Carolyn Banks

Her first national publication was her short story "Idyll," which appeared in Voyages,{{Cite web|url=http://washingtonart.com/beltway/3dceditors.html|title=Richard Peabody on 3 DC Editors|website=washingtonart.com|access-date=2019-04-29}}{{Failed verification|date=May 2019}}{{cite news |last1=Moore |first1=Debbie |title=Celebrities among us as Bastrop becomes film-friendlier |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/435080700/?terms=%22Carolyn%2BBanks%22%2BIdyll |access-date=5 May 2019 |work=The Bastrop Advertiser and County News |date=22 November 2012 |location=Bastrop, Texas |page=A4}} a literary magazine, in 1968, alongside the work of Anaïs Nin, Josephine Miles and Theodore Weiss. In 1972, the oft-reprinted "Growing Up Polish in Pittsburgh" appeared in American Mix (Lippincott). A version of this story appeared as "The Virgin of Polish Hill" in Plume's 1992 Catholic Girls. Her stories appeared in several issues of Yellow Silk.

Her first novel, Mr. Right (Viking), appeared in 1979.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31232248/austin_americanstatesman/|title=In So Many Words|last1=Morris|first1=Anne|date=21 December 1990|work=Austin American-Statesman|access-date=30 April 2019|location=Austin, Texas|pages=E1, E6|via=Newspapers.com}} Cosmopolitan called the novel "...a triumph of erotic and witty narrative tension with an impact as startling as it is satisfying." The book was reprinted by The Permanent Press in 1999.

Mr. Right was followed by The Darkroom (Viking, 1980), The Girls on the Row (Crown, 1983) and Patchwork (Crown, 1986).

Her short stories continued to appear in anthologies, notably Michele Slung's I Shudder at Your Touch (HarperCollins, 1992) and Slow Hand (HarperCollins).

In the 1990s Banks wrote a series of comic mysteries set in the equestrian world of dressage, a competitive sport that Banks herself practiced. These novels, originally published by Fawcett{{cite news |title=Briefly noted |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/355997652/?terms=%22Carolyn%2BBanks%22%2Bhusband%2Bnovel |access-date=5 May 2019 |work=Austin American-Statesman |date=27 June 1993 |location=Austin, Texas |page=E7}} and reprinted by Amber Quill Press include: Death by Dressage, Groomed for Death, Death on the Diagonal, Murder Well Bred and A Horse to Die For.

In 2007, Amber Quill also reprinted a 1995 literary novel Banks wrote entitled The Turtle's Voice. The novel won the 1995 Austin Book Award.

Banks is listed in Contemporary Authors, Vol. 105 and is a member of Author's Guild and the Texas Institute of Letters.

In 2001, Banks co-founded a nonprofit organization called Upstart, Inc.,{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31232180/the_bastrop_advertiser_and_county_news/|title=Upstart co-founder retires after 12 years|last1=Staff|date=12 October 2013|work=The Bastrop Advertiser and County News|access-date=29 April 2019|page=A3|via=Newspapers.com}} a media arts organization that organises experts to teach screenwriting, production and post-production, and which runs the local public access cable television station, Bastrop Community Access Television. As a result of this, Banks started writing scripts and producing short movies including "Dead On" and "Bastrop: The First 175 Years," which won Best Documentary at a 2007 South Texas film festival. From 2014 to 2022, Banks taught English for Austin Community College.

In 2009, Banks wrote and directed the comic-horror feature film, Invicta.{{Citation|title=Invicta|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1536019/|access-date=2019-04-29}} In 2011, the Austin Film Society awarded Banks a grant from the Texas Filmmakers Production Fund{{Cite web|url=http://www.austinfilm.org/page.aspx?pid=183|title=Austin Film|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120104044553/http://www.austinfilm.org/page.aspx?pid=183|archive-date=2012-01-04|url-status=dead}} to complete her short comedy, "Sex and the Septuagenarian."

