Award-winning author DiAnn Mills launched her career in 1998 with the publication of her first book. Currently she has fifty books in print and has sold over 1.5 million copies.
DiAnn believes her readers should “Expect an Adventure.” She is a fiction writer who combines an adventuresome spirit with unforgettable characters to create action-packed novels.
Six of her titles have appeared on the CBA Bestseller List. Three of her books have won the distinction of Best Historical of the Year by Heartsong Presents. Five of her books have won placements through American Christian Fiction Writer’s Book of the Year Awards 2003 – 2008, and she is the recipient of the Inspirational Reader’s Choice award for 2005, 2007, and 2010. She was a Christy Awards finalist in 2008 and a Christy Award winner in 2010.
DiAnn is a founding board member for American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Inspirational Writers Alive, Romance Writers of America’s Faith, Hope and Love, and Advanced Writers and Speakers Association. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country. DiAnn is also the Craftsman Mentor for Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writer’s Guild.
She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas. They have four adult sons and are active members of Metropolitan Baptist Church.
Welcome, DiAnn. What are some of the spiritual themes you like to write about?
Performance vs Grace
Unworthiness vs Perfectionism
Forgiveness vs Revenge
What other books of yours are coming out soon?
The Fire in Ember - historical romance novel that follows the same characters as A Woman Called Sage January 2011
Attracted to Fire - Romantic Suspense 2011
Under a Desert Sky - historical romance 2011
If you could spend an evening with one contemporary person (not a family member of yours), who would it be and why?
That’s a tough one! I’m assuming spending this evening would be next to
impossible, so here goes:
Laura Bush - She’s wise, gracious, loving, and lives her faith.
What historical person would you like to meet (besides Jesus) and why?
Harriet Beecher Stowe - I like to hear her passion for writing Uncle
Tom’s Cabin by firelight after her children were in bed. Simply writing longhand is a curiosity.
How can you encourage authors who have been receiving only rejections from publishers?
Pray
Write everyday
Read in the genre that they are writing
Participate in conferences, writing groups, critique sessions, and read
the how-to books
Learn the craft by taking writing courses such as those offered by the
Christian Writers Guild
Tell us about the featured book?
I’m so excited about this story. The FBI research and the legend of the
Spider Rock treasure was amazing.
Pursuit of Justice is a romantic suspense set in West Texas that focuses on an old Texas legend about lost Spanish gold. FBI Special Agent Bella
Jordan is sent to West Texas to help solve a series of murders linked to the Spider Rock treasure.
Here is the back blurb:
For centuries, the legend of the spider rock treasure has lured people to West Texas with promises of unimaginable wealth.
And it just claimed three more victims.
Did they fall prey to the legend’s curse or just get too close to someone
else’s discovery? To investigate the murders, the FBI calls in one of its
most promising up-and-comers-Special Agent Bella Jordan. What they
don’t now is that one of their prime suspects is deeply connected to the
past she’s been running from for fourteen years.
As Bella begins to sift through evidence, another murder and threats on
her own life convince her she’s hunting an experienced killer . . . and he’s
not working alone. To catch the suspect before he catches her, Bella must
draw on all her skill and instinct and finally gather the courage to face the
memories she’s tried so hard to forget.
Please give us the first page of the book.
CHAPTER 1
The moment Bella accepted the reassignment to the FBI’s field office in Houston, she realized the past had stalked her to the present. And she was ready, or at least she told herself so. Her training and experience had sharpened her skills and provided tools to solve crimes the average American deemed unspeakable.
Fear and memories had climbed into her luggage for the relocation to Houston, but she resisted their hold. Bella had made the decision to work hard to build her credentials and help curtail the endless barrage of crime, especially in the country’s fourth largest city.
Her Blackberry interrupted her thoughts and her drive to work with its musical rendition of “That’ll be the Day.” A quick glance showed the caller was Frank.
No way, super agent. I don’t have a thing to tell you. She answered on the third ring. “Morning, Frank. What can I do for you?”
“Lunch?”
She laughed. “You heard I have an appointment with Swartzer, and curiosity is killing you.”
“Me? I wanted to talk about spending the weekend in Galveston.”
“Right. Frank, it’s been nine months since we dated.”
“Nine months, huh? As in giving birth to a new relationship?”
She envisioned a slight smile spreading over his face—a good looking one, but not for her. “No thanks. Remember, we tried and it didn’t work. I don’t want to put my heart in that place again. See you later.”
“But—”
“Bye, Frank.”
Bella tossed the phone into her purse. Regret over the failed relationship with Frank settled like a day harboring poor air quality. She’d known from the start a relationship with him wouldn’t work. He wanted a wife who’d stay home and raise kids. She refused to give up the agency, no matter how much she cared for him. The only thing she’d ever formed a lasting attachment to was the FBI, and mistakes in the name of love were not in her playbook.
How can readers find you on the Internet?
