Are you going to be watching?

Howdy, all. Dana Mentink here and I’m thrilled to announce that my Olympic themed book, Race for the Gold, debuts next month from Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense. I had a blast writing it, because I’ve been fascinated with speed skating since I watched Dan Jansen and Apolo Anton Ohno take the ice. Personally, I don’t like the cold, cannot skate to save my life, and I lack the coordination required to walk and chew gum at the same time. It leaves me in awe of those skaters who can whiz around the ice at nearly 40 miles per hour on 17 inch blades. While writing this book, I was fortunate to have input from Olympic hopeful, long track speed skater Sugar Todd. It was fascinating to hear her tidbits and watch her journey unfold while my protagonists did as well. The Olympic dream is so much more than a mere athletic contest. It is the collective story of hard work, sacrifice, integrity and struggle all rolled up into one shiny package. Will you be watching?

Olympics, the story behind the athletes

Will you be watching when the fanfare starts and the athletes from all over the world come together to compete in the Winter Games? For me, it isn't the athletic performances themselves that draw me in, it's the stories behind the stories, the individual journeys that led these competitors to a worldwide stage. It's what inspired me to write Race for the Gold, a story about two short track speed skaters striving for that elusive spot on the podium. I had plenty to draw from for the novel. I remember watching Apolo Anton Ohno's amazing story unfold over the years. His career faltered, sputtered and nearly died until his single parent father took him to a remote cabin and left him, still a teen, to decide if he wanted to compete or quit. Fortunately for the sport and fans, he decided to grit it out and went on to become the most decorated winter athlete of all time.

Going further back in time, I remember watching speed skater Dan Jansen's heartbreaking ups and downs. At the Calgary Olympics, he was the favorite, but his sister died just hours before his race and he failed to finish any of his heats. Four years later in Albertville, he stumbled and again, did not medal. At the 1994 games in Norway, it seemed he was doomed to fail once more. Another stumble and he was out of his best race, the 500 meters. His last race was the 1000 meters and I remember gasping aloud when he staggered, but this time, he recovered and won, earning a gold medal and carrying his daughter Jane, named after his late sister, for the victory lap.  Like most Americans, I remember stories like Jansen's and Ohno's not because of their speed or skill, but because their triumphs underscore the amazing power of the human spirit. Will I be watching the Winter Games in this year? Absolutely!

Ready for the Olympics. Grab your broomsticks!

Sochi? Here we come. Having recently finished an Olympic themed book, I'm looking forward to the big event. The Games are soon to be in full swing featuring a platoon of ferociously determined skaters, the excruciatingly rugged cross country skiers and a sport which I can only describe as… adorable: Curling. Yes, curling dates back to medieval Scotland, and yes, it probably involves more strategy and savvy than any other sport, hence its nickname as “chess on ice” but I cannot help but be completely enchanted by the charming qualities of a sport that utilizes brooms and something called hog lines.

              The Point of the Game: After arduous research,  I  conclude that the goal of the game is to finesse ones sixteen stones closer to the center of the house than the other teams. How hard could it be? Plenty hard. First you’ve got to spray down that lovely smooth ice surface with water droplets to “pebble the ice.” A zambonie driver’s worst nightmare, but necessary to make the hurled stones “curl” in one direction or another.  Then you’ve got your centre line (fancy spelling intentional)  and two other lines charmingly entitled the “hog lines.” Not to be forgotten are the “hacks” which are important  rubbery spots used by the curlers for traction, otherwise you’ve got some poor hapless curler trying to find a toe hold on an iceberg.  Players throw a stone in a graceful sliding movement. Right handers start with the right foot in the left hack and lefties go for the left foot in the right hack. They do the hacky sacky and they turn themselves around. That’s what it’s all about. 

What's your favorite Olympic winter sport?