Dear Reader, It IS about You – Giveaway

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills

blogI love sending you a short blog each week. It’s my friend-time, a chance to show you how much I appreciate your support. My goal is to vary the blog topics so you’ll be entertained, inspired, and encouraged, much like when I create a story.

This blog is for you, and with that foremost in mind, I need to know your interests. Can you help me?

What kind of blog topics would you like to see?
  1. Food and cooking
  2. Fashion
  3. Makeup
  4. Faith
  5. Guest blogs
  6. My favorite authors
  7. Books that have changed my life
  8. The Writer’s Life
  9. My fav TV shows and why
  10. My fav movies and why
  11. Hobbies
  12. Other writer hobbies
  13. Guilty pleasures (what I do when life goes crazy)
  14. What expert blogs I follow?
  15. My fav Facebook pages
  16. My fav Twitter accounts
  17. An interview with my husband (you’d have to give me questions)
  18. How do I put my mind into the head of a character?
  19. How do I pick out a fiction or nonfiction book?
  20. Fav vacation spots
  21. Holiday celebrations
  22. Holiday recipes and decorations
  23. Your thoughts?
Each person who responds to this post with their top blog topics will be entered in a random drawing for a $30.00 Amazon gift card. Bring in the ideas! What interests you in a DiAnn Mills blog?

DiAnn Mills

 

 


DiAnn’s Library Corner

library-nook

Create a poll for your patrons and ask: How can your library better serve you?

DiAnn Mills Deadly Encounter

 

Comments 206

  1. Pingback: Social Media, Marketing & Branding - Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference

  2. I like #9 favorite TV shows and why. I’m always curious why some people get so hooked on certain tv shows. It would be interesting to hear why certain shows become favorites. I really prefer a mixture of topics, however.

  3. Hi DiAnn,
    I’d love to hear about your favorite authors & books that have changed your life, favorite TV shows/movies & why, and how you put your mind into the head of a character. I enjoy your multi-layered characters/stories and appreciate the research you put into them. Your books never fail to please. Thank you for writing them.
    (I plan to watch “High Crimes” this weekend because it was a favorite movie of some characters in your book Deadly Encounter)

  4. I love to hear about books that have changed people’s lives, so definitely #7.
    #9 & #10, because those things are a HUGE part of my life as a TV-related blogger and podcaster.
    Guilty Pleasures? Yes please. Who DOESN’T want to know about that stuff?
    Those are great suggestions, but I’ve also enjoyed your blog as it is – you come up with some really inventive entries. I know I might be too late for the contest, but I wanted to get my two cents in anyway. 🙂

  5. I like to know what authors like to read and who their favorite authors are and why. I’m intrigued by how you come up with story ideas. What books have made a great impact on your life and why? What do you do when you get writer’s block? ? I’ve been reading your books since you were published through Heartsong Presents. And BTW, my maiden name is Mills and one of my sisters’ name is Diane Mills. ?

  6. Hi, DiAnn!

    This is a great idea. I love learning more about you, the author. I’m interested in what makes you tick, your hobbies, what you like to cook. I think it’s fun too when you have guest interviews and when you tell the readers which authors you like to read. I don’t think that’s showing favoritism toward other authors, it just lets us know what interests you.

  7. I think there have been many wonderful suggestions. Something that would particularly interest me would be hobbies – yours and perhaps those of other authors. I’m quite sure that y’all must have something that helps you relax. 🙂

  8. Hi DiAnn,

    I would love posts about your favorite writers, books that have changed your life (and how and why), favorite movies and TV shows (and why), and the writer’s life. I would especially like to read about challenges you have faced in writing and promoting your books, and how you overcame them.

  9. Food and cooking, Faith, Guest blogs, My Favorite Authors, Books that have changed my life, The Writer’s Life, My fav TV shows and why, My fav movies and why, Hobbies, Other writer hobbies, Guilty pleasures (what I do when life goes crazy), What expert blogs I follow? My fav Facebook pages, My fav Twitter accounts, How do I put my mind into the head of a character?, How do I pick out a fiction or nonfiction book?, Fav vacation spots, Holiday celebrations, Holiday recipes and decorations. What I like about being a writer.

  10. Anything book/author-related. I’m always very curious to know how my favorite authors come up with the ideas for their stories, how they develop their characters, what their own favorite books, authors, or genres are, etc. I also enjoy learning about authors’ hobbies and interests and see if that is evident at all in their writing.

