In this Aug. 30, 2012 photo provided by Penguin Books, Australian best-selling author Bryce Courtenay poses with wife Christine Gee on a park bench in Canberra Australia Courtenay, author of "The Power Of One" and 20 other titles died Thursday Nov. 22, 2012 of stomach cancer. He was 79. (AP Photo/Penguin Books) EDITORIAL USE ONLY, NO SALES
November 22, 2012 - 5:17 PM
CANBERRA, Australia - Australian bestselling author Bryce Courtenay has died of stomach cancer. He was 79.
His publisher Penguin Group said Friday that the South African-born writer died at his family home in the Australian capital Canberra late Thursday surrounded by his family and pets.
Courtenay had a successful career in advertising before writing his first novel, "The Power of One," which was published in 1989 when he was 56. The story became a movie starring Morgan Freeman.
His 21st novel, "Jack of Diamonds," was published this month.
News from © The Associated Press, 2012