Author Paula Danziger dead at 59

updated 6:01 p.m. ET July 9, 2004

NEW YORK - Paula Danziger, author of numerous popular books for children and young adults, has died of complications from a heart attack in New York City.

Danziger’s first novel, The Cat Ate My Gymsuit, was published to glowing notices 30 years ago.

She also wrote the Amber Brown books about a pugnacious grade schooler.

Danziger grew up in New Jersey and became a schoolteacher in 1967. She says she always wanted to write, but didn’t start until a week in which she survived two car accidents in two days.

“Before I got hit by a bus,” she said.

Paula Danziger was 59.

MORE FROM BOOKS

Stephen King pays for troops’ holiday trip

Stephen King pays for troops’ holiday trip Rare first Poe book could be worth $700,000 Bad Sex prize awarded to American author ‘Julie & Julia’ author takes job in butcher shop Real ‘Alice in Wonderland’ book to fetch $150K Michael Jackson ‘Opus’ book offers rare images Colum McCann wins national award for fiction ‘The Carrie Diaries’ book cover revealed Karl Rove memoir coming in March   Add Books headlines to your news reader: