Lisa Jane Smith, the author known as L.J. Smith, died on March 8, 2025, at age 66. Her official website announced her death after a long bout with illness; the Los Angeles Times independently confirmed it with her family and the website.
When did L.J. Smith die, and how old was she?
Smith died on March 8, 2025, aged 66, according to her official memorial and the Los Angeles Times’ report. Her website said she had died “peacefully” after a long bout with illness. The Los Angeles Times reported that her partner and sister described a decade of cascading effects from a rare autoimmune disease; that is a family account reported by the newspaper, not an independently established medical cause of death.
What books did L.J. Smith write?
Smith was best known for The Vampire Diaries and Night World. Her other work included The Secret Circle, Dark Visions, The Forbidden Game, the Wildworld books, The Night of the Solstice and Heart of Valor, according to her official memorial. Simon & Schuster also identifies her with The Vampire Diaries and Night World and lists additional series.
The Vampire Diaries books
Smith’s official biography says her first novel, The Night of the Solstice, was published in 1987. The original four-volume Vampire Diaries series followed in 1991–92. Three more installments appeared in 2009 and 2010.
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchThere is an important authorship distinction: the Los Angeles Times reported that Smith worked under a work-for-hire arrangement with Alloy Entertainment, later parted ways with Alloy and HarperCollins, and that Alloy hired a ghostwriter to write new novels and complete the series. Legacy.com also reports that later books were written by ghostwriters. So the series continued under Smith’s name, but she did not personally write every installment.
How is the book series related to the TV show?
The CW’s The Vampire Diaries was an adaptation inspired by Smith’s books, not a continuation of her work as a novelist. The Los Angeles Times reports that the show, produced by Julie Plec and Kevin Williamson, aired from 2009 to 2017. Those dates refer to the television series; the original four books were published in 1991–92, with later installments in 2009 and 2010.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How Smith is remembered
Smith’s official website says she wrote more than 29 books. Her family’s announcement, quoted by the Los Angeles Times, remembered her as “a kind and gentle soul, whose brilliance, creativity, resilience and empathy, illuminated the lives of her family, friends and fans alike.” Her site also preserves a line attributed to Smith: “Nothing really dies as long as it’s not forgotten.”
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