Eric Jerome Dickey was critical to so many Black writers. Reading great storytelling helps you become a better storyteller. It’s no wonder some of your current fave writers are big fans of his work. Please support his upcoming book The Son of Mr Suleman https://t.co/zyiKgwwz8g

— Shanita Hubbard (@msshanitarenee) January 5, 2021

Dickey, who was born in Memphis, Tennessee, leaves behind four daughters, according to his publicist.

While he initially got a degree in computer system technology, he quickly pivoted to acting and screenplay writing.

But he found his mark writing novels, and within a few years, he was signed with an agent and never looked back.

He released his newest novel, The Business of Lovers, in April 2020 and pledged to do everything he could to continue the fan events he had become well-known for holding.

"We'll do Skype, Zoom, whatever we can do via social [media]. The delivery of my books to my home hasn't even happened. I don't even have copies of my own books," he told The Memphis Flyer last year.

He spoke at length about how the COVID-19 pandemic would change the business of releasing novels and was already looking ahead to his next books.

"What it does to business remains to be seen. I've got a couple of other projects that are due to come out later or next year, but you've had this watershed moment, this global event, that now really dates your writing. There's going to be pre-corona and post-corona. If you a see a movie with people at the airport walking somebody to the gates, you're like, 'Oh, that happened before 9/11,'" he said.

He explained that his latest book was about someone struggling with an illness, which they did not share with their family.

"It's one of those things where people go through something but don't know how to ask for help because they don't want to disturb the lives of others. Anybody can smile and take a picture in front of a palm tree," he said. "That photo can only hint at what's going on beyond the edges of the frame," he said.

"It's a novel about family — the family you have and the family that you choose to have," he added.

Dutton said it plans to publish Dickey's novel, The Son of Mr. Suleman on April 20.

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