* Laurie E. Colwin; Food Essayist, Novelist

Laurie E. Colwin, 48, a novelist, short story writer and food essayist. Her fiction, characterized by love stories with happy endings, has been praised by critics for a keen sensitivity to middle- and upper-class New York characters. Colwin’s four novels are “Goodbye Without Leaving,” “Family Happiness,” “Happy All The Time” and “Shine On, Bright and Dangerous Object.” Her collections of short stories include “Another Marvelous Thing,” “The Lone Pilgrim” and “Passion and Affect.” She was a food columnist for Gourmet magazine, and wrote two volumes of essays and recipes, “Home Cooking” and “More Home Cooking.” She also wrote for the New Yorker, Mademoiselle and Redbook. On Saturday in New York City of a heart attack.