Author Spotlight: J.M. Miller

Author Bio:

J.M. Miller currently consumes her coffee in Florida. When she isn't busy being distracted by social media sites, she writes Young Adult and New Adult romance novels that vary in genre from contemporary to paranormal, with a little mystery thrown in for fun. Aside from spending time with her family, she loves to travel and will jump at the chance to go anywhere, whenever life allows.

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Books

Synopsis

Caly knew her mom would punish her; in fact, she'd planned on it. But a late-night ride in the backseat of a cop car wasn't part of that plan. 

Seventeen-year-old Caly Monroe has one passion: graffiti. Her mom hates it. And that's precisely why Caly decides to spray paint a barely dressed portrait of her mom in the middle of town, hoping to change her perspective―or maybe it was just to piss her off. 

After Caly's mom picks her up from the police station, she banishes Caly to Gemstone Beach, the run-down bay beach where they used to live each summer. The last time Caly stepped a bare foot onto that beach's crusty sand was five years ago, before her mom opened a bakery and permanently ended their vacations. When Caly returns, she is tasked with manual labor at the boardwalk as punishment; though, she soon discovers the real punishment is facing the people she once cared most about, including her first love, Aden. 

While Caly continues to contemplate her artistic future, she has to let her heart choose what, and who, is worth fighting for.

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Synopsis

Stained with heartache and cursed with vengeance, a stone well lies on a nineteenth-century estate, waiting for the Stockton line to wish again. 

When seventeen-year-old Lila Wayde's father loses his high-paying job in Las Vegas, the family relocates to a Pennsylvania estate bequeathed by an estranged aunt. Lila begins a new life there, one not corrupted by wealth and fake friends. She soon meets Ben, the groundskeeper's gritty grandson, and experiences the kind of happiness her life's been missing. But as she settles into the ancient house, she learns information about her ancestors and the old stone well that may make her wish she'd never come. 

Ben Shadows has lost enough in life. So when Stockton Estate's owner, Janine, wills the land to her great-niece Lila, Ben fears for the fate of the property. He decides to find out Lila's intentions as the new owner, but his grandfather wants him to protect her from Stockton Estate's alleged curse. As Ben helps Lila dig through the estate's history, they grow closer than he ever intended. Now, along with concerns about the property and the reality of the curse, he struggles with feelings he can't ignore. 

Will the secrets of Stockton Estate bring them together or will knowing the truth rip them apart? 

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Synopsis

While searching for answers involving Stockton Estate's stone well, Ben Shadows and LJ Wayde discover one truth: the curse is real. 

Unfortunately, that truth has LJ facing the same fate that's been tied to her bloodline for generations. The curse has given her the ability to help others conquer their greatest weaknesses, but it comes with a torturous price. As the rush of helping people starts to outweigh the pain of the consequences, LJ moves toward acceptance. She considers it a gift, a chance to make up for the way she treated people in the past. 

Ben pushes on to find an end to the curse despite LJ's reluctance. He fears the real consequences are far worse than LJ's current symptoms, possibly linked to her Aunt Janine's memory loss. His love drives his need to protect her, even if it means hiding the next piece of the well's mystery. 

When LJ finds what Ben has kept secret, she may never forgive him.

Will he lose her heart before he can save her mind?

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Author Interview

What inspired you to write your first book? 

I was reading and found myself considering what might happen if the story had gone a different way. Not long after, I got an idea and started writing!

Do you have a favorite character from your books? Why are they your favorite?

I'd say Ben from the TLTB series is one of my favorite. He's been through a lot in his life and doesn't have many close friends and family. He is very protective of those who are close to him and is extremely passionate.

How important are names to you in your books? Do you choose the names based on liking the way it sounds or the meaning? Do you have any name choosing resources you recommend?

Some names come automatically. Others, I will look up the meaning for if I know the character's traits. I do try to use different sounding names so the book reads easily without any confusion. Good resources for me are streets, counties, or places close to where I've lived. Also baby name websites. Those are always great!

If you could cast your characters in the Hollywood adaptation of your book, who would you choose to play your characters?

In The Line That Binds, I'd probably pick Jennifer Lawrence for LJ and maybe Chance Crawford for Ben. That might not be the best fit since they are a bit older than my MCs, though.

How does your work differ from others of its genre?

There are a lot of YA PNRs out there. The TLTB series is cursed based so it doesn't not have entities like werewolves, vamps, or fae.  I think the spin on a wishing well is unique and definitely different for the genre.

What are your current projects? 

I'm working on a NA Romantic Suspense right now. It's slow going, but I hope to publish before the end of the year.

If you didn't like writing books, what would you do for a living?

I've worked in a variety of fields, but I enjoyed working with animals the most. I'd probably work in a zoo if I weren't writing.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing? 

Everything in this career is a challenge. That's also why I love it. The marketing side of publishing is what I'm having the most problems with right now. It's hard to get your name out there. 

Just as your books inspire authors, what authors have inspired you to write?

Initially- Stephen King, J.K. Rowling, Stephenie Meyer, Nicholas Sparks and loads of others.

Now – lots of indies who work their butts off for their dreams.  

What writing advice do you have other aspiring authors?

Don't give up. Write because you love it, write for yourself, and share it with others. Some might like it, others won't. Keep going. If you truly love doing it, you won't be able to stop.

What books have most influenced your life most? 

Lots of books have influenced my life. I can't really say that there are specifics, but one of my favorites is The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. 

Tell us something that might surprise our readers?

A couple of my previous jobs were loading munitions on the F-15 and playing with lions in Las Vegas. J

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