Leslie Esdaile Banks may you
Rest in Power Rest in Paradise Rest in Peace
Whether she wen by L . A . Banks , who penned paranormal / sci-fi / YA , Leslie Esdaile Banks , who penned suspense / thrillers , Leslie Esdaile , the writer of romance and contemporary fiction , but I loved every single book by her , even the YA books that extended her adult series . The woman was phenomenal .
Leslie would “ pop a squat ” on the floor to take in stories that otherw would share , to listen to a griot or elder impart wisdom . She even did the same at the Atlantis Resorts when I held a literary event in the Bahamas and we broke out the jacks ( yes , the ones from childhood ). Girlfriend hit all the way up to those “ tens ” without a hitch . She also didn ’ t have a problem letting that “ Philly ” come through if anyone came for her , or her baby girl , Helena . She ’ d serve anyone up a side-order of whoop ass , then give you a smile right after as though there wasn ’ t blood on the floor ( and it definitely wasn ’ t hers ). She was cool with handling her business whatever way it came .
Most people knew her for having such a giving heart . That is what set her apart from authors who have achieved a certain level within the industry . I still haven ’ t erased her phone numbers from my cell . When I do that sweep to clear out ones I haven ’ t used in a while , my finger hesitates over the keypad then I keep it moving . I might not be able to reach her on the earth scene , but she ’ s still in my heart and mind . That number will remain right there in my contact list because she , and the legacy of the written word she left behind , inspired that deep kind of love .
Leslie Esdaile Banks may you
Rest in Power Rest in Paradise Rest in Peace