From the NY Times:
Donald E. Westlake, a prolific, award-winning mystery novelist who pounded out more than 100 books and five screenplays on manual typewriters during his half-century career, died Wednesday night. He was 75.
Mr. Westlake, considered one of the most successful and versatile mystery writers in the United States, has earned three Edgar Awards, an Academy Award nomination for screenplay writing, and the elite title of Grand Master from the Mystery Writers of America in 1993.
I was a huge fan of the Parker novels, which Darwyn Cooke is now adapting into graphic novels for IDW. Darwyn told me he had consulted with Westlake on the books, which I thought was pretty fantastic. If you’ve never read Westlake, you owe it to yourself to check him out.
B. Clay Moore 
Darwyn Cooke attached to the project TOTALLY made me go right out and buy the first two books – what great reading! Very sparse, but lots of mood — TONS of Action!
I’m jealous.