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Nia #1.5
The Education of Nia Simone Bijou
Eric Jerome Dickey, author of fourteen New York Times bestselling novels, imagines the formative college years of one of his most popular heroines, Nia Simone Bijou.
From her first days at Virginia’s Hampton University, impressionable, creative Nia falls smitten with Chris Eidos Alleyne, an athlete and a scholar.
“Love is sweet nothings and beautiful promises,” Nia writes in her journal. What her girlfriends know, and her mother doesn’t, is that Chris’s expression of love is deeply physical. Wielding powerful charisma, Chris soon has Nia abandoning innocence for experience.
Believing that Chris will reward her sacrifices with lifelong commitment, Nia thrills to her newfound pleasures. She knows in her heart that each act of intimacy draws them ever closer. But when the Big Man on Campus learns to take what is freely given, without regard to love, Nia finds herself newly enrolled in Heartbreak 101.
The Education of Nia Simone Bijou is a rousing tale of youthful passion, once kindled, never extinguished.
From her first days at Virginia’s Hampton University, impressionable, creative Nia falls smitten with Chris Eidos Alleyne, an athlete and a scholar.
“Love is sweet nothings and beautiful promises,” Nia writes in her journal. What her girlfriends know, and her mother doesn’t, is that Chris’s expression of love is deeply physical. Wielding powerful charisma, Chris soon has Nia abandoning innocence for experience.
Believing that Chris will reward her sacrifices with lifelong commitment, Nia thrills to her newfound pleasures. She knows in her heart that each act of intimacy draws them ever closer. But when the Big Man on Campus learns to take what is freely given, without regard to love, Nia finds herself newly enrolled in Heartbreak 101.
The Education of Nia Simone Bijou is a rousing tale of youthful passion, once kindled, never extinguished.
Audiobook
First published February 14, 2013
159 people are currently reading
1430 people want to read
About the author
Eric Jerome Dickey
60 books3,623 followersEric Jerome Dickey was born in Memphis, Tennessee and attended the University of Memphis (the former Memphis State), where he earned his degree in Computer System Technology. In 1983, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in engineering.
After landing a job in the aerospace industry as a software developer, Eric Jerome Dickey's artistic talents surfaced, inspiring him to become an actor and a stand-up comedian. Yet Eric quickly found out that writing was something he could do and do well. From creative writing classes to avidly consuming the works of his favorite authors, Eric Jerome Dickey began to shape a writing career of his own. Having written several scripts for his personal comedy act, he started writing poetry and short stories. "The film work gave me insight into character development, the acting classes helped me understand motivation...All of it goes hand in hand," Eric explains. He joined the IBWA (International Black Writers and Artists), participated in their development workshops, and became a recipient of the IBWA SEED Scholarship to attend UCLA's Creative Writing classes. In 1994 his first published short story, "Thirteen," appeared in the IBWA's River Crossing: Voices of the Diaspora-An Anthology of the International Black Experience. A second short story, "Days Gone By," was published in the magazine A Place to Enter.
With those successes behind him, Eric Jerome Dickey decided to fine-tune some of his earlier work and developed a screenplay called "Cappuccino." "Cappuccino" was directed and produced by Craig Ross, Jr. and appeared in coffee houses around the Los Angeles area. In February 1998, "Cappuccino" made its local debut during the Pan African Film Festival at the Magic Johnson Theater in Los Angeles.
Short stories, though, didn't seem to fulfill Eric Jerome Dickey's creative yearnings. Eric says, "I'd set out to do a ten-page story and it would go on for three hundred pages." So Eric kept writing and reading and sending out query letters for his novels for almost three years until he finally got an agent. "Then a door opened," Eric says. "And I put my foot in before they could close it." And that door has remained opened, as Eric Jerome Dickey's novels have placed him on the map as one of the best writers of contemporary urban fiction.
