L.J. Smith, the visionary behind The Vampire Diaries novels, passed away on March 8 at the age of 66 in Walnut Creek, California. Her partner, Julie Divola, confirmed Smith’s death to The New York Times following a prolonged battle with a rare autoimmune disease. Smith's passing was also announced on her official website.
Born Lisa Jane Smith on September 4, 1958, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, she grew up in Villa Park, California. Inspired by her literary heroes J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, she adopted the initials L.J. for her pen name. After earning a degree in experimental psychology from UC Santa Barbara in 1982, Smith worked as a teacher before turning to writing full-time.
She began her literary journey with The Night of the Solstice, written while she was still in school. The novel drew the attention of Alloy Entertainment, leading to a pivotal moment in her career—being selected to write The Vampire Diaries series. Originally published in 1991, the books followed high schooler Elena Gilbert and her entanglement with vampire brothers Damon and Stefan Salvatore.
The novels gained a devoted following, and in 2009, the story was adapted into a successful CW television show starring Nina Dobrev, Ian Somerhalder, and Paul Wesley. The series became a cornerstone of the vampire media surge in the late 2000s, alongside Twilight and True Blood.
Despite being removed from The Vampire Diaries franchise due to a work-for-hire agreement, Smith later reconnected with her characters through fan fiction in the 2010s. Her agent, John Silbersack, shared that Smith continued to write until her final days, describing her as “fiercely dedicated.”
Smith, who authored over 24 published works and left three unpublished at her death, is survived by her partner, Julie Divola. The couple did not have children.
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