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'Thorn Birds' author Colleen McCullough dies at 77

By Danielle Haynes
Colleen McCullough, author of The Thorn Birds, died Thursday. Photo by Colleen McCullough/Facebook, maintained by Simon & Schuster
Colleen McCullough, author of The Thorn Birds, died Thursday. Photo by Colleen McCullough/Facebook, maintained by Simon & Schuster

NORFOLK ISLAND, Australia, Jan. 29 (UPI) -- Colleen McCullough, the internationally acclaimed author best known for her book, The Thorn Birds, died Thursday. She was 77.

The Australian writer died after a long illness at a Norfolk Island hospital.

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Early in her life, McCullough worked as a neuroscientist in the United States. While working as a researcher at Yale Medical School, she began her writing career, publishing her first novel, Tim in 1974.

She gained international attention for her sweeping family drama, The Thorn Birds, set in the remote Australian outback. The 1977 saga sold 30 million copies worldwide and was made into miniseries starring Richard Chamberlain, Rachel Ward and Barbara Stanwyck.

She ultimately wrote 25 books, her most recent in 2013, Bittersweet. She was working on its sequel when she died.

"She was one of the first Australian writers to succeed on the world stage," HarperCollins Australia publishing director Shona Martyn said.

Australian Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said McCullough "immeasurably enriched the literary landscape of our nation and the world."

"Colleen has written her final word but she lives on in bookshelves and libraries around the world - and in the hearts of all who loved her," he added.

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