About Marla Miller
Author, Freelancer & Founder of Marketing The Muse
As I traverse down my own road to continuing publication, I appreciate just how hard it is to not only write well but well enough to get published. It’s tough out there. More than ever, writers need each other. In these changing times in publishing, it does take a village.
A brief bio:
I worked as a psychiatric nurse practitioner/teacher until my 3rd daughter arrived. One of a fortunate few, I was able to full-time mother my children. My writing career shifted from professional journal writing to freelance writing during these years. My first book, All American Girls: The U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team was published by Simon & Schuster three weeks before our team won the 1999 Women's World Cup held at the Rose Bowl and watched by two billion people world-wide. For almost 17 years, I penned one to three columns every month for the Orange County Register's lifestyle magazine. My interests included pop culture, personality profiles, nonprofits, health care, sports, food and travel. I've written for lots of publications; regional clips include Coast Magazine, OC Metro, OC Family, Orange Coast Magazine, Riviera and The Daily Pilot. From 2006-2009, I was founding editor-in-chief of an OC coastal lifestyle magazine. National clips include The Writer Magazine, Los Angeles Times, Writers Digest, Oxygen.com, GOAL, and More Magazine's More.com. For 8 years during the 1990's, I had a blast co-hosting a radio talk show on OC public radio where we attracted, or tried to, any big name coming to Orange County back when it wasn't yet 'The OC.' Notable writers on The Marla & Cherri Show included Ray Bradbury, Barnaby Conrad, Joe Wambaugh and lots of celebrities including many Food Network stars before they were. I still get a Christmas card from Emeril Lagasse
I started out teaching at the University of Illinois College of Nursing when I was 28 years old. By the time we left Chicago to re-root in California, I was an Assistant Professor and mother of a toddler. I loved teaching then and I love it now. I always describe myself as an 'okay' writer and very good teacher. MarketingtheMuse workshops took root at this intersection.
I adore The Writer Magazine, publisher Elfrieda Abbe and her fine staff. For several years, I've written series for them; my first, about notable authors' early years, the second, on query letters that hooked literary agents and my current series is called Critique My Query. Fashioned after MtheM's Quick Query Critique, the video critique is offered at theWriterMag.com.
During my years as Assistant Director of Santa Barbara Writers Conference, I established the Young Writers Program and MC'ed many literary agent panels. Their denial of 'change coming' always astounded me. Did they think the web was just going to go away? I've taught nonfiction workshops at the University of California, Irvine – Extension. One of my favorite places to teach MarketingtheMuse is at the Southern California Writers Conference. Founder Michael Steven Gregory (MSG), Director Wes Albers and their peeps became my 'peeps' early on. MSG filmed and edited my first video quick query critique session with a filmmaker's eye because that's what he is, a fine filmmaker. He and Wes are also good guys who have writers' backs. This is the kind of character trait that appeals to me. I always recommend the Southern California Writers Conference held twice every year for the last twenty-four.
I don't content edit much anymore but when I did, I accumulated some bragging rights. Two clients authored best-selling books. One went through a conventional publisher and one self published which turned me into a believer in self publishing’s potential. It’s always about telling good stories and she did. She also knew her market and had the finances to get to it.
I'm a R.N. practitioner who has always believed in primary prevention a.k.a. 'wellness.' The current overhaul of our sick health care system has recharged my batteries. I began consulting with health insurance companies who know very little about wellness. But they are learning I'm pleased to report.
My personal life includes leaving a longtime marriage that produced three fine daughters, now young adult women. I'd like to think that all the writing I did during their 'wonder years' will eventually find the light of publishing day. Meanwhile, I'll be posting portions of my work, fiction and non-fiction, for a few reasons but mostly to offer a tutorial on what attracts agents and editors. Several of my projects have attracted attention but need more work that I haven't yet done. Wouldn't you know it, my personal life just wouldn't take a back seat to getting published.
Imagine that.
I bet you can.
Enjoy MarlaMiller.com & my revised MarketingtheMuse website.
Namaste,