The writer takes his pen and then, his mind begins to dream, traveling to places he has never been. You won’t often catch him flying cause he’d rather take the train, rolling past the farmer’s crops, forgotten by the rain. For the writer has been known to share a bourbon with Mark Twain, just before and after he thought to change his name. He said, “Son I’m just a novelist some comet left behind, born a moment too soon, but I had to take the ride.”
As soon as a person speaks the words, “I want to be a writer,” the aspirant suddenly forms a vision of what a writer is. Ironically, that image is more visual than verbal. Some see a writer as a studious, professorial type pouring over a keyboard in a room filled with dusty books, while another may portray a slick and confident professional featured on an important talk show. Regardless of what we as writers may think a real writer is, we rarely see ourselves.
Nathan Duane Miller was born in Lamesa , California on January 7, 1974. He graduated from San Gorgonio High School in San Bernardino in 1993. The aspiring artist and writer studied art at San Bernardino Valley College before taking a job at a movie theater that lasted until he moved to East Tennessee in 1999.
In the years since Miller followed his father to Sevier County , he has worked at Dollywood, Park Vista and the Music Road hotels. But, Nathan has always been a working man with his eye on a much bigger prize.
Nathan has been writing short stories since the early 1990’s and had the idea to base one of them in a movie theater during the time he was working in one himself. At that time “Saphfire” was born. Years later, in 2008, Nathan and a few friends from work, began talking about making a movie. So he pulled out “Saphfire” and began to update and refine the characters and story line. When the enthusiasm for the movie faded among his co-workers, Miller stuck with his story, changing the form from script to novel.
Determined to finish, Nathan wrote around his work schedule for two years and completed the first of his four volume series on the adventures “Saphfire McCain,” a young beautiful girl whose dreams are actually premonitions. Published by RoseDog Books in Pittsburgh , the 224 page paperback is now available at www.rosedogbookstore.com and will soon be carried by Amazon and local book sellers.
Writing a book of any kind is a remarkable accomplishment and requires great discipline. But, a fictional novel requires not only an interesting story, but character development and background on places you have never probably never been or do not really exist to make the journey believable. Nathan accomplished this while working two jobs and supporting a family. Only very few would have finished a project under those stresses and Nathan should be congratulated for his accomplishment whether he sells 1 book or 1 million.
Can writing be taught? Well, that is debatable, as some aspects of writing, such as thoughtful editing can be cultivated. However, the gift for storytelling cannot be learned in a classroom. Good writing requires that every sentence palpitate, thrill and fascinate. To achieve this, the author must apply certain time honored rules while still creating their own unique style.
I am proud to introduce Sevier County ’s newest author to you and wish Nathan Miller all the luck in the world with his new book. I hope you will choose to support him by purchasing a copy of “Saphfire.” Because we all know that when one of us succeeds, in part we all benefit from the exposure. Just ask Dolly!
Henry Piarrot is the general manager of the SpringHill Suites by Marriott Pigeon Forge. Please send all story recommendations to hpiarrot@yahoo.com
