Today we’d like to introduce you to Donna Gray-banks
Hi Donna, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I began writing when I was seven years old. I have always been a true romantic at heart. I was born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA., which at the time was a large industrial steel town. It has since transformed into a research and development hub and a financial metropolis for small businesses. My parents were truly opposites, as my father was born and raised in Pittsburgh, and my mother’s family was from Charleston, South Carolina from an agricultural background. Her family migrated to Pittsburgh from South Carolina for better employment opportunities.
Of course, being a writer was never a career that my parents felt would keep food on the table and they were possibly right, but I always wondered if I had been encouraged more where my career might be today. But they were afraid of the unknown and wanted me to get a good government job and retire with lots of money. Needless to say, that did not happen. But let me digress. All through the years I would write short stories and store them away. I loved to write stories about my father’s mother whom I never met, but whom I had a great connection with spiritually.
Consequently, my novels are named after her “Ila.” Because spiritually you must travel the path destined for you, I was unable to complete my first novel until 2008. But since that time, I have now completed four novels. It was supposed to be a trilogy, but book four continued the stories in the other books. Once I published my first book, I was so enthusiastic to go to a book festival, that I spent an enormous amount of money on travel, purchasing giveaways, hotels, etc. I spent a lot, but I learned a lot. I learned that I wanted to hold a very different book festival. I decided to start the F.R.E.S.H. Book Festival in 2011 (Fiction, Romance, Erotica, Spirituality and Health. The “H” can stand for History, Human Development, etc. I was given the logo and name by God; I truly cannot take the credit. In 2011 F.R.E.S.H. began and we are now in our 14th year and F.R.E.S.H. is sponsored by the beautiful city of Daytona Beach, FL. A wonderful progression from no sponsors to being sponsored by an entire City.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My novels are erotic with espionage and murder wrapped into one. Being an erotic African American female writer it has never been easy. I don’t believe we have celebrated an erotic African American female since Zane, who was my friend in my head throughout my entire career. And, having people judge a woman, especially a woman of my age, now 70 who writes erotica is an abomination to some people. I say to those people, if you have children or have ever been in a serious relationship then everything, I write about you have probably done. I constantly must tell people that there is a real difference between erotica and pornography. Erotic pleasure is what you do, pornography is what you watch. So yes, I had to struggle, but as my reward, Ila’s Diamonds IV received an Amazon gold star this year.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am currently the founder and director of the F.R.E.S.H. Book Festival which is held in Daytona Beach, FL every year on the last weekend in February.
I specialize in putting together a festival where an author can be introduced to experts in the industry to assist them on the path to excellence as a writer. My creation of “Zoom In On A F.R.E.S.H. Conversation,” has been a creative way to meet new authors to interview and introduce to the literary community. It also has allowed me to meet seasoned veterans in the industry and interview them one-on-one.
I am most proud of being a collaborator, a mother, a friend, and a trailblazer. I received the Hometown Hero award this year from the Juneteenth Committee in the City of Daytona Beach. It has been an amazing year.
I am not afraid to walk through open doors or jump into the deep end of the pool to find where my strength lies.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
F.R.E.S.H. is a collaborative effort in itself. The company was built on assisting others. Of course, anytime you are putting together an event as large as F.R.E.S.H., sponsors, volunteers, media followers, and literary partners are crucial.
Pricing:
- Registration for F.R.E.S.H. will begin on September 15, 2024, www.freshbookfestivals.net
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.freshbookfestivals.net
- Instagram: Freshbookfestival2023
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/donna.m.banks.75
- Youtube: Zoom In On A F.R.E.S.H. Conversation
