By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills
In CANYON OF DECEIT, danger runs deep in the Texas wilderness—but the greatest risks aren’t always found in the canyon. Meet Therese Palmer, a survival expert haunted by the past, and Blane Gardner, a Texas Ranger trained to talk down criminals but unprepared for what this mission stirs in his heart. Together, they must find a missing child—and discover if trust can grow where pain once lived.
Curious about our heroine and hero? Here’s a closer look at the two unforgettable leads who drive the story—and a sneak peek into their voices. By the way, wondering what our heroine and hero might look like? I asked AI to help bring them to life using the original character profile sketches I created before writing the novel. I think it nailed it—see below!
Meet our heroine!
Name: Therese Palmer—First name meaning: ridge or chain of hills
Physical Characteristics:
- Age: 31
- Birth Date: 1994
- Height: 5’4″
- Weight: 118 lbs
- Eye Color: Blue-green (shifts depending on clothing)
- Hair Color: Long, strawberry blonde
- Complexion: Pale
- Face Shape: Heart-shaped
- Body Type: Curvy
- Distinguishing Features:
- High cheekbones
- Wide smile
- Slightly larger than normal ears
- Handedness: Left-handed
- Imperfections: Self-conscious about her curves
Psychological Profile:
- Personality Type: ISFJ (“The Defender”)
- Strengths: Supportive, reliable, observant, hardworking, empathetic
- Weaknesses: Overly humble, takes things personally, reluctant to change, represses feelings
- Fears:
- Failing to rescue Alina
- Facing another loss like her sister’s death
- That she’s not enough
- Motivation:
- Freeing Alina
- Finding peace with her past
- Overcoming her guilt and perfectionism
💬 Fun Fact: Therese is left-handed and sees trails others miss.
Backstory:
- Lost her younger sister to leukemia, leaving her with deep guilt.
- Became a survival expert and trains others across the country.
- A believer in God—but still wrestling with why He didn’t save her sister.
Relationships:
- Alina: The child she is determined to rescue.
- Blane: Texas Ranger hostage negotiator—her reluctant partner.
Abilities and Skills:
- Expert in survival techniques: wilderness navigation, tracking, and endurance.
- Strong intuition and observation skills in nature: notices small details that others miss.
- Great with children: uses patience and compassion to connect with them.
🎧 Hear Therese’s heart in her own voice—honest, brave, and full of quiet strength.
Memorable Quotes:
- “Every child deserves a chance at life, no matter where they come from.”
- “I can’t abandon a child.”
- “Sometimes God answers prayers in ways we don’t expect. That doesn’t mean He didn’t hear them.”
Now for our hero!
Name: Blane Gardner—First name meaning: Yellow in Scottish; Gardener in Scottish origin
Physical Characteristics:
- Age: 35
- Birth Date: November 13, 1990
- Height: 6’2″
- Weight: 175 lbs
- Eye Color: Not brown—shaped like mountain peaks that point to his eyebrows
- Hair Color: Rust-colored (reddish)
- Complexion: Reddish skin tone
- Face Shape: Oval
- Body Type: Medium build, in shape
- Distinguishing Features:
- Thick hair
- Narrow nose bridge
- Imperfections: Small eyes
- Handedness: right-handed
Psychological Profile:
- Personality Type: ESTP (“The Entrepreneur”)
- Strengths:
- Charismatic and persuasive
- Quick-thinking and adaptable
- Strong observational skills
- Thrives in high-pressure situations
- Weaknesses:
- Struggles with following strict rules
- Impulsive and sometimes reckless
- Hides his deeper emotions behind humor
- Dislikes long-term planning or rigid structure
- Fears:
- Failing to save Alina
- Facing his past regrets
- That he isn’t worthy of redemption
- Motivation:
- To free Alina
- To prove to himself he can lead a successful Crisis Negotiation Unit (CNU)
- To come to terms with his past mistakes
📷 Did you know? Blane moonlights as a photographer.
Backstory:
- Scottish and English
- While at a party in college, a split-second choice led to tragedy—and Blane’s never forgiven himself.
- Works as a Texas Ranger, specializing in hostage and crisis negotiation.
- Also a photographer
- Agnostic—wants to believe but struggles with the idea of a God who allows suffering.
