A few years ago, publisher Linda Duggins appeared at the National Book Club Conference’s annual event with a knee-high boot, the result of a broken foot. Eric Jerome Dickey, the New York Times bestselling author who chronicled the life and love of blacks in his novels, could not bear the idea of Duggins limping over Atlanta.
“I was in front of the conference hotel on the way to one of the many meetings when Eric showed up,” Duggins, the senior advertising director at Grand Central Publishing, told NBC News. “He opened the car door and told me to get in. Most established authors are used to car service and media escorts, but Eric designated himself as my ‘driver’ during the conference. It was Eric. “
That memory came to Duggins when she reflected on the fulfilled life of Dickey, who died on Sunday of cancer. He was 59 years old.
“We lost a literary giant,” she said, “and a great man. Eric Jerome Dickey was one of the most amiable and funny literary brothers I have ever met. His smile appeared long before he entered any room. “
The extremely popular author lived in the Los Angeles suburb and had been battling cancer for some years, family and friends said.
He underwent a bone marrow transplant in 2019 and was hospitalized for three months. He said he had lost 44 kilos, to 147, in January 2020. “My weight in college”, he joked.
Dickey, the only son raised by his grandmother, had three daughters. A private person, Dickey shared his illness with a select few. His aunt, Carolyn Jerry, said he was recovering well. But he didn’t join the family on Thanksgiving; instead, he asked a friend to get him a plate. When Christmas came, Dickey passed a plate, which alarmed Jerry.
“I said to my husband, Darryl: ‘Something’s not right.’ Eric always took a plate and froze it if necessary, ”she said. “He was doing really, really well. But it was then that I worried. He said: ‘Auntie, I’m not in the mood for anything. I’ll just have soup. ‘It wasn’t like Eric. “
A prolific author, Dickey published 29 novels that varied between genres, including contemporary fiction, romance, eroticism and suspense, selling more than 7 million copies in all. He grew up in Memphis and majored in computer science at the University of Memphis, where he prided himself on being a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. He lived in Atlanta for years before moving to View Park, California.
Alpha Phi Alpha member Roberto Young described Dickey as a good brother, “who never forgot his roots”.
Best known for his books “Friends and Lovers”, “Sister, Sister” and “Finding Gideon”, among others, Dickey was very ill in recent years to participate in book fairs, where he enjoyed interacting with his legion of passionate fans.
“I wish I could travel and be there with the team,” he said of not being ready to return to the National Book Club Conference in 2019. “These are my beautiful and fun people who read books, blessed by melanin and ATL it’s my second home. This time, next year, I hope to be much better, laughing and beyond that little hole that is trying to slow me down. “
Dickey’s bright smile and unarmed behavior put fans at ease. His humor, intelligence and charm made him a favorite of the reader. His work captivated. The New York Times wrote of him: “Dickey fans flock to his readings. … He perfected an addictive fictional formula. “
He would travel to exotic destinations, like Barbados and Argentina, and live for months while writing his next novel.
“Oh, my God, he was a wizard with words,” said Lisa Renee Johnson, author and member of the book club in Oakland, California. “I loved how you can feel and see your stories. The locations were a character in his books. And his characters were living, breathing people. Besides, he was such a nice guy. As a reader, he made you feel that he was important. “
Dickey worked as a stand-up comedian before writing novels. This grew to write poetry and short stories before expanding into books. Before long, he became a literary star – but that didn’t show in his actions.
“When I started out as a self-published author,” said Kimberla Lawson Roby, now also a New York Times bestselling author, “I didn’t know anyone in the literary world. But I met Eric at a literary event. He came to me, introduced himself and congratulated me. Since then, he has become one of my biggest supporters.
“He gave advice; I didn’t have to ask. He was so generous and full of life. I loved the way he embraced other authors. He really was my brother in this industry. “
Travis Hunter, an Atlanta author, reported Roby’s feelings. Hunter and Dickey met at a literary event when Hunter published his first book. “Nobody knew me,” said Hunter. “Eric took me into the room with him and introduced me to everyone. Five minutes after meeting him, I met some of the main players in the industry. He was totally responsible for my entire career. “
“But he wasn’t just my literary brother,” said Hunter. “We form a genuine friendship. He did not have a superficial bone in his body. I stayed at his house when I was in LA, even when he wasn’t. When I was negotiating a contract for a book, he didn’t want me to do a bad deal because he needed money. So, he paid my bills for a few months.
“When I closed the deal and sent him a check for $ 6,000, he returned it. He said, ‘Okay, bruh.’ He was like that. “
When news of Dickey’s death hit social media, countless readers with whom he connected over the years expressed his shock and pain.
Jocelyn Lawson of the Sweet Soul Sisters Book Club in Washington, DC, said she found the news hard to believe when she saw it posted on Facebook. “I’ve known Eric for 10 years,” said Lawson. “He was an incredible person, as well as a writer. Through your books, I have had great trips. “
Dickey liked and appreciated his fans, but he was often reluctant to be the center of attention at literary events. “Eric was an integral part of making the magic of the National Book Club Conference come to life,” said Duggins. “He rarely wanted to be at the front of the room giving a talk. He was happier to share what writing meant to him in the company of other speakers. Aspiring authors and readers who loved him were delighted to be in his space. Eric cared about black writers. “
Janice Aaron of the Odysseys Book Club Network in California remembers meeting Dickey on the phone through Jerry, her aunt. “He put us on hold for a minute,” said Aaron. “So he came back and talked for an hour.”
“It’s difficult,” said Jerry. “My husband and I are taking turns to comfort each other. Eric was a joy. “
Duggins added: “I will miss your kindness and humor more, and the conversations about books and publications. Right away, we all loved him. “
Follow NBCBLK on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.