The Magnifying Glass...Publications

October 2017


Praise for The After Glimpse

“Beautifully written, The After Glimpse is as wonderfully compelling as it is original.”
Tina Ann Forkner, author of Waking Up Joy

“In The After Glimpse, Wendy Paine Miller shares a hauntingly hopeful story of loss. The suspenseful tales that seem unrelated are deftly woven together with keen insight, which leads to a satisfying ending, and the thought that maybe, there’s more going on around us than we know.”

– Amy Sue Nathan, author of Left to Chance

Corrine Boulder, Landon Young, and Aria Glynn share something inexplicable in common. They’ve all lost loved ones two years ago to the day. To the second, in fact. But that’s not the only thing connecting these three.

Their loved ones are resurfacing in photographs taken within the past twenty-four months.

A toddler, a murdered sister, and a beloved dog suddenly begin appearing in photos captured after their last day on earth. Desperate for an explanation, Corrine, Landon, and Aria seek out possible reasons as to why this phenomenon might be occurring. Little manages to put their minds at ease as they wrestle with the implausible potential that maybe their loved ones are still alive.


Bereft of answers, the trio begins to understand that perhaps it’s not why this is happening, but to what end that matters most. 




November 2015


“This heartbreaking, but ultimately uplifting tale will burrow
its way into your heart. . . . If you loved The Fault in Our
Stars, this book is for you.” 
–Colleen Oakley, Before I Go

“What a terrific book! 
This is The Bucket List meets The Fault In Our Stars. Wonderful premise, lovable (and gutsy) characters...This is the first book I've read by this author but it absolutely won't be the last.”
–Julie Lawson Timmer, Five Days Left

“Part teen love story and part mother-daughter journey, the Short and Sincere Life of Ellory James is a beautifully moving book that will break your heart and lift your soul.  A lovely story from a gifted storyteller in the tradition of John Green.”  
Tina Ann Forkner, Waking Up Joy 
Seventeen-year-old Ellory James has six months to live. To appease her mother, Ellory reluctantly agrees to create a bucket list. She recruits her neighbor, Pete, to help her make it appear as though she’s carrying out ten life-dreams. Ellory is a bucket list faker—until she surprises herself by completing one item on her list and perhaps it’s the most important one of all.

What if life, however long we have left, isn’t so much about the things we do as why we do them--and who we do them with?






Praise for THE DELICATE NATURE OF LOVE

Through the irresistible charm of her flawed and fragile characters, Wendy Paine Miller gives us the chance we all need to renew our faith in the healing power of love.

—Kathryn Craft, author of The Art of Falling and The Far End of Happy
The Delicate Nature of Love is a beautiful novel that feels so true to life, readers will no doubt feel touched by the expertly woven story and lyrical writing. I know I do. Lovely story.

—Tina Ann Forkner, author of Waking Up Joy

The Delicate Nature of Love is sensitive, expertly-written women's fiction at its finest. With its intriguing layered characters, a plot that won't let go until the very end, and the poignancy of the overlapping stories, I couldn't put this story down. Once again, Wendy Paine Miller reaches into our hearts and touches us in ways we didn't expect. A must-read.

 Heather Day Gilbert, author of Amazon Norse Bestseller God's Daughter 
MAY 2014


Praise for THE FLOWER GIRLS

“Wendy Paine Miller writes with gentle wisdom about the complexities
of family relationships burdened with blame, secrets and loss. A poignant, emotional story about guilt, love, family, and the indestructible ties of sisterhood.
Fans of Kristin Hannah will love THE FLOWER GIRLS!

–Lisa Verge Higgins, bestselling author of RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS

“Deftly told and beautifully written, THE FLOWER GIRLS is a story about the bonds of sisterhood, the power of forgiveness, and the pain and the freedom that comes with letting go. Add in some long-buried secrets, intriguing family lore, a splash of romance and readers are in for a real treat!”
–Katie Ganshert, award-winning author of A BROKEN KIND OF BEAUTIFUL

 Alternating between identical twin narrators with tragic secrets between them, Wendy Paine Miller’s THE FLOWER GIRLS examines what it means to recognize -- or not recognize -- ourselves in others. It’s a moving contemporary tale of blame, jealousy, longing,
and how old scars can finally mend. 

