L. J. Smith (author)

Smith was born on September 4, 1958, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.{{cite web|url=http://ljanesmith.net/blog/2008/217-short-and-very-sweet|title=Blogs from 2008 – Short and very sweet|date=September 5, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130508142533/https://ljanesmith.net/blog/2008/217-short-and-very-sweet|archive-date=May 8, 2013|url-status=dead}}{{Cite book |last=Rickman |first=Amy |year=2011 |title=Blood Brothers |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mLvCBwAAQBAJ&pg=RA1-PA26 |publisher=John Blake Publishing Ltd. |chapter=Chapter Five: The Written Word |pages=25–27 |isbn=9781843584100}}{{Cite news |last=McLellan |first=Dennis |date=January 3, 1991 |title=BOOKS & AUTHORS : Children Save World in 'Heart of Valor' |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-01-03-vw-10710-story.html |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |location=Los Angeles |access-date=March 11, 2016}} As a child, she grew up in Villa Park, California and attended Villa Park High School. It was here that her high school English teacher, Zoe Gibbs, gave Smith the confidence to write.

Smith studied experimental psychology at the University of California, Santa Barbara.{{Cite book |author-link=J. Gordon Melton |year=2010 |title=The Vampire Book: The Encyclopedia of the Undead |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-QNlCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA648 |publisher=Visible Ink Press |location=Canton, Michigan |page=648 |isbn=9781578593484}} She later attended San Francisco State University to obtain teaching credentials.

Smith began her career as an elementary school teacher,{{cite journal|language=Italian|author=Laura Pezzino|title=Twilight? Non conosco (lit.: Twilight? Don't know)|journal=Vanity Fair|date=February 10, 2010|quote=... Smith, who is now (February 2010) 51, ...}} but left in 1989 after three years to pursue writing.{{cite web|url=http://www.nightworld.net/witchlight/forbiddentales.htm|title=An Interview with novelist L.J. Smith|access-date=May 15, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090618122333/http://www.nightworld.net/witchlight/forbiddentales.htm|archive-date=June 18, 2009|url-status=dead}}

Smith said that she realized she wanted to be a writer sometime between kindergarten and first grade, "when a teacher praised a horrible poem I'd written",L.J. Smith Biography: [https://www.amazon.com/L.-J.-Smith/e/B000AQ3EMA/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0 amazon.com] Retrieved 2010-12-23. and she began writing in earnest in elementary school.Interview with Novelist L.J. Smith: [http://www.nightworld.net/witchlight/forbiddentales.htm nightworld.net] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090618122333/http://www.nightworld.net/witchlight/forbiddentales.htm |date=June 18, 2009}} Retrieved 2010-12-23.

Her first book, The Night of the Solstice, written during high school and college,{{cite web|url=http://www.ljanesmith.net/booklist.php|title=Booklist|access-date=March 22, 2012|archive-date=October 19, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101019090025/http://www.ljanesmith.net/booklist.php|url-status=dead}} was published by MacMillan in 1987, followed by Heart of Valor in 1990. They sold poorly, as they were labeled for 9 to 11-year-olds and not for young adults, as Smith wanted.

The Vampire Diaries series was commissioned by Elise Donner, editor of Alloy Entertainment in 1990: Smith immediately wrote the scene when Elena, Bonnie and Meredith are decorating the gym and the heroine meets Damon (scene later included in the first novel), while, as for the other characters, she adapted those of The Garden of Earthly Delights, an adult book she was writing. She chose the setting of The Vampire Diaries in Virginia because she has family there and was inspired by the small towns and lifestyles.{{cite web|url=http://bookalicio.us/2009/03/an-interview-with-l-j-smith/|title=An interview with L. J. Smith|work=Bookalicious|date=March 15, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090602082403/http://bookalicio.us/2009/03/an-interview-with-l-j-smith/|archive-date=June 2, 2009|df=mdy-all}}

Three trilogies followed: The Secret Circle (1992), The Forbidden Game (1994) and Dark Visions (1995). The first installment of Night World series was published in 1996, followed by eight more over the next two years.[http://www.iblist.com/author10603.htm L.J. Smith] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100107070211/http://www.iblist.com/author10603.htm|date=January 7, 2010}} at the Internet Book List

In 1998, Smith began a decade-long hiatus from writing, returning in 2008 with a new website and a series of new short stories. The Vampire Diaries series was reissued in 2007, followed by reprintings of The Secret Circle trilogy and Night World series in 2008–2009.[http://ljs.insanitysandwich.com The L.J. Smith Fanlisting] The Night of the Solstice and Heart of Valor were also reissued in 2008. Three new Vampire Diaries installments were published in 2009 and 2010.[http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/36890/the-vampire-diaries-blowout-3-prequel-novels-coming-ep-18-stills-ep-20-preview The Vampire Diaries Blowout: 3 Prequel Novels Coming, Ep. 18 Stills, Ep. 20 Preview] The series was later adapted into a TV series (The Vampire Diaries) in 2009, as well as The Secret Circle, which became a TV series of the same name in 2011.{{cite web|url=http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2010/10/three_buffyangel_veterans_drea.html|title=Three Buffy/Angel Veterans Dream Up New Female Heroines for The CW|author=Josef Adalian|work=nymag.com|date=October 20, 2010|access-date=May 18, 2011}}

