The most cataclysmic week of Lark Chadwick's life begins when she discovers the dead body of her aunt, a victim of carbon monoxide poisoning. This was the aunt who raised Lark from infancy after the tragic deaths of her parents in an auto accident. Yet what un-folds for Lark in the coming days is a dark and twisting mystery into the sinister circumstances of that awful day so long ago. Lark's desperate search for the truth reveals secrets that are about to put her life in great peril. "I was so interested in what happens with Lark I couldn't put it down. It's an awe-some book-a fun read. Intrigue, humor, emotion-what more do you need?" Carol Costello, Anchor, CNN Daybreak "Fast Track is a page-turning thriller that you simply won't be able to put down from start to finish. The suspense is palpable, the characters unforgettable and spectacu-lar, the plot ingenious and masterfully crafted." Barbara Casey, Author, The Coach's Wife "I've known John DeDakis as a dedicated and skilled journalist since 1975 when I was a White House reporter for United Press International. Now, as a journalism pro-fessor, I appreciate all the more John's commitment to bringing to life ethical journalism and mentoring relationships. He knows about the roller-coaster of life's experiences and he demonstrates that in Fast Track. IT'S A MUST READ." Wesley G. Pippert, Director, Washington Program University of Missouri School of Journalism "I love the story. John DeDakis' debut novel, Fast Track is such a well-woven tale, it will leave you wanting to stay up all night until you finish. The plot and scenes are rich in detail; and the characters intensely-memorable. This story will stick with you and you will want to read it again just to be sure you caught every nuance of this fine writer's wordsmithing." Lisa Adams, Author, Bound Justice
Author and CNN Senior Copy Editor John DeDakis is an editor and writer for the Emmy and Peabody-Award winning "The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer" (Mon.-Fri. 5-7pm ET and Saturday at 6pm ET).
DeDakis (pronounced deh-DAY-kiss) is the author of the mystery/suspense novel "Fast Track" published by ArcheBooks. It's the story of a young woman's search for purpose as she solves the mystery surrounding the car-train collision which orphaned her as an infant. The novel deals redemptively with issues of suicide, journalistic integrity, anonymous sources, and mentoring relationships.
"Fast Track" grew out of two events in the author's life: a fatal car/train crash he witnessed as a youngster in 1959 and the suicide of his sister in 1980.
His second novel, "Bluff," a sequel to "Fast Track," is based on his four-day, 25-mile hike along the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in Peru.
Both "Fast Track" and "Bluff" are available as Kindle eBooks on Amazon.com and in hardcover by ArcheBooks. "Fast Track" is also available in paperback as an innovative "bookzine" -- a format developed by ArcheBooks publisher Robert Gelinas to make books less bulky to carry when traveling.
DeDakis, a native of La Crosse, Wisconsin, began his journalism career in 1969 at a campus radio station at the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he was tear gassed while covering an anti-Vietnam War riot in 1970. He earned a B.A. in Journalism from that university in 1977 following a stint in the U.S. Army where he worked from 1972-74 as a Special Events Reporter at The American Forces Network - Europe, based in Frankfurt, Germany.
DeDakis is a former White House Correspondent. During his career, he has interviewed such luminaries as Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, and Alfred Hitchcock.
DeDakis has been with CNN since July 1988. From 2001 to 2005, he supervised the writing on CNN's "Daybreak," anchored by Carol Costello.
From 1976 to 1983, DeDakis was a reporter at WMTV (NBC) in Madison, Wisconsin. From 1983 to 1988, he was a correspondent with CBN News in Virginia Beach, Virginia and Washington, DC.
In addition to book signings and readings, DeDakis frequently speaks around the country on the topic "From Journalist to Novelist: (Or How I Learned to Start Making it Up)." He is also available to lead one-day workshops for aspiring and/or struggling writers.
He is a lecturer at American University, Washington, D.C. where he taught a journalism and writing class for student interns during the summers of 2007/08. He is also an adjunct professor at Regent University, where he taught newswriting to grad students online in 2008.
In June 2009, he led an online seminar through Regent University on how to write a novel.
In April 2010, DeDakis led writing workshops at The Writers' Institute at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and was the keynote speaker in May 2010 at the Scribblers' Retreat writers conference on St. Simons Island, Georgia.
DeDakis is currently working with an agent to bring his screenplay adaptation of "Fast Track" to the attention of Hollywood and has begun writing book three in the Lark Chadwick mystery-suspense series (working title: "Troubled Water").
DeDakis is a member of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime.
He is also a freelance manuscript editor.
His wife, Cynthia, a choral conductor, is the director of music at St. Thomas' Episcopal Church Whitemarsh near Philadelphia and the former national President of The Royal School of Church Music (RSCM) in America.
John and Cindy divide their time between Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.
They have three grown children: Emily has just earned her PhD in Creative Writing at Queen's University, Belfast, Northern Ireland; James is the drummer for the nationally-known band "Arizona"; and Stephen is a musician and cook in the Washington, D.C. area.
You're invited to send John DeDakis a friend request on Facebook or follow him on Twitter @johndedakis.
His website is: www.johndedakis.com
