Gary H. Miller Bio
Gary H. Miller Bio
Experience
Miller worked for many years manufacturing everything from apparel to automobiles before deciding to focus on less lucrative activities (writing). His love for dogs and vintage guitars ensures he remains humble and broke.
After traveling a wide circle, he returned to the Alabama backwoods where folks understood the practicality of a freezer on the front porch. He lives amongst five generations of his ancestors. So far, none of them have complained.
“Failure is self-correcting. Managing success is the sauce.”
Genres
- Fiction
- General
- Historical
- Thrillers
- Short Stories
Awards
- Cleveland Creative Arts Guild Horizon Award
- Cookeville Creative Writers Association Best of Contest
- Writer’s Digest Short Story Competition
Publications
Ragsdale Blues
Reviews
Judge, 32nd Annual Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book Awards.
Chapter One is exceptional and perhaps the best first 20 pages read in a long while. The characters are real people in very interesting, believable, and real-life situations. The story is told in a down-to-earth, candid, yet comfortable conversational tone. This is a classic timeless tale of a down on his luck, small town boy, who does good then comes back home. It is truly a satisfying read from start to finish.
5.0 out of 5 stars Highly enjoyable for all; a perfect pick for adolescent and young adult males
A young boy darts through the woods, prepared to cut limbs from surrounding vegetation. To hide his daddy’s truck. To keep his dad out of jail because the revenuers are right behind them.
This is the life young Jess lives with his bootlegging father in the northern Alabama town of Ragsdale. Jess’ older brother Harlen and his mother try to protect Jess from this criminal lifestyle. Little do they know the child is picking up problem-solving and street-smart skills that are likely to help him the rest of his life.
Ragsdale Blues by Gary H. Miller is a captivating fictional memoir based loosely on the author’s own life. It is a coming-of-age novel beginning comfortably in the 1960s and 70s. The story follows Jess’ life from childhood through young adulthood and is written smartly throughout. As a reader, I found myself eager to escape to this book every night, anxious to follow Jess’ adventures, most of which are fueled by music and his love of guitar. Early in life, Jess learns to look for escape routes everywhere he goes—escape from the woods, from his school, from church camp. This pattern creates a symbolic expectation for the novel’s end; however, the author has several surprises in store.
5.0 out of 5 stars A Captivating Southern Tale
A captivating Southern tale from the very first page. Ragsdale Blues is so perceptively written you’re catching the scent of pine needles, sweet gum trees, and good ole’ Alabama dirt in the air before you know it. You’ll find yourself turning pages well into the night. Well done, Gary Miller.