{{Short description|American author}} {{infobox writer <!-- for more information see :Template:Infobox writer/doc --> | name = Derek Nikitas | image = | imagesize = | alt = | caption = | pseudonym = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1974|12|13}} | birth_place = Manchester, NH, United States | death_date = | death_place = | resting_place = | occupation = Writer | language = English | education = State University of New York College at Brockport (BA),<br/>University of North Carolina at Wilmington (MFA) | period = Contemporary | genre = Crime fiction | subject = | movement = | notableworks = ''Pyres'' <br> ''The Long Division'' | spouse = Caroline Reed Nikitas | children = | awards = | signature = | signature_alt = | website = {{URL|dereknikitas.com}} }} '''Derek Nikitas''' (born December 13, 1974) is an American author known for his novels ''Pyres'' and ''The Long Division''. His short fiction has appeared in ''Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine'', ''The Ontario Review'', ''Chelsea'' and ''New South''. Nikitas is also a professor at the University of Rhode Island.
== Early life and education == Nikitas was born December 13, 1974, and was raised in Manchester, New Hampshire and Fairport, New York.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Nikitas, Derek 1974- |url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/arts/educational-magazines/nikitas-derek-1974 |access-date=2024-05-19 |website=Encyclopedia.com |archive-date=2022-12-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221210131348/https://www.encyclopedia.com/arts/educational-magazines/nikitas-derek-1974 |url-status=live }}</ref> He received a Bachelor of Arts in English from the State University of New York College at Brockport in 1997, a Master of Fine Arts in fiction writing from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington in 2000,<ref name=":1" /> and a Doctor of Philosophy from Georgia State University.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Derek Nikitas |url=https://web.uri.edu/english/meet/derek-nikitas/ |access-date=2024-05-19 |website=University of Rhode Island |language=en-US |archive-date=2024-02-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240222102008/https://web.uri.edu/english/meet/derek-nikitas/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
== Career == Nikitas taught at the State University of New York at Brockport and Delta College. Starting in 2008, he became an assistant professor at Eastern Kentucky University,<ref name=":1" /> where he directed the low-residency MFA creative writing program, the Bluegrass Writers Studio.{{Citation needed|date=May 2024}} As of May 2024, he teaches English and Creative Writing at the University of Rhode Island.<ref name=":0" />
Nikitas has published many short stories. His short story "Wonder", published in the ''Ontario Review'', was nominated for a Pushcart Prize by Joyce Carol Oates.<ref name=":1" /> Nikitas's debut novel, ''Pyres'', was published by Minotaur Books in 2007,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2007-08-20 |title=Pyres by Derek Nikitas |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780312363970 |access-date=2024-05-19 |website=Publishers Weekly |archive-date=2024-05-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240519192831/https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780312363970 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Gaughan |first=Thomas |date=August 2007 |title=Pyres |url=https://www.booklistonline.com/Pyres-Derek-Nikitas/pid=2042377 |access-date=2024-05-19 |website=Booklist |archive-date=2017-03-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170322133258/https://www.booklistonline.com/Pyres-Derek-Nikitas/pid=2042377 |url-status=live }}</ref> and was nominated for the Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best First Novel.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2008-01-17 |title=Nominees for 2008 Edgar Awards Announced |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/new-titles/adult-announcements/article/891-nominees-for-2008-edgar-awards-announced.html |access-date=2024-05-19 |website=Publishers Weekly |language=en |archive-date=2019-12-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191207175918/https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/new-titles/adult-announcements/article/891-nominees-for-2008-edgar-awards-announced.html |url-status=live }}</ref> His sophomore novel, ''The Long Division'', was published by Minotaur Books in October 2009.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-09-14 |title=The Long Division by Derek Nikitas |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780312363987 |access-date=2024-05-19 |website=Publishers Weekly |archive-date=2024-05-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240519192832/https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780312363987 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kraus |first=Daniel |date=2009-09-15 |title=The Long Division |url=https://www.booklistonline.com/The-Long-Division-Derek-Nikitas/pid=3654559 |access-date=2024-05-19 |website=Booklist |archive-date=2017-03-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170322133303/https://www.booklistonline.com/The-Long-Division-Derek-Nikitas/pid=3654559 |url-status=live }}</ref> His third novel, a science fiction novel for young Adults, ''Extra Life'', was published by Polis Books in 2015.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-09-28 |title=Extra Life by Derek Nikitas |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/9781940610535 |access-date=2024-05-19 |website=Publishers Weekly |archive-date=2024-05-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240519192832/https://www.publishersweekly.com/9781940610535 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Welch |first=Cindy |date=2015-10-01 |title=Extra Life |url=https://www.booklistonline.com/Extra-Life-Derek-Nikitas/pid=7721752 |access-date=2024-05-19 |website=Booklist |archive-date=2024-05-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240519192832/https://www.booklistonline.com/Extra-Life-Derek-Nikitas/pid=7721752 |url-status=live }}</ref>