  11. Faith, Guest blogs, My favorite authors, Books that have changed my life
    The Writer’s Life, What expert blogs I follow?, An interview with my husband (you’d have to give me questions), How do I put my mind into the head of a character?, Holiday celebrations, Holiday recipes and decorations

    I like these. I included the interview with your husband, but I’m not sure what questions I’d want to have asked.

  12. I would love to hear about all of them. I especially love reading when you blog something about desserts or dishes you made for guests you were entertaining.

  13. I would like to read about an author’s hobbies. I can not imagine that some authors would have time to write and have a hobby. I would think either would be time consumming. Really though, I can see where a hobby would be a good diversion from writing.

  14. I love to read your blog posts on your writing life. I get a lot out of your tips for writers. I would also like to read about other authors and books that you recommend. I would probably read just about anything that you blog about because you have such a wonderful sense of humor. Thanks for the giveaway and the chance for the readers to have input.

  15. Faith and anything book/author related.

    Also, I don’t know what questions I would ask, but it would be fun if you interviewed your husband.

  16. I am always looking for new authosr to read. I would like recommendations of authors to read.

    Maybe a bit about food and fashion.

  17. The blogs that I would like to read are :
    Faith, Guest Blogs, My Favorite Authors, Guilty Pleasures, What Expert Blogs I Follow,
    My Favorite FB Pages, How Do I Put My Mind Into The Head Of A Character (I get a headache just thinking about that one), last but not least, Your Thoughts? How Do I Relax?
    Thanks for giving these your considerations.

  18. I would be most interested in 6,7,8,18,19 – I have discovered some of my favourite authors through the recommendations of other authors!

  19. I would love to hear about what books or authors you like to read, how you decorate for the holiday, recipes you might want to share, your guilty pleasures, and where you get your ideas for your books or characters!

  20. I would like to see posts about your favorite recipes, holiday dishes and decor and also posts about what you are reading. I have found many good books through author recommendations.

  21. I like all of the ideas. Favorite TV shows, books that inspires you, holiday recipes, and an occasional joke or cartoon sounds great.

  22. These are the topics from your list that would interest me:
    Your favorite authors
    Books that have changed your life
    Your fav TV shows and why
    How do you put your mind into the head of a character?

  23. All of the topics sound interesting. Some that I would like to see are food/cooking, books that have changed your life, and holiday cooking/recipes/tradition.

  24. Hi there , I really like any and all of the suggestions . It would be interesting to add besides faith — a little spirituality or new age, positive messages of the day . The ideas of how you come up with characters is interesting to me . I would def read any of the blog ideas . Fashion , decor , beauty is my jam . Thank you

  25. I would like to know where you get your story ideas;something happened to you or someone you know or just your imagination? Also, how hard is it for you to keep your faith in these trying times?

    I enjoy your stories of life and experiences.

    Thank you for asking for opinions of your readers.

  26. They’re all such great topics. These are the ones that I’d most like to read about.

    Food and cooking
    Faith
    Your favorite authors
    Your fav TV shows and why
    Your fav movies and why
    Hobbies
    Your fav Facebook pages
    Holiday celebrations
    Holiday recipes and decorations

  27. I’d like to learn what authors and books have most influenced you, what Facebook pages you like the best, more about your husband–how he handles your writing career, what he does for fun, etc., how you select your titles, characters, settings, ideas, and anything else you’d like to share.

  28. All of the ideas sound good! I would especially like the topics of faith and how you get in the head of your characters.

    Thank you for the giveaway.

  29. 1. What made you decide to be a writer?
    2. Favorite Books
    3. Favorite Movies
    4. Favorite Authors
    5. Book recommendations
    6. Movies you have seen

  30. Definitely books that have changed you! And it would be fun to know what you love to cook (for holidays and other times), your guilty pleasures, how you get into your characters’ heads.

    I always love to see what you come up with, although make-up and fashion will lose my interest pretty fast! LOL

  31. I just like to get to know the author. A glimpse outside of your writing life. Hobbies, interests, favorite ? , interesting people you’ve met…

    I’m wondering what your thoughts are on the topic of:
    Can an alpha male exist in a politically correct society?

  32. My favorite on your list is “books that have changed my life” or any media that has greatly impressed you. Like several others, I have really liked your own blog topics. My all-time favorite was a Goodreads blog, where, if I remember correctly, “The church has left the building” since the message was so relevant and inspiring!