Eric Jerome Dickey's book signing tours for Sister, Sister; Friends and Lovers; Milk in My Coffee; Cheaters; and Liar's Game took him from coast to coast and helped propel each of these novels to #1 on the "Blackboard Bestsellers List." Cheaters was named "Blackboard Book of the Year" in 2000. In June 2000, Eric Jerome Dickey celebrated the French publication of Milk in My Coffee (Cafe Noisette) by embarking on a book tour to Paris. Soon after, Milk in My Coffee became a bestseller in France. Eric Jerome Dickey's novels, Chasing Destiny, Liar's Game, Between Lovers, Thieves' Paradise, The Other Woman, Drive Me Crazy, Genevieve, Naughty or Nice, Sleeping with Strangers, Waking with Enemies, and Pleasure have all earned him the success of a spot on The New York Times bestseller list. Liar's Game, Thieves' Paradise, The Other Woman, and Genevieve have also given Dickey the added distinction of being nominated for an NAACP Image Award in the category of Outstanding Literary Work in 2001, 2002, 2004, and 2005. In 2006, he was honored with the awards for Best Contemporary Fiction and Author of the Year (Male) at the 2006 African American Literary Award Show. In 2008, Eric was nominated for Storyteller of the Year at the 1st annual ESSENCE Literary Awards. In January 2001, Eric Jerome Dickey was a contributor to New American Library's anthology Got To Be Real: Four Original Love Stories, also a Blackboard Bestseller. He also had a story entitled “Fish Sanwich” appear in the anthology Mothers and Sons. In June 2002, Dickey contributed to Black Silk: A Collection of African American Erotica (Warner Books) as well as to Riots Beneath the Baobab (published by Inte
After landing a job in the aerospace industry as a software developer, Eric Jerome Dickey's artistic talents surfaced, inspiring him to become an actor and a stand-up comedian. Yet Eric quickly found out that writing was something he could do and do well. From creative writing classes to avidly consuming the works of his favorite authors, Eric Jerome Dickey began to shape a writing career of his own. Having written several scripts for his personal comedy act, he started writing poetry and short stories. "The film work gave me insight into character development, the acting classes helped me understand motivation...All of it goes hand in hand," Eric explains. He joined the IBWA (International Black Writers and Artists), participated in their development workshops, and became a recipient of the IBWA SEED Scholarship to attend UCLA's Creative Writing classes. In 1994 his first published short story, "Thirteen," appeared in the IBWA's River Crossing: Voices of the Diaspora-An Anthology of the International Black Experience. A second short story, "Days Gone By," was published in the magazine A Place to Enter.
With those successes behind him, Eric Jerome Dickey decided to fine-tune some of his earlier work and developed a screenplay called "Cappuccino." "Cappuccino" was directed and produced by Craig Ross, Jr. and appeared in coffee houses around the Los Angeles area. In February 1998, "Cappuccino" made its local debut during the Pan African Film Festival at the Magic Johnson Theater in Los Angeles.
Short stories, though, didn't seem to fulfill Eric Jerome Dickey's creative yearnings. Eric says, "I'd set out to do a ten-page story and it would go on for three hundred pages." So Eric kept writing and reading and sending out query letters for his novels for almost three years until he finally got an agent. "Then a door opened," Eric says. "And I put my foot in before they could close it." And that door has remained opened, as Eric Jerome Dickey's novels have placed him on the map as one of the best writers of contemporary urban fiction.
Eric Jerome Dickey's book signing tours for Sister, Sister; Friends and Lovers; Milk in My Coffee; Cheaters; and Liar's Game took him from coast to coast and helped propel each of these novels to #1 on the "Blackboard Bestsellers List." Cheaters was named "Blackboard Book of the Year" in 2000. In June 2000, Eric Jerome Dickey celebrated the French publication of Milk in My Coffee (Cafe Noisette) by embarking on a book tour to Paris. Soon after, Milk in My Coffee became a bestseller in France. Eric Jerome Dickey's novels, Chasing Destiny, Liar's Game, Between Lovers, Thieves' Paradise, The Other Woman, Drive Me Crazy, Genevieve, Naughty or Nice, Sleeping with Strangers, Waking with Enemies, and Pleasure have all earned him the success of a spot on The New York Times bestseller list. Liar's Game, Thieves' Paradise, The Other Woman, and Genevieve have also given Dickey the added distinction of being nominated for an NAACP Image Award in the category of Outstanding Literary Work in 2001, 2002, 2004, and 2005. In 2006, he was honored with the awards for Best Contemporary Fiction and Author of the Year (Male) at the 2006 African American Literary Award Show. In 2008, Eric was nominated for Storyteller of the Year at the 1st annual ESSENCE Literary Awards. In January 2001, Eric Jerome Dickey was a contributor to New American Library's anthology Got To Be Real: Four Original Love Stories, also a Blackboard Bestseller. He also had a story entitled “Fish Sanwich” appear in the anthology Mothers and Sons. In June 2002, Dickey contributed to Black Silk: A Collection of African American Erotica (Warner Books) as well as to Riots Beneath the Baobab (published by Inte
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
August 15, 2015
Intriguing, Page-Turner! I Enjoyed This Read!