Nikitas has cowritten two "BookShots" novellas with James Patterson, ''Diary of a Succubus'' (2017) and ''You've Been Warned—Again'' (2017). A third novella, ''The Murder of Stephen King'', was canceled before release.''<ref name=":5">{{Cite news |last=Smith |first=Andy |date=July 6, 2017 |title=Plotting a partnership |url=https://www.providencejournal.com/story/entertainment/books/2017/07/07/uri-professor-writes-novel-with-james-patterson/20339604007/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250331213158/https://www.providencejournal.com/story/entertainment/books/2017/07/07/uri-professor-writes-novel-with-james-patterson/20339604007/ |archive-date=March 31, 2025 |access-date=March 31, 2025 |work=The Providence Journal}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite web |date=April 6, 2017 |title=URI English professor co-authors books with world's best-selling writer |url=https://www.uri.edu/news/2017/04/uri-english-professor-co-authors-books-with-worlds-best-selling-writer/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250331213615/https://www.uri.edu/news/2017/04/uri-english-professor-co-authors-books-with-worlds-best-selling-writer/ |archive-date=March 31, 2025 |access-date=March 31, 2025 |website=University of Rhode Island}}</ref>''
Nikitas' work has been translated into several languages including Japanese, Italian, French, and German. The German translation, ''Scheiterhaufen'', was selected as 'Crime Novel of the Month' by Radio House Europe.{{Citation needed|date=May 2024}}
== Personal life == After receiving his MFA, Nikitas traveled abroad, spending time living in Costa Rice, England, and the Czech Republic, during which time he focused on writing.<ref name=":1" />
Nikitas is married to Caroline Reed Nikitas.{{Citation needed|date=May 2024}}
== Publications ==
=== Novels ===
* {{Cite book |last=Nikitas |first=Derek |title=Pyres |date=2007 |publisher=Minotaur Books |isbn=978-0-312-36397-0}} * {{Cite book |last=Nikitas |first=Derek |title=The Long Division |date=2009 |publisher=Minotaur Books |isbn=978-0-312-36398-7}} * {{Cite book |last=Nikitas |first=Derek |title=Extra Life |date=2015 |publisher=Polis Books |isbn=978-1-940610-53-5}}
=== Novellas ===
* {{Cite book |last1=Patterson |first1=James |title=You've Been Warned—Again |last2=Nikitas |first2=Derek |date=2017 |publisher=Little, Brown}} * {{Cite book |last1=Patterson |first1=James |title=Diary of a Succubus |last2=Nikitas |first2=Derek |date=2017 |publisher=Little, Brown}}
=== Short stories ===
* {{Cite journal |last=Nikitas |first=Derek |date=1999 |title=Do You Know Thom Hoover? |journal=Ontario Review |volume=51 |issue= |pages=105–116}} * {{Cite journal |last=Nikitas |first=Derek |date=2001 |title=Damage |journal=Ontario Review |volume=54 |issue= |pages=116–127}} * {{Cite journal |last=Nikitas |first=Derek |date=2004 |title=Hungry |journal=Chelsea |volume= |issue=76 |pages=18–29}} * {{Cite journal |last=Nikitas |first=Derek |date=September–October 2004 |title=Skippy |journal=Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine |volume= |issue= |pages=80–88}} * {{Cite journal |last=Nikitas |first=Derek |date=Winter 2004 |title=Wonder |journal=Ontario Review |volume=61 |issue= |pages=22–37}} * {{Cite journal |last=Nikitas |first=Derek |date=March–April 2005 |title=Waiting |journal=Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine |volume= |issue=33 |pages=123–133}} * {{Cite journal |last=Nikitas |first=Derek |date=April–June 2006 |title=All Nite Video |journal=The Pedestal Magazine |volume= |issue=33 |pages=}} * {{Cite book |last=Nikitas |first=Derek |title=Killer Year: Stories to Die For |date=2008 |publisher=St. Martin’s Press |editor-last=Child |editor-first=Lee |editor-link=Lee Child |pages=192–211 |chapter=Runaway}} * {{Cite journal |last=Nikitas |first=Derek |date=2008 |title=My Flick |journal=New South |volume=1 |issue=2 |pages=147–148}} * {{Cite journal |last=Nikitas |first=Derek |date=October 2008 |title=Razor |journal=Thuglit |volume= |issue=2p |pages=}} * {{Cite journal |last=Nikitas |first=Derek |date=November 2008 |title=Bronze Horsemen |journal=Plots with Guns |volume=4 |issue= |pages=}} * {{Cite book |last=Nikitas |first=Derek |title=Show and Tell: Writers on Writing |date=2009 |publisher=The Publishing Laboratory: University of North Carolina at Wilmington |edition=6th |pages=70–80 |chapter=All Nite Video}} * {{Cite book |last=Nikitas |first=Derek |title=The New Dead |date=2010 |publisher=St. Martin’s Griffin |editor-last=Golden |editor-first=Chris |pages=213–228 |chapter=My Dolly}} * {{Cite book |last=Nikitas |first=Derek |title=Washington Square |date=Winter–Spring 2012 |publisher= |editor-last= |editor-first= |pages=58–59 |chapter=Voicemail}} * {{Cite book |last=Nikitas |first=Derek |title=Amazon Story Front |date=2014 |publisher= |editor-last=Kiesbye |editor-first=Stephan |pages=11–51 |chapter=Runaway}} * {{Cite journal |last=Nikitas |first=Derek |date=November 2016 |title=We're in the market for a fixer-upper. |journal=Five Points |volume=17 |issue=2}} * {{Cite book |last=Nikitas |first=Derek |title=Cover Stories |date=2017 |publisher=Volt Books |editor-last=Kiesbye |editor-first=Stephan |pages=11–51 |chapter=The Call}}
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * [https://dereknikitas.com/ Official website]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nikitas, Derek}} Category:American short story writers Category:SUNY Brockport alumni Category:University of North Carolina Wilmington alumni Category:Living people Category:1974 births