

Don Bentley on His New Book Denied Access, True Leadership, His Writing Process, and Overcoming Adversity
In this episode of Acta Non Verba, host Marcus Aurelius Anderson sits down with Don Bentley—former FBI special agent, SWAT team member, Army Apache helicopter pilot, and New York Times bestselling author. Don shares his journey from military and law enforcement to writing acclaimed thriller novels, discusses the art and discipline of writing, and offers insights on leadership, resilience, and servant leadership.
Episode Highlights:
- 00:49 — Don Bentley’s background: FBI, SWAT, Army pilot, and bestselling author
- 06:30 — Taking over the Mitch Rapp series and honoring Vince Flynn’s legacy
- 21:00 — Don’s writing process: organic vs. plotting, overcoming creative blocks
- 33:00 — Lessons in leadership and servant leadership from military and civilian life
Guest Bio:
Don Bentley is a New York Times bestselling author known for the Matt Drake series, Tom Clancy Jack Ryan Jr. novels, and the Vince Flynn Mitch Rapp series. Before becoming a full-time writer, Don served as an FBI special agent, SWAT team member, and Army Apache helicopter pilot. His real-world experience brings authenticity and depth to his thrillers.
Contact Info:
- Website: com
- Social: @BentleyDonB on X (Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram
- For signed copies: Order via his website or Poisoned Pen Bookstore (Arizona)
Learn more about the gift of Adversity and my mission to help my fellow humans create a better world by heading to www.marcusaureliusanderson.com. There you can take action by joining my ANV inner circle to get exclusive content and information.
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