Thursday, April 29, 2010

Interview with DiAnn Mills and book giveaway

Narelle here. I’m thrilled to welcome DiAnn Mills to our blog. Today we’re giving away a copy of DiAnn’s April release, Sworn to Protect.

Award-winning author DiAnn Mills launched her career in 1998 with the publication of her first book. Currently she has fifty books in print and has sold 1.5 million copies.

DiAnn believes her readers should “Expect an Adventure.” DiAnn Mills is a fiction writer who combines an adventuresome spirit with unforgettable characters to create action-packed novels.

Six of her titles have appeared on the CBA Bestseller List. Three of her books have won the distinction of Best Historical of the Year by Heartsong Presents. Five of her books have won placements through American Christian Fiction Writer’s Book of the Year Awards 2003 – 2008, and she is the recipient of the Inspirational Reader’s Choice award for 2005 and 2007. She was a Christy Awards finalist in 2008.

DiAnn is a founding board member for American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Inspirational Writers Alive, Romance Writers of America’s Faith, Hope and Love, and Advanced Writers and Speakers Association. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country. DiAnn is also a mentor for Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writer’s Guild.

She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas. They have four adult sons and are active members of Metropolitan Baptist Church.

Website: www.diannmills.com

Narelle: In Sworn to Protect, Danika Morales is a Border Patrol Agent. What drives her passion for her job with the Texas Border Patrol?

DiAnn: Danika became interested in the immigration process during her college years. Her decision came after volunteering at a mission and seeing how gangs from South America persecuted Americans and illegal immigrants. She saw the controversy and heated debates and concluded that US laws were to be enforced until the laws were changed to help the less fortunate.

Narelle: How tough is it for women who work on the front line as Border Patrol Agents? How does Danika cope with her demanding job?

DiAnn: Women more so than men have to prove their mettle. Although women experience the same training and continuous testing of skills, many of the men want to see a woman agent perform in the line of duty before they not only feel safe with a woman agent but respect her as a professional.

Danika has proven her abilities and is an accepted Border Patrol Agent. She faces danger with the knowledge that she's been trained to handle critical situations.

Narelle: Human smuggling receives international media attention. In Australia, maritime security is an area of focus for our border protection. Boat loads of asylum seekers make the treacherous journey toward the remote North Western Australia coast. Please share with us the unique challenges your characters in Sworn to Protect face as they patrol the US-Mexican border.

DiAnn: The biggest challenge is putting aside personal sentiments for hard working people who are seeking a better way of life versus those who are gang members smuggling drugs, weapons, illegal entry etc. Danika's problem in Sworn to Protect is that someone within the ranks of the Border Patrol is giving the illegals classified information that allows them to cross US borders undetected.

Narelle: Human smuggling and the plight of asylum seekers is also a humanitarian issue. Do the residents in Danika’s home town have different perspectives on this issue and does this create conflict in your story?

DiAnn: Absolutely! Danika, as well as other agents, often change into their uniform at the station so neighbors and others do not know their profession. Often children are not told what their parent does to earn a living. Family and friends live on both sides of the border.

Narelle: Sworn to Protect is the second book in your Call of Duty series. Please tell us about the other books in the series.

DiAnn: Breach of Trust is about a CIA operative posing as a librarian in a small town in Oklahoma. She is forced to make a decision of bringing a corrupt politician to justice or endangering the lives of those she loves. The reality is who can she trust, and the one man she loves may be the enemy.

Pursuit of Justice is about an FBI agent who is sent to West Texas, her former home, to help solve a series of murders surrounding an over three hundred year old legend about hidden Spanish treasure. She finds the killer may be her own father, and the once prime suspect has stolen into her heart.


DiAnn, thanks for joining us today. I really enjoyed reading Breach of Trust and the story kept me up until 2am because I had to find out what happened next! Breach of Trust is also a Romance Writers of America 2010 RITA® finalist in the inspirational category - congratulations DiAnn! I’m looking forward to reading Sworn to Protect.

By commenting on today’s post you can enter the drawing to win a copy of Sworn to Protect. The drawing will take place on Friday, May 7 and the winner announced on Sunday, May 9. Please leave an email address [ ] at [ ] dot [ ] where you can be reached.

"Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws."

To learn more about DiAnn Mills and her books, please visit her website.


Narelle Atkins writes contemporary inspirational romance. She resides in Canberra, Australia with her husband and children. She can also be found around the inkwell at the Inkwell Inspirations blog. To learn more about Narelle, please visit her website.

11 comments:

  1. I am interested in "Sworn to Protect," because a former neighbor is now a border agent in the United States.
    Kaye
    kayewhitney@bellsouth.net

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  2. Great interview, Narelle. Sworn to Protect sounds like a great book. I have Breach of Trust, but I haven't had a chance to read it yet because my TBR pile is so huge. But it's quickly moving to the top and I can't wait to read it. Pursuit of Justice sounds like a must read, too, so I'm going to order it this weekend.
    Suzie
    sdjohnson (at) praisemail (dot) com

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  3. Hi Narelle and DiAnn

    Many thanks for the interesting interview.

    DiAnn A few minutes ago I read the list of 2010 Christy Award Nominees and the first book on the list is Breach of Trust!

    Congratulations! Well done! I'm doing the Snoopy Dance for you.

    God bless

    Ruth Ann
    ruthanndell (at) mweb (dot) co (dot) za

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  4. Kaye, thanks for stopping by :-)

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  5. Suzie, it's great to see you here :-) And you need to move 'Breach of Trust' to the top of your tbr pile asap!

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  6. Ruth Ann, thanks for sharing the wonderful news that 'Breach of Trust' is a 2010 Christy Award Nominee - congratulations DiAnn!

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  7. Immigration is such a complicated issue. I pray for our political leaders to find solutions that are both just and compassionate. What we really need is economic development in Mexico and an end to drug consumption in the US. More prayer requests...

    I would love to read your perspective.
    Leannehardy (at) gmail (dot) come

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  8. Thank you for another very good interview, Narelle. You ask some great questions.Illegal immigrants are a "problem" world-wide for many and varying reasons. My heart aches for the desperate people prepared to risk their lives in the boats heading to Australia. Sometimes I wonder how many we never hear about who simply perish in treacherous waves before they are spotted by our Border Patrol. Now, if we could only trust that everyone fleeing to another country do not have hidden and even terrorist reasons instead of simply escaping from their own country!
    Thank you so much DiAnn for tackling this difficult subject and I look forward to reading your book. Sincere congratulations on the Christy nomination and every success on the final award!!!!!!

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  9. Oh yes, as Mary said, illegal immigrants are a problem world-wide. Here in South Africa we have scores of people crossing crocodile-infested waters and wild game areas into South Africa on the myth that they will find employment and a stable life here. The impact on the South African economy is huge, as the country can't afford to feed and care for them. Many turn to crime. Others are sent back into the horrific conditions of our neighbouring Zimbabwe.
    It's great that you've opened this subject through a novel, DiAnn. Well done.

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  10. Thanks for another great book giveaway! I read Breach of Trust, and look forward to reading the other two.
    Anne
    homesteading@charter.net

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  11. LeAnne, Mary and Shirl, thanks for sharing your perspectives on illegal immigrants. It's a tough issue and a worldwide problem that people have strong and often polarised opinions on how to handle. Much prayer is needed.

    Anne, thanks for stopping by :-)

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