Celebs Remember E. Lynn Harris

"E. Lynn Harris was a trailblazer and it's because of him and his bold writiing that helped me kicked down the door to write my book. The first time I met him it was around 2000. I was in Cleveland, Ohio at the Ritz Carlton and I went up to him and said, 'I"m a huge fan and I have all your books and one day I would like to write my own book." He was so kind and gracious and said and gave me his number and said if I can help you in anyway let me know." that's the kind of man he was. He was supposed to write the foreward for my book, but it never happened. he was the one person that whether you were straight, gay or whatever he would offer a helping hand. I remember him telling me that writing about my personal story and confession about the D.L. lifestyle would have a greater impact on the Black community and help more people than him writing about ficitional characters ever could. I was simply shocked to get that vote of confidence from him because in my eyes and many others he was the epitome of a successful author--nine New York Times best-selling novels--and for him to give me the thumbs up meant so much to me. He has wonderful big shoes for us all to fill and will be sorely missed." --James L. King, author of "On the Down Low"

"He has always had a kind word and support. E. Lynn was an inspiration and showed all African American authors that with persistence, diligence and talent that success was possible. He transformed the publishing industry and created a new wave of excitement. His work will be remembered for his candid discussions about sexuality which is something that the Black community really needs to deal with. I hope his work will lead the Black community to gain a better understanding and embrace the diversity within the Black family."--Gil L. Robertson, IV, author of "Family Affair: What it Means to Be African American Today"

"E. Lynn was a friend and mentor and the last time I saw him was in May. Before I met him I was in the closet and scared, but would always secretly read his books. For the first time through his stories I was seeing myself and was shown in a way that waswhole and not deragotory or stereotype. His crossover success gave courage to a lot of gay and lesbian Americans and encouraged that you can be all the parts of yourself. He and I talked about adapting 'Invisible Life' for the big screen. His work was so groundbreaking for straight and gay Americans and allowed us to look into each other's lives to see how we live think and more importantly helped us all recognize how much alike we are: we all fall in love, we all make mistakes, we all want a better future for ourselves. The great legacy of his work is that he brought people together through the pages of his books and inspired a younger generation to start reading again and continue to tell tjheir own stories because there's something so wonderful and rich in how incredibly diverse we are as a people."--Maurice Jamal, director/actor of "Dirty Laundry"

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Renown author E. Lynn Harris passed away on Friday, July 24, at the age of 54, according to the Arkansas Times.

The celebrated author's personal assistant confirmed that his health had declined but would not provide any details as to what caused his death. Harris was in the middle of a West Coast book tour. His best-selling novels such as "Invisible Life" depicted African-American gay community in a unique way and exposed the down-low phenomenon of athletes.

Raised in Little Rock, the Michigan native became the first Black cheerleader at his alma mater, the University of Arkansa at Fayetteville, and returned to teach adjunct courses in the English department last fall.

Harris's latest novel, "Basketball Jones," was about the gay lover of a NBA star.--KNB

Damn.

2009 is shaping up to be some kinda of year for celeb's deaths

E. Lynn Harris Dies of Heart Attack

Gay African-American author E. Lynn Harris died Friday morning in Arkansas of a heart attack. He was 54.

According to the Black Voices, Harris was on a book tour promoting his 11th novel, Basketball Jones, about a pro basketball player and his gay lover.

Some of Harris's books include his debut Invisible Live, followed by others like Any Way the Wind Blows, Abide with Me, Not a Day Goes By, and I Say a Little Prayer. Harris also wrote a memoir, What Becomes of the Brokenhearted, a New York Times best seller in 2003.

Harris has also written for Essence, The Washington Post, and Sports Illustrated. If This World Were Mine was nominated for a NAACP Image Award, and won the James Baldwin Award for Literary Excellence. He was also the founder of the E. Lynn Harris Better Days Foundation, a nonprofit company that provides support to aspiring writers and artists.

When Harris returned to his alma mater, University of Arkansas, to teach creative writing, he told The Advocate in 2006 that it gave him inspiration for more work

"I was coming to the end of a long-term relationship, and I didn't want to revert back to old patterns," he said. "Going back to Arkansas to teach school was a safe place for me. I was supposed to teach for a semester and ended up teaching for seven."

"I got the idea for this book when I was attending a small church in Arkansas," he added. "I was working on another novel, and this idea came so forcefully I had to stop the book I was working on and write I Say a Little Prayer. It was a small church, and it was a church where I felt safe."

heart attack ^^^^ I thought that might be the case.

Got damn, yet another loss..

RIP

I just heard this

SCNDLS said:

Co-sign. Sadly.

This is MADNESS

Stunned.

This really has scared me. Maybe God is trying to tell us all something. He keeps calling his servants home.

Woah I just saw on Facebook. RIP

What an unfortunate loss.

Just bought Invisible Life from Audible, I'll be listening to it tomorrow.

I gotta say though, I've NEVER read an E. Lynn Harris book before and I'm ashamed that it took me his death to go back and check him out

Wow.

I've read two of his books and really liked them.

Harlepolis said:

Invisible Life was relatively Earth shaking in the black gay community at the time and Just As I Am is the sequel if I recall correctly.

RIP!

Very shocking. He just released a book last month and I believe another is supposed to follow later this year.

Rest Peacefully Brother. You blew the doors off the whole "Down Low" phenomenon. Thanks for your contribution to the discussion, and for personalizing my autographed copy of "Invisible Life". There's no one who could tell it like you did.

Harlepolis said:

I've read them all and have seven of them signed.

SUPRMAN said:

...he was very accessable in that way, he identified with and seemed to really care about his readers.

PDogz said:

Yeah I saw him when he came to Oakland. I know the family that owns a couple of black bookstores in the Bay Area and he was a friend of theirs.
Always loved that he was a football fan also.

Had a chance to meet Mr. Harris a couple a years ago in Chicago. Nice brotha...

RIP

kitbradley said:

Basketball Jones has been out a long time. It came out toward the beginning of the year.

SUPRMAN said:

I met him at a black bookstore here too, and have a signed copy of Invisible Life . . . somewhere.