Author James Herbert died peacefully in his home Wednesday morning. Herbert lived in Sussex, England.

The 69-year-old best selling author published over twenty novels. Four of his books were made into movies; another was turned into a television show.

The announcement was made on James Herbert's official Facebook page.

The announcement read, "We're very sad to announce the death of bestselling novelist, James Herbert OBE. James, aged 69, died peacefully in his bed this morning at his home in Sussex. He married his wife, Eileen, in 1967; our thoughts are with her and their three daughters, Kerry, Emma, and Casey."

His Publisher, Jeremy Trevathan, said on Facebook, "Jim Herbert was one of the keystone authors in a genre that had its heyday in the 1970s and 1980s. It's a true testament to his writing and his enduring creativity that his books continued to be huge bestsellers right up until his death. He has the rare distinction that his novels were considered classics of the genre within his lifetime. His death marks the passing of one of the giants of popular fiction in the 20th century."

Fans used Facebook to send their condolences to the Herbert family and express their grief over the death of their favorite author.

Jeff Bryan posted, "Very sad. I'm half way through reading "Ash" and enjoying it immensely. Thank you James for all the enjoyment you've given me over the years. A true giant of the genre. RIP."

"What a great writer, loved his books, he will be missed by all his fans," posted Dory Van Dooren.

James Herbert is considered the Stephen King of the UK. His first book "The Rats" was published in 1977 and tells the story of flesh eating mutant rats that invade the city of London.

His latest and final novel, "Ash", was released in 2012. "Ash" is the third book in a series that follows paranormal detective David Ash on his latest ghostly investigation.

No cause of death for James Herbert has been released.