Gumbo

A distinguished essayist and novelist, Marita Golden is the author of nine books, including the bestseller LONG DISTANCE LIFE. Also the president and founding director of the Hurston/Wright Foundation, she lives in Washington, D.C. E. Lynn Harris is a former IBM computer sales executive and a graduate of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. He is the author of seven previous novels, including, the NYT bestselling ANY WAY THE WIND BLOWS, and NOT A DAY GOES BY(which debuted in the #2 position on the NYT list). In 1996, JUST AS I AM was awarded the "Novel of the Year" prize by the Blackboard African American Bestsellers, Inc. ABIDE WITH ME and IF THIS WORLD WERE MINE were both nominated for NAACP Image Awards and IF THIS WORLD WERE MINE won the James Baldwin Award for Literary Excellence. He divides his time between New York and Chicago.