This week for the Writers Workshop I picked number 1.) Have you ever had a fight with a long time best friend and never made up? Do you think about her from time to time and think about contacting her? What would you say? What if it didn’t work out? What if it did? (inspired by Elizabeth from Mama Sick). I picked this one because I had a great friend all through high school and around the time I got pregnant we got in a fight and to be honest I have no idea what we were fighting about. I have several ideas but I not 100% sure what we fought about but I do know that ever since then we haven’t spoken until a month or so ago. She sent me a message on Facebook that said she was sorry she couldn’t be the friend I needed her to be. I was shocked and taken back by it because I am pretty sure I caused the fight. I sent her back a message telling her that I don’t really remember what we were fighting about and that I would love to talk to her again. We exchanged numbers and we talked a couple times for our birthdays. I have always wondered what she was up to and things like that but I have never had the guts to email her and see how she is doing. She is really the only person I have ever fought with that I have missed being in my life. I have the attitude that if you are in my past there is a reason for that and leave people there but with her I have always wondered. I hope her and I can get close again because I do miss having a friend that is my age!
Most of the topics for the writers workshop this week are good. Here is a list of the topics she has for this week:
1.) In the book I’m reading, Girls of Tender Age,the main character is deeply affected by the murder of a childhood friend. Describe a tragedy you didn’t expect to be as deeply affect by as you are.
2.) Tell us about a day you were sure you wouldn’t get through.
3.) A time when you should have listened to your mother.
4.) Your pets least likable character trait. 5.) 10 Reasons why you love your job.
I had a really hard time choosing what one to write about but I finally decided I would write on #3. There are a lot of times I should have listened to her. I have the type of personality that if you tell me not to do something I am going to go right ahead and do it just to prove that I can. For instance when I placed my daughter for adoption my grandma actually found the family and asked my worker to put the file in my stack of families but not to say anything to me. I went through all the files and happened to bring them home and another family. I didn’t find out this until after I had her and placed her with them. My grandma knew that if she told me I wouldn’t pick them out of spite even if it was where she was supposed to be.
Also this happened when I got married. I knew I should do it but I still went right ahead and did it because I knew they didn’t want me to do it. I am not sure why I am like this but I always have been even as a child. They have learned this about me and so they just keep their opinions to themselves anymore. I guess most of it has to do with the fact that I am so damn stubborn I refuse to do it anyone elses(sp) way but mine. If I had just listened to her I would have saved myself a whole lot of trouble and money!
Today for the Writers Workshop I chose to do #1 which is: It was a bad burn. Tell about the worst sunburn you ever received. How did that happen!?!
The worst sunburn I ever had was when I went to Georgia to visit my mom’s dad and step mom in the summer of 2001 with my little brother. We drove with my grandparents up to South Carolina to meet a couple of her siblings that we had never met because we were raised by my dad’s parents. So one day my Aunt took my little brother and me to a Six Flags park where we spent the whole day on the rides and what not. Me being the idiot I am decided that since I had never burned before that I would be okay and I didn’t need to wear sun screen. Well I was super wrong on that part. I have only been burnt like that once and I will never do it again. It was super painful and I was super sick for the next few days.
I looked last night for a picture of it but I couldn’t find one to scan in so hopefully I will have one in a few days for everyone to see!
Well I did a post on it before so I am just going to link that post to this one that way I don’t have to take more pictures and things like that. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I am going to take part in the Writers Workshop this week. Here are the prompts for this week:
1.) What would you change about your life if you could? 2.) I wish I would have…describe a time when you didn’t take action, but later wished you would have. 3.) A collector you know. 4.) Photographs can turn a house into a home. Share a photograph that is not on your wall, but should be…if you weren’t so lazy about actually putting it there. 5.) Write a list of 100 things you want to do before you turn 100. Otherwise known as a “bucket list”. (inspired by my feelings and the conference that hurt them when it rejected my admission after applying and spending at least 15 minutes on a bucket list for what now seems no good reason. I’m fine with it. Really.).
I have chosen to write on #1 even though I like a lot of them this week. I think I am going to use them through out the week so that I can post about the ones that I like!
If I could change something about me it would be all the negative thoughts that go through me head all the time. Even though I am trying to be positive a lot of the time I just can’t seem to see the good in things. I will keep trying and I hope one day I will be good at it. I always have wished I could be the kind of person who sees the good in things and doesn’t worry about what is going to wrong. I think part of the problem is that I am so convinced that something is going to go wrong that make it go wrong. I am convinced that because my brain is always negative I am only going to see the bad in things and people. So if I had to pick one thing I would change that would be it!
FTC: I received a free copy of this book from Partners In Crime Book Tours in exchange for my honest review. I received no other compensation and the opinions expressed in this review are one hundred percent true and my own.
Trace of Doubt by DiAnn Mills was an interesting read, but I found that it was super predictable. I have read quite a few books by this author in the past, and I know I will read more by her in the future. I never hold it against an author if I find one of their books predictable because, with the number of books I have read in this genre, it is rare that I am totally shocked by a book. I felt terrible for Shelby throughout most of the book because she spent years in prison for a murder she didn’t commit, and then when she gets out, people are trying to kill her. I mean, come on, how many bad things can happen to one person. I did spend a lot of the book hoping that Shelby and Denton would end up a couple when the book was over because they were perfect for each other. I also liked that this book didn’t have any parts that would offend anybody in it. If you love reading clean mystery books, then I would for sure pick up a copy of this book or any book by this author and give them a read.
