By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills

Reading makes us heroes,. The habit encourages us to grow physically, mentally, and spiritually. The more we know, the more we grow, and the more we can show others information or a slice of life that will add value to their lives. Tall expectations, but it’s motivated me to read for—never mind the years. Let’s say ever since I asked my dad, “Daddy, what does S T O P spell?”

Read to Know and Grow

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Like many of us, I started my reading with Dick and Jane and graduated to cereal boxes. Then Little Women captured my attention. I cried my way through Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy. Once I dried my eyes, I discovered Nancy Drew and read every Nancy Drew Mystery Story I could find. Mystery and suspense thrilled me. And the hours of adventures with The Hardy Boys, Trixie Beldon, and Cherry Ames.

One thing hasn’t changed, and that’s my longing to embrace beautifully crafted words. Sentences. Paragraphs. Books. Wow.

Every morning begins with Bible study, allowing God’s Word to give me my marching orders. In my spare time, I grab a book from my to-be-read stack, which is taller than my 5’2” height.

Nonfiction inspires me to learn more about my faith, writing, other people, sciences, language, and the world around me.

Did I mention signs, billboards, advertisements, package ingredient lists, nutritional values, sales’ circulars, and recipes?

Opinion pieces broaden my perspective on how others view the world and its people. If I disagree, then why? Do I need to rethink my beliefs, stand firm, and/or explore more deeply into the topic?

Devotions encourage me to live and show my faith in honoring God. These little nuggets of gold enrich my life.

I devour various blog posts about writing, marketing, promotion, social media, and the publishing industry to keep me up to date on my chosen career. I also explore blog posts and articles about good health, baking, cooking, beauty, fashion, travel, gardening, and decorating. Yeah, I’m a bit eclectic. Aren’t we all?

Then there is fiction. The amazing and incredible world of a story. History and culture live forever within the realms of tales. My favorite genres are suspense, thrillers, and romantic suspense. Man’s behavior and psychology intrigue me. Yet I can easily get lost in a contemporary, historical, mystery, dystopian, apocalyptic dystopian, or fantasy. Just like my writing, a story is about character, and the more complex the better.