Check Out Bianca Miller’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Bianca Miller.

Bianca, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Oh man, my story… I think my story has a lot of different chapters that have brought me to who I am today. But I think specifically my writing journey is what has been the most special to me. Writing has always been therapeutic to me, and that feeling started at a young age. I think reading is what uncovered my love of writing. I used to spend hours in Barnes and Noble scouring the aisles for books. I’d pick two or three, go home, read them in 2 days, and go back to bookstore as quickly as I could.

Once I had found that there was magic laced in those words, I wanted to create that magic for others. I started writing in diaries, and then when I was a bit older, I started writing “fanfiction” on Myspace. It was an outlet for me that allowed me to handle my own emotions while creating an escape for others, too. Growing up, whenever I was asked what my biggest dream was, I always said, “I wanted to write a book.”

Honestly, I don’t think I ever really believed that I would do it. Years passed and my life continued on with no signs that I would fulfill that dream. Don’t get me wrong, I always kept a running list of ideas in the “Notes” app on my phone. Notes dating all the way back to 2010, my junior year of high school.

Then, in June 2019, I took the first major step with the encouragement of my husband. I booked a solo trip to Rogers, Arkansas, for a week. I stayed in a tiny home on the lake and got to work. I left that trip with 12,000+ words, which felt HUGE to me. However, looking back, that was simply the start of what would turn into a lifelong dream. After that trip, my book took the backseat after finding out I was pregnant.

After my son was born in 2022, I needed an outlet. I was a new mom and struggling a bit to find time for myself and the things that I was passionate about, so I opened my computer for the first time in years. With a little nudge from my husband, I began writing again, and I completely let it engulf me.

Anytime I had free time, I was writing. I began staying up until 2 or 3 in the morning because that was when my inspiration hit. The quietness of the nighttime allowed my creative juices to flow and before I knew it, I was 80,000+ words in and looking for an editor. Stepping back, I realized my dream was within my reach.

On the side, I’d been running an Instagram blog @biancamillerwrites (formerly @littlehouseinop) since 2020. While it started as more of a food/home decor blog, over the years it had changed to more of a lifestyle blog. Then, when I was ready, I decided to share that I was writing a book and continued to share my journey of the process. To my surprise, the humans in my corner of the internet were more than supportive; they were excited, too!

As I finished up the writing portion of the journey, I began editing (which is honestly harder than writing in my opinion), and that’s when I set the date, February 29th, 2024, Diving In by Bianca Miller would be released to the world. As the day approached, my nerves grew, and so did my excitement.

On February 29th, my book was released, and it was unlike anything I could’ve imagined. I felt like I was floating on a cloud. I’m still riding the wave and plan to for as long as I can. I recently signed an Audiobook deal for Diving In and can’t wait to hear my story come to life.

I originally didn’t plan to write a second book, but the idea just hit me, and I couldn’t let the story go untold. So, I’m now working on book two and can’t wait to see where this journey takes me.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Everything but. Honestly, I’m not sure I would’ve wanted the road to be smooth. I think it’s the bumps that make the journey worth it. For me, I think most of the struggles stemmed from the fact that the entire process was new to me and there is no manual for becoming a self-published indie (independent) author.

The number of steps and processes that have to be completed in order to successfully publish as an indie author is unbelievable, and the research on how to do said steps and processes is almost nonexistent. Not to mention, while trying to figure out this process, I’m also responsible for marketing my book, creating content, and getting the word out to as many people as possible.

Many times, I felt overwhelmed, as though this was impossible and there was no way I was going to get this all figured out.

On top of that, imposter syndrome is SO real. Once you dive into the indie author world it’s easy to compare yourself, your book, and your journey with others. That knowledge can quickly play mind games with you, leading you to believe you aren’t good enough or that your book isn’t good enough. That is the real struggle.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar with what you do, what can you tell them about what you do?
My full-time job is a Social Media Manager.

However, I’m most known for my presence on social media. Since 2020, I’ve run an Instagram account previously known as @littlehouseinop and now known as @biancamillerwrites.

The rebrand came after a lot of consideration and the ultimate decision to push forward on following my dream of becoming an author.

I have recently self-published my debut novel Diving In, a contemporary romance that will have you feeling all the feels.

Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
How much room do I have? The amount of people that have supported me, inspired me, pushed me, and ultimately talked me through the times I wanted to give up is endless.

My family. My husband who has constantly allowed my dream to take up space in our life and continuously supports and pushes me to never give up on my dreams. My son who doesn’t know it but pushes me to be the best version of myself that I can be in hopes of making him proud. My mom, who always told me that I should be a writer. My sisters, who sat and drank margaritas with me while we solidified the title and the cover design of my book.

My editor (@bookclubatbrookes) who pushed me outside of my comfort zones more times than I’d like to admit. If it wasn’t for her, this book wouldn’t be what it is today.

My cover designer (@smaldo.designs) who never got sick of me making tiny little tweaks to the cover image until it was ultimately perfect.

My friends who consistently show up for me even when they were sick of listening to me talk about my book.

The 20,000 humans that are a part of my Instagram community. The ones that have been with me for years and the ones that have recently started following my journey, thank you. Whether they know it or not, they’ve inspired me in more ways than one. Anytime I felt defeated or uninspired, my community also pushed me to keep going.

There is more; I know there is. Because there will always be more.

Pricing:

• Diving In – Paperback – $15.99
• Diving In – Ebook – $5.99

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/biancamillerwrites
• Other: https://a.co/d/bPpeOE6

Image Credits
Quincey Carroll Photography