Corin Tellado, a well-known Spanish author of more than 4,000 romance novels, died yesterday while celebrating Easter holidays with her family. She was 81.

Tellado, whose real name was Maria del Socorro Tellado Lopez, collapsed at her home in the northern seaside city of Gijon and died of heart failure, a Cabuenes hospital spokesperson said. A funeral service is to be held in Gijon's Iglesia de la Inmaculada church on Monday, the regional newspaper El Comercio said.