Celebrated black authors Clarence Nero (Too Much of A Good Thing Ain't Bad) and Eric Jerome Dickey (Resurrecting Midnight) along with relatives of the late E. Lynn Harris were all present last night at Outwrite Bookstore & Coffehouse in Atlanta to launch the national book tour of Harris' latest novel "Mama Dearest".
Harris passed away from a heart attack in Los Angeles on July 23rd, but his legacy lives on through the amazing body of work he left behind and the countless lives he touched with his generosity and amazing spirit.
Atlanta author Tracie Howard read the prologue from "Mama Dearest" featuring one of Harris' favorite protagonists- "Yancey Harrington Braxton" to a packed room and recalled how generous Harris was to write a blurb for her first book.
"Not only did he write a blurb for my book, but he sent out an e-mail to his entire fan base, says Howard. That's just who he was."
Author Clarence Nero fondly remembered being a college student at Howard University and having the opportunity to eat lunch with his literary idol who later became a mentor. Nero credits Harris for recommending his work to publishing giant Random House who eventually gave him his first publishing contract.
The impact of Harris' physical absence seemed to ricochet around the room during Eric Jerome Dickey's moving remembrance of his colleague and Alphi Phi Alpha fraternity brother. But there wasn't a dry eye in the house once his mother and baby sister stood to speak about the E. Lynn they knew.
Watch the video footage below of this touching moment as well as excerpts from the novel read by Nero & Dickey. Click here to find out when the tour will be rolling into your city.
0 comments:
Post a Comment