C.K. Miller

Growing up caught between two worlds shaped everything about who I am as a fantasy writer. I spent seven years of my childhood in Germany, exploring ancient ruins near our home in Markt Einersheim while feeling displaced—called a "stupid Ami" by German classmates, too far from American bases to belong there either. My German father was finishing his Ph.D., and I grew up truly bicultural, with neither language dominant over the other.

When we returned to the US, I was fourteen with German now my first language, thrust into high school without knowing basic American history, the fifty states, or where any of them were located. Writing became my refuge when a kind friend took me under her wing, helping me navigate English through collaborative

Growing up caught between two worlds shaped everything about who I am as a fantasy writer. I spent seven years of my childhood in Germany, exploring ancient ruins near our home in Markt Einersheim while feeling displaced—called a "stupid Ami" by German classmates, too far from American bases to belong there either. My German father was finishing his Ph.D., and I grew up truly bicultural, with neither language dominant over the other.

When we returned to the US, I was fourteen with German now my first language, thrust into high school without knowing basic American history, the fifty states, or where any of them were located. Writing became my refuge when a kind friend took me under her wing, helping me navigate English through collaborative stories shared in notebooks. We'd trade paragraphs back and forth like a role-playing game, she'd correct my English and help me find words I was searching for. After two years, I suddenly realized I had surpassed her level—me, a "stupid Ami" who couldn't remember the fifty states! I loved writing and never wanted to stop.

Around this time, chronic health issues began shadowing my life—migraines, stomach pain, and muscle weakness that would plague me for over twenty-five years. When I married in 2005, my husband became my greatest champion, encouraging me to pursue publication even when I could barely believe in my own strength.

The story that would define my career began with a necklace from my geology-loving father—a tiny blue agate stone that sparked my imagination. Over time, that blue agate transformed into a cursed ruby, and what started as The Soldier Princess eventually became The Phoenix Host after nine rejection letters and a publishing journey through Helm Publishing. My themes of resilience, transformation, and finding strength in vulnerability draw directly from my own journey of healing and self-discovery.

After three difficult pregnancies and reaching my physical breaking point, I found a doctor who helped me heal both body and spirit. Today, all four books in the Roanfire Saga are published and have built a devoted readership who connect with these stories of overcoming impossible odds. I live near the Rocky Mountains with my husband, three children, and our menagerie including a cat and quail. When I'm not crafting fantasy worlds, I create art, practice martial arts, and tend my garden—all practices that keep me grounded and fuel my imagination. I'm passionate about both epic storytelling and the wellness practices that literally saved my life.

Visit my website at www.ckmillerbooks.com for more information about my books and wellness journey.