by Martha McCully

I got a great tip tonight: Every time Jackie Collins finishes writing a book she buys herself a piece of jewelry. I think that’s applicable to just about anything, which is why we spend so much time on jewelry stories at In Style. And she was sporting some great pieces: Black diamond men’s i.d. bracelets from David Yurman; a Chanel diamond watch; a Loree Rodkin diamond pendant that looks like a giant shark’s tooth; her pear-shaped engagement ring, and earrings she designed herself. She’s sold over 400 million books, so, why not??

But she wasn’t at Barnes & Noble promoting her jewelry, that’s just what caught my eye. She was there to talk to a group of women from Ladies Who Launch, an incredibly successful community for entrepreneurial women. They have 40,000 subscribers to their email newsletter and offer “Incubator” programs around the U.S., Canada, and Europe. Jackie was giving out all sorts of tips about being creative and running her own business. She’s very hands on, in fact, she writes her manuscripts long hand and they are usually 2000 pages. I mean, ever since I started typing on a computer I’ve lost the muscles in my hands that used to produce good penmanship. I don’t know how she does it, but there she was signing books, and going to all the Barnes & Noble stores to sign the paperbacks too.

Did I mention she has a new book?? Drop Dead Beautiful. That’s the book title. I asked her which of her 25 books is her favorite. “My books are like children. I love them all,” she said. And the Ladies Who Launch have a new book too. I was completely inspired to write a book and buy jewelry. Or at least buy hers (book not jewelry). Which of her books is your favorite?