FAITH NEWS SERVICE – Years ago, if someone had said she would one day write a full-length work of fiction, author Maureen Miller wouldn’t have believed it. In fact, when God whispered, “The Bible by the bed” in reference to a story He was stirring in her heart in 2007, she didn’t—arguing, “You’ve got to be kidding! I’m a nonfiction writer, and that’s how You’ve wired me.”
But one confirmation after another surprised her, and God’s echo simply wouldn’t cease. Then, when an elderly woman from Eden, North Carolina handed her a small pocket New Testament at a speaking engagement later that year, Maureen knew. God was serious.
What she didn’t know then, however, was that this story, later titled Gideon’s Book, would take nearly two decades to be born. “What I learned was to trust God’s timing, to rest in the truth that it would be finished ‘For such a time as this’ (Esther 4:14).”
Maureen began writing this dual timeline-tale in 2019, hitting send in June the following year when “everyone who wanted to write a book wrote a book,” she says with a chuckle. It was while she waited for edits she decided to throw herself into collaborative writing. “‘To hone my craft,’ as dear author-mentor Cecil Murphey encouraged me.” That’s when Maureen fell in love with this sort of teamwork-writing, covering a plethora of topics and genres.
It was during this season, too, Maureen realized she really had no idea how to write quality fiction. “And that’s when I knew I needed to start from scratch.”
It’s true, and in 2023, she began again—with fresh characters, new settings, and different plot points. “It’s actually an entirely different story,” Maureen says. “But it’s better. Much better, all for God’s glory.”
Gideon’s Book touches on themes of adoption, the sanctity of human life, and racial reconciliation. With thought-provoking discussion questions included, Gideon’s Book is tailored for book clubs and classrooms, encouraging readers to do what GB’s minor character Jonah Forney states, “All it takes is pullin’ up a chair” regarding having heartfelt conversations, even about difficult topics. “We can and should be able to do this,” Maureen says. “We’re too quick to feel offended rather than lean in to one another, to hear each other. We don’t have to agree, but can’t we at least listen with love?”
One thing Maureen admits. Writing Gideon’s Book has been a growing experience. “And not just as a writer of fiction either,” she laughs. “God has grown me, thickened my skin, so to speak. Because this story touches on sensitive topics, I know there are those who hate its message and, perhaps, me too. But I’ve grown to care more about what God thinks rather than what people think, which is a good thing.”
And what God thinks seems to be in her favor. In August, Gideon’s Book was awarded the Christian Market Book’s Contemporary Novel of 2025 at the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association’s annual conference near Atlanta. “I cried ugly tears,” Maureen admits. “But I pointed upward as I walked to receive my award. After all, I know—this story, it’s all God’s!”
Gideon’s Book is available on Amazon and at other major booksellers as well as at Redemption Press online.
About the Author
Maureen Miller is an introverted relationship-builder who uses story to capture the essence of God in everyday moments. An award-winning author featured in more than twenty anthologies, Maureen writes from her hobby homestead, Selah Farm, in the mountains of western North Carolina, drawing inspiration from her family, faith, and the natural world. A Guideposts’ All God’s Creatures contributor, she also shares insights at Windows and Wallflowers (maureenmillerauthor.com). With a background in education and a passion for encouraging others, Maureen serves as a chaplain for Word Weavers International and cherishes the friendships formed through her writing journey.
For media inquiries, please contact Maureen Miller at Maureen.miller913@gmail.com.
Website—https://maureenmillerauthor.com
