Novelist E. Lynn Harris' fiction broke literary ground

E. Lynn Harris made his name writing novels involving characters who were young, black, gay and fabulous. Many consider the Atlanta author’s writing to be groundbreaking. Before Harris, no one had explored the world of gay, African-American men so successfully in popular fiction. But Harris, who died late last month at age 54, has a body of work that is a little more diverse than some people think. Here, we give you an E. Lynn Harris reader.

Best African American Fiction 2009

In an interview with the AJC in January, Harris talked candidly about his ability as a writer. He said he knew he was not in the league with Toni Morrison or James Baldwin, but he was trying to improve by reading great writers and teaching their work at the University of Arkansas. But critics from Publishers’ Weekly to Booklist had solid praise for this collection that Harris co-edited. “To be a good writer, you have to be a good reader,” he said. “So when I’m asked to [edit], I always jump at the chance because I like to read writers out there who are not getting the attention, but they are brilliant.”

An Invisible Life (1994)

By now, the story of how this novel became a success is pop culture lore. Harris wrote it, self published it, then sold copies of it out of the trunk of his car at beauty shops and hot spots all over Atlanta. It was an exploration of a fresh topic in popular black fiction: the culture of so-called “straight” African-American men who are secretly gay. Harris told these tales of “down-low” culture in a rollicking, gossipy way, making this a page turner and an eye opener. The book’s underground success eventually got Harris a lucrative deal with Doubleday and launched his career.

Just Too Good to Be True (2008)

When this book was released, many reviewers focused on the fact that this was Harris’ first novel with heterosexual characters. Though many of the themes in this one were familiar — scheming, back-stabbing, romancing — Harris spent a considerable amount of time on the relationship between a mother and son. Harris was extremely close to his own family, particularly his grandmother, whom he credited with instilling within him a deep faith in God. “My grandmother told me this little prayer to pray, and it has always held me in good stead,” he told the AJC in January. “She told me that, no matter what happened to me, I would be all right.”

What Becomes of the Brokenhearted? (2003)

Harris knew how to write melodrama. His own life, however, was shaped by having suffered physical abuse, loneliness and poverty as a child. In 1990, he tried to commit suicide. In some ways, he would say, he wrote his way back to good mental health. “Brokenhearted” is a memoir that documents that painful journey from a boyhood in Arkansas to his adulthood success.

Basketball Jones (2009)

You’ve heard of NBA wives? Well, this book is about the world of an NBA husband, or shall we say NBA boyfriend. The protagonist is the longtime boyfriend of an NBA star who also has a hot mess of a wife. For this one, Harris pulled inspiration from real life. A few years ago, Harris was asked by representatives of an active NBA star to serve as strategist for the player because he was considering coming out of the closet. The player never did come out, but his struggle with the decision became fodder for Harris’ 13th book. “I think [he’s] still playing,” Harris said of the hoops star.

A Love of My Own (2002)