Jackie Collins: Josie's Juice Tribute PHOTOS, 2013 Sydney Book Launch

Two years ago, Jackie Collins came to Sydney, to celebrate the launch for her book 'Confessions of a Wild Child'.

New Idea magazine threw her a fun party, with each guest receiving an autographed copy of her book, with Channel 7's Andrew O’Keefe emceeing the fantastic event.

I was privileged to be invited to the event, held at The Star. It was October 2013, summer was in the air, and it was an absolutely perfect evening, with the party going well into the night.

There were several vivid memories from the night I am recalling, now that the iconic, world renowned author has died, age 77. Sadly, Jackie Collins died today, September 20 - it was revealed (after her death) that she'd been battling breast cancer.

The first thing I recall is that, for all her fame and huge popularity, she was one of the most gracious celebrities I have ever met. 

She spent twenty minutes chatting with my guest and I, talking candidly about her life and her book characters and who they were inspired by (definitely by people she knew), and I willingly told her that she had given me a crash course in sex ed, as I read one of her most famous books - 'The World Is Full Of Married Men' - at the age of 18, and I couldn't get enough.

I am sure she has heard a similar story countless times, but she listened intently as if it was the first time she'd heard it. She had a genuine ability to allow you to feel like you were the most important person talking to her in that room, in that moment.

And, she really did blow me away with her writing. She wrote explicitly about 'fucking' and illicit affairs and blow jobs like nobody's business, and you can imagine that as an 18 year old discovering, well, life, it was intoxicating to immerse myself into the sexy world of Jackie Collins characters. She truly was like nobody else, and I truly felt like I was (in my very vivid imagination) living that erotic life. I was hooked.

As were millions around the world.

In the 'Studio 10' TV interviews (quite possibly her last televised interview - click here for that link) she revealed that she was in the process of writing her memoirs. And it was going to be a very juicy read. How could it not be? Ms Collins knew everyone of importance in Hollywood, which she openly admitted was the inspiration behind her so bad they were good book characters. She'd lived a very, very full life and was front and centre of the inner workings of Hollywood.

Here are my now-treasured photos of Jackie on this very special night in Sydney (read more about Jackie below).

 

Jackie wrote 32 novels, starting with the aforementioned 'The World is Full of Married Men', which was actually published in 1968.

The novel was branded by fellow pulp author Barbara Cartland as "nasty, filthy and disgusting". It also introduced us to the Santangelos - I recall seeing the telemovies in the 1990s and was so blown away by the characters coming to life. Plus, the actor who played 'Gino' (Vincent Irizarry) was the most handsome man I'd ever seen on screen.

Says Jackie herself about the mini-series:

"I have made two NBC mini-series about The Santangelos, which I wrote and executive produced. What fun! What a trip! I love making movies of my books and watching the characters come alive.

The first mini-series was Lucky/Chances — a combination of the two books ‘Lucky’ and ‘Chances’. We shot in and around L.A. and everyday was a new set up, creating L.A. back in the 30’s all the way to the 80’s. I was happy to be working with actors and a crew who knew exactly what they were doing.

The very beautiful Nicolette Sheridan played Lucky in a dark wig, and I thought she did a great job. Gino was played by the charismatic and undeniably handsome Vincent Irizarry. He did an amazing job of aging almost 30 years!

And the love of Gino’s life, the lovely Maria, was played with style and grace by a very young Sandra Bullock.

Shooting the movie was great fun. I was on the set from the moment we started in the morning to the moment we wrapped.

Lucky/Chances was a ratings winner, so I followed it with the mini-series of ‘Lucky Boss’. This time Kim Delaney played Lucky. She had the character down and was a pleasure to work with.

I have six more Santangelo novels I would love to bring to life (and I hope to do so one day). In the meantime, keep on reading.

The Santangelo’s live on!"

Jackie Collins' website claims there are 500 million copies of her books in print.

Estimates of her personal wealth range between $US100 million and $US180 million.

Despite her illness, Collins appears to have maintained the illusion that it was business as usual until the very end.

People reported that Jackie had deliberately kept her illness largely private, and less than a week ago she invited the magazine into her Beverly Hills home for an interview to promote her latest book.

And as recent as September 16, Hello magazine was there for a tour of her mansion.

