E. Lynn Harris
When we caught up with the busy yet gracious E. Lynn Harris,
he was holed away somewhere working on his forthcoming novel Any Way
the Wind Blows. We were fortunate enough to spend a few moments with
him and here is what we found out.
With the success of Not a Day Goes By and your other books, is there
any specific things you do to maintain your sense of balance?
Well, I do try to play tennis, and I do try to go away even though
it's becoming more and more difficult to take time off. The characters
are always in your head and I have so many projects going on right
now that [having some sense of balance] is a concern of mine.
Here is a related question: If you have three invitations
to go to three different events all at the same time, how do you
know which one to choose?
Well, if they're important events, I try to think of the one where
I can make the most impact, especially speaking engagements or even
something as simple as a party. If I don't feel like my point of
view will be represented, I might take that invitation. I do work
very hard to not be a 'celebrity writer' if you will. I think that
some writers I admire became the victim of that. I don't want that
to happen so I keep pretty close tabs on that. When it [invitations]
first started happening I was really impressed that people would
invite me to openings and premieres and it was exciting, but now
I have to do the work, and my fans come first so if it's something
that has to do with my fans it comes first. And a lot of times those
celebrity events, you know, they're for celebrities.
With your being so busy, do you have to make yourself write?
Oh, no. I take time to write. I usually write in blocks. Like right
now, it's unusual that you got this interview because I'm concentrating
on writing. I don't do interviews, I don't do events, I go some
place where very few people know where I am. I'm here writing...
So you have to go away to write?
Yes.
Wow. Did you ever think you would have to do that?
No, but you know, it's hard to write at home. When I write I need
total control over my environment, and in a hotel I do have control.
I can put "do not disturb" on my phone, I can turn off
the TV, I don't have to worry about clothing or whatever, I can
wear whatever I want to wear.
Are you working on Any Way the Wind Blows?
I'm working on that and I'm working on Sparkle; I split my day
up. In the morning I go the gym and then I come back and work on
Any Way the Wind Blows, doing research and character development.
In the evening I work on Sparkle which have totally different characters,
a totally different venue, and the fact that I'm writing on a screenplay.
I've pretty much been able to separate the two because they're such
different stories. I'm almost finished with the first draft of Sparkle
and I'll be sending that off to the producers so I can concentrate
on Any Way the Wind Blows. I'll take time for Christmas and to enjoy,
even though I'll admit, it's hard for me to relax because I'll think,
"I should be doing this, I should be doing that." And
when the characters populate your mind, there's no getting rid of
them.
That's right. It's a wonderful feeling isn't it?
Yes, it really is. It's not a bad thing. Over Thanksgiving I did
manage to go away. I went down and did the Miami [International]
Book Fair, and did something for Hennessy, and then went to Puerto
Rico, but couldn't relax and came back and spent time on Fisher
Island and really didn't write at all that week nor did I think
about writing and that was good. But then when I got back I had
to go straight to LA to work on Sparkle.
Do your characters talk to you at inconvenient times where
you have to stop what you're doing and write things down?
Well, I don't necessarily have to write things down, but they do
come to me at all times no matter what. Sometimes I say "Excuse
me", to friends that may come by. Or, like I have a new character
in Any Way the Wind Blows named Bartholemew and I don't even know
Bartholemew's last name yet and he's really a major character so
when he talks I have to stop and write it down because I don't know
him as well as Basil or Yancey.
Is there anything about the publishing industry that you
find to be shocking?
(Lots of silence).
Well, sometimes in the decision making mode, there aren't as many
people of color. I don't find that shocking, I just find it kind
of disheartening. I think a lot of times we don't know about the
jobs. Most of the people I come across in publishing have been very
decent, and hard working people, and very fair. I don't think a
lot of people know what it takes to become an editor or a publicist.
I've seen my publisher go out of its way to make efforts to recruit
people of color.
Is there a particular talent that you wish you have, but
you don't have it?
(Silence)
Like do you sing?
Oh, please. That's it. Okay. Sing and dance.
You don't sing and dance?
No. I'd love to be a Broadway star. I would love to be able to
sing. It would be great to be a singing writer don't you think?
I wish I could write a book and go have these huge readings and
be able to sing. (Laughs).
Did you know there's another writer named E. Lynn Harris
who wrote "The Mystic Spirituality of A. W. Tozer"?
I don't know who he is, but one time I got kind of a stupid letter
from him saying, since I was using his name, could he get some royalties.
Are you serious?
Yes.
One last question. I notice you use a lot of spirituality in some
of your works and I was wondering do you have a favorite scripture
or a psalm that helps you when things get kind of crazy?
I can do anything through God who strengthens me.
Click here to access E. Lynn
Harris' Official Website.
Click
here to read feature: From Rags to Regis: A Profile of E. Lynn Harris
Click
here to read feature E. Lynn Harris Book Tour in Dallas (2001)
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Review of Not a Day Goes By
