By Staff

What inspired you to become an author?

I was inspired to write my story late in life after experiencing race discrimination, retaliation & wrongful demotion in the workplace. This experience spurred me to find my softer place by volunteering at a battered women’s shelter and children’s hospital and interviewing my mother about domestic violence in the home.

Tell us about your book (synopsis).

Short Synopsis:

“Daddy’s House: A Daughter’s Memoir of Setbacks, Triumphs & Rising Above Her Roots” is A raw and poignant memoir of a daughter’s journey from a tough upbringing in rural Alabama to a fulfilling life as a wife and mother with a successful career far beyond the limitations of her childhood. Mildred J Mills describes unimaginable highs like becoming a fashion model, beauty pageant winner, and corporate executive. She also shares devastating lows like the horror of gang rape as she simultaneously conveys deep love and respect for most of those who hurt her.

What does success look like for you?

Success for me looks like television, newspapers, magazines, or any other appearances, allowing me to share how a little girl who grew up picking cotton in Alabama now lives the American dream. The ultimate success would be sharing my story with powerful influencers like Oprah Winfrey and her book club or Tyler Perry, thinking my story is a movie or play-worthy.

Share your favorite rating to date. Why it is your favorite?

I was moved by each review that readers shared, causing such a stir of emotions that it was hard to choose just one. However, the following one touched me deeply and brought me to tears. This reader took the journey with me, held the pen, and gently guided my hand as I wrote each line.

Reviewed in the United States on January 23, 2024

“From the very first scene, Mildred Mills sets the tone for a gripping story, and she does not disappoint. Heart is woven into each sentence, and the passion and strength Mildred has is evident on each page. This is a story filled with complex characters who in another writer’s hands would be whittled into stereotypes, but Mills handles them with delicate precision, showcasing the good with the bad, and in turn reminding the reader of the complexities of human nature. From a childhood where the value of hard work is instilled in her by her father and patience and compassion for others is given by her mother, Mills grows into a trailblazing woman, placing herself among critical moments in history as she does what comes naturally to her: succeed. This memoir serves as a reminder to all of the strength that lies inside each of us. Gut-wrenching in moments and heartwarming and empowering in others, this story contains it all while remaining consistent in its voice shimmering with faith, self-belief, and an appreciation for life itself.” —Josh Holycross

What would you like for people to walk away with after reading your book?

I want people to walk away from reading my book moved to tears, laughter, anger & joy and applauding my bravery for writing a story that most are afraid to share. I also want others to walk away empowered to shed those horrors that have them bound and fearful of sharing horrible truths.

After having pinned your memoir, what can people expect next from you?

After pinning my memoir, people can expect to see me write shorter works of encouragement. They can find me on the speaking circuit in the tiniest room or a massive audience, encouraging others to share their stories of brokenness and success and free themselves of the shackles that bind them.

About

Mildred J Mills is the third of seventeen children born and raised on a sixty-acre farm in Wetumpka, Alabama, where she grew up picking cotton. She is a retired IT executive and holds a Bachelor of Arts from Southern New Hampshire University and Master of Arts from Wilkes University in creative writing/nonfiction. Mildred’s essay, “Daddy’s House,” won the 2022 Etruscan Prize and is published in The Etruscan Press. She authored “Amazing Grace,” an essay which was published in the anthology, A Journey into Art, in 2023. Daddy’s House: A Daughter’s Memoir of Setbacks, Triumphs & Rising Above Her Roots published in December 2023 is her first book. Mildred lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with her husband. You can visit the author’s website at mildredjmills.com.