  33. 1. Favorite authors
    2. All time favorite movie
    3. The one book you can read over and over
    4. Hobbies
    5. Favorite vacation spots
    6. What kind of head space do you have to be in when you write.
    7. What goes through your head when you come up with an idea for a new book

  34. I guess of the ones you listed, I would like to hear about:
    1. Favorite authors
    2. Favorite TV shows and why
    3. Favorite movies
    4. Hobbies
    5. Favorite vacation spots

  35. I’d like to know your favorite movies & books & why. Also I’d like to know about your faith and Christmas traditions.

  36. Books that have changed my life! I’m an avid reader for life, but I can’t think of any books that have singularly changed my life. I would love to hear your take on such books.

  37. I would love to hear more about how God has changed your life. What books have impacted your life? Favorite places to go on vacation? Dream trip? How does the real life heroes feel you portray their jobs and lives?

  38. Faith, Books that have changed your life, Your favorite authors, Favorite FB pages, Food & Cooking. Your motivation for writing,

  39. Using your list, the topics that most interest me are 4, 6, 7, 8, 13, 18, and 19. I’m also interested in hearing about your new books.

  40. Hi DiAnn,

    For me, that is honestly fairly easy. 1. Your favorite Authors 2. Your Favorite Holidays & 3. Special Holiday Recipes.

    You are one of my favorite Suspense/Romance authors, so I want you to know that I do appreciate you a whole lot. Thank you for all you do for your readers. With appreciation, Faith

  41. Food and cooking
    Faith
    Guest blogs
    My favorite authors
    An interview with my husband-What is it like being the husband of a famous author?
    How do I put my mind into the head of a character?
    Holiday recipes and decorations

  42. Hi, Diann! I agree with Marilyn above me. How is what God is teaching you a part of your writing? Along with that would be how do you put yourself in the head of your characters? What is the writer’s life like (what is going on with your writing life)?
    For me honestly, anything you want to share–favorite recipes, favorite books/movies, vacation spots, Scriptures, …

    Thanks for all you do to share with your readers and help us know you better!

  43. I would love to know what authors you read. I’m always looking for new authors. I wouldn’t mind reading how you put a book together either. I don’t really know the process an author goes through.

  44. This is so fun picking what we’d like to see in blog posts! I’ll name my top 5 out of your list 🙂
    1. Faith
    2. Guest Blogs
    3. My favorite authors/books
    4. Guilty pleasures
    5. How do I put my mind into the head of a character?

  45. DiAnn, the topics I would choose would be:
    Faith
    Favorite Movies and Tv Shows and why
    Family
    Researching your novels and interesting things you discover while researching.
    Love hearing from you! Enjoy your books!

  46. Any and all of those are great options! You should choose a different topic for each newsletter to showcase your thoughts at that point!

  47. Anything you post, DiAnn – – I’ll read and love! 🙂
    But personally choosing some favorite topics, I’d have to say: Faith, The Writer’s Life, anything on Time Management, How you get into your character’s head, and Your Favorite Travel Spots.
    Thanks for being such a nice, approachable Author! 🙂

  48. An interview with your husband. lol. What’s it like living with a writer? Does she drive you crazy when she’s stumped over something?

    Also, your favorite book authors.

  49. Holiday recipes and decorations – love these unto themselves, but also love them in books – makes me really relate to the character more, and gives me an insight into them and the author as well! 🙂

  50. Hi! Anything you like to share about faith, especially how it relates to your characters, books you are reading, your process of writing and other projects in the works is great. Enjoy your books a lot. Thanks for doing a giveaway!

  51. Faith. How do you put your mind in a character’s head. What books have changed your life. And just more about the process for choosing the characters for your stories.

  52. 6, 11 and 18

    Also …Do your read while you are working on a book (when you take a break or after your writing for the day is done?

  53. Thanks for asking! My top 5 picks are:
    Faith
    My favorite authors
    Books that have changed my life
    My fav TV shows and why
    My fav movies and why

  54. I don’t watch tv so favorite tv shows doesn’t interest me. Movies are a little better! I also don’t care about makeup or how to choose a book. All the rest are fine!

  55. I’m open to lots of topics. From your list, my favorites would be:
    Faith, Guest blogs, My favorite authors, Books that have changed my life, Guilty pleasures (what I do when life goes crazy,) What expert blogs I follow, How do I put my mind into the head of a character, and How do I pick out a fiction or nonfiction book.

