By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills My mouth waters at the thought of a hot cherry cobbler, one scoop maybe two of vanilla ice cream, and fresh dark-roasted coffee. Yep, that’s May 17th—National Cherry Cobbler Day. According to the dictionary, the definition of a cobbler is: “A dessert consisting of fruit baked in a deep dish with a thick, cake-like crust on top.” The sweet …
Where to Find Ideas for Your Novel
By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills Where do authors find their ideas? From experience I can assure you a drone hasn’t delivered any of my stories to my front door or drop-shipped a complete novel into my brain. Sometimes I waken from a dream with an amazing idea, but that’s rare. Novel ideas are everywhere. We simply must train our minds to …
Recipes to Swing into Spring
By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills Trying new recipes doesn’t need a special season of the year but swinging into spring with light and fun dishes makes sense to me. The following are a few favorites that will tickle your tastebuds. Crispy Jicama Apple Salad Prep Time: 20 minutes | Cook Time: 20 minutes | Servings: 4 I tried this for the …
41 Tips to Make You a Better Writer
by DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills Writers today search for tips to help them move forward in the craft. The following are 41 ways to sharpen your writing career. Pray for your writing ministry. Read in the genre you are writing. Read a craft how-to book each month. Read a marketing book each month. Study the bestsellers like a textbook. Study daily …
April 19 – National Stress Awareness Day
By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills It’s no coincidence that National Stress Awareness Day falls the day after tax day. I’ve also seen that April 19th is National Wear Your Pajamas to Work Day, and that’s just another way to relieve the stress. Stress is the body’s way of protecting itself from potential harm or a threat. So our bodies kick into high …
Are You an Introvert or an Extrovert?
By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills Most of us know if we’re introverts or extroverts, but do we know to what extreme? Are we a little introverted or a lot? Are we a friendly extrovert or an over-the-top people person? Rarely is a person 100 percent one way or the other. We are individuals and our preferences and life experiences determine our …
How to Effectively Brainstorm a Novel
By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills Writers of all genres welcome brainstorming sessions. The opportunity to discuss new ideas and solve problems in a creative environment is an amazing resource. Our minds kick down the doors that hold our imaginations captive, and the result is a collective stroke of genius. By using the acronym, BRAINSTORMING, you can bring the whirling to a …
The Health Benefits of a Vacation
By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills Two weeks ago, my husband and I took a much-needed vacation. We sensed our physical, mental, and spiritual bodies required a change of pace for optimum health. Some people prefer the ocean or a body of water to relax. Some (like me) prefer the mountains to hike and breathe in the fresh air. Others long for …
John Wooden’s Socks
DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills Today’s Guest Blog Written by Curt Iles @CurtIles “It isn’t what you do, but how you do it.” – John Wooden I was a college senior the year I met John Wooden in 1979. I was preparing to embark on my journey as a high school basketball coach. I traveled to Monroe, Louisiana to hear John Wooden …
Nonfiction Recommendations for Everyday Life
By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills We all need to engage our minds in learning about real people, real events, and discovering facts. Nonfiction reading educates and informs, and my belief is we become better citizens of the world by empowering ourselves with awareness. In this post, I’d like to share recent book titles that have impacted me personally and spiritually. You …