An Interview with Maureen Miller

Maureen Miller is a storyteller, speaker, and multi-genre, award-winning author with stories in more than thirty collaboratives. She contributes to Guideposts’ All God’s Creatures, her local newspaper, and several online devotion sites. Married for thirty-seven years to her childhood sweetheart Bill, she enjoys life with their three born-in-their-hearts children and three grand-girls, not to mention a variety of furry beasts. They live on Selah Farm, a hobby homestead nestled in the mountains of western North Carolina. She blogs at Windows and Wallflowers (Maureenmillerauthor.com), telling of God’s extraordinary character discovered in the ordinary things of life, and her debut novel, Gideon’s Book, is now available.

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

I was encouraged in my love for writing and story as a little girl. My earliest memory of storytelling is of my mom swinging with me on the front porch of our home, telling me a story about a kitten. I loved writing stories in grade school and continued to write, adding poetry in middle and high school. I had an English teacher who exhorted me my junior year, telling me I was overzealous in my love for commas, and it was then I realized—despite feeling a bit criticized—I had much to learn about the craft. Since, I’ve made it my goal to never stop learning more about writing. A wonderful author and friend named Cecil Murphey encouraged me, saying, “Hone your craft.” And so, that’s what I try to do—even if it’s as simple as writing a letter or journaling, especially when I’m suffering from writer’s block. My motto: Write something every day. More, I love encouraging others in their love for writing, and I try to find ways to do so regularly.

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

I waitressed at a restaurant called “Friendly’s” as well as babysat in high school. I then earned an undergraduate degree in elementary/middle school education and taught for a number of years, even working in daycare and preschool for a season. One thing my readers might not know about me is how I struggled for years, waiting for children through a long season of infertility. How blessed and happy I was when our three kids finally arrived through the miracle of adoption because three wonderful birth moms—heroes in my book (figuratively and literally-speaking)—chose to carry to term, then place Ian, Jacob, and Allie in our waiting arms! My heart overflows!

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

The original title of my book was The Bible by the Bed because it was about a Gideon Bible discovered in a hotel bedside stand. The Bible held clues to another—someone in a desperate situation—having read its pages prior. Honestly, I truly felt I heard this title whispered to my heart in early 2007, and I knew it was a story I was supposed to write. Truth was, I had no idea how to write quality fiction. Furthermore, not long after this experience, our family went through some challenges—severe health issues for my husband as well as a failed adoption of a little girl who’d lived with us for about a year. This set me back for a season, but I began pursuing writing conferences and started a local writers’ fellowship in my town where we could encourage one another in our craft. In 2018, I began writing the story in earnest, then hit send in 2020 amidst Covid and waited for edits. In the waiting, I threw myself into collaborative writing, something I’ve come to love. I soon realized I needed to start from the beginning and rewrite the entire book—different plot points, characters, etc. It was then I changed the name to reflect the allegorical nature of this story as well as my male protagonist, a young man named Gideon (Deon) Stallings.

What part of publishing your book made it feel real for the first time?

I think the part that felt like “this is real” was when the founder of the hybrid publishing house I used surprised me with an advanced reader copy (yet with some needed edits), handing it to me at a writers’ conference where I was teaching. I was like, “Wow! This is really happening!” I was over the moon with excitement!

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

Crimson and Clover – Tommy James and the Shondells

Landslide – Fleetwood Mac

Don’t Stop Believing – Journey

On My Own – Les Misérables

Love Lifted Me – James Rowe

O Love that Wilt Not Let Me Go – George Matheson

Sing Me Back Home – Merle Haggard

What’s one thing you hope sticks with readers after they finish your book?

To borrow a line from my beloved Jonah Forney in Gideon’s Book, “All it takes is pullin’ up a chair.” He says this to encourage folks to sit down and talk about things—even tackling difficult topics from varying perspectives to bring understanding and healing (racial reconciliation, for example). We are often so divided about things (politically and otherwise), only hanging out in our comfortable “camp”—with others who believe and see life like we do. How much could we learn from others when we sit down and listen as well as share, with love. I believe hearing one another’s stories and sharing our own can be a catalyst for growth, change, and healing.

What was the most rewarding/meaningful part of publishing your book?

After nearly two decades, having heard the “whisper” in early 2007, having that box of books to open, holding the finished product in my hand—the “baby” I felt I’d birthed (the ONLY baby I’ve birthed!) after a long labor, what I call “a long obedience in the same direction” (Friedrich Nietzsche/Eugene Peterson) … well, that was/is the most rewarding part. It reminded me that sometimes the best things don’t come easy but, rather, take perseverance and determination. But it was all worth it! Also, when I read someone’s review that tells how Gideon’s Book helped them feel they weren’t alone or reminded them of their worth, for example, that is very rewarding too!

What creative projects are you currently working on?

I write for Guideposts’ All God’s Creatures, where I have the joy of writing about all sorts of encounters (and life lessons learned) from animals. Being an animal-lover, this is my favorite writing. I am also researching and preparing to write my second novel, a standalone story that takes minor characters from Gideon’s Book and tells more of their story.

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