Famous author Eric Jerome Dickey, loved by modern black fairy tale sellers such as “Sister, Sister,” “Friends and Lovers” and “Between Lovers,” died Sunday at the age of 59.
“It is with great sadness that we confirm this love New York News best-selling author Eric Jerome Dickey died on Sunday, Jan. 3, in Los Angeles after battling a long illness, “a spokesman for Dutton, a Penguin Random House imprint, told The Post, adding that Dickey leaves behind four daughters.
A relative of his also confirmed the news on Facebook.
“I am heartbroken. My cousin Eric Jerome Dickey died yesterday, “La Verne Madison Fuller wrote on Facebook on Monday.” Guys, when God tells you to do something, you just have to do it. A few weeks ago, God woke me up to “I texted her and told her I loved her. She let me know she loved us, too.”
The New York Times best-selling novelist earned a bachelor’s degree in engineering from the University of Memphis, getting 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 screenplays for a comedy act, he began writing poetry and short stories.
“The film work gave me an idea of the character development, the acting classes helped me understand the motivation. . . Everything goes hand in hand, ”he wrote on his website.
After publishing her first story in 1994, she published her beloved “Sister, Sister” in 1996 about three women seeking love in Los Angeles. Other books, including the novels “Chasing Destiny,” “Liar’s Game,” and “Pleasure,” were on the New York Times bestseller list.
In all, more than seven million of his books have been published worldwide, according to his publicist.
His next novel, “Mr. Suleman’s Son,” will be published on April 20 this year.
Tributes began circulating on social media of celebrities and fans, who have been touched by the legendary Memphis-born novelist.
“I remember sneaking in with my copy of ‘Friends and Lovers’ in middle school as if it were contraband.” journalist Wesley Lowery tweeted. “Reading a novel by Eric Jerome Dickey in secret was a teenage right [sic] of passage for a generation of black Americans “.
“I’m really sad to hear of Eric Jerome Dickey’s passing,” author Roxane Gay said wrote on Twitter. “His were some of the first novels I read about black people that were not about slavery or civil rights. He was a great storyteller. ”
“Rest in peace to black novelist Eric Jerome Dickey. It certainly helped revolutionize an era of black storytelling. He will miss him a lot ”. 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 I remember that ignited my desire to be a writer in the first place” added another.