54 year old author, E. Lynn Harris died yesterday while on tour, promoting his 11th novel, “Basketball Jones”, which involved an NBA player and his gay lover. Harris was an openly gay American author, best known for his depictions of African American men on the down-low or in the closet.

Harris was initially unable to land a book deal with a reputable publishing house for his first work, Invisible Life, so he self-published it through a vanity publisher and sold copies from his car trunk. Since then, five of his novels have achieved New York Times bestseller status.

Alongside fiction, Harris had also penned a personal memoir, What Becomes of the Brokenhearted?

Find more info about E. Lynn Harris at his official website.

Invisible Life

E. Lynn Harris. Doubleday 1999, Hardcover, 272 pages, $9.42

Just As I Am

E. Lynn Harris. Doubleday 2000, Hardcover, 384 pages, $11.99

And This Too Shall Pass

E. Lynn Harris. Anchor 1997, Paperback, 368 pages, $4.97

If This World Were Mine

E. Lynn Harris. Anchor 1998, Paperback, 336 pages, $6.50

Abide With Me

E. Lynn Harris. Anchor 2000, Paperback, 349 pages, $4.41

Not a Day Goes By

E. Lynn Harris. Anchor 2004, Paperback, 288 pages, $4.96

Got to be Real

E. Lynn Harris. NAL Trade 2000, Paperback, 384 pages, $0.99

Any Way the Wind Blows

E. Lynn Harris. Anchor 2002, Paperback, 368 pages, $3.07

A Love of My Own

E. Lynn Harris. Anchor 2003, Paperback, 400 pages, $4.59

What Becomes of the Brokenhearted

E. Lynn Harris. Anchor 2004, Paperback, 288 pages, $7.25