  56. -Food and cooking (particulary diet/low cal/ low sugar foods)
    -Books that have changed my life
    -My fav TV shows /movies (hubby and I are always searching for great shows/movies to binge)
    And this one is my own suggestion – recently my elderly Mom moved in with me and I am shocked at how very little there is online for caretakers, even suggestions for entertaining Seniors, or inspirational Senior stories. We all love our parents/grandparents, lets explore that! . I’d love to see topics about Seniors

  57. I would be interested in all of them, but I am especially interested in favorite TV shows, mind of characters, and the holiday ones.

  58. I like to read about the authors lives and what they like and dislike. Topics like favorite TV shows, books that have changed your life, your favorite authors, faith and family would all be interesting.

  59. Faith, favorite authors, books that changed my life, favorite TV shows and why, favorite movies and why, hobbies, guilty pleasures.

  60. Food and cooking
    Guest blogs
    My favorite Christian authors
    The Writer’s Life
    How do I put my mind into the head of a character?

    These would be my top choices. I enjoy reading your posts, regardless of the topic!

  61. I love hearing about a writer’s life. What motivates them and where ideas come from. What books an author is reading and recommends as well. How do you keep organized and still find time for yourself?

  62. My top three choices would be 22.Holiday recipes and decorations, 5.Guest blogs, & 13.Guilty pleasures (what I do when life goes crazy)

  63. can I just eliminate the (2) that don’t particularly interest me?? (#’s 2 & 3 by the way) and #6 is a toughy to answer (without getting you killed as one of my interviewees said! LOL)
    Top picks are #’s 5 (may I?) 7, 17 (this should be fun!) & 18

  64. My favorite authors
    Hobbies
    Fav vacation spots
    Holiday celebrations
    Holiday recipes and decorations

    I think variety is great. And if you could have a search feature, so one can see only those posts that meet the criteria, that would be wonderful – or have the various blog categories on the right side of the page, so we could just click on them.

  65. Wow! So many to choose from that interest me.
    My favorite authors
    Books that have changed my life
    The Writer’s Life
    Guilty pleasures (what I do when life goes crazy)
    What expert blogs I follow?
    An interview with my husband (you’d have to give me questions)
    How do I put my mind into the head of a character?
    How do I pick out a fiction or nonfiction book?

    I really enjoy your blog, Diann! Each one contains a new thought for me to ponder. Thank you for the effort you put into it.

  66. Hi DiAnn – Thank you for allowing us to give our input. I’m interested in 1,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,17,18,19,20,21 & 22.

  67. Hi DiAnn, I would enjoy reading about faith, food & cooking,writers life, how you put your head into the mind of a character, of course about your books and the research. And holiday food and celebrations. Thanks for sharing about your husband’s late Aunt. What a wonderful woman and story. 🙂
    Carol L

  68. My responses in order of interest:
    Writer’s Life, Books that changed you, Mind into your character, Expert blogs you follow, Fav authors, How pick fiction & nonfiction book, faith.

    Thanks for asking.

  69. I love all of the above but I also love behind the mind of an author blogs. You know the things that make you stop and think “that would be great in a book”. Things that get the wheels turning and end up being amazing books, where the ideas come from, the little things that turn in to big ideas. Thoughts about the writing process, do the characters talk to you, do they argue about what you intend to do, do the characters actually end up taking the story someplace you did not intent to go? The odd stuff that only authors know but readers want to! That would be amazing!

  70. I like topics that have to do with how you came up with storylines, about you, food, and of course any new books or contests your involved with.

  71. There are a few topics that I would like to hear about. My favorite authors, my fav tv shows and why, my fav movies and why, guilty pleasures, a fun interview with your husband, fav vacation spots, holiday recipes and decorations and food and cooking.

  72. I like 6, 7,8, 13, 14 and 20. It is always interesting to hear about people’s lives, I think just the “down to earth” side of your life, how you spend your days, what silly things happen to you, just funny day to day stories! Thanks for asking!

  73. Wow…there were so many that that were of interest to me…..1,3,4,9,11,13,21 and 22. Reading blogs is fun when I have finished a book and am looking for lighter reading or my next read(book). Thank you for asking! You make us readers feel special!

  74. I like the ideas Books that changed your life, Favorite authors, Favorite TV shows and Movies, How you put your mind in the head of a character and Guilty Pleasure. These things help me know you !!! Thanks for asking us

  75. I like the question of how you get into your character’s heads, especially when there are more than one strong personality. I’m also interested in who your favorite authors are and in what you do to unwind when you’re not writing.

