This week on the LiteraryScape Friday Book Club, host Melissa LaShure welcomed author Dana Mentink to discuss her thrilling new suspense novel, Fire Mountain. In this captivating conversation, Dana shared the inspiration behind her unique setting, her fascinating protagonist, and what readers can expect from this high-stakes survival story. A Volcano, A Trucker, and A Baby: The Perfect Storm Dana Mentink's latest novel, Fire Mountain, combines several compelling elements that immediately grab your attention. The story follows a female long-distance trucker who finds herself trapped in a volcanic eruption zone after a mysterious accident. But the real twist? She wakes up to discover a baby in her truck—a baby that isn't hers. "I follow a number of female independent truckers on social media," Dana explained during the podcast. "It's just really fascinating to me how they have carved out a niche for themselves in a primarily male-dominated business and just made it their own." This admiration for the profession led her to create a protagonist whose career choice is as intriguing as her predicament. Inspired by Mount St. Helens The volcanic setting isn't arbitrary—it stems from Dana's personal experience witnessing one of America's most significant natural disasters. "I was 12 when Mount St. Helens erupted in 1980," she shared. "That was really unprecedented... just watching that unfold in the news and just looking at how it started out as almost an entertaining thing. And then it turned into just a catastrophe in May. So that just made a deep impression on me." This childhood memory evolved into a fascinating "what if" scenario: What would it be like to be trapped in an eruption zone where "you cannot predict the behavior of the earth under your feet"? The result is a suspense novel set in the fictional Mount Ember in Skamania County, Washington—real adjacent, as Dana puts it. Meet Cullen Landry: The Hero with a Secret Fear The male protagonist, Cullen Landry, is a retired SWAT cop who should have evacuated but stayed behind to help friends secure their properties. When he witnesses the trucker's accident, his instinct to help draws him into an extraordinary survival situation. What makes Cullen particularly endearing is his vulnerability. Despite his tough exterior and professional background, he harbors an amusing fear of a certain type of rodent that the characters encounter during their ordeal. "He wants to be manly, but he's really, he doesn't like this rodent," Dana laughed. "He doesn't come off well in that scene." The Ultimate Challenge: Surviving with a Baby Perhaps the most ingenious aspect of Fire Mountain is the inclusion of the mysterious baby. Dana explained her thought process: "I was thinking about if you're alone in the wilderness and you have no help and no technology and you have no shelter, what would be the most difficult thing? And I think it would be if you were responsible for another life and particularly a very fragile life like a baby and particularly if you have zero maternal skills." This scenario creates the perfect storm of obstacles for character development—exactly what every compelling story needs. From Classroom to Full-Time Writing Dana's journey to full-time writing is inspiring. After years of balancing elementary school teaching with part-time writing, she made the leap to full-time authorship five years ago. Her experience teaching primarily third grade clearly influences her storytelling approach, particularly her belief that "you are a writer if you have a story to tell"—regardless of spelling skills or semicolon knowledge. With 25 years of writing experience under her belt, Dana has mastered both suspense and cozy mystery genres. Her ice cream shop mystery series, starting with Pint of No Return, offers a lighter contrast to her suspense novels, showcasing her versatility as a storyteller. What's Next: Raging Waters Fire Mountain is the first book in what Dana hopes will be a three-book series focusing on natural disasters. The second book, Raging Waters, is scheduled for March 2026 and will feature a catastrophic flood scenario involving a failing dam. While the books share some characters, they can be read as standalones. Dana's research-driven approach to these disaster scenarios reflects both her respect for real-world tragedies and her commitment to authenticity. As she noted regarding the flood theme, "I never would want to make light of that or trivialize that in fiction." A Perfect Balance of Romance and Suspense When asked about the romance element, Dana estimated the balance at about 60% suspense and 40% romance—though she admitted she'd be curious to hear what readers think. The wilderness survival setting naturally emphasizes the plot-driven suspense, but as any good romance reader knows, facing trials together creates perfect opportunities for emotional connection. Connect with Dana Readers can find Dana at her website, damentink.com, and follow her entertaining adventures on Instagram, where she shares her personality and "silliness" along with connecting with other Christian authors. Her monthly newsletter promises "lots of goodies and always a video report on how things are going at Menting Manor"—including tales of reptile shows and other exciting shenanigans. Final Thoughts Fire Mountain promises to be a unique addition to the Christian suspense romance genre, combining meticulous research with heart-pounding action and genuine character development. Dana Mentink has created a story that not only entertains but explores themes of responsibility, survival, and unexpected heroism in the face of nature's most powerful forces. Whether you're drawn to the unique volcanic setting, the compelling mystery of the abandoned baby, or the unlikely romance blooming amid chaos, Fire Mountain offers something for every suspense romance reader looking for their next page-turner. Listen to the full LiteraryScape podcast episode to hear more about Dana's writing process, her favorite current reads (including her recent return to The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe), and her thoughts on the craft of balancing mystery and suspense in fiction.