Leslie Esdaile Banks

Essence Magazine named Ms. Banks “Storyteller of the Year”

Leslie Esdaile Banks photo

Leslie Ann Peterson Esdaile Banks (December 11, 1959 - August 2, 2011)

Ms Banks has written under the names of Leslie Esdaile Banks (Crime Thrillers), Leslie E. Banks (Soul Food Series), Leslie Esdaile (Romances), L.A. Banks (Paranormal & Scarface)

She is a graduate of The University of Pennsylvania Wharton undergraduate program, and alumnae of Temple University’s Master of Fine Arts in filmmaking program. Ms. Banks began her career in corporate marketing for several Fortune 100 firms and worked as an executive for over a decade at Xerox, Hewlett Packard, and Digital Equipment Corporation. She then subsequently evolved her veteran marketing experience into a solid entrepreneurial career as a marketing consultant within the economic development and community-based organization environment.

In 1992, Banks added another facet to her career, entering the publishing industry. She writes under the pseudonyms; L.A. Banks, Leslie Esdaile, Leslie E. Banks, and Leslie Esdaile Banks. She has won several literary awards and has penned over 20 novels and 8 novellas in genres as diverse as romance, women’s fiction, crime suspense, and dark fantasy/horror. She has contributed to magazines, newspaper columns, and has written commercial fiction for five major publishers simultaneously: St. Martin’s Press (NYC), Simon and Schuster (NYC), Kensington Publishing (NYC), BET/Arabesque (NYC), and Genesis Press (MS.)

Banks’ writing career took a new twist in 2000 when she won the coveted contract with Paramount/Showtime in collaboration with Simon & Schuster/Pocketbooks to write a book series for the popular cable network television series, Soul Food. From there, Banks transitioned into another hot genre"the world of vampire fiction, where she is currently penning a six book series for St. Martin’s Press: "Minion," (June 2003), "The Awakening," (January 2004), "The Hunted," (June 2004), and "The Bitten," (January 2005), "The Forbidden" (June 2005), book#6 to be titled and released January 2006. In addition, Banks was recently signed to a St. Martin’s Press inspired paranormal romance anthology, entitled, "Stroke of Midnight," contributing with Sherrilyn Kenyon, Amanda Ashley, and Lori Handeland. Banks other works include a crime thriller with Kensington/Dafina released November 2004 (Betrayal of The Trust) and numerous romances and women’s fiction works with BET/Arabesque, Kensington Publishing, and Genesis Press. Banks also contributed her inspirational personal story of triumph over tragedy to the upcoming anthology, African American Chicken Soup for the Soul.

Ms. Banks is a native West Philadelphian and entrepreneur, who is fervently committed to her community. She writes and lives in University City, Philadelphia, with her husband and blended family of four children.

Leslie Esdaile Banks died on August 2, 2011, she was 51 years-old.

Clarence Reynolds, Troy Johnson, Banks, and David Rivera in Bank’s Philadelphia home.  Leslie was an great cook too!

Leslie Esdaile Banks (L.A. Banks) is the author of the Vampire Huntress: Dawn and Darkness. Learn more about the Vampire Huntress Legend Series

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Leslie Esdaile Banks Has Written 1 Article(s) for AALBC.com

15 Books by Leslie Esdaile Banks