Eric Jerome Dickey

Introduction

Eric Jerome Dickey is the author of over 15 novels, all of which explore contemporary relationships among African Americans. Originally from Tennessee, Dickey is a graduate of Memphis State University (now the University of Memphis) in computer systems technology. He has worked at Federal Express and Rockwell (now Boeing) and as a substitute teacher and a stand-up comedian. He is, however, best known as an author, having established himself as one of the most popular African-American male authors of the late 20th and early 21st centuries, a feat he has accomplished in just under 10 years. Eric Jerome Dickey is the author of more than 20 novels, of which 11 have been named to the New York Times best seller list. He also wrote the screenplay for the 1996 film Cappuccino. His most popular novels, Sister Sister, Milk in My Coffee, Genevieve, and Sleeping with Strangers, skillfully explore relationships mired in conflict, and his rich, diverse portrayal of African-American life has established him as a pioneer of contemporary African-American fiction (Bell, pp.41).

Born in 1961, in Memphis, Tennessee, Dickey took an unconventional path to becoming a best-selling author. Evincing no interest in writing or the arts, he pursued a career as an engineer, enrolling at the University of Memphis (formerly Memphis State University) immediately after high school, and earned a degree in computer systems technology in 1983. In college, he took a variety of odd jobs ranging from an on-campus game-room attendant to a Fed Ex delivery man, and after graduating took a job with Rockwell (now Boeing) as a computer programmer and technical writer. After being released from Rockwell because of cutbacks, Dickey moved to California where he worked as an actor, comedian, and short story writer, and took creative writing classes at UCLA, his break coming in 1996 when his first novel, Sister Sister, appeared.

Works of Eric Dickey

His works include Sister, Sister (1996), Friends and Lovers (1997), Milk in My Coffee (1998), Cheaters (1999), Naughty or Nice (2003), Drive Me Crazy (2004), Genevieve (2005), Chasing Destiny (2006), Sleeping with Strangers (2007), Dying for Revenge (2008), Resurrecting Midnight (2009), and Tempted by Trouble (2010). He has also contributed short stories to the collections Got to Be Real: Four Original Love Stories (2000) and Gumbo: A Celebration of African American Writing (2002). In his works, Dickey's primary concern is the trials and travails that come with the search for long-lasting love. His characters often struggle in their relationships, their respective dramas and crises serving as a testament to the real-life predicaments of many of Dickey's readers. Although the characters may express a desire for intimacy and affection, monogamy is often an unattainable fantasy for them, and the vast majorities willfully seek out and engage in extramarital dalliances. A quick survey of Dickey's titles (e.g., Cheaters and Liar's Game [2000]) bears this out. Eric Jerome Dickey was born in Memphis, Tennessee, and currently lives in Los Angeles. This is one of the most important writers in American comedy today. The big ...