Thanks to the Library, Vanessa Miller Always Had Books

When USA Today-best-selling author Vanessa Miller was growing up, money was scarce — but thanks to libraries, she was able to read whatever she wanted.

“My first experience with books was at the library,” she tells us. “This is where I learned I could check out a book, read it, then bring it back and take another one home. And I did this often. My mother didn’t have excess money to buy every book I wanted to read. For this reason, I am so thankful that libraries exist. I am a writer today because I first found books in the library.”

Now she sees libraries as a crucial way to reach readers who may not otherwise have access to her books. “I still remember the kid in me who was always so happy to go to the library and check out a book,” she says. “Knowing that other readers are now able to find my books when they walk into a library — or log in to download the ebook or audiobook — means everything.

Miller chooses to do a lot of book events at libraries, and she loves it when she reaches out to a potential library venue and hears that they already carry her books. “I smile because that means a reader, whether they have the funds or not, has access to my books,” she tells us. “Sometimes people can’t afford to buy all the books they want at a bookstore. They have bills that must be paid also. This is why I believe libraries are so necessary in our communities. Reading is important, and books should be accessible.”

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In addition to helping Miller reach readers, libraries have also supported her research process. “Libraries have been very helpful with the research that I do for my historical novels,” she says. “For instance, the Henderson County Public Library is the only place that still holds a copy of the book The Kingdom of the Happy Land, written by local historian Sadie Smathers Patton. If the library hadn’t preserved the few copies that were left, I wouldn’t have been able to add some of the information that was discovered during her discussions with descendants of the Happy Land. There was also another book on the history of Hendersonville by another local historian that provided the needed information concerning the children of my main character in The American Queen.”

Her novels often center on themes of redemption and resilience. “I’m drawn to these themes because they reflect the truth that no matter how broken a situation may seem, there is always hope for restoration,” Miller says. “My characters often face deep pain, loss, or difficult circumstances, but through faith, perseverance, and sometimes the support of a community, they discover strength they didn’t know they had. I believe readers connect with those journeys because we’ve all needed a second chance at some point. Writing these stories allows me to explore the power of grace and remind others that their past doesn’t define them. There’s always an opportunity to rise, heal, and move forward.”

Miller’s personal journey and faith have shaped the way that she approaches writing and character development. “I have become a better writer as I have grown and gone through painful situations in life. The pain, the disappointment, and even the joy of becoming a Christian have shaped me and have been infused into the characters I write about.”

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Her new book The Ladies Hall will be published in August by Thomas Nelson, which is part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing. The book is a historical novel about three Black women who fight for equality at Oberlin College in the 1880s, inspired by the real-life stories of Mary Church Terrell, Anna Julia Cooper, and Ida Gibbs Hunt. “While researching, I once again turned to the library and discovered invaluable information as I combed through the archives at the Mary Church Terrell Library at Oberlin College,” she tells us. “We need institutions that hold onto historical information. Without the library, many researchers would be at a loss for information needed to complete a project.”

Miller hopes that readers will find the book in libraries as well as bookstores. “My prayer is that the book will be available everywhere books are sold . . . but also where books are borrowed and returned.”

The community aspect of libraries is crucial for Miller. “Libraries, to me, are more than buildings filled with books,” she says. “They’re gathering places for a community. They’re one of the few spaces where everyone is welcome, no matter their background, their story, or their current season in life.”

She sees libraries as a mirror to the communities she writes about in her books. “Libraries hold stories, both on the shelves and in the lives of the people who walk through their doors,” she says. “You’ll find students chasing dreams and families building better futures. At the end of the day, community is about showing up for one another, and libraries do that every single day.”

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