Donna Kauffman, best-selling romance novelist and Paste BN contributor, dies at 60

Donna Kauffman, best-selling romance writer of more than 70 novels and a Paste BN contributor, has died at age 60, her publisher announced Wednesday.

Kauffman, whose novels were translated and published in 26 countries, died April 9 of pancreatic cancer, according to a statement from Kensington Publishing. 

"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. "She made a world where every character was important and where love always wins the day."

Author Sonali Dev, who had worked with Kauffman on a recent book box set, said the death of the generous collaborator was a shock. 

"Her last message to us was one of hope about how much better she was feeling. I was not prepared for this at all," said Dev, who referred to Kauffman as heroically optimistic even in the most trying times. "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."

Author Nora Roberts wrote in a statement that she would miss Kauffman's memorable laugh.

"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 warm and funny, independent and hard-working. Knowing she’s no longer in the world is a hard, sharp loss."

Kauffman contributed a reality TV column to Paste BN's Happy Ever After blog until 2015 and was an avid baker, gardener and environmental advocate. A native of Washington, D.C., she ultimately called the Blue Ridge Mountains home, where she drew inspiration for her novels — including the setting of her final work, "Under a Firefly Moon," which was released Jan. 28.

Kauffman leaves behind two sons, and, in the words of her publisher "hundreds of delightfully relatable characters, and legions of readers whose lives were touched by her humorous and heartwarming fiction."

Her last Facebook post on March 23 featured flowers blooming in spring.

"Some things are all-enduring. Like Spring. It will come regardless of the world’s troubles. Focusing on the beauty today, And the endurance," Kauffman wrote.

Her friends have started a donation page for the adult literacy nonprofit group ProLiteracy.com in her honor.