Author Elmore Leonard Dies Aged 87

Bestselling crime novelist Elmore Leonard, whose books include Get Shorty and Out of Sight, has died aged 87.

The prolific author, dubbed the "Dickens of Detroit" died at his home "surrounded by his loving family" following complications from a stroke, according to his researcher, Gregg Sutter.

His first novel, The Bounty Hunters, was published in 1953. Many of his 45 books were adapted for film or televsion, including Get Shorty, 3:10 to Yuma and Rum Punch, which became Quentin Tarintino's 1997 film Jackie Brown.

His breakthrough novel, Hombre, was the first of his books to be adapted to the big screen in 1967. It starred Paul Newman.

He was believed to have been working on a new novel at the time of his death.

Trainspotting author Irvine Welsh paid tribute, saying on Twitter that Leonard "could get you to turn a page".

Crime novelist Ian Rankin added: "Elmore Leonard died? Sad news. What a great writer. Gave me a few tips once. I ignored most of them."

Leonard famously published his top 10 rules for writing in 2001, which included "Keep your exclamation points ­under control" and "Try to leave out the part that readers tend to skip".

He said his most important rule was: "If it sounds like writing, I rewrite it."

In 2012, after learning he was to become a National Book Award lifetime achievement recipient, Leonard said he had no intention of ending his life's work.

"I probably won't quit until I just quit everything - quit my life - because it's all I know how to do," said. "And it's fun. I do have fun writing, and a long time ago, I told myself, 'You got to have fun at this, or it'll drive you nuts.'"

Leonard married three times and had five children, all from his first marriage.