#SaturdaySpotlight is on DiAnn Mills & Canyon of Deceit!

Good Morning,

Can you believe September is half over already?!

I can't. Been crazy, busy this month as usual LOL!

Today's guest has been here numerous times but it always my pleasure to welcome my friend, DiAnn Mills to share her latest book with us. Welcome back, DiAnn, tell us what makes Canyon of Deceit so special...

Thanks for having me back, Pam!

Story ideas have a way of wiggling into my heart and taking root. Canyon of Deceit hit the curiosity bullseye, especially the concept of living off-grid. Imagine totally roughing it—no food, water, electricity, cell phone connection, yet plenty of snakes! 

Here’s the scoop on my new release:

A rescue team searches for a missing young girl and suspects all is not as it seems in this high-stakes romantic suspense novel.

When wilderness survival expert Therese Palmer receives a frantic phone call from former colleague Professor Rurik Ivanov, she is shocked by the news that his young daughter, Alina, is missing—and that Rurik wants Therese’s help finding her. She’s sure Rurik hasn’t given her the whole story . . . especially since he refuses to report the kidnapping to the police. Yet with a child’s life hanging in the balance, Therese can’t turn down this mission. She knows the clock is ticking and she can’t do this alone.

Therese reaches out to Texas Ranger Blane Gardner, whom she met seven months ago during one of her training courses in wilderness survival skills. Blane’s specialized training and background with the Crisis Negotiation Unit make him uniquely prepared for this search-and-rescue mission. He agrees to help Therese and to accept Rurik’s terms to keep Alina’s disappearance quiet, and as the two begin working together, Therese is determined the spark growing between them won’t distract from their mission to save Alina.

Traversing deep into the desert of Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Alina’s last known location, Therese and Blane struggle to separate truth from lies within the mix of intel they’re receiving. As they close in on answers that suggest the involvement of Russian organized crime and a high-profile international assassination attempt, they must fight to rescue Alina before she becomes an innocent casualty of a much bigger plot—no matter the risk to their own lives.

My adventuresome spirit propelled me to hike those mountains and find out all I could about where my hero and heroine attempted to rescue precious Alina. Dear reader, I love to visit the setting of my stories. I want to experience the area in every way possible. So my husband and I drove from our home in Houston into southeast New Mexico—because a person can’t drive to there except from New Mexico.

My husband and I drove into Guadalupe Mountains National Park’s Dog Canyon. The rocky cliffs, barren countryside, and desolate mountain beauty captivated me. In route, horses and cattle ran free-range, so we had to stop a few times before reaching our destination. Park rangers offered tremendous help with their knowledge of the area. Some of the information I’d never have known without their insight.

Arriving at the trailhead of Dog Canyon stole my breath, from the wildlife to the desert growth, I snapped pics like a crazy woman. My sanity in pursuing research might be in question, but that’s the life of a writer. Some of those pics are on a Pinterest board devoted to Canyon of Deceit.

Writing romantic suspense challenges me to reflect on the daily changes in our world. I always learn about careers, settings, behavior, the power of motivation, and so much more. Are you tempted to learn more about this story? Check out the book info page and a special tab for book clubs. 

Let me hear from you! You, dear reader, are why I write suspense, romance, and adventure.

Oh my goodness! What a wonderful adventure you had, DiAnn. I love traveling too and Dog Canyon sounds like an interesting place to visit. Can you give us a little more info on the book?

Sure, here's the blurb...

 A rescue team searches for a missing young girl and suspects all is not as it seems in this high-stakes romantic suspense novel from the author of Lethal Standoff and Facing the Enemy.

When wilderness survival expert Therese Palmer receives a frantic phone call from former colleague Professor Rurik Ivanov, she is shocked by the news that his young daughter, Alina, is missing―and that Rurik wants Therese’s help finding her. She’s sure Rurik hasn’t given her the whole story . . . especially since he refuses to report the kidnapping to the police. Yet with a child’s life hanging in the balance, Therese can’t turn down this mission. She knows the clock is ticking and she can’t do this alone.

Therese reaches out to Texas Ranger Blane Gardner, whom she met seven months ago during one of her training courses in wilderness survival skills. Blane’s specialized training and background with the Crisis Negotiation Unit make him uniquely prepared for this search-and-rescue mission. He agrees to help Therese and to accept Rurik’s terms to keep Alina’s disappearance quiet, and as the two begin working together, Therese is determined the spark growing between them won’t distract from their mission to save Alina.

Traversing deep into the desert of Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Alina’s last known location, Therese and Blane struggle to separate truth from lies within the mix of intel they’re receiving. As they close in on answers that suggest the involvement of Russian organized crime and a high-profile international assassination attempt, they must fight to rescue Alina before she becomes an innocent casualty of a much bigger plot―no matter the risk to their own lives.

You can Read an Excerpt on HERE.

THANKS, DiAnn! Now give us the scoop on you ...

DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who invites her readers to step into stories where suspense meets adventure and romance warms the heart. Known for crafting unforgettable characters tangled in unpredictable plots, DiAnn believes every breath we take unfolds a story waiting to be told—so why not make it thrilling?

Her novels have consistently landed on bestseller lists including CBA, ECPA, and Publishers Weekly, and have won prestigious awards such as the Christy, Selah, Golden Scroll, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol awards.

DiAnn is a founding board member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Conference Advisor for the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers. She actively participates in Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Mystery Writers of America, the Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild, and International Thriller Writers, DiAnn passionately invests in helping fellow authors succeed through mentoring, book coaching, and editing. She travels nationwide speaking and teaching engaging writing workshops.

A proud coffee snob who roasts her own beans, DiAnn also enjoys diving into good books, experimenting in the kitchen, and unabashedly spoiling her grandchildren—whom she insists are the smartest kids in the universe. She and her husband make their home under the sunny skies of Houston, Texas.

Connect with DiAnn online for behind-the-scenes glimpses, writing tips, and lively discussions: Facebook, X, Instagram, Pinterest, Goodreads, BookBub, YouTube, LinkedIn, or her website: diannmills.com.

Canyon of Deceit is available through your favorite bookstore or online retailer as well as Amazon in Paperback, for Kindle and in Audio. In fact it's FREE on Audible with a membership trial!

Thank You, DiAnn. We wish you the best of luck and God's blessings with your new release.

Hope you enjoyed DiAnn's spotlight friends and that you'll check back weekly for more great authors and their books as well as Featured Authors/Artists and Featured Books in the sidebar.

Until next time, take care and God bless.

PamT

#SaturdaySpotlight is on Randy Overbeck & Red Shadows at Saugatuck

Good Morning and Welcome!

You may remember seiing this fellow's Featured Author page last month and this book in the sidebar, well today we're getting a peek into why Randy wrote Red Shadows at Saugatuck...

Take it away Randy!

As an author, I enjoy all the aspects of writing—the research to get the

details right, the inventing of the tale, the crafting of the narrative, the editing and the thrill of completing another piece readers might find interesting. My series, the Haunted Shores Mysteries, have received such a tremendous response from critics and readers alike that I’ve been amazed and thrilled. The novels have earned ten national awards including Best Book Award (Chanticleer Books and Reviews), Gold Award (LiteraryTitan) and Mystery of the Year (ReaderViews) and

achieved a #1 and #2 bestseller status on Amazon and B & N.

Readers have responded so well to the first three books in the Haunted

Shores Mysteries series—which chronicle the path of Darrell and Erin from meeting to falling in love, to getting married—I thought the narrative was ready for the next chapter. So in this entry, Darrell and Erin have a precocious little five-year-old, who’s inherited his father’s ability to see ghosts. Darrell returns home to Michigan, which gave me a chance to feature his interesting extended family. In this novel, readers will find another great whodunit set in another stunning resort

town, this time Saugatuck, Michigan. And I’ve wrapped the haunted aura of Native American spiritualty around the mystery of the murder. In the words of anearly reviewer, readers will find a tale that is “socially relevant and strangelybeautiful  in its grief, haunting in every sense of the word.” (litandcoffee reviews)

Wow...OK, now can we get a peek into the book?

Sure, here is the Blurb...

Darrell Henshaw hoped he was past it all. After all, no ghosts had visited him for years. Instead, he learns his five-year-old-son, Leo has inherited his “gift.” 

Now, they both can see ghosts.

This time, Darrell drives his young family 800 miles to celebrate his Aunt Gertrude’s 80th birthday. But, once in the resort  town of Saugatuck, Michigan, their participation gets derailed by the spirit of a Native teen who went missing weeks earlier. When he and Leo inquire about the girl, the locals dismiss their concerns—"Those girls run away all the time.”  Still, as questions pile up and threats grow, Darrell senses they may have stumbled onto something far worse and even more evil than one missing teen. 

Can Darrell continue to pursue justice for the girl if it places his wife and five-year-old son in danger?

And an Excerpt...

Darrell chanced another look in the rearview and saw the SUV accelerating, closing the distance. Darrell stared, fixated on the wide silver grill growing larger in his mirror. Alternating glances from the road ahead to the car behind, he watched it move closer, now less than a car length. He stared at the shield, could make out its colors of silver, gold, black and red. He checked out the road ahead then shot another look at the Cadillac emblem. In the center of the shield, he saw a small nick, like a stone from the road had chipped it. His gaze returned to the asphalt ahead of him.

He punched the accelerator and felt his Taurus respond. When the distance between the cars opened up a bit, he checked the speedometer. The needle moved past eighty. The scenery flew by. He didn’t think he could keep this up for long. At least, the road was straight…for now.

