Sun Mar 30 13:40:00 UTC 2025: ## Author L.J. Smith, Creator of “The Vampire Diaries,” Dies at 66
**Walnut Creek, CA** – L.J. Smith, the author of the best-selling young adult book series “The Vampire Diaries,” which was adapted into a popular television show, passed away on March 8th in Walnut Creek, California at the age of 66. Her partner, Julie Divola, and sister, Judy Clifford, confirmed that Smith died in hospital after a decade-long battle with a rare autoimmune disease.
Smith, known for her prolific career spanning over two dozen published novels, achieved significant success with “The Vampire Diaries.” However, her story took an unusual turn when she was replaced by ghostwriters on the series. In a remarkable comeback, chronicled by The Wall Street Journal as “one of the strangest comebacks in literary history,” Smith reclaimed her characters and continued their stories through fan fiction online.
Her writing career began with the fantasy novel “The Night of the Solstice,” published in 1987. While initially selling only a modest 5,000 copies, it caught the attention of Alloy Entertainment, leading to her future success. At the time of her death, she left behind three more unpublished completed works. Millions of copies of her books have been sold worldwide.
First Piper 