Popular African-American novelist E. Lynn Harris has won a wide readership with his edgy, provocative tales of modern-day romance. In his best-selling memoir, he reveals some of the sources for his fiction and recounts the experiences that led him to writing. Harris is forthcoming about his turbulent childhood in Arkansas, his violent father, his battles with depression and his experiences as a gay man. One of the first black students to be accepted at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, he went to work for IBM in Dallas after college. His account of the difficulties of dating and the death of close friends from AIDS is timely and poignant. Readers will relate to his experiences and root for him as he moves from tragedy to triumph, finding real love at last and learning to accept himself. Harris’ journey of self-discovery is inspiring, touching and beautifully recounted.
