Nicole M. Miller

One night I dreamed the basic plot to this book. It was as though I was watching a live performance of a play, the main characters’ images clear in the dream. Not one to dream often, I asked God when I awoke the next morning, “Why did I dream a dream like that?” In my spirit I heard the words, “Write the book.” Stunned, I immediately questioned God with the following words: “Write the book? Excuse me, God, but I believe you have the wrong address. You surely meant to go to Victoria Holt’s residence, not the home of Victoria Burks.” However, as the days passed, I couldn’t quiet God’s...

  I have had the wonderful chance to visit Hana, Maui and the islands of Hawaii and been impressed with their culture of family, faith, and history. Since I’ve been troubled by our culture of anti-family, anti-faith, and denial of the past, I thought this would be a perfect setting. So I created a “material girl” from San Francisco and placed her in this rural village. Hana-lani is a fast-paced love story asking some T.S. Eliot’s permanent questions, “what is goodness, truth, and love?” I enjoyed writing this novel, for I could combine some of my social concerns with the dramatic natural beaty of Hawaii, a world at once violent...

  During a long visit to the Highlands and Lowlands of Scotland I became intrigued with why Highland Clans no longer occupied the Highlands. You’ll find the surprising answer in my book Masquerade Marriage. I’m of Scottish ancestry as are so many Americans, and bagpipes music makes my heart sing. I fell in love with the awesome country and the friendly, complex people. So, being a writer, of course I had to write of what I knew. I love the clear fresh air, the handsome people, the amazing openness of the country, the castles, and the Scots violent, adventurous history. In the next few years I plan to add Cailin...

  I don’t usually take events from real life and make them into a plot. (If you knew my plots, you’d know this was a good thing!) But I do try to push plots in a certain direction to make a point. Like “How can a slave girl with no physical strength or weapons be brave and accomplish amazing things?” My main character, Kee, is that slavegirl. Her master’s infant son has been kidnapped to a hostile kingdom and all the brave knights got nowhere when they went looking. So she hatches a plan to go looking herself, hiding in plain sight, masquerading as a runaway slave who was caught...

It’s believed my great, great+ grandfather might have been Chief Red Eagle/William Weatherford of the Creek Indians. The legend I’d always heard was that he jumped off a cliff to save his people. Lying in bed early one morning, I wished I could read the story in a novel. (I luuurve historical fiction.) The next logical thought was that I should be the one to write it. Outside of high school, I’d never written before, but figured I’d give it a go. During research, I came across Pickett’s History of Alabama, the most thrilling history book you’ll ever read. It was written in 1851 in story-book fashion. The author interviewed...