Eric Jerome Dickey is a New York Times best-selling American author best known for his novels about contemporary African-American life. He is also known for writing several crime novels involving grifters, ex cons, and assassins, the latter novels having more diverse settings, moving from Los Angeles to the United Kingdom to the West Indies, each having an international cast of characters.
Biography
Eric Jerome Dickey was born in Memphis, Tennessee, on July 7, 1961. He grew up on the south side of Memphis, living on Kansas Street. He attended Riverview Elementary, Riverview Junior High, and Carver High. After graduating high school, he went to college at Memphis State University, where he earned a degree in Computer System Technology. In 1983, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in engineering. Dickey was employed in the aerospace industry working at Rockwell International, ASSD division, as a software developer, before deciding that he wanted to pursue acting and stand-up comedy, and began the local and national comedy circuit. Dickey wrote several comedy scripts for his personal comedy act, and later began writing short stories. In 1994, his first published short story "Thirteen" appeared in the IBWA's River Crossing, Voices of the Diaspora--an Anthology of the International Black Experience. A second short story, "Days Gone By", was published in the magazine A Place to Enter. He then developed a screenplay called "Cappuccino". Directed and produced by Craig Ross Jr., it appeared in coffeehouses around the Los Angeles area. In February 1998, "Cappuccino" made its local debut during the Pan-African Film Festival at the Magic Johnson Theater in Los Angeles. Dickey has authored fifteen novels and has been featured in a variety publications, including Essence magazine, USA Today and The Los Angeles Times, and his novels have appeared on the bestseller lists of the "Blackboard", The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times. Dickey has appeared as a guest on many shows, including BET's Our Voices and CNN's Sunday Morning Live. His books Sleeping with Strangers and Waking with Enemies were released on April 10, 2007 and August 7, 2007, respectively. His 14th novel, Pleasure, was released in April 2008. On November 1, 2008 Dickey released his 15th solo work entitled Dying for Revenge. Eric Jerome Dickey won 2007 Fiction and Author of the Year, 2009 Fiction, 2013 Author of the Year, and 2017 Author of the Year as part of Yvette Hayward's African American Literary Awards Show held in the mecca of publishing, New York City. It is the only ongoing literary awards show that recognizes griots from the diaspora. Eric Jerome Dickey was named Distinguished Lecturer of the Leimert Park Village Book Fair, August 2018. Dickey is the author of the graphic novel Storm, which re-imagines the first meeting between the popular X-Men character Ororo Munroe and T'Challa, king of the fictional land of Wakanda known as the Black Panther. He performed stand-up comedy, mostly in Southern California. He opened for Bobby "Blue" Bland at the Rialto in Tacoma, Washington. Eric Jerome Dickey is a lifetime member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, Kappa Eta Chapter. Beta Psi Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha presented Eric Jerome Dickey the Alpha Award of Merit in June, 2018. Author of over 30 novels, novellas, and short stories. All but the first two made the New York Times list, as well as many local lists such as The Washington Post and The LA Times. Also has written a shorter eBook, contributed to 7 anthologies, written an original screenplay, and a graphic novel for Marvel Entertainment. His books have been published in French, Polish, and Japanese, and several of his books have had separate printings in Great Britain. He has toured in England, France, and the Caribbean. Two of his books were turned into touring plays. Sister, Sister; Friends and Lovers; Milk in My Coffee; Cheaters; and Liar's Game each reached #1 on the " Bestsellers List." Cheaters was named "Blackboard Book of the Year" in 2000. Liar's Game, Thieves' Paradise, The Other Woman, and Genevieve have also given Dickey the added distinction of being nominated for an NAACP Image Award in the category of Outstanding Literary Work in 2001, 2002, 2004, and 2005. In 2006, he was honored with the awards for Best Contemporary Fiction and Author of the Year at the 2006 African American Literary Award Show, an honor which was repeated in 2007. In 2009, at the African American Literary Award Show, Dying for Revenge received the award for Best fiction. In 2008, Eric was nominated for Storyteller of the Year at the 1st annual ESSENCE Literary Awards. Numerous Awards at the African American Literary Awards Show over several years, most recently Male Author of the Year 2012. 2013, he received the R.E.A.D. Award on behalf of the National Advancement of Colored People. The New York Times stated, “Mr. Dickey’s characters have enough sultry self-confidence to suggest, at their best, a Prince song on paper.”
Gideon Series
Sleeping With Strangers Characters from Thieves' Paradise mentioned
Waking With Enemies Characters from Thieves' Paradise mentioned
Dying for Revenge Characters from Thieves' Paradise mentioned
Resurrecting Midnight Characters from Thieves' Paradise mentioned
