Tributes to best-selling author

Best-selling author Peter James has paid tribute to fellow Sussex writer James Herbert, who died yesterday at the age of 69.

Herbert, who's first novel was horror classic The Rats, published in 1974, wrote 23 novels, selling 54 million copies worldwide.

Peter James said: "Jim was a one-off, a true original who took the horror novel out of gothic castles and placed it in the scariest of modern urban and rural settings. He had a formidable intellect, and was huge fun to be around.

"In life you find you have 'fair weather' friends and 'foul weather' friends. It is the former who desert you for the slightest reason and the latter who remain your friend though thick and thin. Jim was the best foul weather friend I could have had.

"He stuck with me through some of the most troubled times in my life, and way back in the 1990s, when I became deeply despondent about my writing career, and was on the verge of chucking it in and just focusing on film making, he was the one person who truly believed in me.

"He encouraged me and ultimately was responsible for helping me make the move to his own publishers, Macmillan, who turned my career around. I owe him so much and I will miss him terribly. RIP Jimbo, you were a giant of a human being."

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• James Herbert

Still remember the blurb on the back of "The Fog" - "For god's sake don't leave this on Aunt Edna's chair..." #jamesherbert

From @domjoly on Twitter: ( 7:42 am, Thu 21 Mar 2013)

I just heard that James Herbert is dead. Gutted. Friends with Jim since 1984. A good man, & a better writer than they gave him credit for.

From @neilhimself on Twitter: ( 8:59 pm, Wed 20 Mar 2013)

Goodbye James Herbert... you wrote some really good scary stuff. R.I.P.

From @ThePaulDaniels on Twitter: ( 8:58 pm, Wed 20 Mar 2013)

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Another sad loss with the passing of my dear friend James Herbert. Great writer & greatt company. Heaven has collected too many this year.

From @GrumpyOldRick on Twitter: ( 7:29 am, Thu 21 Mar 2013)

Sad news about James Herbert. I remember having a nightmare once, after hearing the synopsis of one of his books my sister was reading.

From @SarahMillican75 on Twitter: ( 9:08 pm, Wed 20 Mar 2013)

Deeply saddened to hear today that my dear friend, writer James Herbert, died last night. Will miss you lots, Jim, you were a diamond. RIP

From @peterjamesuk on Twitter: ( 6:06 pm, Wed 20 Mar 2013)

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• James Herbert

James Herbert, the Sussex-based horror writer, has died at the age of 69. He wrote 23 novels, selling 54 million copies worldwide.

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• James Herbert