Writing Authentic and Accurate Law Enforcement

By DiAnn Mills

Some writers of suspense and crime fiction believe TV shows and movies provide accurate representation for local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. Unless a professional is hired to assist the script and scene, the depictions on the screen are designed to entertain and move the story along, and may miss correct protocol.

Writers, this means the professionals want to help us create realistic stories about their critical roles.

While we enjoy the peace of mind of having a trained person carry a weapon and keep us safe, we also have the responsibility of supporting the courageous people who put their lives on the line for us. They can’t do their job alone. For this partnership to work, law enforcement agencies seek to educate the community on the how and why of their unique positions. They offer programs and immerse themselves into neighborhoods to listen to the needs of others.

Procedure, laws, jurisdiction, and terminology differ according to the agency. So how does a writer ensure a story’s research is factual?

The answer is to contact the law enforcement agency directly. Most all agencies have a media specialist or public relations person assigned to answer questions. When I began writing suspense, I had to move from my introverted self to an extrovert and make a few phone calls. I kept telling myself that the person on the other end of the phone could only say no. What I discovered is just the opposite! Just like I enjoyed talking about my life as a writer, I found the law enforcement agency representatives were excited to talk about their chosen profession.

Here are a few tips to help you reach out for the correct information:

1.          Establish what law enforcement agency will be featured in your book—local, state, or federal.

2.          Prepare questions for an interview. A writer wants to know what the person likes about his/her job, dislikes, a typical day, how the job affects personal life, hobbies, what the person does for fun, and the list goes on. If you have a characterization sketch, look at those prompts as guidelines to prepare the interview.

3.          Contact the agency and introduce yourself. Ask to speak to the public relations person. Explain what you need and schedule a physical, phone, or email Q&A. Thank the person.

4.          If the writer is fortunate to have a face-to-face with the expert, take the time to get to know the person. Many traits of our heroes and heroines rise from these conversations. Listen to how the person talks and the words used.

Many law enforcement agencies in bigger cities offer citizens programs to those who desire to help be liaisons between the agency and the community. Those involved in citizens outreach programs influence their own circle of people. The classes are approximately 6 to 8 weeks long with regular meetings to keep those in the program informed, educated—and have fun.

Understand some agencies can’t provide us with details due to the sensitive nature of their work. The following law enforcement agencies are known for their citizens programs and there may be more:

1.          Citizens Police Academy

2.          FBI Citizens Academy

3.          DEA Citizens Academy

4.          U.S. Marshals Service Citizens Academy

5.          State Highway Patrol Citizens Academy

6.          ICE Citizens Academy

Writers, step out of your comfort zone and search for the information to ensure your story is rich with facts.

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DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She combines unforgettable characters with unpredictable plots to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels. Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests. Firewall, the first book in her Houston: FBI series, was listed by Library Journal as one of the best Christian Fiction books of 2014. DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers. She is co-director of The Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference and The Mountainside Marketing Conference with social media specialist Edie Melson where she continues her passion of helping other writers be successful. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country. DiAnn has been termed a coffee snob and roasts her own coffee beans. She’s an avid reader, loves to cook, and believes her grandchildren are the smartest kids in the universe. She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas. DiAnn is very active online and would love to connect with readers on Facebook: www.facebook.com/diannmills, Twitter: https://twitter.com/diannmills or any of the social media platforms listed at www.diannmills.com.

Writer Branding - What’s the Fuss?

By DiAnn Mills

A writer’s brand is a red carpet of introduction to readers and the publishing industry. It’s an identity that shows genre and demonstrates what others can expect from writing projects, blogs, social media posts, and anything attributed to the writer’s name.

Branding is not a marque in a writer’s front yard with the writer’s smiling face in three dimensions, “Buy Now” in neon lights, and the title of your latest book in life-size letters.

A brand is critical to a reader’s positive emotional experience. It’s why a fan focuses on words composed by a particular writer; he/she knows what’s waiting for them. There’s no need to contemplate the content because the brand says it all.

For some prominent writers, their name alone is an identity. For most of us, we’re not so fortunate. We strive to establish our identity.

Through everything we write, our goal is to send a subtle message:

    I’m relational.

    I care about you.

    You come before me.

    When you close one of my books, my brand will still be there encouraging you to be   

    your best.

    Everything I write will show you I can be trusted.

A writer’s passion and expertise are shown in—nonfiction, blogs, social media posts, short stories, or fiction with a distinct flair. The writer understands the value of reader experience and expectations. Unfortunately, if we disappoint our readers, they will move on to the next writer. To avoid losing our readers, we define and specialize our identity in an unforgettable brand.

