Essence reports that Michigan-born novelist E. Lynn Harris has died, leaving behind eleven novels about the African American gay community.

Before his writing career, Harris studied at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville where he reportedly served as the first black yearbook editor and the first black male Razorbacks cheerleader. He self-published his first novel, "Invisible Life," which was later picked up by Anchor Books. His latest novel, "Basketball Jones," came out from Doubleday in January.

Here's more from his Essence obituary: "In a glossy style that combined elements of posh 1950s melodramas, daytime soap operas and homespun morality tales, Harris detailed the fictitious lives of young and stunningly attractive African-Americans, navigating their way through the NFL and NBA; Hollywood and Broadway; magazines and the music industry." (Image via)