The young-adult fiction style misplaced a gem.
Beloved writer L.J. Smith, greatest recognized for The Vampire Diaries, has handed away at age 66.
“Lisa Jane Smith of Danville, California handed away peacefully on Saturday, March 8, 2025, after an extended bout with sickness,” an obituary on her web site confirmed.
“Identified to her readers as L.J. Smith, Lisa was a New York Occasions bestselling writer of young-adult fiction.”
Whereas the official reason behind dying was not disclosed, Smith had confronted severe well being challenges previously.
In 2015, she was hospitalized for 2 months and positioned on a ventilator as a result of an undiagnosed battle with granulomatosis with polyangiitis, a uncommon autoimmune illness that precipitated extreme injury to her kidneys, coronary heart, liver, and gallbladder.
It stays unclear if her passing was associated to those prior well being issues.
Smith’s influence on the literary world is simple.
She wrote over 29 books, together with The Vampire Diaries, which later turned successful TV collection starring Nina Dobrev, Paul Wesley, and Ian Somerhalder. Her different works embrace Evening World, The Secret Circle—which additionally noticed a quick CW adaptation—Darkish Visions, and The Forbidden Sport.
“Her novels not solely entertained, but additionally supplied solace and inspiration, making her a cherished companion to readers around the globe,” her obituary said.
Smith is survived by her longtime companion, Julie Divola, her sister Judy Clifford, niece Lauren Clifford, nephew Brian Clifford, Brian’s spouse Taylor Acampora, and Lauren’s son, Wyatt Nicholson.
“Lisa was a sort and mild soul, whose brilliance, creativity, resilience and empathy, illuminated the lives of her household, mates and followers alike,” her family members shared.
“She will probably be remembered for her imaginative spirit, her pioneering function in supernatural fiction, and her generosity, heat and coronary heart, each on and off the web page.”
The tribute concluded with Smith’s personal phrases, “Nothing actually dies so long as it’s not forgotten.”