To develop a solid image, we begin by knowing who we are in this wild and wonderful world of communicating through the written word. We writers must visualize what a brand looks like to a reader.

The following tips will assist you on the path to an outstanding brand.

1.      Establish the genre you are most passionate about. If selecting a genre is confusing, seek out your favorite type of reading. There lies the answer.

2.      Develop a mission statement. What are your goals and values for a successful writing career?

3.      How would your dreams reflect in a brand?

4.      Invest in a professional headshot photograph. Consider your identity in choosing a pose, clothing, and setting. Be consistent with where your photo has visibility. Readers anticipate the same view wherever they find us. Why confuse them?

5.      Launch a website or blog presence so readers and those within the industry can find and learn about you.

6.      Professionally design a logo. Does it leave no doubt to the reader who you are?

7.      Understand and know your target readers. Spend time completing a character sketch for the perfect reader. How can we write for an audience when we don’t know who they are? It took me a long time to accept this concept, so you’re not alone.

8.      Focus on how your reader will respond to your writing? Are you effectively writing to heartfelt needs? Your brand lies within the depths of voice and delivery.

9.      Create a tagline to use as a signature on e-mail, social media, website, and book signings. Investigate what other writers use and ensure yours is unique while leaving no doubt to who you are as a writer. Your tagline must breathe personality. This may take a while to develop, so don't rush the process.

10.  Ensure contact information is on every social media platform. Consider using return mail labels with your website reflected. Writers want to be found everywhere.   

11.  Explore the various social media platforms for the ones that fit your brand and reader audience. For some writers, this may require tutoring from a social media specialist.

12.  Research favorite authors’ platforms. What do you like? Dislike? In what ways can you make yours unique?

13.  Initiate a minimum of social media platforms: website, Facebook, Twitter, and a blog. The latter doesn’t have to be a personal blog but can be another prominent site where you regularly post.

14.  Consider the psychology of color and learn the palette for your brand personality and reflect it everywhere.

The truth is our brands are developing each time we meet a reader’s eye. We writers want to direct them to a positive identity, one that launches a favorable outcome for them and our career. Seize control of publication goals and market with confidence.

Writers, we want loyalty to our books. A highly visible brand allows our reputation to expand, generating more readers and establishing our message in the world of publication.

What are you waiting for?

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DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She combines unforgettable characters with unpredictable plots to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels. Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests. Firewall, the first book in her Houston: FBI series, was listed by Library Journal as one of the best Christian Fiction books of 2014. DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers. She is co-director of The Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference and The Mountainside Marketing Conference with social media specialist Edie Melson where she continues her passion of helping other writers be successful. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country. DiAnn has been termed a coffee snob and roasts her own coffee beans. She’s an avid reader, loves to cook, and believes her grandchildren are the smartest kids in the universe. She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas. DiAnn is very active online and would love to connect with readers on Facebook: www.facebook.com/diannmills, Twitter: https://twitter.com/diannmills or any of the social media platforms listed at www.diannmills.com.

Quirky Sources to Add to Your Characterization

By DiAnn Mills

I live and breathe story—most writers do. And we’re always looking for ways to ensure our characters and their predicaments are exciting and unique. Some of the places we look can be a bit . . . different. But the exploration is worth it.

Here are a few areas in which I’ve found ways to add idiosyncrasies to character, plot, dialogue, setting, emotion, narration, body language, and symbolism. You might find your next plot twist there too.

Coffee, Tea, or Milk?

I admit my characters drink coffee. Usually black. But what about a tea drinker? What brand? Sugar or cream? Use a tea bag or steep the leaves? Visit a shop that carries tea and check out the buyers. You’ll find all sizes and ages. What if your character is a milk drinker? Whole milk or two percent? Your character could despise coffee, tea, is lactose intolerant and drinks only lemonade.

Grocery Store

Everyone needs to buy food, and most of us develop habits that stick throughout life. Does your character smell the pineapple? Squeeze a head of lettuce? Always buys two of each kind of fruit. Only selects organic products? Despises vegetables and replaces them with green apples? What about your character’s choice of candy—from gummy worms to dark chocolate? Does your character save the dairy and bakery department until last, or does the ice cream always melt by the time he/she gets to the checkout line?

Habits

Observe what is going on the next time you’re at a hair or nail salon. Women can have some crazy habits regarding their hair, fingers, and toes, everything from color to style. What about a woman at a hardware store searching for nails or plumbing supplies? Open up a character’s closet. Is it organized and tidy or a train wreck? Study those people at a family reunion. Who resembles whom and what mannerisms make them distinct?

