Nashauna Drummond, Acting lifesyle coordinator

Dave Scarlett (left) was one of the few men present at the launch. Here he greets author Jerome Dickey as he autographs a copy of his book. and Author Jerome Dickey (left) is greeted by Dr. Leahcim Semaj, while Suzanne Lee of Novelty Trading looks on.

They couldn't get enough of him. Like bee to honey they converged to be photographed with him or have him sign their copy of his latest novel, Waking With Strangers.

This was the fanfare surrounding author Eric Jerome Dickey. The ladies and some men in attendance hung on to his every word, paused with his commas and took a well deserved breath at his full stops, as he read from his steamy new release. The scenes were very vivid to the women present as they ventured into his world and became entangled in the lives of his main characters: Gideon, Lola and Mrs. Jones. The fact that Mrs. Jones had Jamaican roots made her even more interesting.

This ten-time New York Times best-seller list author made the atmosphere at Devon House steamy despite the threatening dew. Kimberly, who has all 12 novels written by Dickey, was breathless as she described his work novel by novel. "Between Lovers is so great, he got it right how women feel.When I heard he was coming here I went crazy in the office."

Her friend Nicole is an equal enthusiast. "They (men) could learn a thing or two from him.

When I read 'the other woman', I wanted to kill men".

One of the few men who were getting their book autographed was Dave Scarlett. "My favourite is 'The milk in my coffee', I like the little twist in the end. His characters come alive especially in scenes where it feels like you could reach out and touch them. I think the feeling he puts into the books are why women like him, but he's a fantastic writer." Scarlett has read seven of Dickey's 12 novels.

There was no shortage of women to sing Dickey's praises. "I've read everything he has", declared his unofficial number one fan Sophia Harris. "As a black woman I like how he accentuates the beauty of black women in his books. He represents black women as beautiful women."

As Dickey read from his novel there were period out burst from members of the audience. 'That's right" and 'oh yeah' emanated from the crowd. By the large and loyal female contingent available there is no doubt that his latest novel will be as successful as the others.