Dana Mentink
8 min read ⭑
“The expression ‘You teach what you most need to learn’ is true for me in writing. That’s how I know God’s deeply embedded in the process. Writing allows me to explore my own faith struggles and those of the people around me.”
Dana Mentink is a bestselling author with more than 50 novels to her name, ranging from Christian romantic suspense to cozy mystery. She writes regularly for Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense, Revell and Sourcebooks. A natural storyteller, it’s not often she isn’t working on a novel or daydreaming about a new plot. When she does step away from her keyboard, you can usually find her spending time with God or tending to her garden (“chaotic gardening,” she calls it). In this conversation, she’s getting honest about the challenges that launched her writing career, how God speaks to her through the creative process and what he’s leading her to do next.
QUESTION #1: ACQUAINT
The meals we enjoy are about so much more than the food we eat. So how does a “go-to” meal at your favorite hometown restaurant reveal the true you behind your web bio?
Ah, for the hometown restaurants from my childhood. I grew up in a little suburban town that had walnut trees, quiet neighborhoods and nary a freeway. Then the tech boom hit, Silicon Valley was born and many of the quiet places I remember vanished into the urban sprawl. But one spot I’ll remember is a little pizza shop where I had my first date with my husband. The pizza was OK, but the company was grand. We’re still married 29 years later, so that says something.
Evgeniya Shustikova; Unsplash
QUESTION #2: REVEAL
We’ve all got quirky proclivities and out-of-the-way interests. So what are yours? What so-called “nonspiritual” activity do you love engaging in that also helps you find essential spiritual renewal?
I am kind of a reckless gardener. I don’t follow directions, growing schedules or any type of gardening rules, yet I am still absolutely obsessed with plants. During the pandemic, I installed an indoor garden with an array of grow lights that rivaled an airport landing strip, and I fussed and celebrated over every tiny sprout. Don’t even get me started on the sheer glee I felt when I got my old, dead poinsettia to rebloom.
I believe you can’t be a gardener unless you have a sense of optimism. Every seed and sprout is a chance to get a tiny peep into the wondrous miracle of life God has created. My neighbor had a giant rubber tree in a pot that she discarded on her driveway, destined for the trash. I walked by three days before I got the courage to ask her for that plant. I have nursed that thing back to life, and honestly, I cannot tell you how each new leaf is a blessing I am privileged to witness. I really do feel close to God in my chaotic gardens.
QUESTION #3: CONFESS
Every superhero has a weakness; every human, too. We’re just good at faking it. But who are we kidding? We’re all broken and in this thing together. So what’s your kryptonite, and how do you confront its power head-on?
People ask me how I got into the writing business. It took me a long time to be able to answer truthfully. I was having some serious mental distress after my first baby was born. I’d taken a leave from elementary school teaching, and here I was, home with an infant. Even before she was born, I struggled with anxiety, but I didn’t want to tell anyone. I had such guilt that I was struggling through what was supposed to be the happiest time in my life. I thought people would think I wasn’t a good mother and didn’t deserve my beautiful baby.
But God gave me a wonderful husband who said, “Go find something to do that you love.” I thought long and hard about it. What did I love outside of work and family? As a kid, my favorite thing to do was make up stories. Would it be possible to do that again? I took a writing class and connected with a few other women who traveled through life with me. They gave me the courage to tell stories, including my own.
QUESTION #4: FIRE UP
Tell us about your toil. How are you investing your professional time right now? What’s your current obsession? And why should it be ours?
Well, sakes! I’m ready to head out on a vacation, and someone asked me if I was taking work along. I said, “Absolutely, because work to me isn’t work.” That isn’t to say writing books isn’t difficult. I write mystery and suspense novels (three per year) for Harlequin and Sourcebooks, and it’s hard, all right. But expressing myself in words is what God made me to do.
Currently, I’m writing big wilderness, escape-type Christian suspense novels, which is an absolute blast because in real life, I have zero survival skills. I can’t even find my car in the parking lot! I’m also writing a historical cozy mystery for Harlequin’s Love Inspired Trade, which is a mashup of “Only Murders in the Building” and “Downton Abbey.” I cannot tell you the fun I’ve had cooking that one up!
It’s a great blend for me because suspense allows for that edge-of-your-seat, breakneck danger, while cozy mystery lets me express my sense of humor. I’ve just published my 50th book with Harlequin, so I’ve had a wonderful time telling stories to my heart’s content. I tell people I used to get in trouble in school for daydreaming, and now I get paid to do it.
QUESTION #5: BOOST
Cashiers, CEOs, contractors or customer service reps, we all need grace flowing into us and back out into the world. How does the Holy Spirit invigorate your work? And how do you know it’s God when it happens?
