Meet fellow Clean Indie Reads (aka Flinch Free Fiction) author, Allistar Banks

Today I’d like to introduce my fellow CIR author, Allistar Banks.

Ms Banks was born and raised in McCormick, South Carolina and is a graduate of Lander University in Greenwood, SC .

 She has been featured in the Index-Journal, The Press and Banner, McCormick Messenger, Lander University’s magazine, and interviewed on WZLA 92.9FM, and was recently a featured author at the Palmetto State Literacy Association Conference in Hilton Head Island, SC. Ms Banks is best known for her personal development books that teach young women how to have healthy relationships with others and food and also children’s books that teach new concepts and kindness. She is now honoured to be on a future broadcast with the CBS Sunday Morning Show for her children’s book called A Colorful Balloon Ride, which teaches one to five-year-old’s their colors by using objects of carnival food and nature on Mary and Emily’s hot air balloon ride around the County Fair with Mr. John.

Besides writing, Ms Banks loves to read, hike, do yoga and Pilates, hike, go bowling, watch comedy movies, see plays, go to the mountains, and spend time with family and friends.

Welcome Allistar. We’re anxious to hear all about your books, but first, three questions. What inspired you to become an author, and how old were you at the time?

I was in the fourth grade and I was nine-years-old. Our school had a story contest and my fourth-grade teacher Mrs. Jones at the time saw my ability to do storytelling and loved my fun and wild imagination I had for story book characters. I decided to write a picture book at the time called The Sorcerer and the Magic Pond where Henry learned to use his powers for good and not for evil. I loved fairy tale books at the time and how magic in Cinderella was used for good when Cinderella was given the chance to fall in love with prince charming.

I think I might have started writing a little older than that … perhaps ninth grade, but yes, the teachers who inspired us are worth their weight in gold. Next, what was the inspiration for your latest book?

The inspiration for my latest two books Girl Rise and Cracking the Happy Weight Code was I struggled with self-worth and body image and weight and insecurity. In Girl Rise, I found myself placing my identity in academics, extra-curricular activities, leisure things, and the societal status quo that was loved and accepted by my family being you have to go to school and make good grades and go to college and have the 9-5 job and be married by the time you’re thirty with children and have the house with the white picket fence and the dog. When I got older, I had four toxic love relationships that taught me valuable lessons at the time which were I can’t change who I am for someone else, I can’t fix somebody, you have to stand your ground and not allow someone to take advantage of your kindness, and know when to walk away from someone when they don’t value your time.

I tell my story through Alli Billings’ perspective and I use biblical principles to help and encourage women to take back control over food and life.

Many women have faced those same challenges, and I applaud you for weaving what worked for you into your stories. Now, one last question–what are your favourite books?

My favorite books are Sunday’s at Tiffany’s by James Patterson and The Help. I like how in Sunday’s at Tiffany’s Jane keeps a friend named Michael who only she can see and makes her feel less alone being single. The Help is absolutely hilarious as it tells a story creates three women named Skeeter, Minny, and Abileen who are determined to start a movement about the way women think about one another during the 1960s.

Okay–now lets hear a little more about your books.

The five books I have now published are Girl Rise, Cracking the Happy Weight Code, Spring Brings Summer, A Colorful Balloon Ride, and Lenny the Lizard and His Green Scarf. I am now honored to be on a future broadcast with the CBS Sunday Morning Show for my children’s book called A Colorful Balloon Ride, which teaches one to five-year-old’s their colors by using objects of carnival food and nature on Mary and Emily’s hot air balloon ride around the County Fair with Mr. John.

You can find A Colorful Balloon Ride, and all of Allistar’s other books on Amazon by clicking here.