Key Points
LJ Smith dies from rare autoimmune disease at 66
Best known for The Vampire Diaries and The Secret Circle series
Her work inspired TV adaptations, winning numerous awards
Smith's career spanned three decades despite industry struggles
According to her website, Smith succumbed to a rare autoimmune disease, which she had been battling for over a decade.
https://theljsmith.com/
A statement on her website remembered her as "a kind and gentle soul, whose brilliance, creativity, resilience, and empathy illuminated the lives of her family, friends, and fans alike."
Smith's literary career spanned over three decades, during which she penned numerous bestselling novels, including The Vampire Diaries series, which was adapted into a hit TV show in 2009.
The show ran for eight seasons, winning 30 Teen Choice Awards and catapulting its stars, including Nina Dobrev, Paul Wesley, and Ian Somerhalder, to international fame.
In addition to 'The Vampire Diaries,' Smith also wrote 'The Secret Circle' trilogy, which was adapted into a TV drama in 2011.
Her other notable works include the 'Night World' series, 'Dark Visions,' and 'The Forbidden Game' trilogies.
Smith's writing career was not without its challenges. In 2011, her publishers, who owned the rights to The Vampire Diaries series, dropped her.
However, she continued to write and publish new installments of the series through Amazon's Kindle Worlds program.
