Author Interview: Explore the Experience and Voice of Author Belinda Miller

Welcome to Untamed Publishing's Author Interviews! As a company that caters to the self-published and independent author, we want to highlight and support indie authors. There is a vast array of talent amongst us, and here's the opportunity to connect the readers to their next favorite author!

This interview features, Author Belinda Miller. Let's get to know this phenomenal children's book author and gain some wisdom from her experience and voice!

Welcome to UP author interviews, Belinda! Before we begin, please tell us a little about yourself.

A little is not enough and too much is, well, too much, so, I’ll start with the facts. At 67 years of age, I consider myself a sort of “woman of La Mancha.” Although I have not fought any windmills, I have lived many impossible dreams that brought me to where I am right now. One of which is the ability to have written and published six children’s books. Nothing is achieved without perseverance, and although poor Don Quixote died beaten up and defeated, he never forgot his dream. Likewise, although “I’m not dead yet,” I have been able to accomplish all that I have set out to do.

I live in Manassas, VA with my husband, “Sancho Panza,” and cats. After spending almost twenty years as an operations manager for Fortune 500 companies, I suffered an injury which further aggravated my Muscular Dystrophy and kept me from continuing a stellar career that I hated, but enabled me to live well. Still, my first love was, and still is teaching, for which I have a Masters degree and many certifications. I taught reading to middle grade students in the late 1970s, using classic pieces of children’s literature for texts.

In the corporate environment, I wrote policy and technical manuals — boring, but necessary. Privately, I wrote poems and stories. After I broke my back, in 2013, I began my Phillip’s Quest and Ragwort Chronicles elementary and middle grade books. My most current publication of The Ragwort Chronicles, The Reunion will be out in November.

Wow! I am in awe. You have certainly lived a full and complete life. With all that you have accomplished, please tell us why you made the decision to become a published author?

See answer to question 1! I wanted to share my love of stories with children and excite them to read by giving them a land of wonderful, and fantastic characters to delight in. The books also reflect my love of teaching, so I include unusual vocabulary that may refer to geological formations, or parts of a ship! I do not believe in dumbing down.

This leads into my next question. Besides children's books, what genres do you write or wish to write?

Even though my published books are geared towards children, I am sending out my newest manuscript, a speculative historical fiction thriller, The Centurion’s Lance, hoping to find a publisher.

Let's discuss a bit more about you as an author. When it comes to writing, are you a morning person or a night owl?

Definitely not a morning person. Old people need sleep. Yes, I have been seen on social media at 2AM.

LOL! Well, as my mother would've said, you're not old, you're just seasoned! I won't argue with sleep. It's a hot commodity these days, lol. Tell us a unique writing habit that you have.

Hah! I write with my left hand and one finger of my right hand. The dystrophy has rendered my right hand useless.

What makes your writing stand apart from other authors?

Experience and voice. As my mom used to say, “Belinda, you’ve lived ten lifetimes already.”

If you were to write a book about yourself what would you name it? Why?

The book would be called, “Deeds of Trust,” or“A Million Secrets.” Why? Don’t think I’ll reveal that.

Let's move into your works. Tell us about your current book project?

I have, as I aforementioned two projects: The Ragwort Chronicles, The Reunion, and The Centurion’s Lance.

When will your upcoming project be released?

November, 2017

What are some of your other aspirations for your writing career?

Besides the 4 books that I have left to write and publish on my Phillip’s Quest saga, at least one more book similar to The Centurion’s Lance and either “Deeds of Trust,” or “A Million Secrets.”

Name your top 5 favorite books by indie authors.

Asbury Park, by Robert Scott; Anabelle Unraveled, by Amanda Romine Lynch; Hitler’s Time Machine, by Robert F. Dorr, and The Swamp Fairy, by Colleen Cheseboro.

Would you like to collaborate with other authors on a book project?

NO— been there, done that, could write another book.

LOL! That is a book I'd like to read! So let's talk about a few fun facts about you. Outside of writing, what are your favorite past times?

Cooking and jewelry making

Tell us one thing about you that is a little known fact.

I came from a family of Italian immigrants. I was raised “old school” and although my mom was self-educated, she was one of the most brilliant woman I’ve known.

What is one lesson you’ve learned since becoming a published author?

It ain’t easy.

What is one myth about being a published author that you learned and would like to share?

It isn’t easy, and you have to do your research and be absolutely dedicated. Ask for help. Join a writing group. Write continually. Establish a social media platform. Take writing classes. Go to seminars. SOOO many more…

Belinda, it has truly been a pleasure to interview you, and we look forward to your future works. Please connect with the author and pick up your copy of her last release, Phillips Quest!