About C.K. Miller:
C.K. Miller is a YA Fantasy author who can never get enough hot cocoa.
Much of her inspiration comes from her childhood years of playing in castle ruins, dense woods, and sloping vineyards of Bavaria, Germany.
After seven years of living in a bilingual household, and attending the local German schools, her family moved back to the U.S.A. It was a confusing time for a girl of fourteen just starting American High School. She’d left everything she knew behind: her friends, her home, and even her language. English did not come easy to her, nor did making friends. Everyone called her sweet, but quiet.
After making a friend who shared her love for stories, they began writing together, passing notebooks back and forth during lunch and after school. Eleven notebooks, and two years later, C.K. was struck with the desire to do more with her growing knowledge of the English language. She began writing her own stories in earnest, with a dream to become a published author.
In 2018, her debut novel, The Phoenix Host was released, and she hasn’t looked back.
What inspires you to write?
Many times the urge to write comes from images and scenes that play out in my head when I'm trying to sleep. Sometimes they appear when I'm on a walk–then I'm super irritated until I get them out on paper. Haha. My family knows this all too well.
The inspiration for my first book, The Phoenix Host, came when my dad gifted me a necklace with a tiny blue stone attached to it. My imagination went wild. I had also just recently left Germany and really wanted to go back, so I took myself there with my writing.
What authors do you read when you aren’t writing?
Oh! So many. Right now my favorite is Brandon Sanderson. But I love Robin Hobb, Marissa Mayer, Cornelia Funke, and Patrick Rothfuss. I wish I could say the classics like Tolkien – but I was unable to get through the Lord of the Rings.
Tell us about your writing process.
I'm still trying to decide what sort of writer I am. My first book took me 10 years to write because I was 'pantsing'. I wrote myself into so many corners.
After listening to advice from the author James Scott Bell, I've begin to implement 'signposts'. A goal or event to write towards, which has allowed me to stay flexible in my writing, but not put my characters in a situation I can't logically get them out of.
Though I still feel like this takes too long. I'm never certain where I'm going. I would love to be more confident and release all the stories in my head with a much faster pace. I have a new book I intend to write where I am trying the "Saves the Cat Writes a Novel" method. I have a huge corkboard on my wall now, littered with notes. Much more outlining involved. We shall see.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
Haha. Sometimes. Just recently I found myself scolding one of my characters while I was writing. I literally grumbled, "Leander, what are you doing?" He just was not cooperating. Sometimes they tell you where the story should go and it throws everything else off. But, if they are true to their character, sometimes its for the best.
What advice would you give other writers?
Stay true to you.
So many times I find myself thinking, "What do my readers want?" It puts so much pressure on myself and makes the writing process tedious and unenjoyable.
Also, learn from other authors. If you don't have time to read, listen to audiobooks. (That is what I do.) Listen to podcasts on writing advice. Read your work out loud. Write simple. Write beautiful.
Most of all, don't stop. You may need to take a break sometimes, but don't stop if it is your passion.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
I was originally picked up by a small printing press, which is now out of business. The things I learned there were life-changing. I eventually voided the contract and turned to self-publishing instead–because I was doing all the work anyway. If you are fortunate enough to find a reputable agent to work with you, I would highly recommend that. Though it will put more pressure on how much and how often you write. It becomes more of a business, which is fine!
As for me, I am a mother first, and an author second. Self-publishing has given me to the opportunity to follow my dreams at my own pace. And the freedom to create what I envision.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
Honestly, I'm worried. The publishing world, especially self-publishing, has become saturated with poorly written books, AI scripts, and non-passionate ghostwriters, making it hard for authors with true skill and talent to be overlooked and underestimated. I hope that someday, self-published authors can be recognized as real, talented, and reputable.
What genres do you write?: YA Fantasy
What formats are your books in?: Both eBook and Print
Website(s)
C.K. Miller Home Page Link
Link To C.K. Miller Page On Amazon
Your Social Media Links
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All information in this post is presented “as is” supplied by the author. We don’t edit to allow you the reader to hear the author in their own voice.
