Comments on: Online Tribute & Celebration of E. Lynn Harris Day

By: Kidada Davis

Kidada Davis — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 16:14:01 +0000

I absolutely loved all of his books and look forward to reading the latest, “Mama Dearest”. I am sure it will be another page turner that I won’t be able to put down.

By: LaShaunda

LaShaunda — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 17:44:06 +0000

I have a list of writers I want to meet and because of SORMAG I’ve had the chance to meet them. E Lynn was one on the top of the list, but it was hard to get an interview with him. I heard he was coming to St. Louis, so I prayed I got a chance to slip my business card to him.

He gave a wonderful presentation and I stood in line for about 45 minutes to get my book autographed. They kept telling him his time was up, but he said he had to sign all the books. He signed my book, took a picture with me and took another picture with the model he brought along to promote his calendar. I told him about SORMAG and he wrote his number down so I could call and get an interivew.

E. Lynn was so down to earth he was like talking to an old friend instead of an interview. I’m so glad I had a chance to meet him and I’m glad he has his books to carry on his legacy.

Tee thanks for doing this. It was nice reading about how he touched others lives.

By: Susan C.

Susan C. — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 17:28:03 +0000

I remember EJD being one of the first African-American authors that I absolutely fell in love with. His stories drew you in and made you feel like you weren’t just reading a book, you felt like you were listening to a friend tell a really juicy story. He connected with his readers in such a natural way that, even though I never got a chance to meet him, I feel like I did! He is and will always be truly missed! May he rest in peace and may he never be forgotten!

By: Lashonda Silver

Lashonda Silver — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 04:57:38 +0000

I enjoyed the reading that EJD linked to his facebook page of MAMA DEAREST. It was a really moving tribute. He and another author read and then E Lynn’s mom and sister spoke. I wish the whole thing had been available to see, but the readings alone got me ready for this book. I own each of his book and it is still hard to believe that this is my last peak into his work. He made a great impact in the literary world and will be missed.

By: mary c

mary c — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 02:56:32 +0000

As with Michael Jackson, I was so shocked to hear this news. I have read everything that he has published (I think). My favorite character was definately Basil but I loved loved loved Raymond. I know his subject was controversal and groundbraking. (and James Baldwin was probably a big influence on him). We were so blessed to have him. I will be purchasing Mama Dearest. I am so looking forward to Yancy and her crazy Mother.

By: Brenda Lisbon

Brenda Lisbon — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 15:20:44 +0000

Janice,
I agree with you. I would love to see his books made into movies. I agree with you that Denzel would be perfect for the part of Raymond.

-Brenda

By: DD

DD — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 03:38:02 +0000

I am still a bit in shock I remember being on facebook when I first read the message and thinking this must be a mistake didn’t I just read an article about his new book just yesterday isn’t he on tour. He’s not sick this has to be a rumor gone mad. But I clicked the article and though the details are little it was real and I was blown away. It felt like a lost an icon. Then I began to read the stories of the people he touched and I felt like we lost a literary light. He will be missed by all.

By: Rose

Rose — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 02:48:36 +0000

I wanted to get my book today but time slipped right by me. I will pick up Mama Dearest tomorrow and hope to read it this weekend.

By: Toni

Toni — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 02:08:26 +0000

I just returned from one of the many E. Lynn Harris readings, I have in my hot litte hands my copy of Mama Dearest. This reading was not well attended about 25 to 30 people. The author scheduled to do the reading was a no-show. However newley self-published author Vera Jones who is from Jacksonville, FL steped in and did a marvelous job.

Her connection to E Lynn was their love for basketball, Ms Jones is a former college basketball coach, and Commenator for the Big Ten Network.

Check out her book Play Through The Foul: Basketball Lessons for the Game of Life.

By: Faith Murphy Knight

Faith Murphy Knight — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 02:01:11 +0000

Tee, this is truly a good thing you are doing. I never met Lynn either, but several of my friends were friends of his and shared his gifts with me. There was a wonderful tribute to him last night at the African American Literary Award Show and we were all touched.

By: Brenda Lisbon

Brenda Lisbon — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 01:14:59 +0000

Getting mine from the bookstore too. Online takes too long.

-Brenda

By: Peaches

Peaches — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 01:14:29 +0000

This is beautiful Tee, thanks for doing such a wonderful tribute to an author who was definately THE BOMB. I have read all of his books and was looking forward to more of Raymond and Basil.

I would love to see Michael White play Basil. He has the build for it. Also, I think Angela Bassett would do a banging job as the mother as well.

I am looking forward to reading his newest release.

By: Nathasha Brooks-Harris

Nathasha Brooks-Harris — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 00:13:01 +0000

I still cannot believe that E. Lynn Harris is gone. I am a big fan of his work and have read everything he has ever published. He was a shining light in our literary community and will be sorely missed. What I liked most about him was the fact that he dared tio expose a world that so many people disdain. He was always honest about who and what he was and that shone through in his writing. I also like the fact that he shared so much about the gay lifestyle pre AIDA and HIV and let readers understand what he saw. I appreciate his willingness to give back. I remember how he took time out of his busy days to communicate with me when I was a new author. He shared some tips and industry tidbits with me that I will never forget. His signings and readings were awesome and made me want to aspire to write as well as he did. I was unable to attend his NYC tribute, but I do have the book. It just arrived today right on time for the tribute. So I will be going to bed with a great book tonight! This is the book I’ve been waiting for! May he forever rest in peace. I will surely miss him!

