Famed author Eric Jerome Dickey, beloved for modern black stories in bestsellers like ‘Sister, Sister’, ‘Friends and Lovers’ and ‘Between Lovers’, died on Sunday at the age of 59.
We affirm that beloved with great sadness New York Times bestselling author Eric Jerome Dickey passed away in Los Angeles on Sunday, January 3 after a long illness, ”a representative for Dutton, an imprint of Penguin Random House, told The Post, adding that Dickey is leaving behind four daughters.
A relative of his also confirmed the news on Facebook.
“My heart is broken. My cousin, Eric Jerome Dickey passed away yesterday,” La Verne Madison Fuller wrote on Facebook Monday. “Guys, if God tells you to do something, just do it. Just a few weeks ago God made Woke me up to text him and say I loved him. He let me know he loved us too. “
The New York Times bestselling novelist earned an engineering degree from the University of Memphis and landed a job in the aerospace industry as a software developer in Los Angeles. He soon discovered his passion for writing through comedy. After writing several scripts for a comedy act, he started writing poetry and short stories.
“The film work gave me insight into character development, the acting lessons helped me understand motivation. . . Everything goes hand in hand, ”he wrote on his website.
After publishing his first short story in 1994, he released the beloved “Sister, Sister” in 1996 about three women who were looking for love in LA. Other books, including the novels “Chasing Destiny,” “Liar’s Game,” and “Pleasure,” were on the New York Times bestseller list.
According to his publicist, more than seven million of his books have been published worldwide.
His next novel, “Mr. Suleman’s Son”, was due out on April 20 this year.
Tributes began to pour in on social media from celebrities and fans touched by the legendary Memphis-born novelist.
“I remember sneaking around with my copy of ‘Friends and Lovers’ in high school like it was contraband,” journalist Wesley Lowery tweeted. Secretly reading a novel by Eric Jerome Dickey was a teenager [sic] of passage for a generation of black Americans. “
“I am really sad to hear about the death of Eric Jerome Dickey,” author Roxane Gay wrote on Twitter. These were some of the first novels I ever read about black people who were not about slavery or civil rights. He was a great storyteller. “
Rest in peace for black novelist Eric Jerome Dickey. He undoubtedly revolutionized an era of black storytelling. He will be missed greatly, ” added Promised Land Magazine.
“RIP to literary icon Eric Jerome Dickey. Thank you for shaping my childhood with your work, ” wrote a fan. “‘Chasing Destiny’ and ‘Genevieve’ are two books that I remember really sparking my desire to become a writer,” added one more.