2013 Event Best-selling American author Tom Clancy dies at the age of 66; the author's debut book, 'The Hunt for Red October' has been cited as one of the greatest genre novels ever written 2000 Death Patrick O'Brian, author of sea-faring novels, Aubrey-Maturin series, dies at 85 1997 Death Bohumil Hrabal, Czechoslovakian writer, storyteller, wrote hyper-realist texts, studied at Charles Univerisity in Prague, known for novels titled Closely Watched Trains and I Served the King of England, dies at 82 1994 Death Ladislav Fuks, writer, novelist, psychological novels, involving despair, suffering, experience of Fascist rule, dies at 70 1967 Death Oskar Maria Graf, pseudonym Oskar Graf-Berg, writer, president, wrote autobiographical, socialist-anarchist novels, dies at 72 in New York 1965 Birthday Nicholas Sparks, born in Omaha, Nebraska, bestselling author, writer, novelist, wrote, 'A Walk to Remember', author of novels including, 'Nights in Rodanthe', 'The Last Song', 'The Notebook' 1965 Birthday J. K. Rowling, born in Yate, England, author, 'Harry Potter' series of fantasy novels, listed as the 12th richest woman in Britain, 2008, with a net worth of $798 million 1961 Birthday Tom Holt, born in London, author, British novelist, writes mythopoeic novels that parody mythology, history, literature 1961 Birthday Daniel Clowes, born in Chicago, Illinois, author, cartoonist, creator of 'Eightball', published graphic novels including, 'Ghost World' 1961 Birthday Fabio [Lanzoni], born in Italy, romance novels model, Fabio After Dark 1957 Death Leo Perutz, writer, wrote 11 novels, mathematician, emigrated to Palestine during Nazi Anschluss, 1938, dies in Bad Ischi, Austria 1950 Birthday Nora Roberts, born in Silver Spring, Maryland, author, wrote 165 romance novels, Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame inductee, sold over 280 million books 1930 Birthday Colin Dexter, born in Stamford, Lincolnshire, England, author, crime writer of 13 detective novels and 33 episode television series featuring fictional character Detective Chief Inspector Endeavour Morse, portrayed by John Thaw 1930 Death Alois Jirasek, writer, taught secondary school, wrote plays, historical novels, including, 'Against Everyone', dies in Prague, Czechoslovakia 1927 Birthday Martin Walser, born in Wasserburg am Bodensee, Germany, writer, 1998 Peace Prize of the German Book Trade winner, known for 'Runaway Horse', famous for describing conflicts his anti-heroes have in stories and novels 1924 Birthday Lloyd Alexander, born in Pennsylvania, American author, wrote children's fantasy novels, 'Cricket' magazine creator 1923 Birthday Ladislav Fuks, born in Prague, Czechoslovakia, writer, novelist, psychological novels, involving despair, suffering, experience of Fascist rule, received doctorate at Charles University in Prague 1923 Birthday Norman Mailer, born in New Jersey, American novelist, poet, playwright, film director, wrote 40 books and 11 novels 1919 Death Amelia Barr, writer, novelist, wrote for religious periodicals, novels include 'The Lone House', 'Shela Vedder', dies 1914 Birthday Bohumil Hrabal, born in Brno-Zidenice, Moravia, Czechoslovakian writer, storyteller, wrote hyper-realist texts, studied at Charles Univerisity in Prague, known for novels titled Closely Watched Trains and I Served the King of England 1912 Birthday Louis Boon, born in Aalst, Belgium, born Lodewijk Paul Aalbrecht Boon, writer, journalist, novelist, wrote historical novels, modernist work Vergeten straat 1902 Birthday Jorgen Nielsen, Danish author, regional novels 1899 Birthday Jannetje Fisherman-Roosendaal, author, regional novels 1894 Birthday Oskar Maria Graf, born in Berg, Germany, pseudonym Oskar Graf-Berg, writer, president, wrote autobiographical, socialist-anarchist novels 1885 Birthday Eratstus Flaval Beadle, publisher, Beadle's Dime Novels 1882 Birthday Leo Perutz, born in Prague, Czechoslovakia, writer, wrote 11 novels, mathematician, emigrated to Palestine during Nazi Anschluss, 1938 1851 Birthday Alois Jirasek, born in Czechoslovakia, writer, taught secondary school, wrote plays, historical novels, including, 'Against Everyone' 1835 Birthday Emile Gaboriau, author, father of French detective novels 1831 Birthday Amelia Barr, born in Ulverston, England, writer, novelist, wrote for religious periodicals, novels include 'The Lone House', 'Shela Vedder' 1823 Death Ann Radcliffe (Ward), English poet/author of horror novels, dies at 58
