Leslie Esdaile Banks

Leslie Ann Peterson Esdaile Banks
Born Leslie Ann Peterson
(1959-12-11)December 11, 1959
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died August 2, 2011(2011-08-02) (aged 51)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Pen name Leslie Esdaile,
Leslie E. Banks,
Leslie Banks,
Leslie Esdaile Banks,
L. A. Banks
Occupation Writer
Language English
Nationality African American
Ethnicity African-American
Citizenship United States
Education

H.C. Lea Elementary School, Russell Conwell Middle Magnet School

& Philadelphia High school for Girls.
Alma mater Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania (Bachelor's degree)
Temple University (Master's degree)
Period 1996-2010
Genre African American literature, crime suspense, dark fantasy/horror, non-fiction, romance, women's fiction
Notable awards 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]
Spouse Michael Esdaile,
Aldean Banks
Children 1 daughter Helaina Esdaile
Relatives 1 Sister Liza Peterson
Website
www.leslieesdailebanks.com

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

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

Biography

Leslie Ann Peterson was born and raised in Philadelphia. She married Michael Esdaile, ; they had one child, a daughter, Helena Esdaile. The couple divorced and she remarried, to Al Banks, in 2000.

Leslie Banks contributed to magazines and newspaper columns, and wrote commercial fiction for five major publishers: St. Martin's Press (NYC), Simon & 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 been expanded to twelve (the last being called "The Thirteenth").[5]

Illness and death

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][8] Authors including P.N. Elrod, Heather Graham and Charlaine Harris donated books and services to raise funds for Banks, as did others in the literary community.[9]

Banks' official website was updated to reflect her death from cancer on August 2, 2011, at age 51.[10] She is survived by her daughter, Helena Esdaile.

Bibliography

As Leslie Esdaile

Romance novels

Romance novellas

Alexis Grant

Men of the Delta Force Series

Non-Fiction

As Leslie E. Banks

Drama, T.V. Adaptation Novels

As Leslie Banks

Non-Fiction

As Leslie Esdaile Banks

Crime/Suspense

As L. A. Banks

Crime/Suspense

Paranormal

The Vampire Huntress Legend Series
  1. Minion (trade paperback) (2003) (mass market) (2004)
  2. The Awakening (trade paperback) (2004) (mass market) (2004)
  3. The Hunted (trade paperback) (2004) (mass market) (2005)
  4. The Bitten (trade paperback) (2005) (mass market) (2005)
  5. The Forbidden (trade paperback) (2005) (mass market) (2006)
  6. The Damned (trade paperback) (2006) (mass market) (2007)
  7. The Forsaken (trade paperback) (2006) (mass market) (2007)
  8. The Wicked (trade paperback) (2007) (mass market) (2008)
  9. The Cursed (trade paperback) (2007) (mass market) (2008)
  10. The Darkness (trade paperback) (2008) (mass market) (2008)
  11. The Shadows (trade paperback) (2008) (Book 11) (2009)
  12. The Thirteenth (trade paperback) (2009)
  13. The Shadow Walker: A Neteru Academy Novel (trade paper back) (2010) (mass market) (2010)

NOTE: The Darkness (10), The Shadows (11), and The Thirteenth (12) are called The Armageddon Finale to The Vampire Huntress (trademark) Legend Series.

Crimson Moon Novels
  1. Bad Blood (2008)
  2. Bite The Bullet (2008)
  3. Undead on Arrival (2009)
  4. Cursed to Death (2009)
  5. Never Cry Werewolf (2010)
  6. Left for Undead (2010)
Dark Avengers Series
  1. Finders Keepers (2008)
  2. Loser's Weepers (2008)
Paranormal novellas

(New York Times bestseller extended list 2004)

(*) Indicates story was featured in an anthology.

Articles

References

  1. Strock, Ian Randal (August 2, 2011). "Author L.A. Banks Dies". SFScope.com. Archived from the original on August 3, 2011. Retrieved August 3, 2011.
  2. Our Authors: L.A. Banks AccessRomance.com
  3. Access Romance accessromance.com
  4. Gotham Beach Entertainment gothambeach.com
  5. "LABANKSAUCTION.ORG (at the WayBack Machine Archive), Donated, Designed and Maintained by Charles & DC DeVane, DCD Productions, Organizer of the Items, Distribution & Details by Jo Carol Jones, Marketing by Sheila Clover English of COS, Renee Bernard & Anne Elizabeth". LA Banks Auction. DCD Productions. August 2, 2011. Archived from the original on August 13, 2014. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  6. Leslie Banks fansite
  7. News of Banks' cancer battle
  8. Fundraising for Banks' medical care
  9. Boog, Jason. "L.A. Banks Has Died". Retrieved August 2, 2011.

External links

Interviews

Reviews

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