Derek Nikitas

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. 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, and a Doctor of Philosophy from Georgia State University.

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, where he directed the low-residency MFA creative writing program, the Bluegrass Writers Studio. As of May 2024, he teaches English and Creative Writing at the University of Rhode Island.

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. Nikitas's debut novel, Pyres, was published by Minotaur Books in 2007, and was nominated for the Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best First Novel. His sophomore novel, The Long Division, was published by Minotaur Books in October 2009. His third novel, a science fiction novel for young Adults, Extra Life, was published by Polis Books in 2015. Nikita has also co-written two "Bookshots" novellas with James Patterson, Diary of a Succubus (2017) and You've Been Warned -- Again (2017). 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.

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.

Nikitas is married to Caroline Reed Nikitas.