Please sign up for my E-newsletter! My facebook author page is where
I talk to readers candidly.
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/DiAnn-Mills/43084945210?ref=tsThank you, DiAnn, for the interesting interview.
Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)
Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.
The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 6 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.
If you’re reading this on Feedblitz, Facebook, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment. Here’s a link.
http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com/
Readers, here's a link to the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog.
Enter me please. :)
ReplyDeletetreewaterduchess at yahoo dot com
Would love to win.
ReplyDeleteSounds intriguing! I'd like to enter....
ReplyDeleteGreat Interview. I love DiAnn Mills books that I have read so far. Would love to win this one. ybutler@oppcatv.com
ReplyDeleteThank you for reading my books! I wish all of you could win a free copy of Pursuit of Justice.
ReplyDeleteThis does sound like an adventure!! I am just about to read Uncle Tom's Cabin for the first time.
ReplyDeleteI love DiAnn Mills' books. They are an adventure, a very enjoyable one.
ReplyDeleteMy teenage daughter loves suspense and this is one book she's been eying in CBD catalog. She'd love it if I won thanks.
ReplyDeleteABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com
Book sounds really good. Count me in. Thanks for giving away a copy.
ReplyDeleteplhouston(at)bellsouth(dot)net
Sounds very interesting. I love to read a good suspenseful novel. Please enter me in the drawing.
ReplyDeleteWould love to win a copy of Pursuit of Justide. Thank you for the opportunity.
ReplyDeleteMany Blessings,
Cindy W.
countrybear52[at]yahoo[dot]com
Diane writes some of the best romantic suspense books! Definitely look forward to reading this one. Thank you for the opportunity to win a copy.
ReplyDeleteenter me please
ReplyDeleteI enjoy DiAnn's books. Please enter me.
ReplyDeletethanks for the opportunity to read diann's latest novel :)
ReplyDeletekarenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com
I'd love to win DiAnn's book!
ReplyDeleteAnn_Lee_Miller@msn.com
Ok--the first page has me adding this book to my must read list. I like the spunk of our heroine and her humor matches mine.
ReplyDeletecoolestmommy2000 at gmail dot com
Please enter me:)
ReplyDeleteThanks
The spiritual themes are great, DiAnn! And thanks for the interview and chance to win, Lena!
ReplyDeleteMeg
I enjoy DiAnn's work and this book looks great!
ReplyDeletePlease enter me in the drawing. I've read the other 2 books in the series and they are amazing! I can hardly wait to read this one
ReplyDelete~Abby
a . w . squishy @ gmail . com
I really enjoy reading DiAnn Mills books. Please include me and thanks for the opportunity.
ReplyDeletejanmarien[at]embarqmail[dot]com
I just finished reading A WOMAN CALLED SAGE and loved it! Please enter me into the drawing...thanks!!
ReplyDelete~Amber
carpediem7884[at]rochester[dot]rr[dot]com
I love her books; have read the other 2 in this series so please enter me. Thanks!!!!
ReplyDeletejackie.smithATdishmailDOTnet
The premise of this story and the legend of the gold sounds great. Thanks for the info and chance to win.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy romantic suspense and am always excited to find a good one that is also Christian fiction. "Pursuit of Justice" sounds like a book I'd really like.
ReplyDeletePlease enter me in the drawing.
Thanks.
pmk56[at]sbcglobal[dot]net
Please enter me in this contest. This book sounds really good. Thank you for the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteCarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com
I love DiAnn Mills, I read Breach of Trust in one evening because I couldn't put it down. Please enter me in the drawing.
ReplyDeleteThank you
Katherine
peachykath79[at]yahoo[dot]com
I love a good Christian Mystery. Please include me!
ReplyDeleteWould love to have another DiAnn Mills book. A great author. Thanks for the interview and giveaway.
ReplyDeleteMany blessings,
Trinity Rose
I would love to read this.
ReplyDeleteLove her books! Please enter me!
ReplyDeletemishi: love to win this one book ,so I can add to my collection of Diann Mills
ReplyDeleteI always look for DiAnn's books, she never fails to engage and entertain with her wonderful adventures. I'd love to win Pursuit of Justice!
ReplyDeleteLooks like a great book! Please enter me in this giveaway!
ReplyDeleteseizethebookblog(at)gmail(dot)com
Please enter me! I love this author!!
ReplyDeletedancealert at aol dot com
My favorite book is a great Christian mystery and this one sounds excellent.
ReplyDeleteRight now I am reading Medical Error by Dr. Richard Mabry and it
excellent.
would love to win this! Thanks
ReplyDeletejenmmcclure(at)yahoo(dot)com
Sounds like a great book. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteOooh, please enter me! I just finished Sworn To Protect and really liked it!
ReplyDeleteonepilgrim86[at]yahoo.com
I enjoy reading books by DiAnn Mills and would love to get entered for this book.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Jo
ladijo40(at)aol(dot)com