John Dedakis

From Journalist to Novelist (Or How I Learned to Start Making it UP)

Personal experience is the grist of fiction. Budding novelists are taught to "write what you know." In my case, I know journalism, and I know grief and loss.

During my 45 years in journalism (25 at CNN), I've interviewed presidents (Reagan and Carter), famous people (Alfred Hitchcock), covered the White House, and have been tear-gassed covering a riot.

In my personal life, I've lost my sister to suicide and my youngest son to a heroin overdose.

All of those experiences are baked into the six political thrillers I've written. Journalism and grief are backdrops and themes that make up the life of my protagonist, Lark Chadwick, a strong-willed and strong-minded twenty-something young woman.

My first traditionally published novel came out 20 years ago. It took me 10 years to find my agent. During that time, the novel went through 14 major revisions, and my agent is the 39th agent I queried. That learning experience led to a second career as a manuscript editor and one-on-one writing coach.

I'm also a keynote speaker and workshop leader. I inspire people who are struggling with grief to use writing as a way to heal.

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