"Racing figures and authors have paid tribute to thriller writer Dick Francis, who has died aged 89. Writer Frederick Forsyth praised Francis's "immensely prolific" output of "page-turners", and said authors were still "walking in his footsteps". Former BBC commentator Sir Peter O'Sullevan said the best-selling writer was one of the "people's champions". As well as being a best-selling author, Francis was also champion jockey in the 1950s and the Queen Mother's jockey. He wrote more than 40 best-selling novels during his career, selling some 60 million books worldwide. He first published his autobiography in 1957, and his first thriller, Dead Cert, followed five years later. The Queen Mother was reputedly one of his most enthusiastic readers, and Buckingham Palace said the Queen would be saddened to learn of his death" - BBCTechnorati Tag: Books
