As a youth, best-selling author, speaker, journalist, and radio host Dianne Barker dreamed of big-city life but never left her birthplace. Today, she and her husband of fifty-four years love calling Johnson City, Tennessee home.
Her father was fifty-eight years old when she was born. After the death of his first wife, he married a woman twenty years younger. Dianne was their last child. Her mother’s only girl after four boys.
”I grew up cherished. I began piano lessons in second grade and graduated from high school at sixteen. In my teen years, God put a desire in my heart to write for our local newspaper. At eighteen, I landed my dream job at the paper and after college joined the staff full time. At nineteen, I married the man of my dreams. At twenty, I graduated. And at twenty-four, I wrote my first book in a total of three months.”
Billy Graham in Big Orange Country was a commemorative book about the impact of the 1970 ten-day Billy Graham Crusade at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee. The crusade drew over half a million people and made national headlines with the visit of President Richard Nixon. The book became a bestseller with about 40,000 copies sold.
The highlight of Dianne’s journalism career was her interview with Corrie Ten Boom, a Dutch watchmaker. During World War II, Corrie and her family hid Jews in their home so they could escape the Nazi Holocaust.
Her latest release, I Don’t Chase the Garbage Truck Down the Street in My Bathrobe Anymore: Organizing for the Maximum Life, gives a light-hearted perspective on the problem of clutter and disorganization. She offers practical strategies for organizing space, time, and family chaos while encouraging personal renovation—purging the interior garbage of low esteem and inferiority through submission to Christ.
Dianne never ceases to be surprised by God. “Who would’ve thought I’d host a weekly radio program? “At the Library” on WHCB Radio, Blountville, TN, features interviews with Christian authors and allows me to do what I’ve done all my adult life—interview interesting people. I’m also honored to speak for Stonecroft Ministries Christian Women’s clubs.”
When asked her advice for someone struggling with their first book, she said, “Write what God puts in your heart and seek His guidance concerning publication. Hone your writing skills and edit ruthlessly. Your writing must be flawless, and your book concept must meet a current need. Attend conferences to learn and to network. Make sure your book proposal follows publisher guidelines. Do not let rejection and discouragement sidetrack you. In His time, God will open a publishing door.”
Dianne invites you to connect with her on her website at www.diannebarker.com and to check out her books on her Amazon Author page. Her desire is to soon encourage struggling couples to stick together and build the marriage of their dreams by publishing Help! I’m Stuck and I Can’t Get Out! The Maximum Maintenance and Repair Kit.
◊◊◊◊◊◊◊
“Learning to apply Scripture to my daily life, I stopped depending on circumstances to bring me joy. Joy is what God brings to my circumstances.” —I Don’t Chase the Garbage Truck Down the Street in My Bathrobe Anymore!
Diana, it was a huge honor! And the amazing part was that she wanted to have her photo made with me! What a precious, humble lady!
I’ve long wanted to learn more about this amazing writer and lady. Thank you for this wonderful introduction.
Thank you! I’m surprised our paths have not crossed. Appreciate your writing ministsry!
Every student who goes through my Sunday school class hears about Corrie ten Boom . What an honor to be able to interview her.