L.J. Smith, author of the Vampire Diaries series, has died. She was 66 years old.
Many know Smith for her Vampire Diaries book series, which was adapted for television and became a hit as such. The author sat down with Luana of Luana Mattos in 2013 to share her motivation for writing.
“I think the truth is that I always knew that I would be a writer,” Smith shared. “I was making up stories and writing ‘poetry’ (very bad) all the time in my head ever since I can remember,” she added.
“I would tell poems to my mother before I learned how to read (I didn’t learn [how to read] until I was in kindergarten) and sometimes she would write them down,” Smith said. “I was always making up stories and then acting them out with the kids in the block.”
All 13 of L.J. Smith’s Vampire Diaries books resonate with adults and kids for many reasons. Not only does the book series present the supernatural element, but there are also themes of family and friendship that make the characters relatable.
“As for why my books deal with family, friendship, love, revenge, optimism, and fighting for what’s right—well, that’s because each book is just a disguise so that I can get in a bunch of preaching about how everyone can make a difference if they will work together and how strong young women are better than weak ones,” Smith said of the underlying themes in her hit series.
“In the books, the vampires were all once human (in The Vampire Diaries) and they have feelings about family (like Stefan and Damon’s connection as brothers); friendship (as in the way Stefan is friends with Matt, Bonnie, and Meredith); love (obviously!); revenge (obviously!) and so on. The vampires are just metaphors for humans who deal with all these themes.”