By: Kim

Kim — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 23:30:31 +0000

The book would be If This World Were Mine.
Everyone knows Leon as Russell in “Waiting to Exhale”. I’d like to have Leon cast as Basil.
Sanaa Lathan is Robin in “The Best Man” she could be cast as Yolanda.
Shemar Moore plays Derek Morgan on Criminal Minds. He could be cast as Leland.
Morris Chestnut is Lance in “The Best Man” and he could be cast as Dwight.

I’d definitely pay to see the movie…

By: Kim

Kim — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 23:02:09 +0000

Basil is my favorite. I’ve always felt that he was a man looking for love in all the wrong places…just touched my heart….I guess.

By: Roderick Tate

Roderick Tate — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 22:01:16 +0000

He will be missed. I will be buying Mama Dearest this weekend.

By: joyce

joyce — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 19:35:33 +0000

I would never forget when I lived in Atlanta and my girlfriend was telling me about this author and she was going to Greenbrier Mall to have a book signed, I had never heard of E. Lynn and he was signing “Invisible Life” I stood in the line with her to get the book and I was reading and I was like OMG is this what I am waiting for to be signed but I said okay and bought it and had signed and after that I could not put it down and I became a E. Lynn fan…….The most remarkable thing after this was moving to Ca and being in the breakroom of my job reading “What Becomes Of A Brokenheart” an the V.P.of my company passed by and came back and said you read E Lynn and I said yes and I got this crazy look he was asking about the book said he was gonna buy it and could he borrow it and I was like yeah…he actually called me to his office a week later and said he was going on a trip and could he take my book I was like I had just finished and let him read it he said he had read all of E Lynn’s books and was a fan, after that he was always saying hello to me and all I was like so surprised.

By: Jaime L. Lincoln

Jaime L. Lincoln — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 19:19:27 +0000

Wow, reading these comments I’ve been enlightened to know more about E. Lynn Harris- the man and the author. May he rest in peace, always!!!

Jaime L. Lincoln

By: Naleighna Kai/Lissa Woodson

Naleighna Kai/Lissa Woodson — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 19:06:13 +0000

I always enjoyed E. Lynn’s books–and was surprisingly pleased to see how he worked Basil into Basketball Jones. That book was definitely one of his best. He will surely be missed.

By: Paula

Paula — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 18:52:43 +0000

I was shocked when I heard of E. Lynn Harris’ passing as well as others. I was a big fan and since I live in Little Rock, we were blessed to have him here as one of his stops on his book tour. Whenever E. Lynn was in Little Rock, you had to get out early in order to purchase your book and get it signed in the time slot allotted because the line spilled outside the bookstore a lot of the time. He was so personable. I remember asking him at one of the book signings, what was next. He said, “Honey, please let me take a vacation.” And following that, he published two books shortly thereafter. He was a joy and will be missed. I gotta go. I got my copy of Mama Dearest day before yesterday and I have to delve in.

By: Janice

Janice — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 18:46:01 +0000

Getting my copy of Mama Dearest, this weekend.

By: Radiah

Radiah — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 18:37:21 +0000

Thanks Tee for this wonderful tribute. I remember for the longest time that I wouldn’t read any E. Lynn Harris books due to the subject matter. People kept telling me to give his books a try. So, I got Invisiable Life from the library about 10yrs ago and was immediately hooked. I then went back to the library and got all of his books so that I could be current when the newest one came out. I’ve purchased or read every one of his books since then. I had the pleasure of meeting him twice in person. The first time was in 2002 and my hubby and I drove to Chicago which should have been a 2 hour drive but it ended up taking longer due to traffic and finding the auditorium where E.Lynn was. The 2nd time I met him here in Milwaukee which was back in 2005 think. Finally, I did an audio interview with him for my website in July 2008. What a humble and nice man. I’m so glad I got a chance to do that interview and meet him in person. And he really wanted to know and cared about what I thought about Just Too Good To Be True and how nervous he was about writing that book. I have a picture with him too.

By: bbj

bbj — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 18:30:35 +0000

What a wonderful way to pay tribute!! It was a trip listening to the archived interview of E. Lynn Harris.
May he RIP~
Be Blessed, bbj

By: Cashana

Cashana — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 18:28:40 +0000

I wish I could really write about his loss, but for some reason I haven’t been able to sit down and do it. Death does that to me. We loss a great one. I actually have all of his books and as soon as I got Mama Dearest I just hugged it to my chest. It made me happy and sad at the same time. I met him twice. I have pictures to prove it. The last time I actually talked to him briefly at NBCC, who knew that would be my last time meeting him? He is missed…

By: Janice

Janice — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 18:28:37 +0000

I think most of his book would be great movies.
I always thought Denzel would be a perfect Raymond Tyler Jr.