the Vampire Diaries is a young adult vampire horror series of novels written by L. J. Smith. The story centers around Elena Gilbert, a high school girl torn between two vampire brothers. The series was originally a trilogy published in 1991, but pressure from readers led Smith to write a fourth volume, Dark Reunion, which was released the following year. After taking a hiatus from writing for several years, L. J. Smith announced in 1998 a new spin-off trilogy entitled The Vampire Diaries: The Return, continuing the series, with Damon as the main protagonist. The first installment, The Return: Nightfall, was released on February 10, 2009. The Return: Shadow Souls was released on May 16, 2010. The final book of the series called The Return: Midnight will be released on March 15, 2011.
L.J Smith has recently signed a contract to write another Vampire Diaries trilogy. The first book in the series is to be called Phantom, and is expected to be released in the summer of 2011. The second in the new trilogy is entitled Moonsong, and the third Eternity. Smith has stated the new books will focus on Elena and her friends in college.
The Vampire Diaries has been adapted into a television series which premiered on September 10, 2009, on The CW.