Author Jacquie May Miller
A little bit about Author Jacquie May Miller…
My journey to publication took a little longer than most—I’m over 60 (not saying how far over)—but I’m as excited as I was when I published my first article in the Nosy Neighborhood News at age eleven. Perhaps that’s an understatement—I’m over the moon! It only took about fifty more years to land a contract for my first book.
To be fair, I wasn’t trying for the first forty, I was using the left side of my brain managing my business. But about ten years ago, after spending most of my life making a living, I decided to make a life. I started putting words on paper, or cyber paper— scratches in a notebook, notes on loose scraps of paper, ramblings on my computer—that seemed to be forming a story. With the help of my critique group, various writing classes and some wonderful writing conferences, my first draft was transformed into something worthy of publication.
Or was it? After knocking on many doors, i.e., querying by email and pitching in-person, The Wild Rose Press answered the door. My editor opened it juuuust wide enough to ask me to consider a few changes, then gently closed it again. Her suggestions were correct and after a few revisions, I tried again, and the door swung wide open.
I am now a “Rose” in a garden full of welcoming authors. I couldn’t be happier to share my publication journey with the wonderful people I’ve met on this journey.
This is Author Jacquie May Miller’s writing and publication journey in her own words…
Inspiration to start writing…
My father was an English major and spent many nights at the dinner table reciting poetry. I learned to love words and started writing at a young age, sharing stories in the newspaper my friends and I published at age eleven, The Nosy Neighborhood News. I set that all aside years later for a career as a health insurance broker. But the urge to write never fell too far off my radar and about ten years ago I took a writing class ‘just for fun’. The teacher ignited a spark that inspired me to go beyond an occasional short story. A piece I wrote in that class defined one of the main characters in my first book THE PRICE OF SECRETS. This book falls into the genre of Women’s Fiction, but I branched out into the mystery genre with my second book, DO YOU TAKE THIS MAN?
Jacquie’s works…
Two years ago, Jack Madison and Mary Bradley found each other. Both had suffered through difficult marriages and as Mary broke free from her abusive husband, Jack was recovering from the death of his wife. Now these two are embarking on the final chapter of their lives as they marry on the bow of a cruise ship with family surrounding them on a sunny voyage to Mexico. It looks like they will finally have their ‘happily ever after’. What could possibly go wrong? With one family member objecting to their union and Mary’s ex-husband lurking behind the scenes waiting to crash the reception, plenty could—and does—go wrong.
Take a ride on The Queen of the Seas, following Jack and Mary on the path that could lead to someone’s final journey.
This is a short piece from one of Jacquie’s favourite scenes from Do You Take This Man?…
“You’re surely going to hell, Mary.” He moved closer, obviously not afraid of the knife that was now within striking distance of his oversized beer gut.
“I lived in hell for over forty years. The church might not agree, but the State says I’m rid of you, so get the hell out of here.” She lowered her hand.
