About Alena Mentink:
Alena Mentink is a Nebraska author who enjoys mixing history with fiction characters to create a story for God’s glory. Alena lives on a farm outside of Stromsburg with her parents and seven siblings, and is currently writing a novel set near her home in Polk County.
What inspires you to write?
I have always loved reading and stories of any kind, so I guess that's my excuse for why I write. I have so many stories spinning in my mind that they beg for some way to be released.
What authors do you read when you aren’t writing?
Some of my favorite authors are Karen Witemeyer, Melissa Jagears, Stephanie Grace Whitson, and Regina Jennings (there are a lot more, but I'll limit myself to that).
Tell us about your writing process.
I am very much of an outliner, although I don't exactly use a professional method of doing it. Before I ever type so much as a word of my book, I first map it out clearly in my mind so that the storyline is well developed, and then I sit down at my desk and use my notebook and pencil to scribble down facts about characters, ages, and dates. Then I write a chapter by chapter plot of how I plan for the story to go, writing just one brief sentence per chapter. Only after all that do I sit down to do the actual writing. For me, the time spent clearing my mind is well worth it.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
I often have characters' voices playing through my mind. If I can't hear a character's voice clearly enough in my mind, then I know that the story isn't ready to written yet and still needs more work.
What advice would you give other writers?
Read a lot and write a lot. Read from the very best authors and try to understand what draws you to their writing and keeps you on the edge of your seat until the very last page has been finished, then sit down and write. Even if your writing doesn't turn out the way you imagined it would at first, keep reading and writing, and eventually your words will begin to take on a life of their own.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
When I first decided to publish a book, I was determined to try to pitch it to a traditional publisher, but then I found out that one of my mom's good friends is the owner of an indie publishing company. Since she lives a couple miles down the road from my family, we invited her over and I got to talk with her about publishing. I took a closer look at her company after that, and I decided to change my plans and go through her. Looking back, I am so grateful that I did. Being indie published has allowed me to have more control over my book, including content, covers, and issues that come up.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
I think that indie and self publishing have more potential than ever for new authors. Based off what I've heard from other authors, traditional publishing can be very tricky to break into, although certainly not impossible.
What genres do you write?: Christian Historical Romance
What formats are your books in?: eBook, Print, Both eBook and Print
Website(s)
Alena Mentink Home Page Link
Your Social Media Links
YouTube
All information in this post is presented “as is” supplied by the author. We don’t edit to allow you the reader to hear the author in their own voice.
