

Kauffman contributed a reality TV column to USA TODAY's Happy Ever After blog until 2015 and was an avid baker, gardener and environmental advocate. Knowing she’s no longer in the world is a hard, sharp loss." "She was warm and funny, independent and hard-working. "My friend Donna had a laugh that rolled right up out of her belly, the sort you’d recognize as hers from across the room," Roberts wrote. "She was the most upbeat, relentless, tireless cheerleader of our little group, with nothing but words of wisdom, support, and sometimes plain blind faith in us no matter how defeated we felt by this business and our private lives."Īuthor Nora Roberts wrote in a statement that she would miss Kauffman's memorable laugh. I was not prepared for this at all," said Dev, who referred to Kauffman as heroically optimistic even in the most trying times. "Her last message to us was one of hope about how much better she was feeling. "She made a world where every character was important and where love always wins the day."Īuthor Sonali Dev, who had worked with Kauffman on a recent book box set, said the death of the generous collaborator was a shock. "Donna had a special gift for telling tender, uplifting stories while offering a uniquely insightful glimpse at the human condition," Kauffman's book editor, Alicia Condon, said in the statement.

Kauffman, whose novels were translated and published in 26 countries, died April 9 of pancreatic cancer, according to a statement from Kensington Publishing. Donna Kauffman, best-selling romance writer of more than 70 novels and a USA TODAY contributor, has died at age 60, her publisher announced Wednesday.
