By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills Tweet this: Great Graduation Gifts It’s that time of the year when high school and college seniors are taking steps into the future with graduation ceremonies. We want to honor them, but what gift ideas are meaningful and practical? We want a fun and useful gift, something different and exciting. But what? When I received graduation

by DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills Tweet This: Strong Women, Strong Roles Readers often ask how I choose my heroines. My goal is to create women who accept nontraditional roles and succeed with dynamic outcomes. These are Glock-totin‘ gals with southern charm who understand grits aren’t just for breakfast. These women embrace their femininity with an added boost—they aren’t afraid to go

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills Tweet this: Celebrating Writer Milestones Every writer has her own definition of achievements, and most of us celebrate success in different ways. I posed two questions to some of my author buddies. Loved their responses and I think you will too. What is a writing milestone for you and how do you celebrate? Lynette Eason –

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills Tweet this: Stepping Out of Our Comfort Zone Last week Houston experienced the worst flooding since 2001. With the torrential storms and downpours that brought 16 to 20 inches of rain came tornadoes. My neighborhood, friends, and church family were impacted, but we were fine. The devastation that hit the community was measured by the number

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills Tweet this: Fun Ways to Celebrate Mother’s Day May 8, Mother’s Day, will soon be here. I’m issuing you a challenge. This year plan a celebration your mother or the woman you honor as mother never forgets. Today’s blog will give you a few ideas to make this momentous occasion truly special. Generation Celebration Invite the

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills Tweet this: 5 Things We Want to Hear When We’re Down When we’ve been slammed with bad news or rude comments, our first instinct is to either cry, run, or punch someone in the nose. Too many times the situation heads us toward depression. Not fun. Being down is like finding yourself at the bottom of

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills Tweet this: First Lines of Stories that Inspire I’m an avid reader, but I’m also picky. Confession time here . . . If a story doesn’t grab me in the first line, I’m reluctant to read further. Out of respect for the writer, I might continue for a paragraph. Normally, I’m done and ready to move

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills Tweet this: Highways, Speed Bumps, and Traffic Lights Writers seldom become successful and create a marketable book—overnight. At least that wasn’t my experience. The victories and triumphs are waylaid with rejection slips, disappointments, and  lots of rewrites. But when the first sale was made, I knew it was worth every drop of sweat and tears. My

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills Tweet this: Exploring Your Ancestry Have you ever been curious about your ancestors? Ever wonder about what ethnicity flows predominantly through your veins? Many people have ideas about where they came from through family stories and documents, and these are exciting. But I wanted to know who went before me and from what country. The curiosity

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills Tweet this: Vacation Magic Last week, husband and I spent six days in Estes Park, Colorado. We love the Rocky Mountain National Park, and often retreat there. We work at home, so unless we leave, we don’t have a break. We packed our coats, scarves, gloves, and hiking boots for a March getaway. Once in Estes