About The Book
Genre: Mystery & Thrillers, Romance, Romantic Suspense Published by: Tyndale House Publishers Publication Date: September 7th 2021 Number of Pages: 432 ISBN: 1496451856 (ISBN13: 9781496451859)
Bestselling and award-winning author DiAnn Mills delivers a heart-stopping story of dark secrets, desperate enemies, and dangerous lies.
Fifteen years ago, Shelby Pearce confessed to murdering her brother-in-law and was sent to prison. Now she’s out on parole and looking for a fresh start in the small town of Valleysburg, Texas. But starting over won’t be easy for an ex-con.
FBI Special Agent Denton McClure was a rookie fresh out of Quantico when he was first assigned the Pearce case. He’s always believed Shelby embezzled five hundred thousand dollars from her brother-in-law’s account. So he’s going undercover to befriend Shelby, track down the missing money, and finally crack this case.
But as Denton gets closer to Shelby, he begins to have a trace of doubt about her guilt. Someone has Shelby in their crosshairs. It’s up to Denton to stop them before they silence Shelby—and the truth—forever.
Praise for Trace of Doubt:
“Well-researched… with some surprising twists along the way. In Trace of Doubt, Mills weaves together a tale of faith, intrigue, and suspense that her fans are sure to enjoy.” – STEVEN JAMES, award-winning author of SYNAPSE and EVERY WICKED MAN
“Trace of Doubt is a suspense reader’s best friend. From page one until the end, the action is intense and the storyline keeps you guessing.” – EVA MARIE EVERSON, bestselling author of FIVE BRIDES and DUST
“DiAnn Mills serves up a perfect blend of action, grit, and heart… Trace of Doubt takes romantic suspense to a whole new level.” – JAMES R. HANNIBAL, award-winning author of THE PARIS BETRAYAL
“Filled with high stakes, high emotion, and high intrigue.” – JLYNN H. BLACKBURN, award-winning author of UNKNOWN THREATand ONE FINAL BREATH
About The Author
DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She combines unforgettable characters with unpredictable plots to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels. 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 and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests.
DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, a former director of Blue Ridge Christian Writers, and a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers. She shares her passion for helping other writers be successful by teaching 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.
This is a rafflecopter giveaway hosted by Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours for DiAnn Mills. There will be 2 winners who will each receive one gift card. Winners may select either Amazon or Barnes & Noble. The giveaway runs September 1 through October 3, 2021. Void where prohibited.
Jaclyn is an Idaho farm girl who grew up loving to read. She developed a love for writing at a young age and published her first book in 2013. She met her husband, Steve, at BYU, and they have six happy, crazy children who encourage her to keep writing. After owning a bookstore and running away to have adventures in Australia, they settled back down in their home in Utah. When Jaclyn isn’t herding her kids to various activities, she serves on the board for her local arts agency, runs a writing workshop, and stays up late writing books in various genres.
Jaclyn’s Young Adult books include The Luck Series, Lost in a Fairy Tale series, Magicians of the Deep, and Two Masters.
Gwen’s family had only one rule—stay out of Grandma’s garden. And if it wasn’t for her annoying cousin, she never would have broken it. Everything seems fine until she pulls an ancient book from the old well inside.
And pays for it.
A dark magic is unleashed from its prison, and Gwen becomes its new host. Now, not only does she have to learn to use her own magic, she must also keep the dark magic from taking over her soul. Some rules are made to be broken. But breaking this one may just destroy the world.
1. What is your favorite Autumn Time activity? Sports with my kids (I have one in football, one in volleyball, one in Marching Band, and two in soccer!) and watching the leaves change. And of course, decorating for Halloween!
2. What is one of your writing quirks? I have to have some kind of music in the background or I can’t write.
3. Which of your books was your favorite to write? And why? My Luck Series will always have my heart because Megan is just so darn fun. But Two Masters was probably my favorite. It took more out of me to write and it was like there was this little voice saying “Hey, don’t forget this part!” the whole way through. Which is funny since that’s kind of the premise of the story.
4. Who is the person or group of people who most support you in your writing? What have they done for you? Tristi Pinkston has been my person to write with because she helped me get my start with a writing group. IWriteNetwork friends and Sprint Writers Central friends are who have helped me through all of my writing. Answering questions, brainstorming, sprinting, making me write, etc.
5. What is your trick for getting past writer’s block? And what advice would you give to others who are struggling? My biggest thing is just writing anyway. And if I can’t write that one, I go to a different book and try that one instead. The longer you wait to write something, the harder it is to get back into it. So just write. You can always edit the blah stuff out of it later!
6. Autumn time has its own set of foods/flavors. What is your favorite Autumn comfort food? Hot chocolate! I’m one of those who actually love candy corns as well. And while I’m not the biggest fan of pumpkin spice, I do like pumpkin pie – for Thanksgiving!
