Leslie Esdaile Banks

Leslie Esdaile Banks
Born	December 11, 1959(1959-12-11) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	August 2, 2011(2011-08-02) (aged 51) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Occupation	Writer
Ethnicity	African-American
Citizenship	United States
Alma mater	Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania (Bachelor's degree) Temple University (Master's degree)
Genres	African American literature, crime suspense, dark fantasy/horror, non-fiction, romance, women's fiction
Notable award(s)	Essence Literary Awards Storyteller of the Year (2008) Best 50 Women in Business Award for the State of Pennsylvania (2008) Romantic Times Career Achievement Award for Paranormal Fiction (2009)^[1]
Children	1 daughter
www.leslieesdailebanks.com

Leslie Esdaile Banks (December 11, 1959 – August 2, 2011) was an American writer. She wrote in various genres, including African American literature, romance, women's fiction, crime suspense, dark fantasy/horror and non-fiction. Leslie wrote under the pseudonyms LA Banks, Leslie Esdaile, Leslie Banks and Leslie Esdaile Banks.

She won several literary awards, including the 2008 Essence Literary Awards Storyteller of the Year.^[2]^[3]

1 Biography
2 Illness
3 Death
4 Bibliography (pseudonyms)
5 Articles
6 References
7 External links
- 7.1 Interviews
- 7.2 Reviews

Biography

Banks was born and raised in Philadelphia. She contributed to magazines, newspaper columns, and wrote commercial fiction for five major publishers: St. Martin's Press (NYC), Simon and Schuster (NYC), Kensington Publishing (NYC), BET/Arabesque (NYC), and Genesis Press (MS).^[4]

Books 1 and 2 of The Vampire Huntress Legend Series (Minion and The Awakening, respectively), have been optioned for Hollywood films by GothamBeach Entertainment and Griot Entertainment. Originally a nine book series, The Vampire Huntress Legend Series has now been expanded to twelve books (the last being called "The Thirteenth").^[5] Banks was a founding partner of The Liars Club, a networking group of professional in publishing and other aspects of entertainment.

Illness

In June 2011 it was announced on Banks' website that she had been diagnosed with late stage adrenal cancer. It was revealed that due to the extreme costs of her medical care, her family opened up a charitable fund in her name in one of the local Pennsylvania banks. The literary community also rallied around the ailing author, with several supporters starting a series of auctions where the proceeds went towards Banks' medical care. ^[6]^[7] Many well known people such as bestselling authors P.N. Elrod, Heather Graham and Charlaine Harris donated books and services, as would others in the literary community. ^[8] On August 2, 2011, the official website of L.A. Banks was updated to reflect her death.

Death

Banks died on August 2, 2011, aged 51.^[9] She is survived by her daughter.

Bibliography (pseudonyms)

Leslie Esdaile

ROMANCE

Sundance (1996)
Slow Burn (1997)
Love Notes (2001)
Love Lessons (2001)
River of Souls (2001)
Love Potions (2002)
Still Waters Run Deep (2002)
Tomorrow’s Promise (2002)
Through the Storm (2002)
Sister Got Game (2004)
Keepin’ It Real (2005)
Take Me There (2006)
Better Than (June 2008)

“Home For The Holidays” in Midnight Clear (et al.) (2000) (*)
“Time Enough for Love” in After the Vows (et al.) (2001) (*)
“Valentine’s Love” in Candlelight and You (et al.) (2003) (*)
“Shameless” in Sisterhood of Shopaholics (et al.) (2003) (*)
“A 'No Drama' Valentine's” in Valentin's Day is Killing Me (et al.) (2006) (*)

Alexis Grant Men of the Delta Force Series

Sizzle & Burn
Locked at Loaded

NON-FICTION

How To Write A Romance For The New Market (1999) (*)

Leslie E. Banks

ROMANCE

Soul Food: For Better, For Worse (2002)
Soul Food: Through Thick and Thin (2003)

Leslie Banks

NON-FICTION

“Light at the End of the Tunnel” in Chicken Soup for the African American Soul (2004) (*)