Earlier this month, Jackie Collins debut her 28th novel, Goddess of Vengeance ($26.99), bringing back our favorite leading lady, Lucky Santangelo. Which for any Collins fan is the ultimate. Lucky is the girl we all want to be –and ones who don’t are likely pretending. We’ve watched her character grow from young bride, rouge adolescent to powerhouse jet-set mother of three; with a movie star husband and thriving career with the popularity of her casino and hotel business. While fans may have thought her wild days we’re over, with a title like Goddess of Vengeance, I look forward to seeing her unleash her wrath; after all, you know that families famous motto — Never fuck with a Santangelo.
And if you follow me on twitter (@prettyconnected) you’re well aware that Jackie Collins novels are my not-so-secret guilty pleasure. In fact after a particularly exhausting fashion week, amidst starting my own company and keeping up with my blog; I decided my reward for getting through the 4-hour sleepless nights and never ending to-do list would be to curl up in bed, shut out the world and read her latest book.
I’m not entirely sure what I was thinking having a Jackie Collins book in my possession for almost 2-weeks and resisting dropping everything to read it. I just knew that once I opened it, I would not be able to stop until it was finished. And last night, with the unappealing weather and gray NYC skies it was the perfect excuse to pour a glass of wine and enter the world of Lucky and her famous family and friends, while Armoand, a misogynist prince (who I’m hoping is the subject of Lucky’s vengeance and takes down) tries to take over her hotel. Although the character I’m most excited about watching develop is her daughter, Max – who reminds us so much of a young Lucky, who certainly has her hands full as her daughter that is about to turn 18, with dreams of escaping her famous family to start fresh in New York City. Of course as I type that, I half heartedly dislike her for not appreciating the amazing family she’s been brought into – insane wealth and beauty with legendary, loving parents. Yes, I realize I’m fawning over a fictional character.
Although, I suppose that’s what makes Jackie’s books so captivating – they don’t seem fake. And not just because they are no doubt based on real characters, but because in every interaction and I’ve had with Jackie, we talk about them as if they are real. The excitement in Jackie’s eyes as she gets to announce Lucky is back, and that elated look she gives as to not knowing what she’s going to do next.
I wanted to share part of the launch event for Goddess of Vengeance, with all of you. I videoed her brief reading from one of the chapters (I apologize but the sound isn’t great) and Q&A with Jackie (that if you scroll to 2:35min you can hear quite well) so you could all get to know Jackie better and why I’m so enamored by her. At one point I asked how she develops her characters and if puts a lot of thought into them and their profound personalities before adding them into her novels, to which she admitted she didn’t. “I just start writing, and as I write the character comes to life. I have no idea when I sit down what’s going to happen next”. That’s likely why she’s as excited as we are to see how the story will unfold as the saga continues!
I went to bed reading, Goddess of Vengeance, I woke up to reading Goddess of Vengeance. Half way done, I only took a break now to write about my excitement for Goddess of Vengeance; as I plan on returning to it after writing this (I knew I’d get addicted!). That and I wanted to make sure if you didn’t see the tweets that you knew her latest book was out. And for any new (and soon to be) Jackie Collins fans, you don’t need to read the other books first to keep up. Jackie always gives the back-story on who the characters are and how they are related so you can jump in anytime.
Everytime I meet Jackie, I am more and more inspired by her and can honestly say she’s one of my heroes. I even have a picture of her in my office (literally next to my desk) with that stern yet seductive look on her face, arms crossed with the words “Stay Lucky” written on them. It inspires me every time I sit down. That saying along with “what would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?”, which is on the plaque my mother gave me when I graduated high school are my two mottos in life. That and my grandfather used to call me Lucky so it hits a sentimental cord.
Now back to Goddess of Vengeance!