Mystery writer and Senior Copy Editor on CNN's "The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer," John DeDakis is the author of two mystery-suspense novels, "Fast Track" and "Bluff."  He is a manuscript editor, writing workshop leader, and has taught journalism at American University in Washington, D.C. and novel writing at Regent University in Virginia Beach, Virginia. DeDakis will be speaking on the topic "From Journalist to Novelist (Or How I Learned to Start Making it Up)," showing how personal experience is the grist of fiction. DeDakis is the father of three children and lives with his wife Cindy in Washington, D.C.