About the Author

Dennis R. Miller lives in upstate New York and is the PR Director at Mansfield University of Pennsylvania.  He is the author of the novel, The Perfect Song, and a former musician. He has written syndicated newspaper columns on the humor of daily life and music, as well as blogs,  and the higher education marketing blog.

Morph to 1st Person

-I’ve always known I wanted to be a writer, beginning with a poem about an alcoholic when I was in 6th grade.

-I began writing as a reporter for a regional daily Gannett paper when I was 18.  I wrote features and covered everything from accidents, to drownings to school board meetings and murder.  It taught me to write fast, tight and clean.

-One of the most traumatizing stories was when I interviewed a former Black Panther and a former practicing witch.  Both had either injured or killed people and now were lecturing on behalf of Jesus.  When they finished the interview, a group of people appeared, put their hands on me and prayed fervently.   They were happy that I had been reborn, but I didn’t think I was. I went home and drank many beers with a friend to calm down.

-My wife and I were in several bands for many years– first country, then 50s-60s rock.  I played keyboards and sang.  Some of the sweetest moments of my life were those when we lifted hundreds of people and brought them into our moment through music.  It’s powerful.

- My wife and I were in a single car crash in 2008, hitting a concrete bridge at around 55 mph in a Nissan Sentra.  My wife had three broken ribs.  I broke my back in three places and spent 3 1/2 months in a body cast.  What those 3 months taught me would fill another book.

-My favorite books are listed in the continually expanding “Literary Influences” page.

-My favorite movies are the first Indiana Jones movie, The Shawshank Redemption, Dr. Zhivago, Casablanca, Silence of the Lambs, and, most recently Source Code, among others.

-My favorite songs?  Hey, I’m a recovering musician.  There are a hundred, but I do love The Beatles, Roy Orbison, Elvis, Merle Haggard, and Lucinda Willams.  (I’ll probably add to this list).

-We’ve traveled the country extensively by car and have gotten to know people and places from Maine to California.  Found a couple magic places in New Mexico and would love to return one day.

Please check my Pinterest board for “Writers Who Influenced Me.”

You can not only read a snippet of how they influenced me but see pictures as well.  And everybody likes pictures.