He sensed more than saw movement behind him and yanked his gaze back to the rearview mirror. The SUV accelerated even more and drew still closer, the black frame and tinted windshield filling his mirror. Darrell’s knuckles tightened on the steering wheel. The car came so close, the grill with the shield disappeared from his view. The darkened windshield was all Darrell could see through his mirror. 

God, he must be within a foot. He’s going to ram me.

He floored the gas pedal and the engine whined in protest. The needle passed eighty-five. He wanted to turn his head and look back through the rear window but couldn’t chance it. Not at this speed. He had to stay focused on the road ahead. His Taurus raced along the blacktop. 

Then it started. First, a few thunks on the roof and, within seconds, the sky opened up, the rain cascading in sheets. He flipped the wipers on high and stared through the windshield at the rain-slicked asphalt. Damn, what else can go wrong? Driving like this in the rain was major-league stupid.

He needed to slow down in the downpour but couldn’t. He feared if he slowed, even a little, the larger SUV would slam into him and probably run him off the road. He chanced another glance in the rearview and saw…nothing. All he could see looking back was the torrential rain slicing down onto the blacktop. 

Where had the Cadillac gone? Could he have turned off when the rain hit and Darrell hadn’t noticed? He didn’t think so but where was the car? He stared ahead and then shot another glance in the mirror. Nothing.

Then, he caught some movement in his peripheral vision. The Cadillac SUV had slid over into the oncoming lane. He was passing the Taurus on the left. He must’ve disappeared into Darrell’s blind spot before pulling even with the Taurus. Darrell stared from the SUV beside him to the road ahead. As far as he could tell, both lanes seemed empty of traffic, but the rain reduced how far he could see.

He shot a glance to his side. The Cadillac had pulled up, almost even with his car. He peered across but could make out nothing but the damn dark tinted glass. He jerked his gaze back to the road. What was this idiot going to do? Pass him and make him skid on the wet road? He risked a glance in the rearview to see if there was a second car, to block him in. Nothing.

The SUV inched forward, both cars hurtling at almost ninety! This was crazy. No, this was suicide. He should brake and slow down, let the Cadillac whiz by him. But he feared what might happen in the rain. He could hydroplane, lose traction and skid. 

He had no time to consider any options. 

Right then, the SUV surged forward and steered hard to the right, angling in front of him, cutting off the Taurus. Darrell had no choice. He stepped on his brake so as not to hit the Cadillac. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the SUV whiz into his lane right in front of him. He yanked the wheel to the right, swerving to avoid hitting the other car. His tires slipped on the rain-slicked asphalt. He tried to control the steering wheel but felt the car skid onto the narrow shoulder. He slammed on the brakes as hard as he could and watched the car go over the edge of the shoulder. His heart raced. He practically stood on the brake. The car bumped over the shoulder. It bounced down into a ditch and partway up. The Taurus jerked to a stop, slamming his head into the steering wheel. 

Everything went dark.

Oh My Goodness! Excellent, edge-of-your-seat excerpt. Tell us where we can find Red Shadows at Saugatuck and give us the lowdown on you...

Thanks, Pam. Red Shadows at Saugatuck can be found at Amazon and other Online Retailers. Below is my "official" bio.

Dr. Randy Overbeck is an award-winning educator, author, speaker and podcaster. As an educator, he served children for more than three decades and has mined that experience to create captivating fiction, authoring two series, the bestselling series, “The Haunted Shores Mysteries,” and the award-winning series, “Lessons in Peril.” His novels have won critical acclaim and garnered national awards including Mystery of the Year (ReaderViews) Best Book Award (Chanticleer Books and Reviews) and the Gold Award (Literary Titan) and amassed hundreds of 5-star reviews on Amazon and Goodreads. 

Dr. Overbeck also hosts the popular podcast, “Great Stories about Great Storytellers,” which reveals the unusual and sometimes strange backstories of famous authors, directors and poets and can be heard wherever listeners get their podcasts. He is a speaker in considerable demand, sharing his popular presentations about ghosts and the world of book publishing with hundreds of audiences all over the U.S. 

As a member of the Mystery Writers of America, Dr. Overbeck is an active member of the literary community, contributing to a writers’ critique group, serving as a mentor to emerging writers and participating in writing conferences such as Killer Nashville and the Midwest Writers Workshop.

When he’s not researching, writing, speaking or podcasting, Randy enjoys traveling with his wife Cathy and visiting both his far-flung family and the scenic locations around this country, often in search of inspiration for his next great story.

More info about his novels, programs and podcast can be found at his website. Contact him at: randyoverbeck@authorrandyoverbeck.com and connect with him on Facebook, X, Amazon, Instagram, BookBub and GoodReads.

Thank You, so much, Randy for sharing your book with us today. We certainly wish you the best of luck and God's blessings with your work.

Hope you enjoyed today's spotlight, friends and that you'll check back weekly for another Saturday Spotlight.

Until next time, take care, God bless and remember to show a little kindness today.

PamT