• Mr. Right (1979, reprinted 1999){{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31232209/chicago_tribune/|title=Fiction: bossism in Louisiana, bloodshed in Chile|last1=Ross|first1=Mitchell S.|date=11 March 1979|work=Chicago Tribune|access-date=29 April 2019|location=Chicago, Illinois|page=8, S7|via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31232274/austin_americanstatesman/|title=Capsule Reviews. 'Mr. Right' By Carolyn Banks|last1=Brill|first1=Larry|date=13 June 1999|work=Austin American-Statesman|access-date=29 April 2019|location=Austin, Texas|page=K7|via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31232290/santa_cruz_sentinel/|title=This One Misses Mark|last1=Latta|first1=Gail|work=Santa Cruz Sentinel|access-date=30 April 2019|location=Santa Cruz, California|page=27|via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite journal |last1=Auerbach |first1=Jessica |title=Mr. Right (Book review) |journal=Library Journal |date=1979 |volume=104 |issue=1 |page=126 |url=http://search.ebscohost.com.rp.nla.gov.au/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lxh&AN=5794287&site=ehost-live |access-date=5 May 2019 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{cite news |last1=Heller |first1=Amanda |title=Short Takes |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/441607912 |access-date=5 May 2019 |work=The Boston Globe |date=18 April 1999 |location=Boston, Massachusetts |page=E2}}
• The Darkroom (1980, reprinted 2014){{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31232309/star_tribune/|title=Dread in the 'Dark Room'|last1=Pope|first1=Jerry|date=15 June 1980|work=The Star Tribune|access-date=29 April 2019|location=Minneapolis, Minnesota|page=11G|via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite journal |last1=Sheehy |first1=Louis G. |title=The Darkroom (Book Review) |journal=Library Journal |date=1980 |volume=105 |issue=11 |page=1325 |url=http://search.ebscohost.com.rp.nla.gov.au/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lxh&AN=5571427&site=ehost-live |access-date=5 May 2019 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{cite news |last1=Kilgore |first1=Michael |title=Shopworn Theme Sheds No Light |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/335344599/?terms=%22Carolyn%2BBanks%22%2Bhusband%2Bnovel |access-date=5 May 2019 |work=The Tampa Tribune |date=3 August 1980 |location=Tampa, Florida |page=46}}
• The Girls on the Row (1983){{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31232322/the_los_angeles_times/|title=Who'll kill Claire, the odd woman out?|last1=Abrams|first1=Garry|date=6 November 1983|work=The Los Angeles Times|access-date=29 April 2019|location=Los Angeles, California|page=9, The Book Review|via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite news |last1=Stasio |first1=Marilyn |title=The bookshelf / mysteries |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/172286870/?terms=%22Carolyn%2BBanks%22%2Bhusband%2Bnovel |access-date=5 May 2019 |work=Philadelphia Inquirer |date=11 December 1983 |location=Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |page=6}}
• Patchwork (1986){{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31232337/the_indianapolis_news/|title=Patching theme in thriller|last1=Brown|first1=Liz|date=24 May 1986|work=The Indianapolis News|access-date=29 April 2019|location=Indianapolis, Indiana|page=34|via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31232354/the_south_bend_tribune/|title='Patchwork' beats 'Hidden Agenda' as emotion-packed suspense story|last1=Hinchion|first1=Gail|date=13 July 1986|work=The South Bend Tribune|access-date=29 April 2019|location=South Bend, Indiana|page=13 michiana|via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31232373/the_los_angeles_times/|title=Title Page. Patchwork, by Carolyn Banks|last1=Foster|first1=Lisa Siegel|date=14 September 1986|work=The Los Angeles Times|location=Los Angeles, California|page=4, The Book Review|via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31232404/the_orlando_sentinel/|title='Patchwork' is carefully pieced together|last1=Dishman|first1=Laura Stewart|date=10 August 1986|work=The Orlando Sentinel|access-date=29 April 2019|location=Orlando, Florida|page=F9|via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite news |last1=Paul |first1=Barbara |title=Mystery fans offered wide variety in 5 new offerings |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/146297425/?terms=%22Carolyn%2BBanks%22%2Bhusband%2Bnovel |access-date=5 May 2019 |work=The Pittsburgh Press |date=24 May 1986 |location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |page=C8}}{{cite news |last1=Moss |first1=Chuck |title=Roundup. Thrillers. From pillar to post |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/461509729/?terms=%22Carolyn%2BBanks%22%2Bhusband%2Bnovel |access-date=5 May 2019 |work=The San Francisco Examiner |date=3 June 1986 |location=San Francisco, California |page=E2}}{{cite news |last1=Hamilton |first1=Denny |title='Suspects' will keep, you guessing |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/379470272/?terms=%22Carolyn%2BBanks%22%2Bhusband%2Bnovel |access-date=5 May 2019 |work=Auburn Journal |agency=UPI |date=10 August 1986 |location=Auburn, California |page=9, Sunday Magazine}}
• Death by Dressage (1993){{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31232145/the_bastrop_advertiser_and_county_news/|title=Local author's works a hit in Scandinavia|last1=Hagerty|first1=Terry|date=14 January 2012|work=The Bastrop Advertiser and County News|access-date=29 April 2019|page=A7|via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite news |last1=Cogdill |first1=Oline H. |title=Death rocks the horsey set in 'Dressage' |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/238609122/?terms=%22Carolyn%2BBanks%22%2Bhusband%2Bnovel |access-date=5 May 2019 |work=South Florida Sun Sentinel |date=5 December 1993 |location=Fort Lauderdale, Florida |page=12D}}
• Groomed for Death (1995){{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31232430/austin_americanstatesman/|title=Capsule Reviews. Groomed for Death by Carolyn Banks|last1=Rice|first1=Dale|date=16 April 1995|work=Austin American-Statesman|access-date=29 April 2019|page=G7|via=Newspapers.com}}
• Murder Well Bred (1995)
• The Turtle's Voice (1995, reprinted 2007){{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31232493/austin_americanstatesman/|title=Capsule Reviews. The Turtle's Voice, A Mostly Comic Novel of Marriage and Redemption|last1=Bay|first1=Kathleen Ford|date=15 September 1995|work=Austin American-Statesman|access-date=29 April 2019|page=E8|via=Newspapers.com}}
• Death on the Diagonal (1996)
• A Horse to Die For (1996){{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31232514/austin_americanstatesman/|title=New in Paperback - 'A Horse to Die For'|last1=Manaster|first1=Jane|date=22 December 1996|work=Austin American-Statesman|access-date=29 April 2019|location=Austin, Texas|page=E7|via=Newspapers.com}}

