Michael Crichton Loses Battle With Cancer

Legendary author Michael Crichton has died at the age of 66.

Crichton, who wrote more than a dozen best-sellers in his career – most notibly Jurassic Park – lost his battle with cancer in Los Angeles on Tuesday, his family said in a statement.

“Michael Crichton died unexpectedly in Los Angeles Tuesday, November 4, 2008 after a courageous and private battle against cancer,” the statement read.

As well as his novels, which sold over 100 million copies worldwide, Crichton was also the creator behind the hit international medical drama, E.R..

Lauren Conrad: Author

These reality television alums seem to get everything handed to them on a silver platter, don’t they?

Not only is she a television star and fashion designer, but now Lauren Conrad can also call herself an author, after finalising a three-book deal with publishing powerhouse HarperCollins.

The 22-year-old star of hit show The Hills has just signed on with HC to write a three-book series of young adult fiction novels, the first of which will be released in the summer of 2009. The books will be based on Conrad’s own life experiences, going from an “ordinary” Laguna Beach teenager to reality TV star.

“It’s definitely influenced by my own life,” Conrad explained. “The books are about a girl who moves to L.A. and stars in a reality show, so obviously there are some similarities.”

However, don’t expect any of her Hills co-stars, like Heidi Montag and the big Pratt, Spencer, to show up in any of the novels. “I’m not trying to do a fictional story based on all my friends in my real life because their stories aren’t really mine to tell,” said Conrad. “Some of the characters may symbolize people in my life, but it is in no way calling anyone out.”

I wonder if she’ll include the sex tape scandal her so-called former BFF Montag reportedly leaked to the media a while back?

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