How Dana Mentink and Terri Reed Keep Readers on the Right Path (Episode 69)

On this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense,” my guests are Dana Mentink and Terri Reed. Among other things, we chatted about the dangers of exploring Death Valley with GPS and introducing too many characters at once. “You can’t really hand over your brain to any electronic,” Dana said. “I say that as somebody who’s lost all the time—I’m perpetually lost everywhere.” “You don’t want people to have to have a roadmap to get through your book,” Terri said. “That’s the beauty of series, though. You can introduce a seemingly throwaway character in the first book that’s going to be very, very important later.” Dana is a USA Today and Publisher’s Weekly bestselling author as well as a two-time American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Award winner, and the recipient of a Holt Medallion. She’s written over fifty titles in the suspense, lighthearted romance and mystery genres. She is pleased to write for Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense, Harlequin Heartwarming and Poisoned Pen Press. Connect w/Dana Website: danamentink.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authordanamentink/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7tY41VV_Velenocrku4LJw Twitter: https://twitter.com/Danamentink Instagram: dana_mentink BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/dana-mentink Award-winning, multi-published author Terri found solace from a chaotic childhood in the pages of books that took her far away to different realms and realities. When she discovered Christian fiction, she also discovered her own story telling voice. Now she writes books of heart-warming romance and heart-pounding suspense infused with faith. Her romance and romantic suspense novels have appeared on Publisher's Weekly top ten and Nielsen BookScan top hundred lists, and have been featured in USA Today. She's a member of the Honor Roll of Romance Writers of America. Her books have finaled in Romance Writers of America RITA contest, National Readers' Choice Award, Inspirational Reader's Choice Award, and the American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Award. One of her romance novels was adapted into a Hallmark movie for Christmas 2019. Terri resides in the Pacific Northwest with her college-sweetheart husband. When not writing, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends and running the agility course with her Australian shepherd. Connect w/Terri Website: https://www.terrireed.com/ Newsletter: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/o4x4h1 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/terrireedauthorpage/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/terrireedauthor/ Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/terri-reed Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Terri-Reed/e/B001H9VYCQ%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/178940.Terri_Reed Listen to the podcast for more from our interview, plus teasers for Death Valley Hideout and Detection Detail.