Fans And Fellow Writers Mourn Death Of Novelist Erica Kennedy

Mourning The Death Of Novelist Erica Kennedy

Erica Kennedy, author of the novels Bling and Feminista and a feminist icon to many, was found dead at her home on June 13. Her cause of death has not been released, but she suffered from depression, and some are speculating that she committed suicide. Now writers are mourning the loss of a woman one calls an "all-around beautiful Black feminista rock star."

Demetria L. Lucas, writing on Clutch, calls Kennedy one of the writers who "turned my 'maybe I can do this' into 'yes, I actually can.'" She explains that Bling, a New York Times bestseller optioned for film, made her "the writer who gave other writers hope." And she quotes an unnamed editor: "She was the black girl that made it. I didn't know her, but I was soooo proud of her." Fans echoed that feeling of closeness:

Need help? In the U.S., call 1-800-273-8255 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. You can also visit The Trevor Project's website, a national organization providing support to LGBT youth, or call them at 1-866-488-7386. And if you're worried about a friend on Facebook, you can report troubling posts. They'll connect your friend with a representative from National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

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