Chatting with the lovely Dineen Miller today about Leonard and Sheldon, her best meal of the day, and her latest novel about an ex-mercenary turned muralist. Enjoy getting to know Dineen a little more and be sure to enter the giveaway of The Final Stroke and Dineen’s Adult Colouring Book!

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The Writer

Why do you tell stories?

I love the process. I love being as surprised by the unfolding details of a story as I hope my readers are. I love the way stories can become old friends, mentors, and inspire hope. My goal is always to bring life and truth through story that will deposit something good, noble, and maybe even needed into a reader’s heart. With God’s help of course!

Your favourite place to read

On my back patio on a cool day (I live in Florida so that’s not an everyday thing.).

Best meal of the day

Whichever meal I get to share with my hubby.

Most beloved childhood book

The Black Stallion by Walter Farley. I think that book may even be what started me writing my own stories as a kid.

If your life was a TV show, what would it be?

The Big Bang Theory. My husband is a mix of Leonard and Sheldon. Thankfully more of Leonard. I’m a mix of Penny and Bernadette. Just wish I had the figure to match. And maybe the blonde hair.

Whose music inspires you?

Worship music. They’re like stories put to song. And they keep my focus on who God is and who He wants to be for me. I love Jesus Culture, Bethel Music and Hillsong. I also love Chicago and Little River Band. Did I just age myself?

What ice-cream flavour would you be?

Butter Pecan. The more buttery the better.

The most recent novel you read

Conspiracy of Silence by Ronie Kendig

What’s your current book recommendation?

Culture of Honor by Danny Silk. It’s a non-fiction but brought me to tears (in a great way) several times. Very inspiring as to what our culture could become when love and honor are our primary goal.

Name a book character you can’t forget

Oh, that one could get me in big trouble. Didn’t always read the best material when I was a teenager. Funny how that stuff can hang around. How about a movie character? I’m actually more inspired by stories and characters in movies. I would say Captain America. Why? Go back to my book recommendation. Honor. Integrity. Love. Faith. He epitomizes all of it. He’s a very memorable character. Doesn’t look too bad either.

Dream travel destination

Oh, wow, that’s a good question. I had the opportunity to travel a bit when my family and I lived in Switzerland. But I didn’t get the chance to see any of Asia. I think I’d like to try Hong King or Thailand. Way out of my comfort zone but what a trip that could be!

The Book

The Final Painting…the Final Stroke

Ex-mercenary Elliott Harris has spent the last two years of his life restoring the lives of the families he helped destroy. The unoccupied third floor of Shiloah Sanctuary tells the story of each one—each room bears a mural he’s painted, revealing the redemption of the past.

And now he’s painting the final mural—the one he’s dreaded most—because she has finally walked into his life and Shiloah Santuary. She calls herself Jennie but doesn’t have a clue about her true identity. But Elliott knows her and he knows her past.

Jennie doesn’t know how or why she woke up in a dirty San Francisco alley with a Jennie-O label plastered to her cheek. Desperate for help, Jennie stumbles into the nearby women’s shelter and meets the enigmatic Cassie who brings her to Shiloah Sanctuary, a peaceful place where she can rest and regain her memory.

As Jennie’s memories begin to return, her past begins to emerge. As do the dark threats still lingering from Elliott’s. Past and present collide, sending them both running for their lives and the truth.

Yet the final brush stroke reveals the unexpected…a miracle they never anticipated.

What was the working title?

Jennie-O. Yep, just like the turkey sausage. But I had to change it because of the obvious copyright infringement. But that was what it went by until the end. It’s an endearing part of the story too. And where the heroine gets her name from.

Describe your book in 5 adjectives

Evocative, hopeful, heartbreaking, inspiring, thrilling.

Which character did you enjoy writing most?

Elliott. He’s deep, complicated and brooding. As a former mercenary, he’s tough and seasoned, but as an artist he’s passionate and creative (he’d have to be to use house paint like he does!) He’s also the character who changes the most in the story. I love that. That’s the redemption side of this story.

Which character gave you the most grief?

Jennie, for sure. Can you imagine how hard it is to write a character who doesn’t know who she is? Way harder than I ever imagined. Funny thing is she’s the character that started talking to me (I’m not crazy, I promise.) before the story even fully formed. She told me how she almost died in childbirth and other details about her marriage, things that didn’t get written in the story but were part of her backstory. Beyond that, she was an empty page, literally!

What emotions do you think your story will generate in readers?

Hope, courage, faith…maybe some heartache as they walk through the story and recognize parts of themselves or people they love and do life with. That’s always my hope with every story, that readers can identify with the characters in some way. Because that’s where I believe God will meet them on the pages. The deeper parts of what I write are inspired by things I’ve lived through and overcome. And the best reader letters I’ve received are how the story has impacted their life and faith. That’s why I believe I’m supposed to write, to create opportunities with God for Him to do what He does best—show us how much He loves us.

What emotions did you experience while writing this story?

Heartache, despair, courage, surprise, awe, hope, excitement. It’s not always easy, but it’s probably the part of writing that challenges me most. How do I get those emotions on to the page so the reader can experience them too? That’s always the challenge and the question. It pushes me to explore words and descriptions in entirely new ways.

How do you choose your characters names?

That changes with each book. Jennie picked her name after waking up in an alley with a Jennie-O sausage label plastered to her cheek. Her actual name became more secondary. Elliott was totally inspired by the character Elliott from the television show Leverage. I kept the name as a nod to the show. I think as I come to know my characters more, their names become part of who they are. Like old friends.

Thanks Dineen!

Dineen Miller is passionate about igniting the souls of others through God’s Word, which is packed with His truth and promises. She is a multi-published and award-winning author of both fiction and nonfiction books, a speaker and a ministry leader. She’s been featured nationally on several Christian radio and television shows and was co-leader and a pastor at SpirituallyUnequalMarriage.com for 11 years.

She is currently an Associate Director at the Healing Rooms of Manatee and Dean of the HROM School of Transformation in Bradenton, Florida. She and her husband are proud parents to two adult daughters and a son-in-law. They love kayaking and walking the famous white sands of Siesta Key Beach where they live in Sarasota, Florida.

 Relz Reviewz Extras
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Visit Dineen’s website and blog
Buy at Amazon: The Final Stroke or Koorong

Dineen is generously giving away a copy of The Final Stroke and her Romans 8 Adult Colouring book, You Are Loved (US only)!

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