Relationships:
- Therese Palmer: His partner in the mission to save Alina; they share an intense connection.
- Sergio: His best friend and boss.
- Alina: The child he is determined to rescue.
Abilities and Skills:
- Expert negotiator, trained in Crisis Negotiation Units (CNU)
- Skilled marksman
- Quick reflexes and high adaptabilityunder pressure
- Highly observant, picks up on subtle body language and speech patterns
🎧 Meet Blane through his own words—gritty, guarded, and surprisingly vulnerable.
Memorable Quotes:
- “God and I weren’t on speaking terms, but He might listen to Therese.
- “I’d prayed more in the last week than in all my thirty-four years.”
- He’s not above sarcasm—even when emotions run high… “I wanted to see her, and I wanted to avoid her. I yanked on my boots. With any luck, she’d grown a wart on her nose.
Join Therese and Blane on a high-stakes search through rugged canyonlands—where the fight to rescue a little girl becomes a journey of trust, truth, and unexpected grace.
💥 Preorder your copy of CANYON OF DECEIT today and join the adventure on September 9!
Comments 28
This is fascinating! I loved reading about these main characters. So well-developed and your descriptions draw out intrigue. Looking forward to your book launch! I like the AI-created images too!
Author
Thanks, Kim! I appreciate your sweet comments. Have a great day!
I really enjoyed learning more about Therese and Blane and the AI portraits are quite interesting. Your profiles make Therese and Blane come to life (as does your exceptional writing). Canyon of Deceit is a “can’t put it down” read. I know your readers are looking forward to Sept 9.
Author
Thank you so much, Katherine. You are such an encourager.
I love this! It will bring the two main characters to life for me when I am reading the book. I have it preordered and looking forward to getting started. Thank you for the post.
This sounds like another great book from one of my favorite authors! Looking forward to reading it!
Author
Thanks so much, Mary!
I love how you described these characters, and it was wonderful hearing their voices!
Thanks for another great read!
Author
Thank you, Linda! I appreciate your encouragement!
How fun! This makes me look forward to reading Canyon of Deceit even MORE. I love getting a bonus look at these characters and will carry these tidbits into my reading.
Author
Kristine, so glad you enjoyed the little extra. *secret here – I have a few more extras for this book that I’ll be passing along.
DiAnn
Love this in depth description of the characters. You make them come to life and as if we know them. Can’t wait to read this one . It will probably be on a waiting list in our church library. I might be selfish- I’ll read it first!
Thank you for sharing your beautiful talent with us all!!!
Author
Thanks, Joyce. Story is all about the characters, and I hope you like them.
I can’t wait to read this, DiAnn. I have pre-ordered! Thanks for this preview.
Author
Thank you, Barbara. You are a blessing.
That was quite interesting and delightful to “see” the characters. Loved that! I’m actually making out my list right now of books to order. So far about 25 books 👏 Canyon of Deceit is at the top. On my! I already have several shelves of TBR books in my library. Sigh! Oh, but what sheer delight to go to my personal “bookstore” library and choose. My husband loves books, too. So between the two of us, we are out of walls for more bookshelves! lol Oh well, we’ll joyfully suffer through it. 😁😁😁
Thanks, Barbara, I might have to put you in charge of marketing and promotion! Thanks for the encouragement.
Loved this book. It was a quick read for me because I couldn’t get to a “good” stopping point. I enjoyed the twists and the adrenaline rush of the chase/hunt.
Cool to see the two main characters as you envisioned them.
Thanks, Elizabeth. Canyon of Deceit was a challenge and simply fun. You should have seen me hiking the Guadalupe Mountains!
Loved this peek at how you developed the characters. Love the book!
Oh, thank you, Debbie. We writers need to have fun while we put together our stories.
Wow! That is incredibly interesting!
BTW, I’ve been a fan of your books for many years. Can’t wait to get my hands on this one!
Sounds like a couple made for each other. Can’t wait to read.
Martha, you made my day! Thanks so much for the kind words.
I have learned to “expect an adventure.” Im eager to experience this one!
Hi Cindy, I hear you laughing! Thanks so much.
A great story that will stay with the reader. 🙂 Congratulations on your new release. 🙂
Author
Thank you, Melissa! I’m super excited.