Alumni Spotlight: Nancy Banks

The English Department was thrilled to welcome back USU alum Nancy Banks on February 11, 2026, to give a reading on her recently released novel The Uninvited. The YA book explores vampirism and critically comments on misogyny — all while in the beautiful setting of Paris.

Professor Christine Cooper-Rompato is currently teaching ENGL 4340: Studies in Fiction. This semester, the focus of the course is on vampire fiction, and students have read a wide range of literature from the Middle Ages to the present.

“It’s incredibly exciting to be able to listen to and talk with such a talented writer of young adult fiction,” Christine notes. “Many students in class are creative writers and are actively writing their own speculative fiction that they would like to publish, so it’s important for our students to have models of writers who can talk about the process of creating a novel and getting it published. Students said they found Nancy Banks’s focus on revision as the ‘magic sauce’ of writing to be especially helpful.”

One student who attended the reading, Sedar Wylie, found Nancy’s publishing advice helpful in her own pursuits. “She pointed out that writing and publishing a book takes around 2-3 years realistically, and I thought that was super helpful for me to go into my own project knowing full well how long it could take. I also felt a sense of comradery with her, as she was perfectly honest about how difficult writing can be and she didn't sugar coat anything about the process. But in the end, she did emphasize that even if you feel your first draft is absolutely terrible, the magic of making a book really happens in the revision process, which I thought was an amazing piece of insight for future authors like myself,” Sedar reflects.

Nancy said she enjoyed returning to USU and interacting with the students who attended the reading. She comments, “The students were so great! I loved the thoughtful questions they asked. They were excited about vampires and about writing, and they filled the room with this great, positive energy that was so wonderful to be a part of.”

For Nancy, attending USU gave her durable skills that have helped her succeed, including the ability to read critically, think analytically, write persuasively, and meet deadlines. “My career path wasn't a straight line; I was among other things a librarian, graphic designer, and bookseller. The durable skills I learned at USU helped me succeed in every career I've had,” she reflects.