The final volume of The Vampire Diaries written entirely by Smith (The Return: Midnight) was released in March 2011. Smith submitted a draft of the next installment (The Hunters: Phantom), but after a dispute regarding a pivotal plot twist, her involvement was terminated by the publisher and the episode was revised by a ghostwriter.{{cite web|url=http://bookalicio.us/2011/05/interview-with-l-j-smith-part-duex/|title=Interview with L.J. Smith part deux|editor=Bookalicious|access-date=November 30, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111026091029/http://bookalicio.us/2011/05/interview-with-l-j-smith-part-duex/|archive-date=October 26, 2011|df=mdy-all}}{{cite news|url=http://anditsdraining.tumblr.com/post/3137484606/l-j-smith-creator-of-the-vampire-diaries-books-fired|title=L.J. Smith, creator of The Vampire Diaries books, fired.|date=February 5, 2011}} Subsequent Vampire Diaries installments have also been ghostwritten. She was also replaced on The Secret Circle series, by ghostwriter Aubrey Clark.{{cite book|url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12521671-the-divide|title=Cover of The Divide|series=The secret circle |date=2012 |publisher=HarperTeen |isbn=978-0-06-213039-6 |oclc=747533199}}{{cite news|url=http://ishtarworld.wordpress.com/2011/10/03/the-secret-circle-sequel/|title=The Secret Circle Sequel|date=October 3, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203082554/http://ishtarworld.wordpress.com/2011/10/03/the-secret-circle-sequel/|archive-date=December 3, 2013|df=mdy-all}}{{cite news|url=http://www.tvovermind.com/the-secret-circle/the-secret-circle-new-novel-not-written-l-j-smith/114231|title=The Secret Circle: New Novel Will NOT Be Written By L.J. Smith!|author=Mark O. Estes|date=December 31, 2011|access-date=January 12, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120114045213/http://www.tvovermind.com/the-secret-circle/the-secret-circle-new-novel-not-written-l-j-smith/114231|archive-date=January 14, 2012|url-status=dead}}

In 1998, Smith took a decade-long hiatus from writing to take care of her sister's children when her brother-in-law was diagnosed with metastatic melanoma. During this time, her mother died from lung cancer. Smith previously resided in Concord, California in 1991, and later moved to Danville, California.{{Cite news |last=Alter |first=Alexandra |date=April 17, 2014 |title='Vampire Diaries' Writer Bites Back |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702304058204579495491652398358 |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |location=New York City |access-date=March 11, 2016}}{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/26/books/lj-smith-dead.html |title=L.J. Smith, Author of 'Vampire Diaries' Book Series, Dies at 66 |last=Longman |first=Jeré |date=March 26, 2025 |accessdate=March 26, 2025 |newspaper=The New York Times |url-access=limited}} At the time of her death, she was in a relationship with lawyer Julie Divola.

In late 2015, Smith almost died from an undiagnosed granulomatosis with polyangiitis that kept her hospitalized for two months and on a ventilator for weeks: she suffered severe damage to her kidneys, heart, liver, and gallbladder.{{cite web |date=6 December 2015 |title=And Then I Woke Up |url=http://www.ljanesmith.net/component/content/article/132-blog/2015/641-and-then-i-woke-up |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151220104746/https://ljanesmith.net/component/content/article/132-blog/2015/641-and-then-i-woke-up |archive-date=December 20, 2015}} Smith died from complications of an autoimmune disease at a hospital in Walnut Creek, California, near her Danville home, on March 8, 2025, at the age of 66.{{Cite web |url=https://locusmag.com/2025/03/l-j-smith-1958-2025/ |title=L.J. Smith (1958–2025) |date=March 21, 2025 |website=locusmag.com |access-date=March 24, 2025}}

1. Secret Vampire (1996) {{ISBN|0-340-69994-9}}
2. Daughters of Darkness (1996) {{ISBN|0-340-68982-X}}
3. Spellbinder (1996) {{ISBN|978-0-671-55135-3}} (called Enchantress in the UK and Australia versions)
4. Dark Angel (1996) {{ISBN|0-671-55136-1}}
5. The Chosen (1997) {{ISBN|0-340-69003-8}}
6. Soulmate (1997) {{ISBN|0-340-69004-6}}
7. Huntress (1997) {{ISBN|0-340-70953-7}}
8. Black Dawn (1997) {{ISBN|0-340-70954-5}}
9. Witchlight (1998) {{ISBN|0-340-70955-3}}
10. Strange Fate (TBA)

• Night World: Secret Vampire, Daughters of Darkness, Spellbinder (Enchantress) (2008) {{ISBN|978-1-41-697450-5}}
• Night World: Dark Angel, The Chosen, Soulmate (2008) {{ISBN|978-1-41-697451-2}}
• Night World: Huntress, Black Dawn, Witchlight (2009) {{ISBN|978-1-41-697452-9}}

Published on Lisa Jane Smith's official website.

