Mills Announces New Book, More in the Works

With the invention of electronics and the change in relationships, landscapes, and the economy, current and future generations will never be able to adequately understand what it was like to grow up in the Appalachian Mountains a century ago.
However, a well versed writer can sufficiently preserve the emotions and hardships of the past way of life through the adventures of historical fiction. In fact, Dr. Diana Lois Mills, a native of Knox County, Kentucky, draws inspiration for her writing from a lifetime shaped by family, faith, and the Appalachian Mountains in which she calls home.
Raised on her family’s farm, Mills grew up surrounded by extended family, learning the values of hard work, community, and a deep appreciation for the land and the people who worked it. Summers spent along Little Richland Creek and evenings filled with family storytelling helped inspire her early love of writing and history.
Mills later pursued a career in education, earning undergraduate and graduate degrees and eventually a doctorate in Educational Leadership. She dedicated many years to teaching in public schools and in higher education. She also secured grant-funded initiatives that benefited communities across the region.
Despite travels and professional opportunities beyond Kentucky, Mills says her heart has always remained rooted in the Appalachian Mountains. Her passion for storytelling began in childhood as she wrote stories inspired by the memories and experiences shared by her family.
Today, she continues that tradition through several books that preserve family history and Appalachian life. Mills’ historical fiction trilogy began with her first book, The Long Road Home, which follows a young boy’s emotional search for his brothers serving the Union Army during the Civil War. The second book is titled, Growing Up In Knox County, Kentucky, In The 1900’s: Henry Matt Mills. This book is a collection of events from his early years.
Both of these books are currently available for purchase. Mills’ third book: George and Susan’s Story is a fictionalized account describing the continuation of the story from The Long Road Home. It will be available for purchase in June of this year.
Mills is currently working on a fourth book, Esther Haddock Mills. It is a fictional account of Nasby Mills and his wife, Esther, and their children arriving in Knox County, Kentucky in 1812.
Dr. Mills’ books, which celebrate Appalachian heritage and family stories, are available on Amazon in both paperback and Kindle versions.