• Tart Tales: Elegant Erotic Stories (1993){{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31232632/the_san_francisco_examiner/|title='Tart Tales' of sweet sensuality|last1=Hand|first1=Elizabeth|date=29 March 1993|work=The San Francisco Examiner|access-date=29 April 2019|page=B5|via=Newspapers.com}}

• Catholic Girls: Stories, Poems, and Memoirs (1992)
• I Shudder at Your Touch (1991){{cite news |last1=Lannon |first1=Linea |title=Title of this anthology gets adults' attention |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/100400565/?terms=%22Carolyn%2BBanks%22%2Bhusband%2Bnovel |access-date=5 May 2019 |work=Detroit Free Press |date=26 May 1991 |location=Detroit, Michigan |page=7M}}
• Slow Hand (1992){{cite news |last1=Kaplan |first1=Lisa Faye |title=Women share their sexual fantasies |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/220393051/?terms=%22Carolyn%2BBanks%22%2Bhusband%2Bnovel |access-date=5 May 2019 |work=The Times |agency=Gannett News Service |date=19 July 1992 |location=Shreveport, Louisiana |page=2E}}
• Full Frontal Fiction (2000)
• Chick-Lit: Postfeminist Fiction (1995), first use of genre term Chick Lit
• Gargoyle (2014)

• A Loving Voice: A Caregiver's Book of Read-Aloud Stories for the Elderly (1992, coeditor with Janis Rizzo){{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31232658/austin_americanstatesman/|title=Stories, poems share loving voice|last1=Morris|first1=Anne|date=6 October 1991|work=Austin American-Statesman|access-date=29 April 2019|page=E6|via=Newspapers.com}}
• A Loving Voice II: A Caregiver's Book of More Read-Aloud Stories for the Elderly (1994, coeditor)

• Invicta (2009, feature)
• A Child's Christmas in Texas (2010, short)
• Sex and the Septuagenarian (2011, short){{Cite web|url=http://riverroadbastrop.com/|title=River Road Studio {{!}} Local films produced in Bastrop, Texas|date=2013-04-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130417060937/http://riverroadbastrop.com/|access-date=2019-04-29|archive-date=2013-04-17}}
• The Fire (2013, feature-length documentary about the 2011 Bastrop County wildfires)

{{reflist}}

• [https://www.carolynbanks.com/ Official website]

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Category:1941 births

Category:Living people

Category:People from Bastrop, Texas

Category:Writers from Texas

Category:21st-century American women writers