Sidney Sheldon, an Oscar-winning Hollywood screenwriter who later turned to writing best-selling novels, died of complications from pneumonia at a hospital near Palm Springs, California. He was 89. He is survived by his second wife Alexandra and his daughter, author Mary Sheldon.

In 1982, Sheldon spoke about his writing style, equating it to that of ‘the old Saturday afternoon serial’. “I try to write my books so the reader can't put them down. I try to construct them so when the reader gets to the end of a chapter, he or she has to read just one more chapter. It's the technique of the old Saturday afternoon serial: leave the guy hanging on the edge of the cliff at the end of the chapter.”

His novels often portrayed strong female characters and Sheldon attributed his reputation among female readers to those. “I like to write about women who are talented and capable, but [who] retain their femininity,” he had said. “Women have tremendous power -- their femininity, because men can't do without it.”

I think it's a great loss to the literature world....what do you say guys???