March 18, 2013
I loved this book. I bought Pleasure back in 2010 and have yet to finish it because I really couldn't connect with Nia Simone Bijou.....AT ALL. This makes me wanna give Pleasure a second (well....fourth) chance.
October 28, 2019
Man Can Give But Can’t Take
February 16, 2013
I thought I should write a better review.
So this was a short read from Eric Jerome Dickey, I think it can fall under the category of novella. It tells a tale of a character I hoped he hadn't laid to rest Nia Simone Bijou (if you haven't read Pleasure i suggest you do.) It begins when she finds a box from college with old pictures. Instead of memories that you would think she might cherish, she stares at them in anger and resentment, and the rest of the tale is a flash back at her first love, and her first heartbreak. Eric Jerome Dickey is one of my favorite writers because someone he can write from a female perspective and it's so believable. His words are raw and poetic at the same time. This didn't fall short to me in anyway. Even though he fed you bits and pieces of the end, and even though I could see how it was going to end, I still couldn't put the book down. I loved it. Especially because in a way I can relate to it. Seeing that this is release a month before Decadence, another novel featuring Nia Simone, I can only wonder if this novella is going to have some relevance to Decadence. One can only wait and see.
So this was a short read from Eric Jerome Dickey, I think it can fall under the category of novella. It tells a tale of a character I hoped he hadn't laid to rest Nia Simone Bijou (if you haven't read Pleasure i suggest you do.) It begins when she finds a box from college with old pictures. Instead of memories that you would think she might cherish, she stares at them in anger and resentment, and the rest of the tale is a flash back at her first love, and her first heartbreak. Eric Jerome Dickey is one of my favorite writers because someone he can write from a female perspective and it's so believable. His words are raw and poetic at the same time. This didn't fall short to me in anyway. Even though he fed you bits and pieces of the end, and even though I could see how it was going to end, I still couldn't put the book down. I loved it. Especially because in a way I can relate to it. Seeing that this is release a month before Decadence, another novel featuring Nia Simone, I can only wonder if this novella is going to have some relevance to Decadence. One can only wait and see.
March 13, 2013
I fell in love with Nia Simone in 2008 with Pleasure and I've fallen in love all over again. This book is sharp and seductively sexy in every aspect of the word. The passion and fire between Chris and Nia is sexually erotic, heavenly in intense, and sophiscated enough to warn your heart of the trials and troubles of being in love. Nia Simone is a beautiful woman on a whirlwind journey of discovering life and love in a chaotic world. I am Nia and so are my sisters. I loved this short presquel to Pleasure and now I'm ready for dessert in Decadence. EJD never fails, never gets old, keep mind sexing me, and making you fall in love with such authentic humane characters in every novel!!
Read
February 7, 2014It was a great intro to the next book.
February 18, 2014
Waiting
I was waiting for something to happen and it never did in my opinion. It was like reading a teen diary.
I was waiting for something to happen and it never did in my opinion. It was like reading a teen diary.
August 27, 2016
This book is littered with mistakes. Beyond that there is very little story to read here. There is also a lot of repetition in regards to the character's descriptions. This is a pretty forgettable book.
March 4, 2015
A good short read.,a lil background on Ms. Nia
April 11, 2013
Love and 'friends'...this can sure change one's outlook on life.
February 17, 2021
“In the end it wasn’t what men did to women that mattered, it was what women did to each other.”
Whew. This short was so nostalgic. And emotional. We all reminisce about our past—our first kiss, our first boyfriend, our first love. And often times, it stirs up feelings and emotions you thought had died long ago. That’s what happened when Nia took trip down memory lane while looking at old photos. She reminisced about her great love, Chris, and how it didn’t quite turn out as expected.
I loved this read because EJD did a great job of making the reader FEEL the emotions of Nia. There were times that I actually could feel her pain. There were also times where I would think back to when I was in a similar situation. That’s good writing right there.
Whew. This short was so nostalgic. And emotional. We all reminisce about our past—our first kiss, our first boyfriend, our first love. And often times, it stirs up feelings and emotions you thought had died long ago. That’s what happened when Nia took trip down memory lane while looking at old photos. She reminisced about her great love, Chris, and how it didn’t quite turn out as expected.
