Vanessa Miller of Dayton , Ohio is an Essence best-selling author, playwright, and motivational speaker. Her stage productions include: Get You Some Business, Don’t Turn Your Back on God, and Can’t You Hear Them Crying and Abundant Rain.

To date, Vanessa has written the Rain Series and the Storm Series. The books in the Rain Series are: Former Rain, Abundant Rain, and Latter Rain. The books in the Storm Series are: Rain Storm and Through The Storm. These books have received rave reviews, winning Best Christian Fiction Awards and topping numerous Bestseller’s lists.

FORSAKEN is Vanessa’s newest book, due out in October 2009.  Forsaken is the story of a fallen pastor’s journey back to God. Vanessa believes that each of her books will touch readers across the country in a special way. It is, after all her God-given destiny to write novels that bring deliverance to God’s people.

Vanessa, tell us about yourself.

I’m an author and a playwright. I have one child, who is grown with two children of her own. I love spending time with my grandbabies. They have brought so much joy into my life.

My books have won awards and been on numerous bestseller list, such as the Essence Bestseller list.

What type of jobs or careers have you worked in the past?

Before leaving Corporate America to write full-time I was a Human Relations Professional. At times I really enjoyed this job, but there were other times when I couldn’t wait to quit.

When did you begin to realize you wanted to write?

I was about eight or nine when I realized I loved writing. I didn’t understand what that meant at that time, I just knew I loved to create stories.

Are you a full-time writer? If so, describe your day?

Yes, I am. I treat my writing just like a job that I would go to outside the home. I begin my work day at about nine in the morning. I write until about 4pm. But because I work from home it’s harder to turn work off than if I worked somewhere else. So I usually check emails and work on marketing ideas in the evening.

I also spend a lot of my day telling my family that I can’t talk because I’m working. So get use to it, future writers. Your family will never believe that your at work when your office is at home.

How do you balance your writing time and family time?

Somehow I find away to juggle it all in together. I’m not sure if I do the best balance act or not. I just make myself turn off the computer and spend time with my family.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Pastor Jerome Tyler “JT” Thomas is charismatic behind the pulpit, charming to all he comes in contact with, and lethal to those who linger too long. Since the age of twenty-two, when he prayed for God to keep him out of prison, JT knew he would preach the gospel. Bishop Turner makes it possible; but there are strings attached, and now JT isn’t sure he can stay tied down.

Cutting loose causes more problems than JT anticipated. When an old friend from his days on the streets resurfaces and his extracurricular activity comes knocking on his front door, JT’s life and the lives of those close to him spiral out of control. Now he will need divine intervention to make things right. But how much help can a man hope to receive when he feels he’s been forsaken by God?

Follow the blog tour at http://bit.ly/Forsaken.

For more information about Vanessa, visit her at http://www.vanessamiller.com.