Laura Miller

"New Milford"

8/18/2021

I started writing Will and Julia's story 13 years ago in Charleston, South Carolina! But New Milford, the setting of Butterfly Weeds, was inspired by the town in Missouri pictured below. It's the same small town where I spent my adolescence.

If you haven't had a chance to read Butterfly Weeds or its sequel, My Butterfly, you can find them on Amazon! Happy reading! ♥ Laura

“You’ll get in, and I’ll be happy for you. And we’ll find a way to be together--no matter what. If I have to sing songs on the sidewalks of New Milford to get to you, I’ll do it." -Will Stephens

Find my books in New haven!

5/12/2021

You can now find ALL of my books, including Love Story and Pay It Forward, at Lizzy Lu Custom Wreaths in New Haven, Mo. AND they’re all signed! New Haven, Detmold, Berger, Hermann and Washington are all inspirations for most of the settings in my novels. So, if you’re in the area, make your way downtown to the place my very first story began! And while you’re there, check out the store and snag some other really cool local finds you can only get in New Haven, Mo.! ♥ Laura

Butterfly Weeds & My Butterfly

11/7/2020

Both Julia and Will's story have a new look! Find Butterfly Weeds and My Butterfly on Amazon and Amazon Unlimited!

Have you read them all?

8/7/2019

Have you read all eight of my novels?! They all take place in small towns and involve characters that will probably remind you of the people you know or used to know! If you haven't read any OR all of them, I've put together a cheat sheet below to help you choose where to begin! They're in order of how I wrote them, starting in 2012, but you can read them in ANY order. And the best part, they're suitable for all ages! But if you get to the end, and you're still not quite sure where to start, I recommend The Life We Almost Had! Find them all on Amazon! Happy reading! ♥ Laura

Butterfly Weeds

My debut novel about a girl who hears a song on a downtown Charleston, South Carolina street, only to realize it's about her.
Themes: High school sweethearts, music, forever love, songs, famous hero
Why readers like it: Main character Will Stephens, the story follows the life of the characters, the ending

"One of the most beautiful love stories I have ever read." -Jelena's Book Blog

My Butterfly

The same story as Butterfly Weeds, but told in the male point of view
Themes: High school sweethearts, country music, small-town life, fame
Why readers like it: More details about Will, revisiting Butterfly Weeds

"I have never met a more swoon-worthy character than Will Stephens."
-Romantic Reading Escapes

For All You Have Left

Story alternates between past and present. Logan Cross secretly gets married at eighteen but is forced to start over soon afterward.
Themes: Love and loss, mystery, hope, sisterhood, second chances, secrets
Why readers like it: Old loves and new loves that are interconnected, falling in love for the first time

"It takes you back to the innocence and joy of falling in love." -She Reads New Adult

By Way of Accident

Told from the male point of view. A girl shows up at River Asher's creek one day only to disappear. Years later, when he finds a lost letter, he goes on a quest to find her.
Themes: Rural life, young love, second chances, fate, letters
Why readers like it: Young love in a rural, small town

"A classic, all-American, enchanting love story." -Southern Belle Book Blog

When Cicadas Cry

Fast read, told from both the female and male perspectives. When Ashley Westcott shows up in Remington Jude's small town, she's the talk of the town. When she abruptly leaves one day, rumors fly.
Themes: Mystery, small-town rumors, love and loss
Why readers like it: Love between family and friends, the twist

"Miller brings the small-town rumor mill to life." -Kathy Reads Fiction

A Bird on a Windowsill

New adult romance. Salem and Savannah have known each other since childhood. But now, at 23 and having spent the last five years apart, they both must navigate the delicate line of loving and letting go.
Themes: Young love, a hint of mystery, true love, letters
Why readers like it: Main character Salem Ebenezer, reminds them of their first love

"Captures the true essence of friendship and falling in love."
-Two Book Lovers Reviews

The Life We Almost Had

Berlin and Iva grow up and fall in love in the small town of Sweet Home, Missouri. But when Berlin's family moves away, they lose touch. Now, years later, Berlin has a secret he's hiding from Iva.
Themes: Small-town life, young love, second chances, mystery, famous hero
Why readers like it: The small town of Sweet Home, inspired by my hometown; following Iva and Berlin's love story from the beginning

"The book that feeds my need for the perfect romance." -The Bookie Rookie

The Dream

Not your ordinary romance. Everton and Daisy's love comes young and fast. And it's also forbidden. Five years later, they're standing face to face for the first time since high school, but one thing remains: their love is still forbidden.
Themes: Young love, forbidden love, family, sisterhood
Why readers like it: The banter between the sisters, small-town family life, the revelation at the end

"Heart-breakingly beautiful." -Jenn and Books

"This one took a turn I didn't see coming." -Cyndy, Goodreads

Find them all on Amazon!

