LJ Smith got fired - discuss!

[Iben]

So, am I the only one who was a bit in shock when they heard that LJ Smith got fired from writing the Vampire Diaries?

 

You can read the entire story here

 

~iben

Borough of Books

[Kimberly Hulst]

That's just...what?

 

I remember when the original printing of her Vampire Diaries came out back in the late 80s/early 90s.  I was still in high school.  How can she be fired from her own works?

 

I realize the tv show has moved on from the original books but... I'm just clueless here.

[Iben]

Yeah but that's the thing, apparently it isn't her own works. Somehow. Yes sure, she wrote every single word in the books, but the actual concept was developed by the publishers.

 

... I think it's very fishy.

[Kimberly Hulst]

Shouldn't matter.  SHE spent all those years doing the work. I'd be pretty pissed if it was me. If I put twenty years of my life into my characters only to have them taken away.

That's a lifetime. Longer then some marriages.  It just makes me as a writer wonder even more if it's worth it anymore to be trying to get published. 

[Iben]

*nods* I'd say it's still totally worth it. Just make sure *you* own all the rights.

[Gareth Wilson]

The other angle that also needs to be remembered is that when the rights were aquired by  the TV company they get to do what they want with the characters.  Im not 100% sure on how far the concept of the series would actually work in court.  If they just said "How about a series with kids in high school where two hot vamp brothers fight for one girl" then they may not have a lot to stand on. 

 

I think odds are after the sales for book 7 have gone through there may well be a court battle.

[Iben]

Right now Smith seems to be playing it low, but yeah that could definitely be a charade. Unless they have their rights worked out very firmly on paper it can become a very nasty court battle

[Brittany Morrow]

L.J. is definately my favorite author so yes I was really suprised and upset when I heard she got fired. I didn't even know the publishers told her what to write but I certainly don't think she should be fired. She sold all of the other Vampire Diary books to make them one o the most popular books in the YA world! If she can do that then I see no reason for the publishers to fire her!

[Iben]

I enjoyed the original books, but the new series (The Return) was a big disappointment to me and I can see what they (the publishers) mean concerning the characters' relationships changing. However,I still think it's an odd, if not a downright bad decision to boot Smith. Mostly because I think the only reason an author should take over somebody else's work is in case of an untimely death...