Philly Author Leslie Esdaile Banks Passes Away, Donation Page Online
For those of you literary types who haven’t heard, last week, Leslie Esdaile Banks passed away. She had been diagnosed with late-stage adrenal cancer earlier this year.
The New York Times best selling author was a Philadelphia native and graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and Temple University’s MFA program. Her writing flowed among multiple genres.
As L.A. Banks, she wrote many paranormal fiction books, including the popular Crimson Moon and Vampire Huntress series. As Leslie Esdaile Banks, she created crime thrillers set in Philadelphia. As Leslie E. Banks, she penned two novels based on the popular T.V. series, Soul Food. Finally, she wrote numerous fictional, romance and motivational non-fiction books – some of which are also set in Philadelphia – while writing as Leslie Esdaile.
Banks came to further national attention when she fired off an email in support of the health care reform to President Obama. The President then asked her to introduce him when he came to Arcadia University. Banks wrote about the experience here.
Her health care woes didn’t end when she met the President, and her family is now left with many hospital bills from her last days. A fund has been set up for donations and any financial help is greatly appreciated.
I am so devastated to find out to find my favorite author is gone. I sit here now with my heart broken and in a total state of shock. I had the honor of this great lady when her first Vampire Huntress novel came out. I was wearing a t-shirt with with the Nueturi(?) logo on it, and as soon as she saw me, she came over and picked me up off the floor and hugged me.
She gave us a wonderful reading that left us all hanging. Also, there was a Q & A session,and autograph signing. I asked her in this day and age could vampires contract AIDS, and she laughed out loud! I answered my own question because vampires are already dead!
When came in I was on the lower level looking for a Vampire Huntress bookmark. Can you imagine my astonishment that when our session ended Ms. Banks gave us all a bookmark that matched the book cover? I have all the Vampire series books, and others Ms. Banks wrote under various names. My thoughts and prayers go out to Ms. Banks family, loved ones and fans
from the moment I read the Minion I was hooked. I’ve read every book in the series at least 2 or 3 times. She was a genuis and will be truly missed.