"Welcome to the house that Hollywood Wives built," she told Hello, making reference to her bestselling 1983 novel.

Says the family statement released by the Collins family - actress sister Joan Collins has been in the spotlight as long as she has - today:

Jackie Collins

Family Statement:

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 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 we already miss her beyond words.

For inquiries re services and donations:

For USA
Services will be held privately for family. In lieu of flowers please send a donation to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Organization.

For UK
Services will be held privately for family. In lieu of flowers please send a donation to Penny Brohn Cancer Care.

Jackie Collins 'Studio 10' Interview VIDEOS

This most recent interview of deceased author Jackie Collins, quite possibly her last, with Australia's 'Studio 10', is one of the best, most comprehensive I have seen of her. Conducted by Angela Bishop, and screening only a month ago, I was utterly fascinated by this woman's life, her writing ethos (handwritten! And in various rooms of her house, depending on her mood), and the fact that she revealed she was writing her memoirs... a book on HER story, her life.

Here are the two parts of the whole interview:





See the Josie's Juice tribute - with photos from the Sydney book launch in her honour - right here.

Holly Hill interview - 'Velvet Pouch': "Negotiated fidelity is simply sexual risk management."

Holly Hill - the author of controversial new book 'The Velvet Pouch' - sat down for an exclusive interview with Josie's Juice. [Click on the link for your chance to win a copy of the book].

The Austalian writer did NOT mince words - in fact, if you're prudish, stop reading right here. Here's Holly:

Tell me more about the term ‘negotiated fidelity’, and expand on why you recently retracted the statement, saying it emasculated men and made women feel insecure?

Negotiated fidelity is simply sexual risk management. The research is unanimous - men and women are hardwired to be promiscuous with over 60% of marriages involving cheating and 90% of divorcees citing cheating as the main reason. By discussing and red-flagging possible areas for sexual misconduct, couples can safeguard their own unique boundaries and prevent relationships ending prematurely.

This negotiation arises from loyalty and fidelity, it is too late if it comes after infidelity and cheating – hence the term ‘negotiated fidelity’ is proactive and timely, whereas ‘negotiated infidelity’ is reactive and too late.

“Love and relationships are all about wishful thinking and no science. If we don’t change the recipe, the end result will continue to have even chances of failure.” Should even the most secure of married couples be concerned about this statement?

No matter how secure and long lasting a couple is, they still battle boredom, repetition and taking each other for granted. As I point out in my first book, Sugarbabe: “The average erect penis is about 15cm long - let’s be generous and call it 20. And a normal fuck is about 100 thrusts. That means the average root is 2 metres long! And if you fuck the same penis three times a week that’s 6 metres. Multiply that by roughly 50 weeks per year and you’ve got a whopping 300 metres! So if you’ve been faithful for 20 years, it means your wife or girlfriend has had over 6km of the same cock. You wouldn’t want to travel up and down the same stretch of road over and over again – why on earth would you want to do the same thing with a penis?”

Fifty percent of our relationships continue to fail and yet relationship counselors keep on telling us to ‘cure’ problems with date nights, empowerment and candles. You can’t install the software until you fix the hardware!! That means recognising human physiology including hormones, sexuality and a genetic predisposition to cheat and using this knowledge to find soul mates and have lifelong relationships.

You say, “I’m all about helping couples grow old together.” I researched and wrote a story on a high class brothel and all the call girls there said the same thing. Can you see a parallel with your notion and that of the services of a brothel – that is, sex should not be confined solely to a married couple, and adventurous sex should be obtained outside a marriage, even if one half of the couple is not aware of that arrangement?

Every couple needs to determine their own unique boundaries to risk manage their relationship. Sex workers are a great outlet for people who aren’t getting enough sex, whose partners are often sick or absent or who like kink that their partner isn’t interested in. Oxytocin (the cuddle hormone) and attachments are the enemy. There are still a lot of unethical people out there who would prefer to steal a partner than share a partner. That means ensuring sex outside the primary relationship should be once-off or opportunistic encounters. Better still – do them together – most couples are HOT for each other when they see their partner with other people. Renting a sex worker will merely scratch an itch – risking an affair might stab whole families. Un-negotiated sex will ALWAYS be cheating and sexual betrayal.

Can negotiated fidelity ever really, truly work. Is it not inevitable that one half of the couple will always go behind the others’ back and seek sex solo?