• Thicker Than Water – Featuring Keller, Rashel, Galen and Quinn
• Ash and Mary-Lynnette: Those Who Favor Fire
• Jez and Morgead's Night Out

1. The Awakening: Volume I (1991) {{ISBN|978-1-4449-0071-2}}
2. The Struggle: Volume II (1991) {{ISBN|978-0-06-199076-2}}
3. The Fury: Volume III (1991) {{ISBN|978-0-06-199077-9}}
4. Dark Reunion: Volume IV (1992) {{ISBN|0-06-105992-7}} (The Reunion in the UK and Australia version)

1. The Return: Nightfall (2009) {{ISBN|9780061720802}}
2. The Return: Shadow Souls (2010) {{ISBN|978-0-06-172083-3}}
3. The Return: Midnight (2011) {{ISBN|978-0-06-172085-7}}

1. The Hunters: Phantom (2011) (Written by a ghostwriter)
2. The Hunters: Moonsong (2012) (Written by a ghostwriter)
3. The Hunters: Destiny Rising (2012) (Written by a ghostwriter)

1. The Salvation: Unseen (2013) (Written by Aubrey Clark)
2. The Salvation: Unspoken (2013) (Written by Aubrey Clark)
3. The Salvation: Unmasked (2014) (Written by Aubrey Clark)

• The Awakening and The Struggle (2007) {{ISBN|978-1-41-782599-8}}
• The Fury and Dark Reunion (2007) {{ISBN|978-0-06-114098-3}}

Published on Lisa Jane Smith's official website.

• "Matt and Elena – First Date" (2010)
• "Matt and Elena – Tenth Date: On Wickery Pond" (2010)
• "Bonnie and Damon: After Hours" (2011)
• "An Untold Tale: Blood Will Tell" (2010)
• "An Untold Tale: Elena's Christmas" (2010)

Published on Lisa Jane Smith's official website.

• Damon and Elena: Tumbleweeds (2011)
• Dinner Disaster (2010)

Note: These books were published as fanfiction on Kindle Worlds after Smith's publisher hired other authors to continue the series after The Return: Midnight. They pick up after the ending of said book, and while they do represent the original author's intended continuation, they are not considered official canon to the main Vampire Diaries series due to their status.

• Paradise Lost (2014)
• The War of Roses (2014)
• Into the Wood (TBA){{cite news|url=http://ljanesmith.net/blog/2014/635-l-j-smith-s-new-vampires-diaries-series|title=L.J. Smith's New Vampire Diaries Series|date=January 15, 2014|access-date=March 24, 2017|archive-date=April 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210427112413/http://www.ljanesmith.net/blog/2014/635-l-j-smith-s-new-vampires-diaries-series|url-status=dead}}

1. The Initiation (1992) {{ISBN|978-0-06-106712-9}}
2. The Captive (1992) {{ISBN|978-0-06-106715-0}}
3. The Power (1992) {{ISBN|978-0-06-106719-8}}
4. The Divide (2012) {{ISBN|978-0-06-213039-6}} (Written by Aubrey Clark)
5. The Hunt (2012) {{ISBN|978-0-06-213042-6}} (Written by Aubrey Clark)
6. The Temptation (2013) (Written by Aubrey Clark)

• The Initiation and The Captive Part I (2008) {{ISBN|978-0-06-167085-5}}
• The Captive Part II and The Power (2008) {{ISBN|978-0-06-167135-7}}

1. The Hunter (1994) {{ISBN|978-0-671-87451-3}}
2. The Chase (1994) {{ISBN|978-0-671-87452-0}}
3. The Kill (1994) {{ISBN|978-0-671-87453-7}}
4. Rematch (TBA)

• The Forbidden Game: The Hunter, The Chase, The Kill (2010) {{ISBN|978-1-41-698940-0}}

1. The Strange Power (1994) {{ISBN|978-0-671-87454-4}}
2. The Possessed (1995) {{ISBN|978-0-671-87455-1}}
3. The Passion (1995) {{ISBN|978-0-671-87456-8}}
4. Blindsight (TBA)

• Dark Visions: The Strange Power, The Possessed, The Passion (2009) {{ISBN|978-1-41-698956-1}}

1. The Night of the Solstice (1987) {{ISBN|978-1-4169-9840-2}}
2. Heart of Valor (1990) {{ISBN|978-1-4169-9841-9}}
3. Mirrors of Heaven (TBA)

• Eternity: A Vampire Love Story (TBA)
• The Last Lullaby (TBA)

{{Reflist}}

• {{Official website|http://theljsmith.com}}
• {{ISFDB name|name=L. J. Smith}}

{{Vampire Diaries}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, L. J.}}

Category:1958 births

Category:2025 deaths

Category:20th-century American novelists

Category:21st-century American novelists

Category:American women novelists

Category:American horror writers

Category:American writers of young adult literature

Category:University of California, Santa Barbara alumni

Category:American women horror writers

Category:20th-century American women writers

Category:21st-century American women writers

Category:American women writers of young adult literature

Category:American women science fiction and fantasy writers

Category:People from Danville, California

Category:Deaths from autoimmune disease

Category:People from Fort Lauderdale, Florida