L. J. Smith (author)
Encyclopedia
Lisa Jane Smith, known professionally as L.J. Smith, is an American
author
of young-adult literature. Her books, which combine elements of the genres of supernatural
, horror
, science fiction
/fantasy
, and romance
, are populated with young and apparently young human and supernatural characters locked in dark vs. light, good vs. evil conflict. A dark antagonist typically attempts to seduce a heroine into the darkness, and in some cases is instead reborn into the light. The popular Night World
series adds a recurring reality-altering conspiracy theme, enlivened with "romantic soulmate scenarios."
, Orange County, California
. In interviews she has said she realized she wanted to be a writer sometime between kindergarten and first grade, "when a teacher praised a horrible poem I'd written", and began writing in earnest in elementary school.
Smith received a Bachelor of Arts
degree in Experimental Psychology
from the University of California at Santa Barbara in 1987, followed by teaching credentials in Elementary education and Special education
from San Francisco State University
. She taught kindergarten and special education for several years before becoming a full-time writer.
Her first book, The Night of the Solstice, was published by MacMillan
in 1987, followed by "Heart of Valor" in 1990, and the 4-volume "Vampire Diaries" series in 1991-2. Three trilogies
followed: The Secret Circle (1992), The Forbidden Game (1994), and Dark Visions (1995). The first installment of her popular Night World series was published in 1996, followed by eight more over the next two years.
In 1998, Smith began a decade-long hiatus from writing, returning in 2008 with a new Web site 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. 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, and three more are scheduled for release, according to the author's Web site.
Smith lives in the San Francisco Bay area
"with one dog, three cats, and about ten thousand books."
The Vampire Diaries (novel series)
Eternity: A Vampire Love Story (novel series)
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
of young-adult literature. Her books, which combine elements of the genres of supernatural
Supernatural fiction
Supernatural fiction is a literary genre exploiting or requiring as plot devices or themes some contradictions of the commonplace natural world and materialist assumptions about it....
, horror
Horror fiction
Horror fiction also Horror fantasy is a philosophy of literature, which is intended to, or has the capacity to frighten its readers, inducing feelings of horror and terror. It creates an eerie atmosphere. Horror can be either supernatural or non-supernatural...
, science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
/fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
, and romance
Romance (genre)
As a literary genre of high culture, romance or chivalric romance is a style of heroic prose and verse narrative that was popular in the aristocratic circles of High Medieval and Early Modern Europe. They were fantastic stories about marvel-filled adventures, often of a knight errant portrayed as...
, are populated with young and apparently young human and supernatural characters locked in dark vs. light, good vs. evil conflict. A dark antagonist typically attempts to seduce a heroine into the darkness, and in some cases is instead reborn into the light. The popular Night World
Night World
Night World is a series of ten young-adult fantasy novels by American author L. J. Smith. The series presents a story in which vampires, witches, werewolves and shape-shifters live among humans without their knowledge...
series adds a recurring reality-altering conspiracy theme, enlivened with "romantic soulmate scenarios."
Biography
Smith is secretive about her age, but multiple sources list her birthdate as September 4, 1965, in Villa ParkVilla Park, California
Villa Park is a city in northern Orange County, California, near and surrounded by the City of Orange, and close to Anaheim Hills, that incorporated in 1962. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a population of 5,812, down from 5,999 at the 2000 census, achieving the status of the smallest city in...
, Orange County, California
Orange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
. In interviews she has said she realized she wanted to be a writer sometime between kindergarten and first grade, "when a teacher praised a horrible poem I'd written", and began writing in earnest in elementary school.
Smith received a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in Experimental Psychology
Experimental psychology
Experimental psychology is a methodological approach, rather than a subject, and encompasses varied fields within psychology. Experimental psychologists have traditionally conducted research, published articles, and taught classes on neuroscience, developmental psychology, sensation, perception,...
from the University of California at Santa Barbara in 1987, followed by teaching credentials in Elementary education and Special education
Special education
Special education is the education of students with special needs in a way that addresses the students' individual differences and needs. Ideally, this process involves the individually planned and systematically monitored arrangement of teaching procedures, adapted equipment and materials,...
from San Francisco State University
San Francisco State University
San Francisco State University is a public university located in San Francisco, California. As part of the 23-campus California State University system, the university offers over 100 areas of study from nine academic colleges...
. She taught kindergarten and special education for several years before becoming a full-time writer.