If a couple actively risk manage each other’s sexual inclinations and one half of that couple STILL goes out and sexually betrays their partner, that person is not worth having. Loyalty is everything.

Supporting studies:

A study by the University of Washington suggests as many as 60% of marriages involve cheating and that in the last two decades, the number of unfaithful wives under 30 has increased by 20% and unfaithful husbands under 30 increased by 45%.

In 1962, two thirds of American households thought a man should be the major breadwinner. By 1994 two thirds of Americans had rejected this notion. But the trend is reversing - by 2007, only 16 percent of stay-at-home mothers wanted to work full time.

Link on statistics RE: how gender equality has failed (NY Times) http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/17/opinion/sunday/why-gender-equality-stalled.html?smid=tw-share&_r=0

A study by the University of Washington suggests as many as 60% of marriages involve cheating and that in the last two decades, the number of unfaithful wives under 30 has increased by 20% and unfaithful husbands under 30 increased by 45%. The 2009 Australian Sex Census found 47% of men and 44% of women had been unfaithful and less than a quarter leave their primary partner for the person they have the fling with The Men's Rights Agency claim up to 30% of men in Australia are living with a child their mistakenly believe is their biological offspring.

And so, what do you make of Holly's views on fidelity, infidelity, marriage, and sex? Feel free to comment like mad on this controversial topic.

'The Velvet Pouch' is available in hard copy and e-book from April 1, 2013.

Kaz Cooke: Q & A - Women's Stuff

'Women's Stuff' is the new book by Australian author Kaz Cooke, a comprehensive guide on all things relating to women.

And I do mean all things: from confidence, body image, eating, health, boobs, hairy bits (yep), love, heartbreak, sex, health, wrinkle creams, cosmetic surgery, friends, sleep, home, false eyelashes (essential!) - it's all here!

For more info, see http://www.womensstuffbook.com.au/

And here is a very upfront, honest Q & A with the fabulous Kaz Cooke:

What kind of ground is covered in your new book Women’s Stuff ?

It's not a bossy or shouty "guide to how to live your life". It's more like having a best friend in the cupboard who knows everything about everything – so you can consult it for independent advice whether you 're wondering if you're really in love and he's the one to whether your shampoo is ruining the environment, what Botox actually does to you, how to find a job, or leave one and how to cope with feeling down, how to get more sleep, win a wrestle with troublesome hormones, or what to do if you find a lump in your breast. Or, how to tell a busybody to sod off without saying ‘sod off,’ how to recognise a dodgy friend, how to get out of debt or get the sex life you'd rather have.

What was the biggest challenge writing Women’s Stuff?

That it was such a big task. Just knowing that it was going to take a huge amount of research to identify what women needed to know, then to find and check with experts and present it in a way which isn't daunting, but helpful, trustworthy, and fun. And to do that in a world where most information given to women is controlled by commercial interests trying to sell us something, or special interests who want to push their own agenda. On a personal level, the challenge was working out how to honour more than 7000 women who contributed to the book through a questionnaire. Every one of them had a hand in what I decided to write about… I felt like I was having a conversation with thousands of women.

Did you discover anything for yourself while writing Women’s Stuff?

I am certainly much better informed now than I was 3 years ago! And because of that I do feel more confident about facing any challenge or change. I found out I was Vitamin D deficient and in reading though all the comments of thousands of women about appearance, and ageing and body parts they hated or liked, I realised that it truly isn't about what's on the outside. Some beautiful women hate themselves, some with big bosoms are desperate for small ones, while many women with small bosoms are sure their lives would be better with bigger ones. It’s how we feel about ourselves that makes the difference, not actually what we look like. So I worry less about me bits, now, thank you.

Will Women’s Stuff appeal to all ages?

Yep, I reckon it will. Women's Stuff takes you from nose rings and tattoos to having grey pubic hair, from your first flirt through to how to argue with a partner, to being happily single. It really is for every stage of life. And I think more importantly, for every kind of woman - it's just as useful for ladies who love rummaging in their make up bag, and those who think a lot more about world politics (or both).

How many women replied to the Women’s Stuff survey?

More than 7000 women responded – by far the most from Australia, and New Zealand, but also from 64 other countries! The only continent not represented is Antarctica. All in all, more than 490,000 questions were answered.

