From the USA Today bestselling author of The American Queen
The lives of real heroes prove this truth: equality is won when we rise together.
I write books about strong Black women in pivotal moments of history.
1880s, Ohio. When Mary and Anna enter the Bachelor of Arts program — also known as the “gentlemen's course” of study — at Oberlin College, they have little in common other than the color of their skin and their passion for education.
While Mary was raised in luxury, attending presidential inaugurations with her wealthy father, Anna is a schoolteacher, likely the daughter of her enslaved mother's former owner, and works a second job to pay for her room and board. But despite their differences, both women share strength, ambition, and a deep yearning for change. If they can bridge the gaps between them, they just might build a lasting legacy.
Though Oberlin's doors are officially open to men and women, white and Black students, school policy cannot change the hearts of classmates who refuse to see a Black woman excel. Forced to prove themselves at every turn, Mary and Anna persevere — and rise.
A mirror into times of great change, where progress is met with resistance. But hope always rises. And it rises still.
Sessions booking now · By video, wherever your group meets
Reading The Ladies Hall with your book club, women's ministry, or classroom? Vanessa will join your group to talk about Mary Church Terrell, Anna Julia Cooper, Ida Gibbs Hunt, and the women who built the Ladies Hall.
Sessions are booked through Vanessa's calendar.
In 1869 a kingdom rose in the South. And Louella was its queen.
Two sisters. One unassuming haven. Endless opportunities for grace.
The 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre is, shockingly, little more than a footnote in history. Miller's book, thankfully, reverses that egregious oversight.
Vanessa Miller is a USA Today bestselling author, playwright, and motivational speaker. Across more than fifty titles, her writing has centered on redemption and on strong Black women at the turning points of history.
An ordained minister, she lives in North Carolina with her husband and family, and founded the Christian Book Lover's Retreat to bring readers and authors together in faith, fun, and fellowship.
More about Vanessa →Vanessa discusses The American Queen and how history, faith, and the writing community influence her artistic process here in North Carolina.
Read More →Donna Hill talks with USA Today bestselling author Vanessa Miller, author of more than fifty titles including the award-winning The American Queen.
Read More →So many blessings for this book. Watch the WBTV Charlotte interview about The American Queen.
Read More →
Four days in Greenville, South Carolina. Authors, readers, and book clubs sharing the books that have carried them through.
November 4–7, 2027 · Greenville, SC
I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be a blessing.Psalm 37:25–26
May neighbors respect you, trouble neglect you, angels protect you, and heaven accept you.
My writing is a gift from God, and I write to touch the hearts and souls of God's people. We are all called to help our brothers and sisters in need.
“She always incorporates love, mystery, and God into her books. Her stories are very enlightening and heartfelt.”
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