The expression “You teach what you most need to learn” is true for me in writing. That’s how I know God’s deeply embedded in the process. Writing allows me to explore my own faith struggles and those of the people around me. Often, I am madly typing away, and about halfway through the novel, there’s a scene or maybe even a paragraph or sentence that hits me. I realize, “Oh, that’s what the novel is about.” It’s truly a Holy Spirit thing. I wrote an entire novel that was never published, and I later realized it was a way for me to work out a spiritual struggle I was having. God meets me in the pages, and I hope that’s what happens for readers, too.
QUESTION #6: inspire
Scripture and tradition beckon us into the rich and varied habits that open our hearts to the presence of God. So let us in. Which spiritual practice is working best for you in this season?
You know that moment when the rooster crows? I’m up way before then. I tiptoe out to the family room and open the sliding door. Doesn’t matter if it’s raining or freezing or scorching temperatures, that door’s gonna be open. I scatter some bird seed on the patio for the flock, settle into my chair with a blanket, and it’s time to worship. I have a playlist on my phone, a book of the Bible I’m studying (currently Acts) and a whole lot of conversation with God.
If I time it just right, the sun comes up, the birds visit, and we all have a moment together. That’s my morning every morning unless I’m traveling. I feel like it’s the “first fruits” kind of thing. I have to give the time to the Lord before all the other items tugging for my attention get in the way. If I don’t get that time, the rest of the day just doesn’t go quite right.
QUESTION #7: FOCUS
Looking backward, considering the full sweep of your unique faith journey and all you encountered along the way, what top three resources stand out to you? What changed reality and your heart?
It may sound simple, but several years ago, I got a good study Bible complete with notes. I don’t think it matters which one, necessarily, but I need the notes to explain the culture and connect the dots for me. Maps and timelines are a bonus! I gave myself permission to write in it, so it’s a hot mess, but having a great study Bible really helps my understanding.
I also have learned so much from Tim Keller’s sermons on the podcast “Gospel in Life.” He was such an amazing teacher and preacher.
I don’t know if your church has a subscription to RightNow Media, but I’m enjoying lots of videos and supplementary teachings there as well. There’s a series called “Eyewitness Bible Series,” which is fascinating. My small group is watching those while we study Acts. I love watching the videos tell the stories from the perspectives of key players.
Oh! And one more: Kristi McLelland has an excellent lesson called “The Running Father,” which is the story of the prodigal son. It’s amazing!
We all have things we cling to to survive or even thrive in our fast-paced, techno-driven world. How have you been successful in harnessing technology to aid in your spiritual growth?
Oops! I already mentioned RightNow Media in the previous question. That’s an amazing resource for Christian growth. And the mighty power of the podcast cannot be ignored. There are so many fantastic biblical teachers who are podcasting these days.
Technology can be harmful, but it sure did keep our church going during the COVID years. Being able to watch our sermons online was powerful, and to be able to listen to services from other churches was fantastic. It made me feel part of a global church where everyone could visit any church they wanted as long as there was an online component. I love the way God used the available technology to make that happen, don’t you?
QUESTION #8: dream
God’s continually stirring new things in each of us. So, give us the scoop! What’s beginning to stir in you but not yet fully awakened? What can we expect from you in the future?
Well, on the writing front, I’m leaning into how God is leading me into this next season of my life. My kids are grown, and at this point in my career, I can be more selective about the projects I entertain, so I’m really trying to listen to where God would have me go.
He’s allowed me to use my writing skills to help our local church, and that has been a blessing as we adjust to the post-pandemic world. I’m finding inspiration in my Instagram activities as well. It’s not always easy being a Christian on social media, but there are so many people out there, particularly young adults, who are hungry for the love of God. They are on social media, so if I’m to talk to them, encourage them and tell them the truth, that’s where I need to be to accomplish that. With one post, I can interact with thousands, so I try to create a space where people can laugh and be inspired. The books I write give me a platform to connect with people there. I also have a private Facebook group that has a rigorous prayer circle. God’s encouraged me in that area as well.
The world measures success by how much we accomplish or how much acknowledgment we receive. But not everything we do in life is going to be a raging success. And maybe that’s okay.
If you recall, Dana mentioned a novel she wrote but never published. She realized later that it was God’s way of helping her process a spiritual struggle. Are there things in your life you feel you’ve worked so hard on — only to watch them bear little to no fruit (at least in your or other people’s eyes)? Try to look beyond the surface. What could God be trying to teach you through that project, season, or relationship? How has it helped you grow closer to him?
Dana Mentink is a USA TODAY, Publisher’s Weekly and national bestselling author. She has been honored to win two Carol Awards, a Holt Medallion and a Reviewer’s Choice award. She’s written more than 50 novels to date for Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense, Revell and Sourcebooks. She lives in California with her husband, Junie the Wonder Dog and a geriatric turtle. Dana loves feedback from her readers. You can reach out to her on Facebook or Instagram.
