Popular Gay Novelist Opened Doors and Changed Lives

By Sr. Correspondent,  D. Kevin McNeir

 

Millions of fans and friends were shocked to hear that best-selling author E. Lynn Harris, who just celebrated his 54th birthday several weeks ago, has died while on a book tour to promote his 11th novel, Basketball Jones.

 

 
E. Lynn Harris
1955 -2009
The news, confirmed by a Random House executive will undoubtedly leave many of ardent supporters lost for words. According to Essence.com, Harris’s personal assistant confirmed that the much beloved author’s health had recently declined but would not give additional information as to the cause of his death.

Harris is known for his breakthrough novel, Invisible Life, which became a testament for many gays and lesbians struggling with their sexuality and the need to come out to their family and friends. What started as a self-published novel that he sold out of the trunk of his car in the early 1990s, Invisible Life, and the almost dozen novels that would follow, consistently earned a place on the New York Times bestseller’s list while at the same time, gaining a place of reverence in the hearts and minds of millions of readers – mostly women.

Harris would become a living example of the independent author scoring big after being picked up by a major book publisher. A longtime author for Random House, his titles include: Just As I Am, Too Good To Be True, Abide With Me, and his 2004 memoir What Becomes of The Brokenhearted.

Harris recently spoke with this writer while promoting his book at Outwrite Bookstore & Coffeehouse. In the coming days we will publish excerpts from that story and the interview along with testimonies from his fans.

Readers are urged to send their comments and reflections to this writer at dkmcneir@hotmail.com

Our thoughts and prayers go out to his son, his mother and his many friends and fans.

I will miss you my friend!