Pets

Who doesn’t love a devoted dog, cat, or horse? Does your character have a hamster that keeps the owner up all night? A pot-belly pig that’s housebroken? An obnoxious parrot?

Mall Walkers

I used to think the only mall walkers were of the seasoned citizen variety, but not so. I see women pushing strollers and men joining them. Some of the walkers window-shop, sip coffee, chat on the phone, make sure they don’t work up a sweat, and (my personal favorite) pump their arms and legs as though heading for the Olympic gold.

Water Park

Preferably in the summer because the writer will want to participate in the fun. This is another place to snap a ton of pics. Who zooms down a water slide? Who’s the man who doesn’t want to get wet? Who’s there to show off his/her body? Who could care less how he/she looks—those enthusiasts just want to have fun.

Workout Facility

Sometimes this can be compared to a zoo. Need I say more?

Zoo

What about a character who has a snake, parrot, iguana, or monkey pig for a pet? Tour your zoo. Take pics. A few of the animals might resemble your characters.

Distinct details about our stories can be found anywhere. Search out for real people in real situations. You never know what you might find.

How do you find distinct characters?

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DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She combines unforgettable characters with unpredictable plots to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels. Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests. Library Journal presented her with a Best Books 2014: Genre Fiction award in the Christian Fiction category for Firewall. DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers. She is co-director of The Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference and The Author Roadmap with social media specialist Edie Melson where she continues her passion of helping other writers be successful. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country. DiAnn has been termed a coffee snob and roasts her own coffee beans. She’s an avid reader, loves to cook, and believes her grandchildren are the smartest kids in the universe. She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas. Her latest book Deep Extraction releases, today. DiAnn is very active online and would love to connect with readers on any of the social media platforms listed at www.diannmills.com

Mastering Writer Redundancy

By DiAnn Mills

We’ve all received the same critiques from agents, readers, writer buds, professional editors, and those representing publishing houses.

“Dear writer, you have a redundancy problem.”

“Dear writer, you used the word that over 450 times in a 300 word manuscript.”

“Dear writer, how many times does your character swallow hard in one story?”

We gasp. This can’t possibly be me. We attempt to hide our embarrassment and spend hours jotting down our weasel words and phrases. We begin the “search and find” process with our trusty thesaurus as our guide, and hope we aren’t blind to those words that pop up continuously throughout our manuscripts.

Writers, we can’t explain away redundancies with excuses like—the word is part of my character’s voice, or it’s a word frequent to the setting, or the word says so much more to me. Excuses for not correcting our flaws don’t make us bestselling writers. Instead, it leaves us with rejections and painful rewrites. The art of story is a learning process. We must always perfect our craft and push ourselves to exceed what we never dreamed possible.

I grew tired of my critique buds pointing out the overuse of words. So I embarked upon a quest to find a solution before anyone saw my story. What I discovered was a gold mine, one my publisher and readers appreciate. The self-satisfaction increased my confidence too.

Click on http://www.writewords.org.uk/word_count.asp which brings up Word Frequency Counter. Note the description, “Our word frequency counter allows you to count the frequency usage of each word in your text. Paste or type in your text below, and click submit. Also try our Phrase Frequency Counter.” At last an editing paradise. I slipped into nirvana mode, noting it was free.

The tool guided me through the process of avoiding redundancy, and it’s made me a more proficient writer. Here are Ten Reasons why using Word Frequency Counter sharpens the skills of a masterful writer.

1.     Our mistakes are rectified before our stories are seen by anyone. The practice of giving readers our best is a sign of professionalism and success.

2.     Our vocabularies increase by searching for words that articulate exactly what is meant.

3.     Our ability to fashion word pictures increase, and the experience heightens the reader’s experience.

4.     Our reputations grow as writers who care about the quality of the story line.

5.     Our reputations grow as writers who care about the mechanics of story.

6.     Our confidence increases each time we resolve a problem.

7.     We are inspired to develop stories that challenge our imaginations.

8.     We’re able to help other writers who struggle with redundancy.

9.     Agents and editors strive for writers who offer a fresh appeal to the publishing world while creating stories to entertain.

10.  Readers long to read our next book and the next because we have satisfied their adventuresome spirit for a quality story.

No writer should ever taste the bitterness of rejection from overusing words and phrases. We can overcome the hurdle and race on toward the goal called publication. 

How have you determined to eliminate redundancy from your writing?

