LJ Smith, creator of ‘The Vampire Diaries,’ passes away at 66 |
Lisa Jane Smith, the celebrated author behind ‘The Vampire Diaries,’ passed away at the age of 66. Her work introduced readers to a world of romance, betrayal and supernatural intrigue, eventually inspiring a hit television series that captivated audiences for nearly a decade.
The Birth of ‘The Vampire Diaries’
Smith first brought ‘The Vampire Diaries’ to life in the early 1990s, releasing a four-book series that followed the lives of vampire brothers Stefan and Damon Salvatore and their love triangle with Elena Gilbert, a young orphaned girl. The series quickly gained popularity, leading her to write an additional trilogy between 2009 and 2011. However despite being the original creator, Smith’s control over her own series was unexpectedly taken away.
Losing control of her own creation
According to The Guardian, Smith’s books were written under a contract with a book packager, meaning she did not own the rights to her work. In 2011, her publisher dropped her from the series and handed her unpublished eighth installment to a ghostwriter who continued the books under an anonymous name. The series later shifted to another writer using the pen name Aubrey Clark. Although Smith’s name remained on the book covers as the series creator, she had no involvement in the official continuation of the story. She later admitted that the experience left her feeling devastated and creatively stifled.
Reclaiming ‘The Vampire Diaries’ through fan fiction
Determined to continue the story on her own terms, Smith took advantage of Amazon’s Kindle Worlds program, which allowed fans to publish unofficial spin-offs of well-known book series. Through this initiative, she wrote a new ‘Vampire Diaries’ trilogy that picked up where she had left off, providing fans with the continuation she had always intended.
Beyond ‘The Vampire Diaries’
While ‘The Vampire Diaries’ was her most famous creation, Smith also wrote several other supernatural book series. Her ‘Night World’ novels, published between 1996 and 1998, explored a hidden society of vampires, witches, werewolves, and shapeshifters who lived among humans. She also created ‘The Secret Circle,’ which followed a coven of teenage witches and was adapted into a TV series in 2011. Additionally, she wrote ‘Dark Visions’ and ‘The Forbidden Game,’ further solidifying her reputation as a pioneer of paranormal fiction.
A break from writing and personal struggles
After releasing ‘Night World,’ Smith took a decade-long hiatus from writing, citing struggles with writer’s block while two of her family members battled cancer. Despite this, she remained a key figure in young adult literature, inspiring both readers and aspiring writers with her vivid storytelling and imaginative worlds.
Remembering Lisa Jane Smith
A statement on her official website described Smith as “a kind and gentle soul” whose creativity, resilience, and empathy touched the lives of many. It praised her pioneering role in supernatural fiction and highlighted her generosity, warmth and imagination.
Though she may be gone, Smith’s legacy lives on through her books and the countless fans she inspired. Her stories of love, darkness, and the supernatural will continue to enchant readers for generations to come.
