I discovered E. Lynn Harris by accident.  I was in B. Dalton’s as I usually frequented the place while in college to waste time between classes.  I looked at the cover and read the synopsis and immediately put it down.  I just wasn’t interested in reading about some gay dudes.  I wasn’t.  Yet, every time I went to that store I would see that book and think, ‘maybe I should give it a chance.’  I didn’t actually purchase the book until Sybil on Tom Joyner’s show did an interview with him and he explained how he started writing and how he hustled his books at beauty salons.  If Sybil said it was a good book, hell maybe I should read it.  I picked it up and when I finished “Invisible Life” I went on to purchase “Just As I Am” and the rest is history.  I read the first two books several times trying to really understand why I was so drawn to the characters. 

As much as I loved the trilogy, as I call the three main books centered around Raymond, I also really enjoyed the novels “This Too Shall Pass” and “If This World Were Mine.”  Those two books had different characters whose lives were so different from my own, but ever so intriguing.  Harris captured my attention and kept it for many years.  Unlike most of his fans, I did not love Basil Henderson.  I always cringed when his character would show up in his novel, I don’t care how briefly, I just got tired of his ass.  I guess Harris had a hard time letting him go.  The debate has always been which character was Harris.  I always said Raymond, but he has stated Raymond is the man he wished he could have been.  He may not have been one of the characters but his heart was in them all. 

I met Harris on two separate occasions the first time was in 2001.  He was the keynote speaker at the Words Escape Me conference in Birmingham.  On my way to the banquet I passed the bar and my heart stopped, because there he was, E. Lynn Harris.  He was sitting there nursing a drink with shades on.  He entered the banquet room walking fast, still with shades on.  I detected an air about him that I didn’t expect.  In fact, I was about to have my first encounter with an author with an attitude.  I hoped I was wrong.  He told us immediately to not to take any pictures because they bothered his eyes and he would take all pictures we wanted when he signed our books.  The haughty voice and attitude was disconcerting.  I wasn’t sure where it had come from, but his body language during dinner reflected he really didn’t want to be at the conference.  Although he gave a good speech, where he finally explained the pronunciation of Basil was not like the herb, he had hurt my little feelings acting brand new.  He graciously signed books and took pictures but everything was hurried.  I left immediately afterwards and thought damn, my first author disappointment.  At least I got my picture.

After reading “What Becomes of the Brokenhearted,” his memoir, I realized in 2001 he was in a full alcoholic state.  My disappointment was because he was so depressed with life and his drinking at that time was out of control.  It explained it all and it also took away that feeling I had of him being an ass.  It made me love him more because I understood pain and how it makes us react.

I met Harris again in 2006.  The reception and our interaction was wonderful.  We actually had a conversation and our picture together was one I treasure.  It wasn’t rushed or hurried and when he put his arm around me he hugged me to his side with great warmth.  He was a bit sweaty and I joked I wasn’t going to take a bath again.  He smiled and laughed and he took his time.  I loved that brief moment we had.  That weekend I met all three of my author idols:  Terry McMillan, Eric Jerome Dickey and E. Lynn Harris.  Life doesn’t get better than that.

E. Lynn Harris was not some prolific writer, but he was a person who wrote stories we could all relate to.  His trilogy novels are classics and rightfully so.  He was also accessible as an author.  His emails were welcomed items to my inbox and I am going to miss them.  I loved going to his website and seeing the new pictures posted and I am going to miss them too.  Harris changed some folk’s thoughts about homosexuality, as well as “down low” men.  He didn’t go over the top, but he took you close enough.  When I got word he had passed away, I hung up on my sister and did my internet search and as much as I hoped the rumor wasn’t true, it was.  I cried.  Too many of my idols are passing away and my heart could barely withstand the pain.  I am going to miss Harris because I know he had more stories to tell us.  However one of the most memorable lines in “Just As I Am” was Kyle stating now that he had passed, he could finally hear the snow fall and I can imagine Harris relishing in hearing the snow now.  He leaves behind a legacy for young African-American writers and love from thousands of fans and I know he is smiling down from heaven because he was here for a reason and he fulfilled God’s destiny for him.  RIP E. Lynn Harris June 20, 1955 – July 23, 2009!