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Christian author and writing coach DiAnn Mills will take readers and on a journey through a mountainous desert and forgiveness with her newest novel “Canyon of Deceit” during an author event, Thursday, Jan. 22, at The Story Peddler bookstore in Bellville.
Mills will discuss her September 2025 novel, answer questions and sign copies from 6-7:30 p.m. Afterwards, she will lead a writer’s workshop on research until 8:30 p.m. Mills’ novels embrace high-action stakes, carry an air of suspense and feature intense character development.
“We all have to face our human frailties and understand that we’ve got to work through them to become a better citizen of this planet; in the faith aspect, a better Christian,” Mills said. “…It’s all about helping each other become better human beings.”
“Canyon of Deceit” follows wilderness expert Therese Palmer and Texas Ranger Blane Gardner through their struggle to find a missing girl in the desert of Guadalupe Mountains National Park. Along the way, the romantic duo unravels a high-profile conspiracy involving Russian organized crime. The novel explores the themes of trust, loss, perseverance and forgiveness. Mills said forgiveness has become a common theme in her novels.
“None of us, no matter what our belief system is, can move ahead in life and grow and change to become better people if we are harboring unforgiveness,” Mills said.
Mills also said her characters repeatedly turn to God during their struggles. She said she does not believe in being “preachy” with her writing. Instead, she highlights the strength of faith through her characters.
“I want to show the world as today with at least one character who solves their problems from a Christian worldview, and it’s not easy,” Mills said.
A second prevalent undercurrent found in Mills’ writing is the realistic, wild settings of places around the world. Some of her previous novels feature Ghost Ranch in New Mexico, the Brazos River Valley and South Sudan. Mills said she has personally traveled and explored many of the places in her novels, including Dog Canyon in “Canyon of Deceit.”
“I am a strong, strong believer in the research,” Mills said. “…I’ve done whatever it needs so that I have a good idea what my characters experience, walk through, how they’ve trained when I enter into a story so that hopefully I can be as realistic as possible.”
Mi l ls plans to walk writers and aspiring authors through accurate and efficient research methods during the second half of her visit. She said she looks forward to creating relationships with readers and writers at The Story Peddler.
