{"id":101589,"date":"2019-07-26T16:35:26","date_gmt":"2019-07-26T16:35:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/uncategorized\/2019\/07\/26\/hunt-the-leopard-is-the-latest-thriller-from-this-least-likely-seal-author\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T10:58:55","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T10:58:55","slug":"hunt-the-leopard-is-the-latest-thriller-from-this-least-likely-seal-author","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/tacticool\/2019\/07\/26\/hunt-the-leopard-is-the-latest-thriller-from-this-least-likely-seal-author\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Hunt the Leopard\u2019 is the latest thriller from this least-likely SEAL author"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Former Navy SEAL Don Mann considers himself \u201cthe least likely author you\u2019d ever probably know.\u201d The 21-year veteran who served two tours with SEAL Team Six, though, is now releasing his eighth novel \u2013 co-written with Ralph Pezullo \u2013 Hunt the Leopard<\/i>, the latest in a series of novels featuring Chief Warrant Officer Thomas Crocker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Indeed, the path from retired SEAL to New York Times bestselling author was indirect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the Navy, Mann preferred adventure races to reading stacks of books. These races involve teams \u2014 about two to five people in a team \u2014 that involve courses across unmarked wilderness that can last up to two weeks and involve anything from using pack animals to zip lining.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to competing at the highest level of adventure racing (including an appearance on \u201cThe Brigade: Race to the Hudson,\u201d a reality show that aired on the Outdoor Channel) Mann also was teaching people how to safely take part in that sport. A friend later suggested the SEAL write a book on how to take part in the sport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mann eventually relented. A similar sequence of events took place when Mann became a weapons instructor for the government after his retirement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Hunt the Leopard author Don Mann.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Even though he had enjoyed the process of writing those two books, Mann did not have a burning ambition to write any more. However, he began to re-think his position after his mother\u2019s death, especially after they both recalled their enjoyment of the movie \u201cForrest Gump\u201d and how it gave us a 20-year history lesson through the eyes of a fictional character.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mann also realized that by using a fictional character, he would not have to deal with publication review boards. So, after he talked with a writer, he put together the first adventure of Chief Crocker, \u201cHunt the Wolf.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It did well enough that the publisher wanted a sequel, resulting in Hunt the Scorpion, and it has gone on to the present novel, the eighth in the series.<\/p>\n\n\n\n