Rhonda Swan - Literary Diva

E. Lynn Harris: Pursue YOUR Dreams

On Saturday, New York Times bestselling author E. Lynn Harris received the Terrie Williams Inspirational Award at the National Book Club Conference in Atlanta.

Harris, author of nine novels including Invisible Life, A Love of My Own, and I Say a Little Prayer, took the opportunity during his acceptance speech to inspire the audience to pursue their passion, be true to themselves and to live their own dreams, not someone else’s.

Harris quit an executive job and self-published Invisible Life, a novel about about outwardly straight black men secretly sleeping with other men, in 1991 and sold it at black-owned bookstores, beauty salons and book club meetings when he couldn’t find a publisher. The novel was eventually picked up by a major publisher and went on to become a bestseller.

Harris, who has admitted attempting suicide because he didn’t feel good about himself as a gay man, told the audience that he wrote his way out of depression and into a wonderful life. His words were very inspirational. Click here to listen to Harris speak at the conference.

(By the way, if you listen to the audio and want to know why the audience erupts in laughter when Harris says, “When people say they love you, make sure they know who they’re loving,” it’s because author Terry McMillan, who learned that her husband was gay and subsequently divorced him, is cuttin’ up in her front row seat at E. Lynn’s statement!