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DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She combines unforgettable characters with unpredictable plots to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels. Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests. Library Journal presented her with a Best Books 2014: Genre Fiction award in the Christian Fiction category for Firewall. Her books include FIREWALL - Tyndale - July 2014, DOUBLE CROSS - Tyndale April 2015, DEADLOCK - Tyndale October 2015 and her latest release DEADLY ENCOUNTER - Tyndale August 2016, released today. DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers; the 2015 president of the Romance Writers of America’s Faith, Hope, & Love chapter; a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, and International Thriller Writers. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country. She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas. DiAnn is very active online and would love to connect with readers on any of the social media platforms listed at www.diannmills.com.

Lighting a Fire to Your Writing Career

By DiAnn Mills

When writers realize the embers of their careers are dying, stomping out the few remaining flames is not the answer. Instead, effective writers look for new ways to promote themselves that explodes with ingenuity and creativity.

Is your career on the verge of smoldering? Try adding a spark to your marketing and promotion plan with these ideas.

1.   Brainstorm with other writers about your brand and marketing and promotion efforts. I could write several blogs on this topic. In short, brainstorming is the best method I know to expand creativity from the writing process to branding and promotion.

2.   A new professional photo. Invest in a good photographer who will not only create a great new look for media but will also snap a few candid and fun pics that can be used for social networking.

3.   Update your website. Now may be the time to consider an exciting design that uses your brand as the focus. Your website is your calling card. It must reflect you, your writing, and your uniqueness.

4.   Author bio. A writer uses his/her flair for words to enhance a bio that draws readers into your world. Make it personal and professional. Also, develop a shorter version for those times when media has space for two or three sentences.

5.   If you’re social media networking includes only Facebook or Twitter, stretch yourself. Dive into the advantages of Goodreads where a writer can communicate with readers. Take the time to read all the benefits of Goodreads for writers. Pinterest is addictive, and the many uses of images in marketing and promotion are endless. Don’t limit yourself! Are podcasts in your future?

6.   Use Buffer or Hootsuite to organize and simplify your social media posts. This relieves the stress of watching the clock and questioning when followers are online. Analytics provide information critical to posting and content. Other methods are available, but these are my favorites. https://bufferapp.com https://hootsuite.com. 

7.   Is blogging a part of your plan? A successful writer understands a blog is only as good as the subject matter and how the material is presented. This is not about you but what you can offer to readers with your expertise. Use images and make it fun.

8.   Commit to reading blogs and books about marketing and promotion for writers in your genre.

9.   Are you taking care of yourself physically? A writer who’s not healthy or regularly exercising can’t expect the brain and heart to engage to maximum potential.

10.  Are you ensuring each book is written better than the previous one? Are writing challenges met with determination by studying the craft, deepening skills, and evaluating your own work?

11.  Prayer. This should be first. Seek God’s guidance for ways to glorify Him as we seek to entertain, inspire, and encourage readers.

Perhaps one of these eleven ideas have motivated you to add fire to your writing career. Determine today to light a match to one of them. 

How are you igniting a fire in your writing?

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DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She combines unforgettable characters with unpredictable plots to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels. Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests. Library Journal presented her with a Best Books 2014: Genre Fiction award in the Christian Fiction category for Firewall. DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers; the 2015 president of the Romance Writers of America’s Faith, Hope, & Love chapter; a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, and International Thriller Writers. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country. She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas. DiAnn is very active online and would love to connect with readers on any of the social media platforms listed at www.diannmills.com.

Building a Writer’s Motivation

By DiAnn Mills

Some days we writers feel like we’re Down for the Count—DFC Zone. You know what I’m talking about. It’s the ugly stepsister to creativity. When it hits, we call for a tow truck to get rid of our writing goals.

            We’re whipped.

            Bitter.

            Tired.

            Frustrated.

            Overwhelmed.

            Wanna quit.   

            Hungry for the wrong reasons.          

            Family not cooperating.

            Not sleeping or sleeping all the time.

            Holidays have us stressed to the max.

Have I touched on your complaint yet?

When you’re struggling in the DFC Zone and are desperately attempting a crawl out—by your broken fingernails—think back to the time when your motivation for writing came from a single word: passion. By using this word as an acronym, you can repair your motivation engine and drive out of the DFC zone.

P is passion. That’s the most important tool on your craftsman belt. I could toss in purpose, productivity, perfection, perseverance, power, published, preparation, or even pancakes—if that inspires a writer.

But without passion, we have nothing to motivate us.

A is analyze. What are the leaks in your fuel tank? We writers have to be constantly educating ourselves to reach our destination called publication. Take an honest look at the craft. Is there a way to deepen the technique? A critique group or partner can make us accountable and point out our blunders, stretching us to become better writers. Online workshops and writing conferences are an opportunity to learn from the pros.

