SKYY
Touted as the next E. Lynn Harris, Skyy is an author/screenwriter from Memphis, whose first novel “Choices” (2006) swiftly gained popularity within the LGBTQ and urban fic-tion communities. “I wrote Choices because of a broken heart,” she confides. “Dealing with a terrible breakup, the characters came to me in the midst of crying. I decided to write what they were saying. Four days later, I finished the first draft. This is why I always tell people to take your pain and let it fuel your creativity; you never know what might come from it.” She followed up with three more novels, thereby creating one of the most popular urban lesbian book series to date. Blurring the lines between LGBTQ and straight communities, Skyy’s books about the African-American lesbian experience resonate with women of all identities. “The most rewarding aspect of my work is meeting the people who’ve been affected by my books,” she says. “To hear people say they were or are just like a character, or a storyline helped them through a difficult situation in their lives, makes me feel blessed and proud.” Currently, Skyy is focused on bringing African-American lesbian stories to the big and small screen and hopes to turn “Choices” into a feature film. –SLO
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