Discussion Questions: My Butterfly

5/13/2017

READING GROUP GUIDE
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
MY BUTTERFLY

My Butterfly is told from Will’s perspective. If you’ve read Butterfly Weeds, how does the story differ from Julia’s perspective? Do you prefer the male or female voice?
When Will has to leave for a fire call while Julia is back from college, she’s disappointed. Are her feelings justified? How does Will's new job affect their relationship?
Will is in the hospital after his fall, and Julia whispers: I can’t do this. What do you think she is referring to? Is it reasonable for her to feel this way, especially knowing what we later find out about her father’s first profession?
Did Will fight enough for Julia during their break-up? Was Julia too quick to let Will go?
Jeff convinces Will that if he takes Jessica to the New Year’s Eve party that Julia will be jealous and fall back in love with him. What do you think of Jeff’s scheme? Why do you think Will bought it?
What do you think of Jessica? Is she good for Will? Do you feel for her?
Jeff says to Will after Julia goes to college that she might never come back to him. What part does Julia being in college play in her and Will's relationship? Do you think Julia is struggling with balancing her old and new worlds?
Will’s fire chief says: Sometimes, you just have to let go. She’ll come back, when she’s ready. Do you think this is good advice?
The fire chief also says: Happiness is like a butterfly. The more you chase it, the more it will elude you. But if you turn your attention to other things, it will come and sit on your shoulder. Do you believe this is true?
What part did Julia play in Will eventually contacting the agent? Have you ever done anything for a boy/girl?
Will seems to immediately turn away every girl. Do you think his love for Julia is why he does this? Do you think it’s possible to love someone for years from a distance, especially at such a young age?
When Rachel tells Will that Julia broke off her engagement, she also tells Will to give Julia time. Do you think he gave her too much time? Would you have contacted her sooner?
We learn that Will is planning on proposing to Julia at his concert. But he hasn’t seen her in awhile. Is this a crazy idea? Or is this what he needed to do?
We later learn that Jeff and Jessica are dating. Did you see this coming? Do they seem as if they're a good couple?
Will says in the epilogue that life is all about finding any way to get to the one you love. Do you think Will could have found his way to Julia faster and saved himself some grief? Or do you think his journey was necessary?
In the epilogue, Will also says that somewhere in the course of life, children struggles morph into adult ones, and the pain becomes too deeply rooted for a hug or a word to cure anymore. Do you agree with this?
Also in the epilogue, Julia says that her and Will’s story is full of stumbles, tear and smiles and holding on and refusing to let go. It’s the best kind of fairy tale. Do you believe that these are the characteristics of every fairy tale?

Butterfly Weeds!

6/19/2015

My aunt sent me photos of her butterfly weeds, so I thought I'd share!

Now available at the Mu bookstore!

6/2/2014

I'm so excited to announce that Butterfly Weeds, My Butterfly and For All You Have Left are now available at the MU Bookstore in Columbia, Mo. So, if you're looking for a paperback copy of either Will and Julia's story or Logan and Jorgen's and you're in the Columbia area, stop by the store on Rollins Road!

Now, Listen to the Soundtracks!

1/23/2014

Now, you can listen to the
Butterfly Weeds and My Butterfly soundtracks on my YouTube playlist! Just hit Play All and listen away! And don't forget to look for the soundtrack to For All You Have Left in my interview with Nawanda Files coming soon!

A Soundtrack to Butterfly Weeds

1/21/2014

I don't often write with music playing. My characters' words and thoughts do a pretty good job of filling my head instead. But there is no doubt a playlist silently playing in the background for each of my novels! I've included the soundtracks to Butterfly Weeds and My Butterfly below! This is by no means a final list. I'm sure there are other great songs that could also play in the background of each story! Feel free to add those songs in the comments if you have them! And look for the soundtrack to my latest novel, For All You Have Left, in my interview with Nawanda Files coming soon!

The Butterfly Weeds Soundtrack

1. Our Song – Taylor Swift

2. All We’d Ever Need – Lady Antebellum

3. Ho Hey – The Lumineers

4. Brown Eyed Girl – Van Morrison

5. The Sound Of A Million Dreams – David Nail

6. Nobody's Home – Avril Lavigne

7. Dancin’ Away With My Heart – Lady Antebellum

8. Broken Strings – James Morrison ft. Nelly Furtado

9. Someone Like You – Adele

10. Back to December – Taylor Swift

11. Glass – Thompson Square

12. I Told You So – Carrie Underwood

13. What About Now – Westlife

14. Strawberry Wine – Diana Carter

15. I Just Call You Mine – Martina McBride

The My Butterfly Soundtrack

1. It Goes Like This – Thomas Rhett

2. Whatever She's Got – David Nail

3. Runnin Outta Moonlight – Randy Houser

4. Here Comes Goodbye – Rascal Flatts

5. Picture – Kid Rock & Sheryl Crow

6. Life After You – Daughtry

7. I Won’t Let You Go – Rascal Flatts

8. Best Thing – Blake Shelton

9. Comfortable – John Mayer

10. Need You Now – Lady Antebellum

11. Outta My Head – Craig Campbell

12. I Breathe In, I Breathe Out – Chris Cagle

13. What Hurts the Most – Rascal Flatts

14. Can't Shake You – Gloriana

15. Drops of Jupiter – Train

16. I Swear – John Michael Montgomery

Photos That Inspire My Stories

1/13/2014

I write stories about what I know. I grew up on a farm in small-town Missouri, so my characters and stories reflect this life and hopefully pay homage to all that goes with it, including the rain on tin roofs, old trucks with holes in the floorboards and summer nights full of stars, fireflies and tractor pulls!

So, please enjoy some of the photos that have inspired Butterfly Weeds, My Butterfly and For All You Have Left!