Her first book, The Night of the Solstice, was published by MacMillan
Macmillan Publishers
Macmillan Publishers Ltd, also known as The Macmillan Group, is a privately held international publishing company owned by Georg von Holtzbrinck Publishing Group. It has offices in 41 countries worldwide and operates in more than thirty others.-History:...
in 1987, followed by "Heart of Valor" in 1990, and the 4-volume "Vampire Diaries" series in 1991-2. Three trilogies
Trilogy
A trilogy is a set of three works of art that are connected, and that can be seen either as a single work or as three individual works. They are commonly found in literature, film, or video games...
followed: The Secret Circle (1992), The Forbidden Game (1994), and Dark Visions (1995). The first installment of her popular Night World series was published in 1996, followed by eight more over the next two years.
In 1998, Smith began a decade-long hiatus from writing, returning in 2008 with a new Web site 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. 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, and three more are scheduled for release, according to the author's Web site.
Smith lives in the San Francisco Bay area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
"with one dog, three cats, and about ten thousand books."
Works
Vampire diaries and The Secret Circle are now both popular TV series.Companion Novels
- The Night of the Solstice (1987) ISBN 9781416998402
- Heart of Valor (1990) ISBN 9781416998419
Series
Night WorldNight World
Night World is a series of ten young-adult fantasy novels by American author L. J. Smith. The series presents a story in which vampires, witches, werewolves and shape-shifters live among humans without their knowledge...
- Secret Vampire (1996) ISBN 0340699949
- Daughters of Darkness (1996) ISBN 034068982X
- Spellbinder (1996) (called Enchantress in the UK and Australia versions)
- Dark Angel (1996) ISBN 0671551361
- The Chosen (1997) ISBN 0340690038
- Soulmate (1997) ISBN 0340690046
- Huntress (1997) ISBN 0340709537
- Black Dawn (1997) ISBN 0340709545
- Witchlight (1998) ISBN 0340709553
- Strange Fate (TBA)
The Vampire Diaries (novel series)
- The Awakening (1991) ISBN 9781444900712
- The Struggle (1991) ISBN 9780061990762
- The Fury (1991)ISBN 9780061990779
- Dark Reunion (1992) ISBN 0061059927
- The Return: Nightfall (2009)ISBN 9780061720802
- The Return: Shadow Souls (2010) ISBN 9780061720833
- The Return: Midnight (2011) ISBN 9780061720857
- Credited to L.J. Smith but written by a ghost writer.
- The Hunters: Phantom (Oct 25, 2011) ISBN 0062017683
- The Hunters: Moonsong (Mar 2012)
- The Hunters: TBA (TBA)
Eternity: A Vampire Love Story (novel series)
- Eternity (TBA)
Trilogies
- The Secret CircleThe Secret CircleThe Secret Circle is a fictional novel series created by L. J. Smith. The series revolves around thirteen teenage witches that form an infamous coven known as 'The Secret Circle'....
- Note: According to , she will not be writing any of the "Secret Circle" sequels. They are TV tie-ins being written by a ghost writer.- The Initiation (1992)
- The Captive (1992)
- The Power (1992)
- The Forbidden GameThe Forbidden GameThe Forbidden Game trilogy is a series of novels by American author L. J. Smith about a girl named Jenny who has been watched for years by a Shadow Man named Julian. Julian has fallen in love with Jenny and will do anything to take her for his own...
- The Hunter (1994) ISBN 0590559478
- The Chase (1994)
- The Kill (1994)
- Dark Visions TrilogyDark Visions TrilogyDark Visions is a trilogy of young adult fiction by L. J. Smith written in the mid- 1990s. The story follows the protagonist, Kaitlyn Fairchild, as she attends, uncovers a plot, and ultimately defeats the Zetes Institute, a place where she went to learn about her own psychic powers...
- The Strange Power (1994) ISBN 0006751946
- The Possessed (1995)
- The Passion (1995)
- The Stefan Diaries - Note: According to , she DID NOT write these books. They are TV tie-ins being written by a ghost author.
- Origins (2010)
- Bloodlust (2011)
- The Craving (2011)
- The Ripper (2011)
- The Asylum (2012)
- The Compelled (2012)
Short Stories
- Blood Will Tell
- Thicker Than Water
- Ash and Mary-Lynnette/Those Who Favor Fire
- Jez and Morgead's Night Out
- Brionwy's Lullaby
- Bonnie and Damon - After Hours
- Matt and Elena- First Date
- Matt and Elena - Tenth Date/On Wickery Pond
- Elena's Christmas