share with us today?

Jackie Collins: It was great fun talking to you all today, and discussing my books and the characters in them. So all that's left to say is have a seductive Christmas. Lots of love, Jackie Collins.

CNN Chat Moderator: Thank you for joining us today.

Jackie Collins joined the chat via telephone from London. CNN.com provided a typist for her. The above is an edited transcript of the chat, which took place on Monday, October 16, 2000.

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That storybook career isn't fiction
October 13, 2000

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