I just returned from my chapter's annual Literary Luncheon where E. Lynn Harris was our featured author. The word awesome is all that comes to mind. I had the honor of having dinner with him last night and the brother is awesome (did I say that already?) Even if you do not like the topics of his books, you can't help but admire him as a person.
Couple of tidbits:
His next book will not be out until next Spring :-(. The topic will not be about Raymond. It will be about the life, troubles, and successes of a 37 year old single mother and her 20 year old son--and no the son is not gay. But he also said that Raymond's life will continue in future books.
To those who also heard the rumor that Basil was based on Yancey Thigpen, I asked directly and he said that he didn't even know Yancey Thigpen, and that Basil was a composite of men he knew.
He is an Alpha and they have ostracized him, but they did not tell him that he could not mention the fraternity in his books, nor did they strip him of his membership.
On the other hand KAPsi has respected him as a Black author and a Black man and he is grateful to them for that. (This may explain why some folx thought he was a Kappa.)
He is very concerned about D.L. men who deny that they are gay because they do not live the "gay lifestyle." He says, to him there really is no "gay lifestyle." He himself does not hang out at gay bars, or go to bath houses, or act "flamboyant" because that is just not how he socializes. But he is still gay.
Finally, he and his partner for the past 7 years have split and he is back on the dating scene. He is surprised at many of the D.L. men he has encountered that even he would have never guessed. Now ladies, that is really scary, because if his gaydar couldn't pick it up, how can we????
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