John DeDakis has led a remarkable and fascinating life. Born in the college town of La Crosse, Wisconsin (it’s a college city now), DeDakis was a soldier during the Vietnam War era. After the Army’s journalism training, he went on to a 45-year career as a broadcast journalist. He spent 25 of th ose years working for CNN, including a long run as the editor on “The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer.” And did I mention he spent time as a White House correspondent? That alone would constitute an extraordinary career, but DeDakis was just getting started. He went on to write six award-winning mystery-suspense-thriller novels. An active part of the Baltimore writers community, DeDakis is a popular speaker who frequently leads writing workshops at literary centers and writers’ conferences. He is a sought-after writing coach and manuscript editor. And he is the host of a video podcast, “One-to-One with John DeDakis” where he regularly discusses the topics of writing, grief and personal growth with qualified guests. Perhaps to tie it all together, DeDakis has now written a memoir titled Plot Twists: A Memoir on Writing and Living.  Because the story is as exciting as any of his novels, and partially because we have some things in common (I’m a novelist and spent some years as an Army broadcast journalist), I jumped at the chance to interview DeDakis about his latest book. Austin S. Camacho: I love the opening quote in this book: “When the unexpected happens in real life, we often call it a “crisis.” In journalism, it’s a “story.” And in fiction, a surprise is a “plot twist.” After a long career as a broadcast journalist, and success as a novelist and writing coach, what drove you to write a memoir? John DeDakis: It slowly dawned on me that my life is a series of teachable moments—pivot points, like plot twists in a novel, that throw a story’s trajectory in new, unexpected directions. In my case, facing the draft during the Vietnam War led to a fortuitous and life-changing opportunity to interview legendary film director Alfred Hitchcock, which led to a 45-year career in journalism, which included a stint as a White House correspondent during Ronald Reagan’s presidency, which led to working alongside Wolf Blitzer at CNN, but also included the suicide of my sister and the fatal heroin overdose that killed my youngest son. Since my first novel, Fast Track, was published 21 years ago, I’ve been telling my story to my writing students to illustrate that all wannabe writers have those write-what-you-know pivot points in their lives that can inspire their novels or provide grist for their memoirs. People kept telling me they found my story “fascinating.” I finally decided to try to capture it and share it with a wider audience. ASC: We fiction authors read novels to learn how to write them. In preparation to write a memoir, did you read a bunch of them? Were there memoirs that really affected you, or helped you structure your book? JD: I didn’t model my memoir on any particular one, but I was especially impressed by Tara Westover’s Educated. Like hers, mine is a coming-of-age story written by a relatively unknown person. I was also influenced by an online class I took through WritersDigest.com, taught by literary agent Regina Brooks. Her book, You Should Really Write a Book: How to Write, Sell, and Market Your Memoir, was invaluable. ASC: I know I couldn’t trust my memory about events I lived through, but Plot Twists is filled with enlightening details. Did you have to do a lot of research into your own past? JD: I’ve been journaling like a fiend since I was about ten. My process has evolved and deepened over time. I write first thing in the morning about the previous day’s events. My journal is essentially an analysis of how I’m living my life. The journalist in me captured exact quotes and anecdotes shortly after they happened. Combing through stacks of old notebooks was daunting, but instructive: I was amazed at how much I’d forgotten. ASC: That partially explains why in Plot Twists your life story is presented as a long series of surprises. But it seems you always had a plan. So where did you THINK you would be at this stage of your life? What did you think you would be doing? JD: To be honest—and I chronicle this in the book—between the ages of 13 and about 21, I was grooming myself to become a lawyer, go into practice with my dad, and then enter politics with a goal of, and I’m not kidding, becoming President of the United States. The thought seems crazy now. Maybe it’s a good thing that life didn’t turn out the way I expected. At the very least, if life hadn’t intervened, I’d probably be a lawyer now. In the last conversation I ever had with my dad, he said, “You would have been a great trial attorney.” I’ll never know; it’s the road not taken. But things turned out all right. ASC: Let me suggest that all things considered, it turned out a bit better than just “all right.” In Plot Twists, you reveal a great deal of very personal information, both positive and negative. What did that feel like, and why was it necessary? JD: My family and closest friends already knew the bad stuff I chose to reveal in the memoir. I’ve told those stories over the years as cautionary tales—lessons I’ve learned the hard way. Sharing them with a wider audience, however, feels a little daunting. I won’t be surprised if I lose some people’s respect. Yet I feel it was “necessary” to go deep because it shows there’s a flipside to despair: hope. ASC: Hope appears to be a constant theme in the book, even when you went astray. In reading Plot Twists, I was impressed by your ability to be judgmental about your past self. I wonder if there’s one decision you made that you greatly regret. Or one key pivot point that was the smartest decision you ever made. JD: The one decision I deeply regret will forever stay between me, my grief counselor, and God. The smartest decision I ever made was asking Cynthia Lizbeth Brown to be my wife 49 years ago. ASC: Your memoir is a masterful bit of storytelling, but your story isn’t over yet. What does the future hold for John DeDakis, and are there any plot twists you think you can predict? JD: Thank you. By definition, plot twists are surprises. I’ll be pleasantly surprised if Plot Twists becomes a bestseller or at least leads to plenty of additional speaking and teaching opportunities. I’ll be pleasantly surprised if my Lark Chadwick novels become a TV series. But I can predict, with 100 percent certainty, that the day will come when my life will end. I’m not being morbid; I’m being realistic. I am living as if I have another 25 years, but of course there are no guarantees. My core motivation in life is to be an encouragement to others. I’m hoping that Plot Twists will be a source of encouragement long after I’m gone. Book Launch Celebration John DeDakis will be in conversation with Austin S. Camacho at The Writer’s Center, 4508 Walsh Street, Bethesda, MD, Tuesday, November 10 at 7 p.m. RSVP here. In the meantime, books can be ordered here! ...read more read less