Dickey, Eric Jerome, 1961- 2021, African-American author, b. Memphis, TN, Memphis State Univ. (BS, 1983). Dickey studied engineering and, after completing his degree, moved to Los Angeles to work in software development for the aerospace company, Rockwell International. Soon thereafter, he began exploring acting and working as a stand-up comedian, before embarking on his career writing popular novels. Dickey was the author of 29 books, beginning in 1996 with Sister, Sister, told in the voice of three African-American women. He specialized in portraying intelligent and quick-witted female protagonists who spoke frankly about their experiences with race and sex. His novels were said to have sold over 7 million copies. He won an NAACP Image Award for his 2014 thriller, A Wanted Woman, about a hired killer. In 2006, he was hired by Marvel Comics to develop a series featuring the popular Black Panther and Storm characters. Dickey was nominated four times for the NAACP Image Award in the category of Outstanding Literary Work (2001, 2002, 2004, 2005), and his graphic novel based on the Storm character won a Glyph Best Comic Award in 2007.
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