I loved this read because EJD did a great job of making the reader FEEL the emotions of Nia. There were times that I actually could feel her pain. There were also times where I would think back to when I was in a similar situation. That’s good writing right there.
April 21, 2020
Nia Simone Bijou is intelligent, sensual, cultured, and complex.
I've been a fan of Eric Jerome Dickey's writing since I was a teenager. As a woman (and writer), I am able to understand his stories better. My favorite story by EJD is Pleasure, which also features Nia Simone Bijou as the main character. I fell in love with her character in Pleasure, so it was nice to rewind time and get a glimpse of her life in college. It was cool to see some of the things that gave birth to the woman she had become. She is intelligent, sensual, cultured, and complex. Even as a college student, she was all of those things, but with lesser life experience. I enjoyed reading Nia's story.
I've been a fan of Eric Jerome Dickey's writing since I was a teenager. As a woman (and writer), I am able to understand his stories better. My favorite story by EJD is Pleasure, which also features Nia Simone Bijou as the main character. I fell in love with her character in Pleasure, so it was nice to rewind time and get a glimpse of her life in college. It was cool to see some of the things that gave birth to the woman she had become. She is intelligent, sensual, cultured, and complex. Even as a college student, she was all of those things, but with lesser life experience. I enjoyed reading Nia's story.
September 5, 2019
I ordered this novella from Google Books because I was hoping for some clarity. I wanted a better understanding of Nia Simone Bijou. I wanted to know how sex addiction had.become like a medicine to her. NOW I UNDERSTAND! Some are stronger than others. And then there are those that get hurt and have no idea how to let go and let God/karma. Poor Nia. Heartbreak is a bitch....especially when it begins with the first man in your life that is supposed to be your all....your FATHER.
March 25, 2018
This book was just okay to me. I have read a couple books from Eric Jerome Dickey and wanted to give this book a try. I didn't care for the sex being the main focus, but when it was talking about the characters' life I enjoyed it.
April 22, 2018
Recommended by a Friend
Trinidad, Jamaica, calypso, seco. Culture, intelligence, Mensa, discussions. Too much bedroom for me but appreciated the culture, from tradition and legend to food and music.
Trinidad, Jamaica, calypso, seco. Culture, intelligence, Mensa, discussions. Too much bedroom for me but appreciated the culture, from tradition and legend to food and music.
November 9, 2018
Never disappointed
I read Decadence before this one and I was driven to read more about Nia. After this book I now understand how it all began for her. Now I would like to know how her story ends up after Decadence.
I read Decadence before this one and I was driven to read more about Nia. After this book I now understand how it all began for her. Now I would like to know how her story ends up after Decadence.
July 30, 2021
This book has no point. By the end you're literally asking what was the point. If you just wanna read hard corn porn with a pointless plot this is your book. I barely finished it and skipped to the end just to see if there was a point and didn't find it
June 4, 2017
Always a pleasure.
Thank you. I highly recommend. Easy read. Four hours tops. Definitely not a happily ever after. More like pain and pleasure.
Thank you. I highly recommend. Easy read. Four hours tops. Definitely not a happily ever after. More like pain and pleasure.
June 16, 2019
An ode to college life. Brought back some serious flashbacks lol.
July 7, 2019
Missing the wow!
Good book. Easy read but I was waiting on the wow! Or the story. Something to spice it up. What happened to M&M?
Good book. Easy read but I was waiting on the wow! Or the story. Something to spice it up. What happened to M&M?
Read
December 3, 2019The ideas that this book inspires.
Mmmmm.....
Mmmmm.....
March 16, 2020
Just ok
May 12, 2020
Nia Simone Bijou in the beginning to become the fearless woman in Pleasure & Decadence
January 13, 2021
Hmmmm
This could have been 50 pages long. Like Pleasure, so many aspects were overly explained while others were left unexplained.
This could have been 50 pages long. Like Pleasure, so many aspects were overly explained while others were left unexplained.
January 16, 2021
It was interesting however didn’t like the ending
February 8, 2021
Great share
January 31, 2022
Audio was a little hard to follow at times.
February 5, 2022
Nia
I love EJD but I was a little disappointed with this title. Drawn out without a true ending. Definitely want3d to know more.
I love EJD but I was a little disappointed with this title. Drawn out without a true ending. Definitely want3d to know more.
December 23, 2022
Every word was crafted by the genius he was.
March 15, 2023
Sex scenes were on point but besides that this story was all over the place . Nina was definitely too naive . Book did make me want to read experience college tho .
Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews