VALERIE G MILLER “ I decided that if I was to follow my dream, I needed to start now. My dream? To write a novel (and novels) to be published.”
The first Kelly’s Writerly Q&A Author Interview for 2025 is with Valerie G Miller, an Australian author, book coach in training and English and History teacher who writes historical fiction with heart. She has a Master of Letters in Creative Writing and has published: an anthology of short stories and her debut novel, There’s Something About You, Olivia Bennet. Featured in the Queensland Writer’s Centre, Right Left Write and My Story, My Voice anthologies, and the Romance Writers of Australia Sweet Treats collection, Valerie is a writer who has paved her way to this moment and she’s just getting started. Welcome Valerie, it’s so great to chat!
Kelly: Thanks for taking the time to answer some writerly questions. First of all, congratulations on the publication of your debut novel, There’s Something About You, Oliva Bennet, I loved it! Can you please tell everyone who hasn’t yet had the pleasure of reading it, what it’s about?
Valerie: Thank you. There’s Something About You, Olivia Bennet is about a young woman, orphaned since 13 due to a horrific car accident that claimed the life of her mum, Rosemary, an Italian migrant. Olivia has always wanted to know who her father was, but her mum refused to tell her or share anything about her life before she was born. The story opens when Olivia is 24 and working in a bookstore. A trunk arrives belonging to her mother. Inside are items that Olivia has never seen before. Items that do not align with her mum—haute couture gowns, jewellery, photos of 1960s Sydney and unaddressed letters written in Italian. With the help of the new primary school teacher, Sebastian, and her wild best friend Demi, Olivia goes on a quest to find out what each of the items mean and in doing so understands, not only who her father may have been but who her mother was.
Kelly: It’s such a wonderful story that gave me all the feels, and I hope that many other readers get to enjoy it! What inspired you to write There’s Something About You, Olivia Bennet?
Valerie: I’ll try and keep this brief. In 2018, after moving to Brisbane from Sydney in December 2016, I decided to stop writing stories I was only “publishing” to my bottom drawer—keeping them secret.
I decided that if I was to follow my dream, I needed to start now. My dream? To write a novel (and novels) to be published.
To send them out into the real world. That same year, I participated in Nanowrimo (National Novel Writing Month). My inspiration? I’ve always been fascinated by shy women (I am not!) I’ve also admired red hair, porcelain skin with a smattering of freckles and blue eyes. Again, someone I am not! I also love Jane Austen and Pride and Prejudice and wanted to write a story where this story featured. The title, There’s Something About You, Olivia Bennet came next. I wrote a 136,000-word manuscript which was shocking and will never see the light of day! I decided, after many tears, to start again. I took out of this awful manuscript, the character of Olivia Bennet and the title and started again. I’m fascinated by post-WW2 Italian proxy brides as my auntie is one. I’m also fascinated by women who experience beauty as a curse rather than a blessing. I’d been captivated all my life by Marilyn Monroe and had read her biography, and this inspired me further. Her beauty had become her nemesis. I also wanted to include the Italian heritage and the migrant experience. This included a sense of belonging as well. So, I researched and plotted and planned the story. From this, the characters emerged, and I went from there.
Kelly: What an important message! I hope 2025 is the year of following publication dreams! How long did it take you to write There’s Something About You, Olivia Bennet?
Valerie: I know exactly when I started drafting—Saturday 10 October 2020. Semester 2 for my master’s in creative writing had finished for the year, the day before. I wrote during the week, getting up at 4am and writing for about 40-80 mins. I also wrote during the school holidays. I finished the first draft in September 2021. It took eleven months. I spent 6 months learning how to self-edit the manuscript. I tried 3 different processes. This was the hardest part of the writing process. Today, I have a much better handle on self-editing and have found my own process. Though, I know this does change with each book.
Kelly: I just love your commitment to the craft! There’s nothing like celebrating a publishing win but I believe it’s even more important to talk about what came before, can you share a rejection story?
Valerie: I don’t have any rejections on a manuscript as There’s Something About You, Olivia Bennet is my first novel. My agent (our agent) did send it out for submission and didn’t find a publisher, so these are my rejections. That’s why I decided to indie publish the novel under my own imprint, Blushing Daisy Books. I’m pleased to say that so far, I’m getting wonderful feedback on the story.
Kelly: I’m so glad you brought There’s Something About You, Olivia Bennet to life! It’s too wonderful to have stayed in a drawer. You’re currently being mentored by Kate Forsyth, has that changed what your typical day of writing looks like?
Valerie: In a way. I would meet with Kate, and she would give me items I needed to address and attend to. The first job was to line-edit the entire novel. As this was all revision, I worked on these in the morning and/or after school. I’ve just received Kate’s final feedback on this second novel, A Hidden Life. I wasn’t too surprised with what she had offered and addressed. I already knew that there would be revisions to do. As some of these are rewrites, I will work on this in the morning before school and after school. My deadline is in June. However to answer your question, what has changed is my craft of writing and revising.
Kelly: Kate sounds like an amazing mentor!
Kelly: Let’s talk about your new adventure this year, book coaching, what does a book coach do?
Valerie: At the moment I’m in training but the good news is that I have finished all my accreditation practicums and will be submitting it to gain my accreditation. A book coach guides writers through the process of planning, writing and revising their books. My training includes providing coaching to pitch to agents. I’ll also coach writers who want to indie publish their books. As a book coach, I tailor my work to meet the individual needs of a writer. This includes personalised support and guidance working one-on-one with writers to develop their stories, refine their ideas and bring clarity to their vision. I help authors to stay on track with their goals, offering accountability and encouragement throughout their writing process. I help writers with their story development. This includes brainstorming ideas and ensuring the story is well-structured and cohesive. Help writers with outlining, plotting and character development to ensure the story resonates with readers. Support in craft mastery by providing feedback on the craft elements (voice, pacing, dialogue and tone). Looking at strategies to strengthen storytelling and help make the manuscript engaging and marketable. This also includes looking at the big picture elements like plot holes, inconsistencies and underdeveloped themes. Most importantly, to help the writer build resilience and confidence by addressing common challenges like writer’s block, self-doubt or fear of feedback. My role is to help a writer navigate the emotional ups and downs of the creative process. A coach also acts as an accountability partner for the writer. To set realistic goals and timelines so they make steady progress in finishing the manuscript. Most importantly, to celebrate milestones and successes along the way. One way to look at it is, editors focus on the writing, book coaches focus on the writer.
Kelly: Yes to all of this! You’ve had some short stories published in the RWA Sweet Treats Anthologies, they look so fun, what can you tell me about the RWA and entering their competitions?
Valerie: I was just starting out and looking for places to enter short stories. My professor in the creating writing degree I was doing at the time, said it was a great way to cut your teeth and get used to getting feedback and rejections. I found the competition in an internet search. I wrote my first story for the RWA Sweet Treats anthology in 2020. I had never written a story in the romance genre. I did write romantic elements in my other stories, but these don’t have to end with a happy ever after. Though, I do like a happy ending for the reader. I was tickled pink when I got in. I tried again the second year and got in again. The RWA is a fantastic organisation. I’ve made great connections with other writers here in Queensland and enjoy meeting up with them when I can. I also love the RWA conferences. My first one was in 2021 at the Gold Coast, and I was hooked. I’ve gone to every conference since. Through the RWA I’ve met so many wonderful writers. I got to meet lovely people who I had previously connected with on socials, in person. Most importantly, the RWA gave me the opportunity to develop some fabulous relationships. I now write a monthly column on wellbeing in the RWA’s member’s magazine Hearts Talk.
Kelly: Amazing! The RWA sounds like so much fun, and what a dream job! Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?
Valerie: I believe that building your resilience and confidence towards feedback and rejection is essential. Aspiring writers should be working on this as they develop their writing craft. It needs to be a tandem process. To become a published author, where your book goes out to a reader, requires other eyes to look at it—a writing group, beta readers, an editor, a book coach, agents, publishers and of course readers. As an English teacher, tertiary student and author, I understand the importance of feedback. But not just what it offers, but how the writer accepts it—emotionally and intellectually. This will allow writers to address how they feel about the feedback and move on. But also to discern which part of the feedback is relevant and significant for their story so they can keep growing as a writer.
Kelly: There is a real art to giving and receiving feedback, and I look forward to sharing a Reel with your 3 pointers on how to process feedback. What are you currently reading and loving?
Valerie: I’m currently reading Fair Rosaline by Natasha Solomons. It’s a retelling and reimagining of Romeo and Juliet. It focuses on Romeo’s relationship with Rosaline. In R&J, she’s the one that Romeo is pining for under the sycamore tree. Rosaline is the one Mercutio convinces him to forget about by sneaking into the Capulet’s ball. This is where he meets Juliet, Rosaline’s younger cousin. I love it. I adore all well-written retellings of classic literature. I love reading the classics. In fact, my classic novels are housed in the glass door section of my bookshelf—the fancy bit. I read them over and over, especially Jane Austen.
Kelly: Your bookshelf sounds next level, and I love classics too! So, what can we expect from you next?
Valerie: It’s another dual timeline historical. It is set in Brisbane and Britain during WW2. The historical narrative focuses on Violet Ascot who becomes an ATA (Air Transport Auxiliary) Ferry Pilot. These were female pilots who ferried bombers between airfields during the second world war. The contemporary story’s character is Rachel Burton and she’s running away from a toxic marriage. There are romantic elements in both narratives and a mystery involving artworks. I’ve just started the revisions. My mentor on the project, Kate Forsyth, has sent me all her assessments and feedback on the manuscript. I have 6 months to do these. Then the manuscript will go to my agent. Hopefully, she’ll like it and send it out for submission in the hope of securing a traditional publisher. I am on the slow side, but I have always wanted to give each book the time and care it deserves to make sure that I give my readers the very best story I can. I did this for There’s Something About You, Olivia Bennet, and the comments, feedback and response from readers have been fabulous. It makes all the time, patience and hard work totally worth it.
Kelly: I have no doubt it’s an amazing story and look forward to seeing it get published! Thanks so much for your time. You’ve been so lovely, and I’ve truly enjoyed getting to know you and learning all about your writing journey. I think you’re the next Natasha Lester!
Check out my review of There’s Something About You, Olivia Bennet here, follow Valerie G Miller on Instagram and Facebook, see her book coaching page, and purchase There’s Something About You, Olivia Bennet from Amazon or direct
