An Interview with Kirsten Miles

Along with being a mental health therapist, Kirsten Miles is an award-winning author and writer. She has been writing since about four years old, when she used to poke holes in the paper and tie ribbons to keep the pages together. Kirsten volunteers at an animal rescue and is a proud vegan. She has published several poems, including, “If Love Was a Color” in the 2019 edition of New Jersey’s Best Emerging Poets. She has self-published an award-winning novel and has a new published book out now. She lives with her wife and dogs, Ruffles and Jack Jack, in the heart of New Jersey.

Who/what made you want to write? Was there a particular person, or particular writers/works/art forms that influenced you?

This is a bit of a hard one for me to answer, as I wanted to be a writer before I could even hold a crayon! I loved being read to as a toddler, and my mother and grandmother would read to me often, instilling my love for literature. Growing up, I loved authors such as L.M Montgomery, Louisa May Alcott, and Laura Ingalls Wilder. As a child, I read anything I could find! I really love all kinds of art forms when it comes to writing.

What inspired you to start writing this book?

I thought it would be a cool concept to write a book within a book. I also really wanted to portray the journey of a woman discovering herself and making sacrifices to choose love over societal expectations. The path of love is not always an easy one, and I wanted to portray it in a somewhat realistic way.

Tell us the story of your book’s title. Was it easy to find, or did it take forever?

I honestly am not totally sure how I came up with it! A lot of my ideas seem to pop up in my head sometimes. I wanted a title to symbolize the freedom Kate experiences, and I thought a beautiful bird would be an excellent metaphor for that! Thus, The Hummingbird Lullaby.

If your book had a soundtrack, what are some songs that would be on it?

I actually did make a playlist on Spotify based on the book! Some of the songs are, “Love Song” by Lana Del Rey, “Lust for Love” by Lana Del Rey and the Weeknd, “Pink” by Leon, and “Five String Serenade” by Mazzy Star. The playlist is called “The Hummingbird Lullaby” by Kir Meli.

Describe your dream book cover.

My publisher, Elizabeth Campbell, did amazing with her illustrations on my book. The colors really pop and the flowers with the hummingbird make it fit with the story perfectly!

What other professions have you worked in? What’s something about you that your readers wouldn’t know?

I am also a mental health therapist. I love my clients, and they inspire me every day! I believe my background in the mental health field has served me well, both as a therapist and also a writer, as I can create more complex characters now. Many readers would not know this, but I am OBSESSED with EDM (Electronic Dance Music), both old-school and new! David Guetta is one of my favorite artists.

What books did you read (for research or comfort) throughout your writing process?

Last year, I read The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid which is about a famous actress who falls in love with another famous actress and struggles with her sexual identity. The book is so well-written, the plot exciting, and the meaning very heart-warming. I would say it’s my favorite modern book.

What is one thing you hope readers take away from reading your book? How do you envision your perfect reader?

I hope readers, LGBTQ+ or not, can relate to Kate’s struggles of identity and the battle between duty and desire. I also hoped to portray both love’s beauty and fragility, much like a hummingbird!

Are you a writer, too? Submit your manuscript to Atmosphere Press.