R.I.P. E Lynn Harris Died Last Night In Los Angeles

The  African American gay author E Lynn Harris,  passed away, last night, in Los Angeles.

I am shocked, sadden, and stunned. Harris was so young, he was only fifty four years old.

I remember, when I was a teenager in the 1990s, I read Harris first book “Invisible Life”.

“Invisible Life” was Harris first novel,  and in my opinion his best work.

Harris was bashed by critics for writing predictable romance novels from a black queer perspective.

Harris was very tenacious, he self published “Invisible Life” in 1991 by selling the books at African American beauty salons.

Since “Invisible Life” was such a huge success Harris was able to acquire a major book publisher.

E Lynn Harris has sold over four million books.

I admire E Lynn Harris  because although his novels were fictional, he still brought the lives of black gay men to the masses.

Harris  proved an openly gay black male writer “can” sell millions of copies, and be marketable .

“Invisible Life” helped me to understand that I wasn’t alone as I was coming to terms with my sexual orientation.

In the mid 1990s, the LGBT community was overwhelmingly Eurocentric, there was no reference point for me.

Harris work gave a voice to the life and experiences of gay and bisexual black men.

Harris was so successful he wrote ten books that reached the New York Times best sellers list.

I believe Harris incredible accomplishments opened the door for other gay black male writers to get publishing deals from major publishing

houses.

Harris proved there was a market for novels about the lives and experiences of gay black men.

Gay black men we are no longer invisible. It is very empowering and refreshing  to be able to visit a bookstore or a library and read about

experiences I can relate to.

Harris writing is also very important because his novels deal with black gay men loving each other.

I remember a few years ago I searched E Lynn Harris on google.

I e-mailed Harris once, asking him for some writing advice,  and he responded back to me.

Harris was so kind and generous to me I really appreciated that he listened to me.

I think it is a shame that  Harris wonderful books weren’t  produced into feature films.

The quandary is although Harris was very successful in the literary world, he still dealt with homophobia and racism.

I sometimes call Harris the “gay” Terry McMillan. Terry McMillan she is the very successful black heterosexual female writer.

McMillan’s books have become successful major films such as “Waiting To Exhale”, and “Stella Got Her Groove Back”.

I would love to see one of Harris novels turned into a movie.

Three of Harris novels had been optioned by the studios to be made into feature films.

If you are interested in learning more about E Lynn Harris, I suggest checking out his books at your local public library or bookstore.

I am praying for E Lynn Harris’ family as they grieve during this difficult time.

Link: http://news-briefs.ew.com/2009/07/bestselling-author-e-lynn-harris-has-died.html