John DeDakis
Award-winning author, writing coach, and former CNN Senior Copy Editor with more than 45 years of experience in journalism. Over the course of his career—including 25 years at CNN—John has interviewed U.S. presidents, covered the White House, and reported from the front lines of major national events. His work has been part of Emmy and Peabody Award–winning news programming, shaping stories grounded in truth, clarity, and human experience.
However, beyond journalism, John’s life has been shaped by deeply personal experiences of grief and loss.
He lost his sister to suicide.
Decades later, he lost his 22-year-old son to a heroin overdose.
These life-changing events, combined with his background in journalism, became the foundation of his work as a novelist.
John is the author of six mystery and political thriller novels, including Fast Track, Bluff, Troubled Water, Bullet in the Chamber, Fake, and Enemies Domestic. His stories offer a behind-the-scenes look at journalism while exploring themes of truth, integrity, and the human impact of loss.
Through his fiction, John weaves real-life emotional experiences into compelling narratives, demonstrating how storytelling can become a powerful tool for understanding and healing.
His path to becoming a published author was not immediate. It took ten years, fourteen major revisions, and querying thirty-nine agents before securing representation. That journey ultimately led to a second career as a manuscript editor, one-on-one writing coach, and workshop leader, where he now helps aspiring writers bring their own stories to life.
In addition, John is a keynote speaker who inspires audiences to explore writing as a way to process grief, find meaning, and reconnect with their voice.
At the heart of John’s work is a simple but powerful belief:
storytelling has the ability to transform pain into purpose—and connection into healing.
