Eric Jerome Dickey was an American author, born on July 7, 1961, in Memphis, Tennessee. He grew up on the southern side of Memphis and attended Riverview for elementary and junior high school, later joining Carver High. After his high school graduation, Dickey attended Memphis State University, where he earned a degree in Computer System Technology. In 1983, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue an engineering career, working as a software developer in the aerospace industry at Rockwell International, which later became part of Boeing.
Before becoming a successful author, Dickey pursued stand-up comedy and acting, starting his local and national comedy circuit. His artistic talents soon led him to write poetry and short stories, which he refined by attending creative writing classes and participating in the International Black Writers and Artists (IBWA) development workshops. In 1994, Dickey's first published short story, "Thirteen," was featured in the IBWA's River Crossing: Voices of the Diaspora-An Anthology of the International Black Experience. He later developed a screenplay called "Cappuccino," which was directed and produced by Craig Ross, Jr., and appeared in coffee houses around Los Angeles.
Dickey's novels, including Sister, Sister; Friends and Lovers; Milk in My Coffee; Cheaters; and Liar's Game, have placed him as one of the best writers of contemporary urban fiction. His books have earned him multiple spots on The New York Times bestseller list, and he has received several nominations for NAACP Image Awards in the category of Outstanding Literary Work. In 2006, he was honored with the awards for Best Contemporary Fiction and Author of the Year (Male) at the African American Literary Award Show.
Throughout his career, Dickey published 29 novels, with almost all of them being released by Dutton. Some of his notable works include Sister, Sister, Milk in My Coffee, the Gideon series, and Liar's Game, Thieves' Paradise, The Other Woman, and Genevieve, all of which were nominated for NAACP Image Awards. His 2014 novel, A Wanted Woman, won the NAACP Image Award in the category of Outstanding Literary Work. Additionally, Dickey authored a six-issue miniseries of graphic novels featuring Storm (X-Men) and the Black Panther. He passed away in January 2021.