R. Eric Thomas

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R. Eric Thomas
Bornc. 1982 (age 41–42)
Baltimore
NationalityAmerican
Occupation(s)Author, playwright, screenwriter
Notable workHere For It (2020)
Websiterericthomas.com

R. Eric Thomas is an American author, playwright, and television writer. He is best known for his essay collection Here For It: Or, How to Save Your Soul in America (2020).

Early life

Thomas grew up in Baltimore, Maryland.[1] He attended the Park School of Baltimore, then Columbia University and transferred to University of Maryland, Baltimore County, where he studied playwriting.[2]

Career

For four years, Thomas wrote "Eric Reads the News," a popular daily humor column covering pop culture and politics for Elle.[3] He is the long-running host of The Moth in Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.[4]

He has written for the television shows Dickinson (Apple TV+) and Better Things (FX).[citation needed]

In February 2020, Thomas published the essay collection, Here for It: Or, How to Save Your Soul in America. The book was a Today Show Read with Jenna Book Club Pick.[5] Here For It was a finalist for the Lambda Literary Award, named one of the best ten best book of the year by Teen Vogue, and one of the best books of the year by O: The Oprah Magazine.[6]

In October 2020, Thomas and Helena Andrews-Dyer published the book, Reclaiming Her Time: The Power of Maxine Waters, named a Best Political Book of the Year by The Atlantic.[citation needed] The Washington Post described the book as, "There’s plenty of funny on these pages. And not just a line here or there; we’re talking curse you for making my face wrinkle this way I am now reaching for the eye cream funny. The writers are unabashed fans, writing for those who share the love and making the case that political biographies shine bright when they have as much panache as their subject."[7]

In May 2022, Thomas will publish the YA book, Kings of B'more. BuzzFeed described the book as "infused with all the joy of the best teen movie."[8]

Thomas won a 2022 Lambda Literary Award in the "LGBTQ Drama" category for his play, Mrs. Harrison.[9]

In 2023, Thomas published a second collection of personal essays called Congratulations, the Best Is Over![1]

Personal

Thomas is gay and married to David Johnston Norse, a Presbyterian minister. The two were married in 2016.[10]

Thomas is outspoken about his depression and struggles with mental health. He told The Advocate that he spent the two years writing Here For It "deeply, deeply depressed".[11]

References

  1. ^ a b Mosley, Tonya (16 August 2023). "Don't believe his book title: For humorist R. Eric Thomas, the best is yet to come". NPR. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
  2. ^ Bell, Lauren (17 May 2017). "Q&A with R. Eric Thomas". Baltimore Magazine. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  3. ^ "R. Eric Thomas is Ducking Corners in Heaven". Interview Magazine. 19 February 2020. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  4. ^ "The Moth | The Art and Craft of Storytelling". The Moth. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  5. ^ "11 questions to consider after reading 'Here For It' by R. Eric Thomas". TODAY.com. 13 August 2020. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  6. ^ "Here for It by R. Eric Thomas: 9780525621058 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books". PenguinRandomhouse.com. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  7. ^ "Review | 'Reclaiming Her Time' is a Maxine Waters biography with as much panache as its subject". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  8. ^ "Kings of B'more by R. Eric Thomas: 9780593326183 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books". PenguinRandomhouse.com. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  9. ^ "Lambda Literary Award 2022 winners announced". Bay Area Reporter. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  10. ^ "David Norse, R. Eric Thomas". The New York Times. 16 October 2016. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  11. ^ "Author R. Eric Thomas: It's A Privilege for Gays to Be 'Boring'". www.advocate.com. 11 February 2020. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
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