Meet the Dangerous Pursuit Authors: Dana Mentink

Introducing Dana Mentink

I am thrilled to join 14 other suspense authors in creating Dangerous Pursuits, a collection of 15 suspenseful novellas, all aiming to keep you on the edge of your seat! In anticipation of this amazing collection releasing on October 12th, I thought it would be fun to introduce you to each of the authors and give you, the readers, a glimpse into each of their lives and writing process. To start, we have Dana Mentink, author of Missing in the Desert with Love Inspired Suspense, and Pint of No Return, book #1 in the Shake Shop Mystery series.

Dana Mentink is a two time American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Award winner, a Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award and a Holt Medallion winner. She is the Publisher’s Weekly bestselling author of over forty titles in the suspense and mystery genres. She is pleased to write for Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense, and Poisoned Pen Press. Besides writing, she loves to be home with Papa Bear, grown bear cubs affectionately nicknamed Yogi and Boo Boo, Junie, the nutty terrier, and a chubby box turtle.

You can connect with Dana via her website at danamentink.com, on Facebook, YouTube (Author Dana Mentink) and Instagram (dana_mentink.)

Let’s get to our interview, shall we?

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

I’ve been scribbling down stories since I was in elementary school, but it wasn’t until after my first baby was born that I learned how to write professionally.

What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?

I write in fits and starts. Fifteen minutes…walk. Fifteen minutes…garden. An hour…snack. I have attention problems, so that’s the only way I can keep focused. Ironic, huh?

Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?

The truth is always stranger than fiction. The newspaper, social media posts, stories I hear from others…anything can be fodder for fiction.

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

I’m a REALLY bad gardener, but I love to putter around and watch things grow in spite of me.

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?

Did you know that the highest recorded temperature on earth was taken in Death Valley? I just learned that one.

What’s your favorite part about being a writer? Research? First Draft? Editing?

Hmmm. I like it all pretty much except writing a synopsis. That is like giving birth to a roll of barbed wire.

What do you think makes a good story?

Feelings. If you don’t feel something when you read it, it’s not worth reading. There’s an old saying, “no tears in the writer, no tears in the reader.”

As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?

I wanted to be an Olympic Ice Skater. I believe that ship has sailed.

 How do we find your books?

Oh, I’m everywhere but probably the easiest is to take a peek at my website. Or if you’d like to follow me on BookBub, they will send out alerts and such.

Tell us about your novella for the Dangerous Pursuits Collection.

Oooh! That has been such fun to write! It’s about an older cowboy who must save his niece and nephew and the only way to do it is to reunite with the woman who crippled his father.

After a tragic mistake, Lola Armstrong left the U.S. Marshals and fiancé, rancher Abe Everhart, far behind. Now Abe’s on her doorstep with retrograde amnesia and his twin niece and nephew in tow. Is his tale of police corruption and a plot to take the twins real? And why was he headed to Lo’s remote cabin instead of the airport? Soon they are on the run with only each other to trust and four lives hanging in the balance. It will take all their ingenuity and faith to make the perilous journey to reach safe haven.

If you are interested in preordering the Dangerous Pursuits collection for only 99 cents, click one of the links below.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3hBqkA3

Barnes and Noble: https://bit.ly/3hCJUvH

Apple: https://apple.co/3v1Pw6C

Kobo: https://bit.ly/3d2uDRO

Giveaway!!

Comment to win any Mentink ebook or a print copy of Missing in the Desert. (Reader’s Choice) Don’t forget to include your email address for ease of contact. (Ends 7/12, I will announce winner with the next interview.)