We were lucky to catch up with Diann Mills recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi DiAnn, thanks for joining us today. Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?

I earn a full-time living as a writer, speaker, mentor, and freelance editor. I learned over two decades of writing and publishing, that other areas within my profession are enjoyable and help add to my income. Speaking to writer’s groups and other community and church opportunities, helping writers learn the craft, and editing produce an income that is satisfying and helps others. I’m service-minded, but I do need to pay the bills!

DiAnn, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Basic bio: DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She weaves memorable characters with unpredictable plots to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels with threads of romance. DiAnn believes every breath of life is someone’s story, so why not capture those moments and create a thrilling adventure?

Her titles have appeared on the CBA, ECPA, and Publishers Weekly bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards, Selah, Golden Scroll, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests.
DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, an active member of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers, Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Mystery Writers of America, the Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild, and International Thriller Writers. DiAnn 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, X, Instagram, Pinterest, Goodreads, BookBub, YouTube, LinkedIn or her website: diannmills.com

Work: Every book I write has to be better than the previous book: characters more fully developed, tighter plot, deeper emotion, and a more antagonistic setting to entertain, inspire, and encourage readers. I believe that if I don’t change and grow into a better person while writing a novel, I’ve failed myself, the reader, and the God who gave me the gift of writing. One of my goals is to teach to serious writers everything I learn with the hope they will be more successful than I’ve been and will do the same for serious writers in their generation,

Brand: Expect an Adventure In everything I do.

Services: Create books, mostly novels, for those who enjoy suspense with a thread of romance. I tend to be a perfectionist, and that helps shape other areas of my writing, speaking, and mentoring/teaching,

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

Social media is not about me.

I believe social media is not about promoting my brand or selling more books, Social media is about relationships: reaching out and assisting others within my brand and expertise. If I’m successful in establishing a relationship and that results in a book sale, great. But that’s not my purpose. Social media followers can see through selfish motives.

I began by following the writers and those within the publishing industry whom I admired and respected. I commented on their platforms and also followed their followers who were consistent with questions and comments. Those followers in turn followed me.

I focused on the characteristics and needs of my target audience. I produced what I believed was solid content that helped others, a mix of writers and readers through various social media platforms and blog posts. Focus on the 80/20 scenario in which four posts out of five are about them. The times that something about me is scheduled; it’s presented to benefit the follower/reader.

A tip to remember: when our grandparents and great grandparents needed to purchase an item or service, how did they make the decision? They chose someone in the community who they trusted. That’s what social media does for us globally.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The joy of writing and working within the publishing industry means I wake up every morning excited to begin the day. I make my own hours, and I’m responsible for producing quality written communication. The challenges of the publishing industry, appealing to readers, and managing my personal life doesn’t mean every day is perfect, but it does mean I’m constantly growing as a person and increasing my skills.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://diannmills.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/diannmillsauthor/
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/diannmills
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/diannmills/
• Twitter: facebook.com/diannmills
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/diannmills
• Other: Blog: https://www.youtube.com/user/diannmills
  Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/diannmills
  Goodreads: https://www.pinterest.com/diannmills
  BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/diann-mills