"It's not about blood and guts--it's about idealism," commented author L. J. Smith on SimonSays. Smith was speaking of the two dozen novels with which she has turned the light romantic horror novel into a metaphor for the adolescent experience. "It's about not giving up even when the odds seem hopeless," the prolific author added. Smith's series books are a thriving concern with young readers, spawning numerous fan sites and fantasy games online, with members assuming the identities of characters in her books. Smith's books include the "Vampire Diaries" series, "Secret Circle" series, "Forbidden Game" series, "Dark Visions" series, and her immensely popular "Night World." This last-named series posits a secret society of n ight creatures who know only two rules: never to reveal their existence to humans and never to fall in love with them. "Some kids," Smith told SimonSays, "tell me that my books have actually...