L.J. Smith, author of The Vampire Diaries, dies at 66

The Vampire Diaries author L.J. Smith passed away earlier this month on March 8. At the time of her death, The Vampire Diaries author L.J. Smith was sixty-six years old. According to a report by The New York Times, the creator of The Vampire Diaries met her demise in Walnut Creek, California, after a long and painful battle against an autoimmune disease.

L.J. Smith's contribution to pop culture still resonates to this day, as she is credited with having brought in the obsession with vampires, a trend that still continues. Several of Smith's works, including and most importantly The Vampire Diaries, were adapted for the screen.

Here's everything that we know.

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What's the latest buzz about The Vampire Diaries author L.J. Smith's death?

Lisa Jane Smith is survived by her sister, Judy Clifford and her partner, Julie Divola. In a recently released statement on Smith's official website, it is mentioned that:

"Lisa Jane Smith of Danville, California passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 8, 2025, after a long bout with illness. Known to her readers as L.J. Smith, Lisa was a New York Times bestselling author of young-adult fiction. Of the more than 29 books she authored over the course of her career, she was best known for the Vampire Diaries series, (later adapted into a hit television show) and the Night World series."

The statement further elaborates:

"Lisa was a kind and gentle soul, whose brilliance, creativity, resilience and empathy, illuminated the lives of her family, friends and fans alike. She will be remembered for her imaginative spirit, her pioneering role in supernatural fiction, and her generosity, warmth and heart, both on and off the page."

Smith had been suffering from an autoimmune disease for almost a decade before her death.

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L.J. Smith had a falling out with her publisher in the past

Smith was bitten by the literature bug at a young age. She successfully published her debut novel, The Night of the Solstice, in 1987. The novel belonged to the fantasy genre, within which Smith eventually would come to carve out a niche for herself. She was eventually signed by Alloy Entertainment for her Vampire Diaries series and went on to publish the first four books belonging to the series during 1991 to 1992.

Unfortunately, Smith received a small amount as an advance for her work on the book series, and she didn't own the rights to her characters as she was obligated to a work-for-hire contract by her publishers at Alloy Entertainment. After taking a break from writing to attend to pressing family matters, including the death of her mother, Smith returned to continue the series. She subsequently parted ways with Alloy owing to creative differences, but the publishing agency made use of ghostwriters to continue the series without Smith's consent.

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