  76. 1,6,7,21,22 ….I also like tips on how to do almost anything that people have learned the hard way and random knowledge, like best way to make coffee.

  77. I always wonder just how you go about putting your ideas together for a book. I enjoy reading about the Amish and wonder if you ever thought about writing a book about the Amish People.

    I enjoy all your books DiAnn and always pass them along to our local Library when I finish reading them. Love your blog also. Love , Jane

  78. I found many of these interesting! I’d love to know more about:
    1. Food and cooking
    6. My favorite authors
    7. Books that have changed my life
    8. The Writer’s Life
    9. My fav TV shows and why
    10. My fav movies and why
    11. Hobbies
    18. How do I put my mind into the head of a character?
    19. How do I pick out a fiction or nonfiction book?
    21. Holiday celebrations
    22. Holiday recipes and decorations

  79. I’d like to know your favorite books, authors, tv shows, movies, guilty pleasures, what you do for relaxation, favorite trips/places you’ve gone.

  80. Faith, Guest blogs,
    My favorite authors,
    Hobbies,
    How do I put my mind into the head of a character?
    The Writer’s Life
    What goes into plotting, researing and writing one of your books?

  81. Hi DiAnn!

    I LOVE each of your topic suggestions! 🙂 I don’t think I could pick just a few…how about you use all 23 and add in a few more and you’ll have a topic for each week of the year, lol.

  82. I’d read your blog on any of the topics above. I’d also like to read about where you get your plot ideas, what Christ is doing in your life… I think a blog post by one of your characters about how to look for God’s activity in your life (or other topics the character might write about) would be fun. If you write it, I’ll read it! 🙂

  83. The topics of interest to me are: 1, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 13, 18, 20 and 21. And to add one of my own, how about Character bios and interviews. I even like this info with the secondary characters too.

  84. One question I think is always interesting to a reader is how did you decide on your style of writing and the plot within your book. Do you use a board to map your development of the characters and the book plot. These two questions always pop into my head when I first read a new author. Thanks for this chance to send my questions to you.

  85. I’d say “How do I put my mind into the head of a character?” interests me the most. I’m also into your favorite TV series /movies and why. Does it play into your ideas for your suspense novels?

    Thanks!

  86. I would love to hear about books that have changed your life and how you put your mind into the head of a character. The interview with your husband would be cool too.

  87. The blog topics that interest me are #1-Food and Cooking, #4 Faith, #5 Guest Blogs, #22 Holiday Recipes and Decorations. Under the topic of faith I would like to see devotions or a daily Bible verse.

  88. 1, 7, 13 and 22 are the topics that most appeal to me. Truly, I like things that make me think, reach into my past for things that shaped me, or touch a common theme in women’s lives.

  89. Hi! and thank you for asking. I would love to know how you get the idea of a new book. Is it something you see or remember, a place you’ve traveled to? Before you sit down to write do you have an outline forming in your mind? I would also love to read about books you’ve read and feel connection to, even if it’s a children’s book or a cookbook! Finally, Guilty Pleasures sound like fun and maybe some new ideas for us to try!

  90. I lie your blog. I don’t have any preferences for you. My husband and I cook for our church. We both read. Very different in our reading materials. We love friends and family. We are parents, grandparents and great-grandparents.

  91. I like a mixture. Nothing extremely detailed though. Who you would recommend for authors/books, posts/tweets/articles that you found interesting, yes, tv and movies you liked, etc. Make it like talking to a friend not reading an article.

  92. Your blogs always makes my day. I would like to learn more about your favorite authors, hobbies, holiday celebrations, recipes and decorations. To be honest I would enjoy what every you are willing to share.

  93. The blog topics that interest me are faith, your favorite authors, books that have changed your life and how ordinary things become extraordinary blessings in your day-to-day life .

  94. Reading is very important to me, my parents read to us and took us to the library weekly… my sister passed away in April and she would give people books for presents for Christmas birthday, etc… the classics were a favourite to gives reading is very important to me now as a way to connect with her ?

  95. Books that have changed your life.
    Guilty pleasures.
    How do you put your mind into the head of a character?
    An interview with your husband would be fun, especially if we really could write the questions.

  96. Want to know about books that have changed your life. I have so often had my thoughts of life changed by what I have read. I am encouraged by your characters stories of faith and would love to know more about how God is working through the things you have read to develop their journeys. Do they often mirror your thoughts at the time?

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