What was the oddest fact you uncovered… Perhaps the get-thin-quick-scheme from the late 1900s involving a jar of sanitised tapeworms?

I know, hilarious – but is it really so different from the people claiming to be able to "Fat Zap" your weight worries away with radio waves? Or claiming that a special drink will cause you to gain a better figure? Some of the stuff that shocked me the most was a scary level of ignorance or belief – like the woman who said she wouldn't get cancer from her constant sunbaking because she ate organic food, or the woman who said the best people to give you advice about skin products was the people selling them because that made them experts – things like that. There were also many surprising things that women told me. That they'd never had an orgasm in 10 years with their partner but they didn't know how to stop faking; or how women in their 50s and 60s were still basing their negative body image on a comment from a schoolyard bully when they were 6, or 9 years old.

What was the funniest reply you had to your survey?

The honesty of a 21 year old who says she likes walking round the mall carrying shopping bags because it makes her feel rich, or the fashion worker who said her job used to be sewing size 10 labels into size 12 clothes. Some of the answers to "Is there a pattern to your choice of partner?" were pretty funny; "Three Davids, two Johns, three Peters and two Richards" and "they've mostly been wankers" made me laugh out loud.

You must have had many moving ones too?

Yes, there were many truly affecting stories about people living with illness, or dealing with grief, or giving other women advice about how to escape an abusive relationship. It is truly extraordinary what some women have been through. Some comments are heartbreaking, or inspiring, or confronting in a more mundane but still awful way, like the hundreds of women who were targeted as children, and often all their lives, for being 'fat', by their own mothers or other relatives.

This seems to be an age of excessive and conflicting advice – what sets Women’s Stuff apart from other advice based books?

I have to be totally upfront about this. I haven't got a secret theory of life, and I didn't go to Italy or France for a year, wonder what it was all about and have sex with a Spanish movie star. Nope, this is just advice and independent info that's been researched, with lots of input and checks by independent experts – I consulted all sorts of medical specialists, counsellors, and others. I checked out the claims made for stuff like anti-wrinkle creams and cosmetic procedures, and I'm not afraid to say what I found – sometimes the results are downright shocking. And the book provides recommendations for other books and websites that readers will be able to trust, on each individual subject, whether it’s mental health services or dandruff treatments.

You use humour very effectively in your book – do you recommend it as a tool to handle life and its crazy twists and turns?

I suspect if I'm really honest I have to admit I have a short attention span, and laughing helps me stay interested in anything. It's really just how I see the world.

Are women better off today, more equal, better informed than 50 years ago or are there some age-old problems that have never gone away?

Both! Many women are better off – all of us now are more fragrant and comfortable than even the Queen of England was in the 1500s and there are much better treatments for mental and physical health available now. But we're still dealing with rampant discrimination against girls and women, the threatening of their lives, sexual enslavement and in some countries, refusal to educate them. Meanwhile we still are pressured to care more about our hair style than our vote. Women still do most of the housework, worrying, and the emotional and physical work of the home.

In Women’s Stuff you write that women have never hated the way they look more than they do today – any theories as to why?

I think the rise of commercialism and advertising is a big part of it. The prevailing culture tells girls they are too fat when they are still in kindergarten – they see it on TV, they watch their mums talking about it and criticising themselves. The bizarre domination of porn-related culture has also "told" women they need to be "hot" and look sexually available and primped (hence the Brazillian craze) and now cosmetic procedures and surgery are seen as an ordinary option for some. I think women are being shouted at all the time that they're not good enough the way they are.

There’s a section in Women’s Stuff on the body image struggle, have you ever struggled with your shape or looks?

Oh good lord, some mornings I look in the mirror and wonder if I should start waxing the ends of my moustache into jaunty curls. I still draw my eyes in and whack on some lippy but I've usually eaten or smudged it by 11am. If I tried to hold all my bulgy bits in with "shapewear" I'd be wearing a wetsuit. Like most women I am entirely aware that I will never be mistaken for a young Sophia Loren. But you know, I'd rather worry about not laughing more than laugh lines. I'd rather be comfortable and stridey than wear hurty high heels. I'd rather get on with things and be busy than look long enough in the mirror to find the next wrinkle coming. I do want to be fitter and that's my next "project".