When writers analyze their careers and make positive steps toward excellence, it’s a win-win situation.

S is simplify. Writers who obsess about their careers and develop intricate means to hopefully get them on the NYT seldom arrive. Writing an outstanding novel isn’t rocket science but a determination to work hard toward writing the best book possible. Then doing it again.

A writer who keeps her goals simple reaches her destination sooner.

S is step on the gas. A writer who procrastinates and whines just spins her wheels. By taking affirmative action toward being a best selling writer by analyzing and simplifying the method in which we work means to step on the gas and get the job done now. Today is the best day to begin.

Push your motivation out of the garage, gas up, and get started.

I is Intimacy. Writer know thyself. The only way to become passionate about communicating through the written word is to have a thorough knowledge of ourselves. This means seeking out our strengths and using them to declare war on our flaws. I believe in keeping my body physically fit, nutritionally sound, mentally alert, and spiritually tuned to God. The truth is we writers can’t address a subject if we haven’t dealt with our weaknesses effectively.

No writer wants to become road kill on the highway to publication.

O is ownership. Our success is up to us. If we thrive as writers, then we’ve practiced the habits of professionals. If our dreams and goals hit a roadblock, it’s no one’s fault but our own. Reality can really stink. But it doesn’t have to be a reason to quit when we take ownership of the problem and choose to flourish.

Seize ownership of your writing and take charge of your career.

N is network. Social media is a means to communicate with any of the 7.2 billion people on the planet. On the highway of networking, explore the endless possibilities of social media. A victorious writer studies the map of online communities to investigate what works for our brand, genre, and readers. This isn’t about us; it’s about reaching out to others with something we believe in.

7.2 billion people in this world. Who can the writer reach?

Take a deep breath and leave the DFC vehicle at the junkyard. Motivate your writing with Passion.

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DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She combines unforgettable characters with unpredictable plots to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels. Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests. Library Journal presented her with a Best Books 2014: Genre Fiction award in the Christian Fiction category for Firewall. DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers; the 2015 president of the Romance Writers of America’s Faith, Hope, & Love chapter; a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, and International Thriller Writers. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country. She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas. DiAnn is very active online and would love to connect with readers on any of the social media platforms listed at www.diannmills.com.

Seven Books That Will Change Your Fiction Writing Career

By DiAnn Mills

Reading how-to books demand the professional writer’s attention. These resources need to be read and reread, underlined, noted, and inhaled like a breath of fresh air—or a dose of castor oil. Depends on our ability to accept the contents. I have my favorites, and I want to share them with you and why I value their information.

1.     Writing the Break-Out Novel by Donald Maass. This how-to book challenged me to climb out of mediocre writing and scale the peaks of a bestselling writer. Maass is a genius in the world of fiction writing techniques and providing excellent examples of his points.

2.     Writing the Break-Out Novel Workbook by Donald Maass. The hands-on exercises in this workbook demonstrate the power of Maass’ teachings by applying his principles to our own work.

3.     Story Trumps Structure by Steven James demonstrates the power of story. When our novels are closed and the reader reflects upon the characters’ adventures, what prevails is the journey woven through the pages.

4.     The Emotion Thesaurus by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi is cemented to my desktop. These writers have crafted an informative book that blends emotion and body language to clearly show instead of telling story.

5.     The Power of Body Language by Tonya Reiman is a remarkable tool for the writer seeking to enhance characterization. The resource is also a valuable handbook for the speaker who not only desires to read her audience but also exhibit her own appropriate body language.

6.     Dialogue by Gloria Kempton establishes the importance of what a character says, how it’s said, and word choices. Exercises at the end of each chapter help the writer to practice the concepts.

7.     Dictionary and Thesaurus - This is a given, but we writers need to have one handy at all times.

No matter what your challenge in creating story, whether it is characterization, plot, dialogue, setting, emotion, setting, or self-editing. These books will guide you into professionalism. Are you ready to read, write, reread, and rewrite?

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DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She combines unforgettable characters with unpredictable plots to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels. Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests. Library Journal presented her with a Best Books 2014: Genre Fiction award in the Christian Fiction category for Firewall. Her series includes her latest Double Cross and Deadlock. DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers; the 2015 president of the Romance Writers of America’s Faith, Hope, & Love chapter; a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, and International Thriller Writers. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country. She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas. DiAnn is very active online and would love to connect with readers on any of the social media platforms listed at www.diannmills.com.