Author L.J. Smith ... on Wednesday that Smith, a Danville, Calif., resident, died "after enduring the cascading effects of a rare autoimmune disease for a decade." She was 66.

Author L.J. Smith ... Wednesday that Smith, a Danville, Calif., resident, died “after enduring the cascading effects of a rare autoimmune disease for a decade.” She was 66.

L.J. Smith, who wrote "The Vampire Diaries" novels ... her partner Julie Divola and her sister Judy Clifford told The New York Times. She was 66. “Lisa was a kind and gentle soul, whose ...