Awards and Recognition

International Impact Book Awards - Finalist
2026 Author of the Year Contemporary Fiction
Storytrade Book Awards - Nominee
Contemporary Fiction, Prodigy Best Debut
American Fiction Awards - Nominee
LGBTQ+ Fiction
American Writing Awards - Nominee
LGBTQ+ Fiction, Book of the Year
Shakespeare Prize - Nominee
Author of the Year, Contemporary Fiction


Books

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Inheritance of Silence

Silence has a way of shaping us. It can wound, conceal, and suffocate—but it can also become the spark that ignites transformation. Inheritance of Silence is not just a novel; it’s an invitation to step into the fragile spaces where grief collides with strength, and where loss becomes the unexpected teacher of resilience.

John Erik Dunnam weaves...

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House of Windows

Every house remembers what it has seen. Every window holds a secret. In House of Windows, John Erik Dunnam invites readers into a hauntingly beautiful exploration of memory, grief, and the fragile architecture of the human spirit. This is not merely a story—it is an experience that peers through the glass between past and present, love and...

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Burn the Map: Life Beyond What You Were Given

Burn the Map: Life Beyond What You Were Given is a raw and deeply personal exploration of identity, trauma, addiction, recovery, and self-reinvention. Through unflinching honesty, John Erik Dunnam tells the story of what happens when a person realizes the life they have been living was shaped more by survival, fear, and expectation than by...

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Praise

Stars: 4.5 (There is profanity early on. If memory serves me only once. The remainder of the book is clean.)

Inheritance of Silence is what I'm looking for with every book I pick up. IoS is why I read. A less confident and less educated woman might think Dunnam had gotten inside her brain, heart and soul. This is written in a lyrical fashion. There are a multitude of fonts and bolding used; however they are consistent. It took about ten pages for me to get the rhythm down, once I did It was just read, learn, think, and enjoy.

The book's main speakers are primarily a male couple. The story's lessons and teachings are for everyone.

I truly appreciate Dunnam keeping the intimacy classy. There is a light kiss, hand holding, a passionate hug, but not once an explicit sex scene. While Theo and Chase were speaking, the story resonated so well with me that I could see Mary and Mike.

Inheritance of Silence may be my favorite book of the year.

– StarGater

This one's a quiet, emotional queer contemporary about grief and learning to find your voice again. We follow Chase as he moves on from a partner who wasn't good for him and slowly unpacks how his childhood and parents trained him to stay small and silent. Eli kept silencing him, and Chase really did lose his sense of self-worth while he was with him, so watching him relearn that he doesn't have to be quiet anymore felt very personal and real. I also loved that he found really good friends and a new partner who helped him heal - it has a gentle found-family vibe that made those uplifting moments land. There are a lot of really good, intimate parts i enjoyed, and the author makes his grief and slow metamorphosis hit; it pulled at my heartstrings and left me more hopeful than I expected. That said, some sections felt a little repetitive and the pacing dragged in places, but I still liked it overall and would recommend it. Reading this as part of my LGBTQ/queer reads, I did most of it on my pink couch with iced coffee - perfect energy for it!

– Cynthialuvpuzzles - Instagram

As someone in my 60's, I have read a lot of books over the years, but Inheritance of Silence touched my heart in a way I wasn't expecting. John Erik Dunnam has a beautiful way of writing that draws you into the lives of his characters and makes you feel every emotion alongside them. This isn't just a story about loss or healing - it's about finding the courage to be yourself, even after life has tried to convince you to stay silent. As the adoptive mother of a bisexual son, this book gave me a perspective that was both eye-opening and deeply moving. It reminded me how important it is for everyone to feel seen, heard, and loved for exactly who they are. The story is honest, compassionate, and full of hope, and I found myself thinking about it long after I finished reading it. I especially appreciated how genuine the characters felt. Their struggles, friendships, and personal growth never came across as forced. Everything felt authentic, and that made the emotional moments even more powerful. If you're looking for a book that will make you laugh a little, cry a little, and leave you with a full heart, I highly recommend Inheritance of Silence. John Erik Dunnam has written a meaningful debut novel, and I can't wait to read what he writes next!

– Moma Harper

Latest Updates

Every author's journey reaches a moment when it's time to think beyond the next book and begin building a lasting literary career.

For me, that moment is now.

I'm excited to share...

I'm excited to share that I've officially joined Substack!

Writing has always been about creating meaningful connections through stories, and Substack gives me a new place to...

My Official BookBub Author Profile Is Now Live!

I'm excited to share that my official BookBub Author Profile is now live!

BookBub is one of the world's largest communities for...

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Blog

When people discover that I'm an author, one comment comes up again and again.

"I've always thought about writing a book."

Sometimes it's followed by a smile.

Sometimes it's followed by a laugh.

And almost always, it's followed by a story.

Maybe it's about a childhood that shaped them forever. Maybe it's about surviving an illness, finding love when they least expected it, overcoming addiction, raising a family, serving in the military, changing careers, or simply living through moments that no...

One of the questions I've started hearing more often is:

"What genre do you write?"

The honest answer?

Yes.

Okay... maybe that's a little sarcastic.

The longer answer is that I write the story that needs to be written.

For years, the publishing world has encouraged authors to "find their lane." Build a brand. Stay in one genre. Give readers exactly what they expect every single time.

I understand why. From a marketing standpoint, it makes perfect sense.

But creativity has never worked that way for...

People often ask me how I balance being an author while working full-time in property management.

The honest answer?

Some days, I don't.

Both careers demand an incredible amount of emotional energy. Both require patience, problem-solving, communication, and the ability to navigate situations that don't always have easy answers. While they may seem like two completely different worlds, I've discovered that they complement one another more than most people realize.

Wearing Two Different Hats

By day,...

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Events

Honoring Finalist John Erik Dunnam — Author of the Year 2026, Contemporary Fiction

Join contemporary fiction author John Erik Dunnam at the prestigious 2026 International Impact Book Awards Grand Gala on Saturday, October 10, 2026, at the luxurious Loews Hollywood Hotel in Hollywood, California.

This unforgettable evening will bring together authors, literary professionals, creatives, media representatives, and distinguished guests from around the world to celebrate excellence in storytelling...

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