Meet Nicole D. Miller

We had the good fortune of connecting with Nicole D. Miller and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nicole D., can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
Like many in urban communities I come from a single parent home raised by both my mother and grandmother. My family is filled with strong women who worked hard to craft better opportunities for their children to excel and thrive. My parents (both mother and grandmother) fought hard to keep me in good schools so that I could obtain these better opportunities. It was my apt for learning that aided me in taking advantage of the better education they fought for me to have. I grew up witnessing tenacity, resilience and a fiscal mindset. These characteristics would be vital for successes in my own career. Their demonstration of faith and love were also gems that would enable me to cultivate community and life-long friendships in my adulthood. Although I was born in Toledo, Ohio we moved to Cleveland, Ohio when I was 5 years old. That move was a difficult one because we had no other relatives in the city but it was detrimental to my purpose. Without that move I don’t believe I would be as successful as I am today. Sacrifice and doing the hard thing when it counts was another example that I saw while growing up. All of these tools and keys were incorporated in my own business and career endeavors. Life has brought many twists and turns however the advantage I have had to navigate them all is rooted in the principals I learned as a child.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Even though I’ve been a published author for 10 years, the word “creative” still tastes new on my tongue when I describe myself. The lane of creativity is a broad one and encompasses a host of various art disciplines. I didn’t know that writing would be a form of creativity for me until I made the switch to be a full-time writer in 2021. I have a background in business so there was a huge fear that I wouldn’t be able to be provided for as an artist. But the draw to writing won out my fears and I took the leap. I haven’t looked back since. My first two books were nonfiction but then I fell in love with fiction writing, releasing a compilation of short stories which were the catalyst for my debut novel published in 2023. The door to publish other authors opened in the midst of that and I started my boutique hybrid publishing house, ND Miller Publishing. In the midst of publishing others, I worked hard at branding and marketing to bring awareness to my platform. This need for marketing is vital for any artist but especially an independent one where you lack a big name or team to push your work to the masses. That is when content creation was birthed out of me and my longtime blogging career advanced to another level to build community for my platform. With everything that I do, my themes of faith, hope and love are evident. In all my writings, whether short stories, blogs, poems, journalism, or full novels, there will always be these elements. Another theme is overcoming difficult hardships. The road to the level of success I have achieved thus far has been one of walking by faith. Similar to a quote by the beloved Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. I believe that “Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.” That is exactly how my journey has been. There were little nudges here and there, but I couldn’t have dreamed that starting a little blog 12 years ago would eventually grow to being an influencer of hope, light and love to my generation via the vehicles of writing and creativity. I attribute my strong support system and relationship with God to being able to overcome various challenges both personally and in my career. You never know what you will go through in this life, and I am a staunch believer it takes supernatural power to not only cause you to continually triumph but for the various setbacks and difficulties to work for your betterment.

It has truly been a blessing to be on my path of purpose with purpose partners who are like-minded. We keep each other motivated when the road gets rough. In my career there has been a constant threading of longsuffering, humility and believing for financial provision. Being “small” has been tough over the years however the growth has come from being consistent and not giving up. I had to switch my mindset to understanding that being an indie author meant I would not see the financial outcome of my work overnight. Instead, it would be more similar to when a farmer plants seeds in one season and reaps the harvest in another.

I would say overall I’m most proud of writing my debut novel “When Love Wins”. I never once thought I could write a whole novel and I believe the story itself is both relevant to this generation and powerful. I’m also proud to have obtained name recognition on a local level and look forward to when that is expanded globally.

I think what sets me apart from others is my authenticity and genuine concern and compassion for humanity. We live our lives on social media which is notorious for only revealing the highlights. With my blog and other writings, I am able to pull back the curtain and connect deeply with my audience. I also host a panel discussion in the city featuring female leaders called “Girl Talk.” We are able to go deep and be vulnerable in this engaging discussion.
A lot of open doors have come through networking, and as a classic introvert this was scary to me. But I knew that was my part in what God had called me to. Often the next step for purpose is locked inside someone else but we need to make that connection for it to be revealed.

Overall, I would want the world to know that tenacity and resiliency are rewarded. Even if it takes 20 years, you will reap what you have been sowing. It is a universal law.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
There are plenty of happening spots in Cleveland. If my friend is into the vegan scene, we could hit up TownHall in Ohio City, or even have breakfast at Lucky’s Cafe in Tremont. The east side offers delicious smoothies at Unbar Cafe off Larchmere and right down the street is Convenient Vegan. Not too far is The Vegan Club in Shaker Hts. If their craving comfort vegan food Squash the Beef is the perfect option right off 105th street. If they want to forgo the vegan route for some tasty soul food Zanzibar is a must. After stuffing ourselves we can hit up a sports game, depending on the season and catch the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field, the Cleveland Browns at the Cleveland Browns Stadium or the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage Field House. There’s always a Broadway-worthy play showing at the Cleveland Playhouse downtown or the latest art gallery at the Cleveland Museum of Art. The entrepreneurial scene has constant networking opportunities at venues such as Midtown Tech Hive, Breakthrough Sounds, and various cafes and shops such as Metropolitan Coffee and Roasted Tremont. There are usually open mics at B Side Lounge, or hosted by poets at Ink Therapy Studio, a Black owned female-owned tattoo parlor. If my friend is bold enough, they can get a tattoo there! Drinks are in plenty but especially at The Wine Bar on the westside, or even Michael Angelo’s Winery. We can even catch a comedy show at The Funny Bone in the flats. Additionally, there are plenty of karaoke spots, movies, and other hangout spots on both the east and westside. There’s so much to do in Cleveland!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I dedicate my shoutout to all of my loved ones who have cheered on the revealing of my identity and purpose. I am truly nothing without my tribe.

Website: www.nicoledmiller.com, ndmiller.pub

Instagram: @htohb, @ndmillerpublishing, @girltalkcle

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ndmillerpub/

Twitter: @nicoledmiller

Facebook: www.facebook.com/htohb

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@htohb 

Image Credits
Steven Jackson Jonathan Stone