New York Times best-selling author Eric Jerome Dickey has died at the age of 59. News of his passing on Sunday (January 3) was confirmed by his publisher, Dutton of Penguin Random House.
“It is with great sadness that we confirm that beloved New York Times bestselling author Eric Jerome Dickey passed away on Sunday, January 3, in Los Angeles after battling a long illness,” the statement said.
Dickey authored 29 novels and became a house name in the contemporary fictional storytelling of Black life. Some of his notable titles include Chasing Destiny, Waking With Enemies, and Before We Were Wicked.
His 1996 novel Sister, Sister was recently listed on Essence’s list of the 50 Most Impactful Black Books of the Last 50 Years. USA Today named him among their 100 Black Novelists You Should Read. His literary legacy includes seven million books published globally.
The Memphis native began writing in 1989, seven years before his first novel would be published. Before pursuing writing as a career, he worked as an engineer after earning a degree in that field from Memphis State University.
Celebrated writer Roxane Gay and journalist Ernest Owens shared their reaction to Dickey’s passing on social media.
Dickey leaves behind four daughters.
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