DiAnne Malone

The recipe for a typical day with DiAnne Malone consists of five key ingredients: husband, three children, teaching, writing and a big chunk of prayer. All ingredients blend to bake up one of DiAnne’s greatest passions, writing. The ingredients provide most of the fodder for the stories she tells, the poems she writes, and the ministry that comes about from just writing down her experiences and sharing them in the way she was uniquely designed to share. Ideally, a just right life for DiAnne Malone would be one affording her all the time in the world to sit down and just write; however, the opportunity has not presented itself, and she supplements her dreams with her spiritual gift of teaching. A native of North Louisiana, DiAnne Malone transplanted to Memphis, TN in 2005. It was in the city of Memphis she began to carve out her place as a writer and educator. She holds a Master’s degree in American Literature with an African American Emphasis and a terminal Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Nonfiction. This extensive background in literature and writing led to several publications in the genres of fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction. To add to her list of prose is her freelance work for Lifeway publication, where she has written several devotions for teens. DiAnne has taught in a university setting for almost ten years. She teaches African American Studies and Freshman Composition at the University of Memphis. She also teaches for Lancaster Bible College’s satellite campus at the Memphis Center for Urban Theology. Additionally, she teaches freshman composition at Lemoyne-Owen College, a historically black college in Memphis, TN. Recently, DiAnne has embarked on a journey of writing with her colleague and friend, Dr. Cicely T. Wilson. Together the two women have written/are writing a series of books, The Church Chronicles of Iris and Locke. The books follow the relationship (and nosiness) of two unlikely friends, Iris Murphy and Belle Lynne Locke, in the fictional town of Sweet Fields, GA. The inhabitants of the town are offbeat, eccentric, and hilariously flawed; however, it does not keep them from respecting and loving God, community, history, and the pride that comes with belonging to a rich African American heritage. The characters and their laugh out loud shenanigans pivot around the church where everyone who’s anyone attends, St. Andrew, pastored by the overly compassionate and non-confrontational, Prentiss LeBeaux. So far, the writing duo has cranked out four books (a trilogy comprising the first series) and is working on their fifth book (which is the second book of the second series). Forthcoming in October of 2015 is DiAnne Malone’s forty day devotional book entitled, Light UP! The motivation for this book is her blog, “Who’s That Lady?” The blog is a collection of inspirational writings by DiAnne and her “blolleagues.” Posts are designed to help women polish up their inner bling. The site has been on hiatus while she finishes out her manifold projects, but there are plenty of blog entries to keep readers encouraged as they navigate their various journeys. One piece of advice Professor Malone would give to writers is to just write. “I think that’s the hardest thing to do—that is, to plant your derriere in a seat and start writing. But that’s the only way to get your thoughts out. Of course, writing begins in your head; it organizes itself in your head; the plot thickens in your head; the characters come alive in your head; the scenes unfold in your head, but that means absolutely nothing if you don’t write them down for others to see and share. Writing is a form of ministry, and if it’s hanging around in your head, your ministry is in a stagnate place.” This is what she encourages all her pupils, mentees, friends and colleagues to do. Just write, because she believes once you’ve written the story, you’ve won half the battle. Personal Website: http://www.diannemalone.com Iris and Locke Website: http://www.irisandlocke.com Who’s That Lady Website: http://www.diannemalone.com/blog