There’s a book about to drop, for now in soft cover, sometime in early May. As the cover states, it’s a tale about “peril, loss and love in the Convict Lake backcountry of the High Sierras,” but it has some local connections.
Kim Lankford Banker, daughter of the book’s first-time author, Sandy Stacey, lives in rural Lyons in the X Bar 7 Ranch area with her husband John Banker. Kim runs her Living Horsemanship program there, a melding of Pilates with a relational and healing approach to horsemanship.
Kim Lankford is perhaps best known for her role as Knots Landing’s Ginger Kilman Ward, with countless additional television and film credits.

The book, entitled “L’il Darlin’,” has already been acknowledged as the International Writers Seminar’s “Best First Novel of 2019.” “I have been moved and delighted by Stacey’s new old-fashioned story of loss and love,” states Donald Freed, an American playwright, novelist, screenwriter, and actor.
Born in Newark, New Jersey, Stacey came West in 1937. After graduating school at 16, she began her career as a touring singer with the Los Angeles Civic Light Opera Association, ultimately singing in over 40 Broadway shows. Unexpected events led Stacey to the Convict Lake backcountry of the eastern High Sierras in 1970, which is where Stacey’s family ended up running a pack station–and where the book’s story embarks.

At the Harrington Arts Alliance in Loveland last June, there was a staged reading of excerpts from Stacey’s book. Character roles were read aloud by the Bankers and others, including two Lyons locals, Zak Skrivanek and Tom Brome.

The painting for the “L’il Darlin’” book cover was created by Jack Olson of Severance, Colorado, one of the long-featured artists at Western Stars Gallery in Lyons. His work was commissioned by the Bankers for this project. Olson explains, “I felt that doing a painting of the High Sierras as a backdrop instead of my usual Rocky Mountains would be an interesting challenge. Although a bit out of my comfort zone, it proved to be a very satisfying experience.”
A local book-signing opportunity is planned for sometime this summer at Western Stars Gallery. “L’il Darlin’” will be for sale there as well as through Barnes & Noble and on Amazon.
That is a really nice article Crystal !
Thank you for the recognition of my painting efforts .
I am looking forward to seeing the finished product when it is finally released .
Thank you again, and God bless.
Jack Olson
How awesome and sweet to see some Lyons locals recognized in this article and to be involved in the performance!!! One guy that we know well Tío Zacarias. Congratulations. We are also looking forward to a final release.
Great story Chrystal!
We are so proud of our cousin Sandy.
Glenn Wilk
From your biggest Central Coast California supporters:
Kudos to successful Sandy’s upcoming book, Sandy’s “adopted Cowboy Family”, the amazing artist, Mr. Olson, and this nice article by Ms. DeCoster, that foretells it. We’re Sandy’s biggest fans and can’t wait to see it in print!
Ms. Eva Lee and her daughter, Ms. Rebecca.
I’m so anxious to get my hands on this book! It’s a great story by an amazing woman. I was so glad to see Jack Olson has painted the cover. Jack is well known for his landscape paintings around the west but has done many commission pieces of different subject matter that are not seen by the general public. I’m sure this will be a best seller, just what we need now to feed our souls.!
Love the painting Jack did. I am buying the book. Sounds like a great story. We are from Colorado. Very nice for author and Jack. Miss those beautiful Colorado mountains
THIS SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT BOOK AND AM ANXIOUS TO READ IT JACK DID A VERY GOOD JOB OF PAINTING THE COVER FOR THIS BOOK, SO HAPPY FOR JACK AND SANDY. GOOD LUCK BOTH OF YOU
Winning combination for sure, right? Can’t wait for the book’s release & signing event in Lyons.
A mighty fine collaboration. Counting the days for an opportunity to read the book in entirety.
Thanks for your comment. I, too, am a fan club member of Sandy’s and Jack’s mega talents.
It’s sure to be a page-turner. Have you seen Jack’s astonishing paintings of aspen trees? Sublime. Thanks for your comment!