Author DiAnn Mills at Friday with Friends!

Two-time Christy Award Winning Author 
~ DiAnn Mills ~
gives us a sneak peek intro to her 
Expect an Adventure novels, 
The Chase and The Survivor with:

Fault Line

Kariss knew her future had been paved with gold. Hard work had earned her the evening news anchor at Houston’s largest TV station, and this was only the beginning.
            She smiled into the camera of Channel 5 news. “And now to Mike McDougal with the latest sports news.” Kariss swung her attention to the reporter who gave his trademark grin, the one that increased his ratings with the women.
            She studied his features—rugged yet softened by sun-washed hair and deep blue eyes. They were friends, although he wished they were more. But not with the station’s policy of employees not dating. The guidelines suited her fine. Friendship had boundaries, which meant her career came first.
            Mike ended the segment, and she finished her portion of the news. Once in her office, he stopped by, still wearing the same grin but this time he added a glint to his eyes that she didn’t appreciate. “How about dinner?”
            “I have plans tonight.” She and her sister were meeting at the Cheesecake Factory in the Galleria.
            “Coffee?”
            She smiled. “Can’t. But I appreciate the invitation.”
            “Sure. I can walk you to your car.”
            “I have a few things to tie up before leaving. It’ll take me about thirty minutes.”
            “Okay. Great job tonight. See you in the morning.”
            “Thanks.” Good. The last thing either of them needed was gossip. Kariss swept through her email and tidied her desk. An incoming text grasped her attention.
            sis, i’m starved.
            leaving now. get us a table.
            Kariss grabbed her purse and hurried down the dark hall, still clutching her phone. She walked past Mike’s office door, not quite closed, and heard him on the phone. Odd, she thought he’d left. At the sound of her name, she stopped.
            “Right. Kariss’s a looker. We spent last weekend in Galveston. Barely saw the beach.”
            Her face reddened. They hadn’t seen each other over the weekend.
            “You bet I got it, the whole five grand.” Mike paused. “Yeah. Now I can pay my gambling debt and get the jerk off my back.”
            She froze, certain she’d heard wrong.
            “I’m good now.” He laughed. “I told her I had a little sister with diabetes. Parents didn’t have insurance to cover treatment. She forked it over without a blink.”
            Kariss shrank against the wall. He’d lied, and she’d swallowed every bit of it. Why hadn’t she insisted upon meeting his little sister, verifying his story?
            Gullible. She hated the sound of it.
            “Game Thursday night?” Mike said. “Sure. I might be able to get a little extra spending money from my lady. Regular place?”
            She captured her anger, shoving aside useless words, and slid logic into her mind. Stepping into his office, his eyes widened and he crammed his phone into his pocket.
            “Still want to do dinner?” he said.
            Her eyes narrowed. “Don’t think so. I’d rather talk about your phone conversation, beginning with the five grand I gave you on Monday.”
            “My parents are grateful.”
            “What about a payment plan?”
            “I thought you agreed to a three month waiting period and then a hundred a month.”
            She frowned. “That was before I learned you spent the money on a gambling debt.”
            He shrugged. “Win some. Lose some. Next time you’ll be smarter.”
            She held up her phone. “One step ahead of you, McDougal. I recorded your conversation.”
            “I didn’t say a word that could be used against me.”
            “Really? I’m heading to management with 9-1-1 on speed dial. We’ll let them decide.”
            He walked toward her, but she stepped back into the hall. “You have no idea what you’re getting yourself into.”
            “Is that a threat?”
            “I have the resources to destroy you. People in this town owe me.”
            “Why didn’t you go to them for your gambling debt? I see a liar.”
            “Don’t underestimate me. Gossip here gets you fired.” He reached for her wrist and took her phone with his other hand. She winched as he tightened the grip. “Looks like I have the evidence. Now you’ll play by my rules.”
            “Don’t think so. I’m still reporting this.”
            “I’ve been here six years and you’ve barely reached two. Who do you think HR will believe?”
            “The one telling the truth.”
            “Not in the real world.”
            Kariss lifted her chin and stepped backward. “I’ll take my chances.”
            He chuckled and dropped her phone inside his jacket pocket. “I know where you live, Kariss. When I’m finished, you won’t get a job in this town waiting tables.”
            “Unlike you, I don’t have to threaten a thing. Your choices will take you down a road that self-destructs.” She whirled around and headed to the parking lot, not once turning back.


Read more about Kariss Walker in TheChase and in The Survivor (to be released March 1, 2013). Kariss had a special relationship with her sister. They shared good times and bad times together. What about you? Do you have a sister or friend who allows you to be you? Leave a comment to enter a drawing for a personalized copy of The Chase

~

Linnette here! I'm so excited to have DiAnn visiting today. Wow! What an intro! I can't wait to read the series. Be sure to leave a comment for her. Not only will you be entered into a drawing for The Chase, but I believe DiAnn plans to hang around to answer your comments and questions. 

Be sure to return March 15th for FBI ~ The Real Deal and a give away of The Survivor!


*To be entered into the drawing, please leave your email address in a comment which must be left before Monday. Please leave a space on each side of @ in your email address in order to help avoid spammers. Winner will be notified via email. Thank you! :D



Award-winning author DiAnn Mills is a fiction writer who combines an adventuresome spirit with unforgettable characters to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels. DiAnn's first book was published in 1998. She currently has more than fifty books published.

Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists and have won placements through American Christian Fiction Writer's Carol Awards and Inspirational Reader's Choice awads. DiAnn won the Christy Award in 2010 and 2011.

DiAnn is a founding board member for ACFW and a member of Inspirational Writers Alive, Romance Writers of America, and Advanced Writers and Speakers Association. She speaks to Various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country. DiAnn is also the Craftsman mentor for the Jerry B Jenkins Christians Writers Guild.

She and her husband live in sunny HoustonTexas


30 comments:

  1. Morning, folks! Welcome to Friday with Friends! I'm so excited to have DiAnn Mills here today. This lovely lady was my very first mentor on my writing journey and I will forever be grateful to her for all she's done for me over the years!

    Grab a cup of coffee or tea and join us for some fun. Be sure to leave a comment so you will be entered in the drawing for a copy of "The Chase"! :D

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  2. your book sounds exciting!
    butterflyja48 @ yahoo.com

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  3. Hmm... Good thing I recognize that email address. LOL

    DiAnn, meet my mom, Joyce. :D

    So glad you stopped by, Momma! :D

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  4. You are welcome,hello Diann and thank you for helping my girl out.
    Joyce

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  5. What a beautiful intro and post. Thanks Linnette for hosting me!

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  6. WOW - I'm hooked - can't wait to read this book!

    edwina @ edwinacowgill.com

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  7. Good morning ladies...I don't have a sister that I share secrets and make memories with,but my of my sisters in Christ have stepped in to fill the gap. Looking forward to reading THE SURVIVOR DiAnn. Thanks for taking time to share your thoughts with us.
    grandmabkr at yahoo dot com

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  8. Edwina! Hi! That was my exact response when I read it! I HAVE to know what happens! :D

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  9. I can't wait to read The Survivor and find out what happens!
    DiAnn, you've had a lot of books published, are you still nervous when a new one is released? How many books is there going to be in the Crime Scene: Houston series?
    Thanks!
    ~Sarah
    sgbaker at dishmail.net

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  10. Hi, Brenda!

    Thanks so much for stopping by. DiAnn will be in and out today, but I'm sure she'll get back to you soon. :D

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  11. Great questions, Sarah! I can't wait to hear DiAnn's answers. :D

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  12. Sarah, Just two books in the Crime Scene: Houston series. The next FBI series will have three. :)

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  13. Thanks for the sneak peek, DiAnn. This sounds like a book I should give my sister! kathy@kathynick.com

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  14. I'm curious, DiAnn. Why a two book series?

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  15. Wow !!! just finished reading the little excerpt - made my hair stand on end !!! :-) I can't wait to read it..so exciting !!!!! thanks so much for the article - got a winner in that one !!! :-)

    Rosemary rfoley at salemstate.edu

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  16. I grew up in a big family with 4 sisters. While i love them we are not close. But God did give me some best friends who are sisters to me. I am blessed to have them.

    DiAnn I went to my local library a few years ago looking for books by Christian Authors. I've read everything they had from you and a few others. Super excited to read these two.
    Dawn Crane
    Mamaduk7@gmail.com

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  17. Thanks for stopping in, Kathy, Rosemary, and Dawn! :D

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  18. Great read! Definitely makes me want to read the books.

    I have a sister, our lives are very separate, but we used to be close.

    We actually grew up in Tomball, Texas, just up the road from Houston.

    Thanks for sharing a taste of the books! I will be looking for them.

    LaDonna

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  19. Didn't see this part earlier!
    ladonnacolern at yahoo dot com

    LaDonna

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  20. Just wanted to let you all know that I'll be out this evening, but the comments don't close until Sunday at midnight. I'll be in and out over the weekend, so please feel free to leave comments to enter you name in the drawing! :D

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  21. This was a really exciting teaser! I'm sure this is my kind of read and will be looking for the release!

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  22. Wow! I am excited to read this. I can't wait ;)
    pjeanemmons@yahoo.com

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  23. I know, Donna! Right? :D Thanks for stopping by.

    Anonymous - PJ, thanks so much for stopping by. You're in the hat! :D

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  24. Diann Mills books are dangerous, because they're hard to put down. Once I start reading one, I don't want to stop to clean, cook, etc. I guess it's a risk I'll have to take. :) As for the question, I do have some wonderful girlfriends who are like sisters. My e-mail address is gingerhinson @ hotmail.com

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  25. Hi, Ginger! Thanks for stopping by!

    I know what you mean about DiAnn's books. Hard to put down for sure!

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  26. I didn't make the Friday post with DiAnn MIlls but that's okay. DiAnn is an awesome author and even more awesome in person. Great post. It definitely leaves the reader hanging. Thanks for sharing.

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  27. No problem, Loretta! You're still in the drawing. The drawing doesn't close until midnight. :)

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  28. Congrats to the anonymous commentor I call PJ (pjeanemmons@yahoo.com)! You're the winner of DiAnn's book, The Chase! :D

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Thanks for stopping by and chatting with me! I hope you enjoyed your time here and will come visit me again! :D

Linnette R Mullin