Author E. Lynn Harris has died

Best selling author, E. Lynn Harris, has passed away at 54. The famed African-American writer was on a West Coast book tour promoting his 11th novel, Basketball Jones, which tells the story of an NBA player and his gay lover.

Laura Gilmore, Harris' publicist says Harris died Thursday night after falling sick while at the Peninsula Hotel in Beverly Hills. The cause of death has not been determined.

Harris was a resounding voice in the literary world. His first novel, "Invisible Life," told the story of a law student torn between feelings for his girlfriend and another man. In an interview Harris said the book was about him. "I always try to write about what's going on in my life," he said. "It's difficult for a lot of Black men to be honest about [their sexuality]," Harris said in an interview. "I'm fortunate enough to have a career where I can be who I am and I don't have to lie about it."

The literary world is shocked and saddened by his death.

"He literally got me started as an author. He read an essay I wrote in law school and recommended me to his editor at Doubleday," said long time friend and author Keith Boykin. "He's one of the most prolific writers I've ever met, and also one of the most generous."

"Harris single-handedly carved out a space for contemporary African-American male novelists such as Eric Jerome Dickey, Colin Channer, RM Johnson, Carl Weber, Van Whitfield, and Omar Tyree. He was a tireless champion for the Hurston/Wright Foundation and had his own foundation," wrote Patrik Henry Bass of Essence.

"Harris was a dear friend to my wife, Toni, and I. Obviously, he'll be missed by a lot of people whose lives he touched as an author, educator, coach, friend and son," wrote Chris Bahn of Arkansassports360.com.

Harris was born in Flint, Michigan and raised in Little Rock, Arkansas. He attended the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville where he was the school's first black yearbook editor, the first black male Razorbacks cheerleader, and the president of his fraternity. He graduated with honors with a degree in journalism.

E. Lynn Harris was the New York Times bestselling author of And This Too Shall Pass (1996), If This World Were Mine (1997), Abide With Me (1999), Not A Day Goes By (2000) and A Love of My Own (2002).