By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills Reading is as vital to my career as writing. Establishing reading goals for 2020 along with my personal, professional, and spiritual objectives means scheduling a plan. I like what Stephen King says: “If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.” I’ll add my own

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills Choose to love this New Year

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills If you’re like me, I’m scrambling for Christmas recipes. I’m pulling out tried and true recipes while looking for a new tempting taste treat. Over the years, I’ve saved yummy how-to dishes for appetizers, salads, soups, vegetables, main courses, and of course desserts. Below are a few favorites that might be suitable for your Christmas feast.

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills During Lone Star Literary’s book blog tour for Fatal Strike, I learned a lot about what readers prefer in a romantic suspense novel. The responses can help me weave what reader preferences into my stories. The following 16 responses interested me, and I wanted to share them with you. Good character development The edge of the

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills The holidays are approaching like a jet on a mission—fast and filled with activities. Some of us love this time of year. The colors of gold, orange, and scarlet with a crisp feel of lower temps can be an emotional high—it is for me! The sweet scent and taste treats of apples, cinnamon, and pumpkin are

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills Confession is supposed to be good for the soul, and I admit to being a writing-addict. Addictions don’t necessarily mean a problem, but they do indicate a dependency, obsession, habit, and enslavement to something. The deciding factor is whether the draw is a good factor for us and those around us. In the case of writing,

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnn Mills Kaleidoscopes show us the many characteristics of light and color. With the twist of the wrist, mirrors and colored pieces of material, usually glass, reflect the beauty in various shapes. Each glimpse of the art becomes a gift for those who appreciate a dynamic creation. Much like each one of us is a unique gift

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills Content from this post first appeared 8-17-17 I was a guest at a book club of a special group of ladies who read my books and encourage me. These ladies are grandmothers and great grandmothers, full of life and energy. With the release of Fatal Strike, I think you’ll enjoy what happened at this Texas book

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills What does creating white space in our lives mean? How can we remove the onslaught and clutter of text and graphics from our daily pages? Should we take a few moments to be free from our obligations and responsibilities? Enjoy a favorite pastime? Breathe fresh, uninterrupted air? Good questions—but if we answer yes, might we be

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills Most of us have memories from the past that refuse to let us go. The reminders of failings weigh us down like over-stuffed luggage. We recall conversations and events—repeatedly. While on the surface, we pretend to have our act together. Depression sets in. We physically hurt. A lump stays fixed in our throats. We’re afraid to