DiAnn Mills Interview

Q: How long have you been writing and what other careers or jobs have you had?

A. I’ve written all my life but not seriously until 1996 when my husband dared me to write a book, and stop talking about it. Before that I was a day care director. I’ve also done secretarial work. Nothing as exciting as being a writer!

Q: Would you tell us about your current book release High Treason?
A: Super excited about this new book. My hero is a special agent for the FBI, and my heroine is a CIA operative. A Saudi Arabian Royal Prince visits Houston to seek cancer treatment for his mother when an attempt is made on his life. The hero and heroine work together to protect the prince and find out if the would-be killer is a part of the prince’s household. A little romance and a sprinkling of humor are part of the story.

Q: Where did you get your inspiration for this story?
A: High Treason is loosely based on a real case in New York City. The FBI uncovered an assassination attempt on a Saudi Arabian Ambassador. I chose to set my story in Houston and give the Saudi prince a reason for a lengthy stay. The idea of showing the prince’s female family members and the issues facing my heroine in a male-dominated culture intrigued me.

Q: What is the main thing you hope readers remember from this story?
A: For all of us to get along, we need to respect our likenesses and our differences.

Q: How do you choose your settings for your books?
A. Two items that enter my mind when choosing a setting: 1) Houston is my home. It’s also the fourth largest city in the country and the most diverse. 2) My goal is for setting to always be antagonistic to my hero/heroine.

Q: Do you base your characters on people you know or are they totally made up?
A: Totally made up. Characterization takes a lot of think time. My goal is what kind of character could grow the most from the plot line. But . . . sometimes the character comes first with distinct skills and weaknesses, and sometimes the plot line.

Q: Would you share with us what you are working on now?
A. I’m completing the final edits for Burden of Proof, the first book in the FBI Rapid Response Series. In this book, the heroine is an FBI Negotiator.

Q: If money were no object what vacation would you like to take and why?
A. A tour through Europe. I don’t care how long it lasts, but I want to see old churches, castles, and meet the people.

Q: What is the silliest thing you have ever done?
A. A writer and I once decided to enter a talent contest at a writer’s conference. We did lip-sync and somewhat of a dance to the sister’s act from the movie White Christmas. It was pretty crazy.

Q: What is the hardest thing you have ever done?
A. Becoming a writer. Not only is writing difficult and challenging, it’s the most rewarding.