By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills Readers of Trace of Doubt have asked me about the jewelry pieces in the story. This post gives you the inside scoop of the jewelry designs and their names. My heroine, Shelby Pierce, accomplished three valuable feats while in prison: She earned a master’s degree in business. She learned the art of designing jewelry. She became

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills We writers are in the business of learning the craft, using our imaginations, writing, editing, rewriting, and the process repeats. That’s horizontal writing. We’re depending on people and earth’s resources to help us reach our publishing dreams and goals. While we prayerfully consider wise counsel and seek knowledge, too often we forget that we are called

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills A writer’s life doesn’t fit the 9-5 mold of most of the working world. Challenges smack us in the face, and we must be ready to evaluate what we are doing right and what we are doing less-than-best. An attitude of looking at life’s hiccups as an opportunity puts an optimistic spin on our mental and

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills Writers travel a sacred adventure—a journey of the soul fueled by the opportunity to touch the lives of countless people. We have been given a treasured gift, the gift of writing. Writing is not an easy journey, but it’s one filled with holiness. Writing is a path each writer takes alone, but in the stillness, we

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills Writing and research go hand in hand for a credible story. If a manuscript isn’t accurate, the reader will recognize the flaw and toss the book aside. If a writer is spot-on, the extra work rewards them with outstanding reviews and more readers. Sort of a no-brainer for us writers. How do we conduct our research

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills Has anyone ever said to you that reading fiction is a waste of time, money, and brain matter? That’s hogwash! Yes, I’m passionate about fiction, and here’s why! To enjoy an entertaining adventure for readers. To learn about the world and people in an unthreatening environment. To be encouraged in our own lives by characters overcoming

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills Who doesn’t love the huggable, honey-eating Winnie-the-Pooh of Hundred Acre Wood? His gentle voice and whimsical ways have delighted the hearts of young and old since English author A. A. Milne created Pooh and E. H. Shephard illustrated him in 1926. Walt Disney saw Pooh Bear’s potential and in 1961 licensed some of the film rights

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills My blog posts are for you, and I want to make sure you see great content each week. To stretch my creativity and put a smile on your face, I first need your help in choosing blog post topics. Over the years, I’ve provided recipes, guest bloggers, contests, humor, wisdom, and an occasional video. I do

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills I’m ready for this 2022 New Year to be wrapped in optimism. For that to happen, I must make a conscious decision (sometimes moment by moment) to declare joy in all things: ups, downs, and in-between times. It’s easy to write out that declaration, but to enlist optimism and joy, I need help—supernatural help and a

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills Click here for video Christmas greeting from DiAnn Mills Blessings to you this Christmas Season!