L.J. Smith, "The Vampire Diaries" Author, Dies at 66

L.J. Smith, the writer of “The Vampire Diaries” books that was adapted into a popular television series on The CW, died March 8 at the age of 66.

Smith’s sister Judy Clifford confirmed the death to The New York Times. Smith had a long bout with an autoimmune disease and died in Walnut Creek, Calif.

Smith was born September 4, 1958, as Lisa Jane Smith, in Florida and grew up in California. 

She studied experimental psychology at the University of California, Santa Barbara and initially worked as a special education and kindergarten teacher.

The first novel Smith published was “The Night of the Solstice,” a fantasy book that she had begun as a high school student. 

It led to a deal with Alloy Entertainment to write “The Vampire Diaries.” The series started with three books published in 1991, followed by the fourth in 1992.

The TV adaptation debuted in 2009 and continued until 2017. 

Nina Dobrev starred as Elena Gilbert, who caught the eye of vampires Damon Salvatore (Ian Somerhalder) and Stefan Salvatore (Paul Wesley).

Although Smith had only received a small advance for the first few books in “The Vampire Diaries” series, she had another deal with Alloy Entertainment in the 2000s to extend it with a trilogy addition. 

She was dismissed in 2011, and the rest of the series was ghostwritten.

Smith later turned to writing fan fiction from the “Vampire Diaries” world as a way to further what she’d previously built. 

Divola told The New York Times that Smith was “very hurt and indignant” when a ghostwriter took over the series.

Smith also penned the young adult series “Dark Visions” and “Night World” as well as “The Secret Circle” (the basis of another but short-lived CW adaptation). 

The writer also finished a novel called “Lullaby” and two more “Night World” books before her death.

Smith is survived by her partner, sister, nephew, niece and grandnephew.