Friday Author Interview with Elise Cooper: Fire Mountain by Dana Mentink

Book Description

In the shadow of a threatening volcano, long-haul trucker Kit Garrido wakes up in her crashed big rig, unable to recall what happened or why she’s suddenly in possession of someone’s baby. Fiercely independent, she has to admit that perhaps this time she could use a little help.

As the threat of eruption grows, former cop Cullen Landry refuses to leave his cabin in the evacuation area, which is why he’s the only one left who can help Kit escape the crumpled cab of her truck. He doesn’t want to get tangled up in the mystery of the beautiful woman with an abandoned infant, but when he sees the bullet hole in the windshield and the bloody handprint on the interior, he realizes that he’s in this thing, like it or not.

When two armed men with ill intent approach, the race is on to stay alive, discover the truth, and find the baby’s missing mother–all while a deadly mountain rains fire from above.

***

Elise’s Thoughts

Fire Mountain by Dana Mentink is a story that pits survival against impossible odds.  It has nonstop action, adventure, some tender moments, and a bit of romance.

The story opens with Cullen Landry wakening a long-haul trucker in her crashed rig. Cullen did not flee after being warned of the imminent eruption of Mount Ember where he lives in his cabin.  While making sure everything was secure, he sees the crash from his cabin and decides to check to see if there are any survivors.  Landry finds Kit, a female trucker who appears to have memory loss, and realizes she is in immediate danger because of a bloody handprint on the window and bullet holes in the windshield. They also find an infant buckled into the back of the truck and because of the amnesia, Kit has no clue where the baby came from. In addition, very evil people are after Kit and the baby.  The race begins as they try to save themselves from the villains and the volcano, which is also a character.

Besides the action-packed story there is a budding romance.  As their trust grows, walls are broken down and a closeness develops that includes sharing some of their backstory. They realize that to survive they must support each other.

This is a gripping story filled with tension that will quickly hook readers.

***

Author Interview

Elise Cooper: Idea for the story?

Dana Mentink: Mt St. Helens erupted in 1980, and it made a big imprint on my mind. Now as a suspense writer I ask myself what it would be like to survive that even though my story takes place in the present? An eruption is such a rare occurrence yet we cannot take those for granted. The predictions have gotten a lot better so people can relocate if necessary.

EC: What is the theme of the book?

DM: It is an adventure story where the characters become tired, scared, hungry, and lost. It is a running for their life type of plot. After all the extraneous stuff is stripped away it is a good place to confront issues of forgiveness, and the interaction with others.

EC: Why all the natural disasters?

DM: Besides the volcanic eruptions the story had avalanches, boulder slides, storms, and landslides.  Never a dull moment. Everything is volcano related and would have taken place in a volcanic eruption. It is what people would encounter. Natural disasters show how people can dive into their own skill set and survive.  I enjoy writing stories of people versus natural disasters.

EC: Why the profession of the heroine a truck driver?

DM:  I have a fascination with female truck drivers because it is a male dominated profession. What would it be like to live one’s life on the road with a constant mobile situation? They live out of truck stops yet maintain relationships.  It is about a road trip but having to do it for a living. I got some good clarification from someone whose husband was a truck driver.

EC: How would you describe Kit?

DM: Vulnerable, bossy, witty, has a slight temper, tough, and a planner. She likes her quiet times and is a loner. She must be tough to compete in being an independent contractor truck driver. There is an element of safety that is risky for a woman truck driver. She has had to do things on her own since she was a young woman.  It is her against the world.

EC: How would you describe Cullen?

DM: Sarcastic, a know it all, stubborn, a fixer, leader, kind, and sometimes sympathetic.  He has a soft side that he does not like to show people but is able to handle the little baby in his care. He has a sense of purpose, a good family man.

EC:  How about the relationship?

DM: She likes to hide her emotions, introverted, wants to be businesslike, and is against forming roots. She is a rolling stone.  He is tender, and he wants to establish a relationship.

EC: What is the role of the baby Tot?

DM: She is innocent, spirited, and helpless.  Through her Kit is learning responsibility and both Kit and Cullen are bonding through the baby. She is only ten months old, so she is a little one very dependent on others. I wanted to put humor within their banter.  They are stuck in tough situations, so I felt a little laughter is a good thing.

EC: Why the sex trafficking angle?

DM: It is an enormous issue for our country, states, and I wanted an evil villain.  There is not much someone eviler than someone who treats people as property.

EC: What do you want to say about Cullen’s former job, as a policeman?

DM: It is rough job.  I went to the Citizen’s Police Academy.  It takes such a mental toll on individuals.  Police see the worst of humanity, and it does affect them. I wanted to consider how this would play out over the course of someone’s life. My husband was a police officer very briefly and then moved to fire prevention. Those in the police do not get that appreciation as much as they deserve.

EC: What did the stuffed bear symbolize?

DM: It was a connection to what Kit viewed as a happy childhood given to her by her dad. It is important throughout the story. I still have my favorite stuffed animal I had as a child.

EC: Next book?

DM: It is titled Raging Waters, coming out March 2026 this time.  It features Gideon, Cullen’s brother. He is trapped in a town where this dam is failing.

THANK YOU!!

***