What did the survey reveal as the biggest challenge for today’s women?

Finding inner confidence. Absolutely everything else will follow from there. That's what the first part of the book is all about.

After all the research you did for Women’s Stuff, what is the single best piece of advice you could give to a woman nursing a breaking heart?

Be careful and kind to yourself while you heal and later, remember what the relationship and the break-up have taught you.

What would you say to a woman at breaking point, juggling her desire to stay at home and look after young children and her desire to have a career and use her brain outside the home?

You can do both. Just not always at exactly the same time. Enlist as much support as you can both at home and with the kids, and at work. Don't feel bad about not being superwoman. You can't be good at everything all the time so give yourself permission to take some time out from one side of your life for the other.

Do you ever ignore your own sage advice and stuff up?

All The Time. Remember, I don't write advice books because I'm brilliant. I do it because I need the advice. My talent is knowing how to find out things (all that journalism training!)

You’ve been described as being like a straight-talking Aunt, others see you more as a modern-day guru – which is most accurate?

I am a nosy-parker who likes toast and doesn't mind ringing up more than 100 Australian and global experts and convincing them to help me write a book.

What has been the most difficult stage in life for you as a woman?

The teens were really hard because I had a lot of pimples and apple-green bedroom walls. My 20s probably the hardest because although I was earning money and didn't have to wear old ladies pants from the op shop any more, I didn't realise that I could influence and choose things that happened in my life. I was too busy responding to what turned up in front of me and because I did so many stupid things; drinking like a Russian mobster, smoking like a damp pile of leaves on a campfire and sleeping with reporters. In my 30s I settled down and started a family. In my 40s I did the juggle. I'd say it's a toss up between the first two years of motherhood, and my 20s.

Whom do you rely upon for advice now and when you were younger?

Now, it's my friends, and any of the more than 200 lovely experts I consult for my books. I am afraid that when I was younger I probably would have taken advice from any old bonkers baggage who offered it, because I didn't know anything.

What do you do to freshen up and take a break while writing?

I curl my moustache. Or drink Madagascan Vanilla tea (I don't think it really is from Madagascar but I like the idea that lemurs have waved as it went past).

'Women's Stuff is available now, RRP $59.95 (though I have seen it onsale this week for far less - snap up a copy now!).

Women's Stuff: Kaz Cooke's new book

Described as a book that is "all about cutting the crap and giving you the info you need to enjoy your life the best way you can – and to take back your beauty, your body and your brain", this new tome (and I do mean 'tome' - it's massive!) is a must-read for all women.

Seriously.

Devoid of fluff and filled with the good stuff, it's laced with the typical wit you’d expect from Kaz Cooke, author of 'Up the Duff', 'Kidwrangling' and 'Girl Stuff'.

'Women’s Stuff' has everything you need to know about confidence, body image, eating, health, boobs, hairy bits (oh yes), love, heartbreak, sex, health, wrinkle creams, cosmetic surgery, friends, sleep, home, false eyelashes, and much more.

'Women’s Stuff' goes above and beyond; it explains how to become confident, be healthier, feel gorgeous, accept your body, eat without guilt, deal brilliantly with busybodies and bullies in any situation, embrace optimism, avoid rip-offs, pick the right partner, decide when and whether to try to get pregnant, fight with the in-laws, tackle bad feelings, make a relationship better or escape a bad one, enjoy sex, be happily single, find fulfilling work and purpose, get through grief and other bad times or problems, decide on and follow a dream, assess the uses and risks of cosmetic procedures, choose a moisturiser that won’t break the bank, judge which natural remedies or medication might be useless, get more sleep, deal with any health problems, and understand all your hormonal happenings.

And it lives up to expectations: it's written in extensive consultation with more than 100 medical, psychological and other practical experts and informed by over 7,000 real women who responded to an online research survey.

It's hefty: with more than 700 pages, in an easy-to-use index and a user-friendly design featuring Kaz’s colourful illustrations, Women’s Stuff is THE go-to-guide for all women, of any age.

For a Q & A with the inimitable Kaz Cooke, go here: http://josiesjuice.blogspot.com/2011/10/kaz-cooke-q-womens-stuff.html

'Women's Stuff is available now, RRP $59.95 (though I have seen it onsale this week for far less - snap up a copy now!).