Sweet Valley High author Francine Pascal dies

The author of the Sweet Valley High series, Francine Pascal, has died at the age of 92. 

She died of lymphoma in Manhattan, New York, her daughter Laurie Wenk-Pascal has confirmed to the New York Times. 

The Sweet Valley High novels, about identical American twins Elizabeth and Jessica Wakefield, are reported to have sold more than 200 million copies worldwide. 

According to Nielsen BookScan data, which only records sales from 2001—the Sweet Valley High series began in the early 1980s—Pascal’s total sales amount to 122,827. 

Sweet Valley Confidential was Pascal’s bestselling title this side of the millennium, followed by Fearless. 

The first book from the series, set in the fictional suburb of Sweet Valley, was published in 1983. A further 180 books were published over the next two decades.  

Amy Berkower, Pascal’s agent, told The Bookseller: "Francine was a force of nature. Her rich imagination, steadfast vision and experience raising three teenage girls combined to create the magic of Sweet Valley High.   It was thrilling to watch its popularity grow year after year  and so gratifying to see it back on the bestseller list in a graphic novel format."

In the mid-90s the books were made into a TV series starring Cynthia and Brittany Daniel. 

Pascal started out as a screenwriter for the soap opera The Young Marrieds, writing alongside her husband John Pascal. 

Prior to creating Sweet Valley High, Pascal wrote several other young adult novels including My First Love and Other Disasters and The Hand-Me-Down-Kid. She also wrote adult novels Save Johanna! (1981) and If Wishes Were Horses (1994).