Table tennis is author's first love

Jackie Collins says playing table tennis is the secret to staying in shape at 60.

The novelist says swimming also keeps her fit.

Collins has just added a book called Deadly Embrace to her back catalogue of 21 titles.

She tells America's Parade magazine: "I've been playing it for years. It's how I stay in shape - swimming and ping pong.

"I play against my daughters and their husbands and boyfriends. I beat them all!"

She adds: "I write my books longhand on yellow, lined legal pads. My secretary then types up each day's writing. I do about one book a year and when I come up with an idea, I don't write a treatment.

"I just send in a title and start. I have no idea how it's all going to come out but the structure of the mystery is in my head."