L.J. Smith, the writer of "The Vampire Diaries" books that were adapted into a television series on The CW, died March 8 at the age of 66.

L.J. Smith, who was the author of the ‘Vampire Diaries’ series, died at age 66 on March 8 following a ‘long bout with illness’

Lisa Jane Smith "L.J. Smith," the author of the Vampire Diaries book series, died on Saturday, March 8, at 66 years old in Walnut Creek, California. Smith's partner, Julie Divola, as well as her sister, Judy Clifford, told the New York Times she "died in a hospital after enduring the cascading effects of a rare autoimmune disease for a decade."