Susan Schoenberger, award-winning author of A WATERSHED YEAR

“An expertly woven tale of drama, mystery, suspense and romance, THE FLOWER GIRLS is, at its core, a deeply moving story about the intricacies of sisterhood, the unshakable bonds of family loyalty and the power of forgiveness, healing and above all, love.  Thanks to Wendy Paine Miller’s unique gift for creating approachable, compelling, intriguing characters, you’ll find yourself pondering her two narrators – identical twins Daisy and Poppy – as well as your own familial relationships – long after you turn the last page of this riveting read.  

–Michelle DeRusha, author of SPIRITUAL MISFIT: A MEMOIR OF UNEASY FAITH
Imagine staring into the face of a loved one with no recollection of who they are. Every person a stranger. Daisy O’Reilly's inability to recognize faces, a cognitive disorder resulting from a childhood accident, causes her to rely heavily upon her twin sister, Poppy. Perhaps too much so.

Overwhelmed by Daisy’s needs, Poppy anticipates the freedom her upcoming wedding will bring—a chance to relinquish her obsessive worries about Daisy and escape the clutches of guilt from one hazy day when the girls were seven. When they were still invincible. 
With a thriving floral photography career but a floundering love life, Daisy questions how strong she will be on her own. And who she might become without Poppy living down the hall or offering a deluge of reminders during each social interaction. 
But for the O’Reilly sisters to properly let go, they must first understand what they’re holding on to.



OCTOBER 2013 

Mystery, Medical Marvel, or Miracle?

A mother rejoices when her stillborn baby awakens back to life.

A fourteen-year-old resents the wind-up doll “key treatments” she endures nightly, accompanied by secretive whispers and overprotective glares.

And a sage gardener inadvertently sheds light on all the key is capable of—including its limitations.
*
 Gabrielle Bivane never expected parenting a teenager would be this hard, but she never expected stillborn Oriana to live to see fourteen, either. The night of Oriana's birth, Gabrielle and her husband Roy fused their genetic and engineering geniuses to bring back all that was lost to them—at a cost.

The secret must be kept.

Oriana Bivane senses she’s not like the other girls her age, but the time has come for her to change all that. She’s tired of secrets, but does she confide in the wrong person?

The life-giving key, suddenly missing, must be found.

PRAISE for THE DISAPPEARING KEY

Wendy Paine Miller's novella The Disappearing Key is a mesmerizing, plot-twisting page-turner from the first sentence to the last. Part mystery, part drama, the story's suspenseful plot and intriguing characters will keep you on your toes and turning the pages, eager to find out what will happen next. The Disappearing Key will have you reading late into the night and leave you pondering the mysteries of miracles, faith, medicine and science long after you read the last word.  
- Michelle DeRusha, author of Spiritual Misfit: A Memoir of Uneasy Faith
 In The Disappearing Key, author Wendy Paine Miller wrestles with the power of love ... and choice ... and how the two can collide in unimaginable ways. She's written an intriguing story,
daring to examine how sometimes right and wrong becomes blurred.
Brava for a well-written, thought-provoking debut!
- Beth K. Vogt, author of Catch a Falling Star (Howard Books)

A new, must-read voice in book club fiction, Wendy Paine Miller bursts out of the literary gates with this thought-provoking novella. Is it ever okay to alter fate....and at what point does medicine turn into miracle? The Disappearing Key artfully combines an out-of-the-box premise with universal themes that will surely have book clubs talking late into the night.
- Katie Ganshert, award-winning author of Wildflowers from Winter and Wishing on Willows 


“While reading The Disappearing Key, I experienced something very rare for me...I actually did not want to put it down and was glued to the book until I finished! Wendy Paine Miller's brilliant, beautiful writing style will appeal to even the pickiest readers. She combines literary flair with a compelling mystery examining the strange intersection between medical and supernatural forces. If you are tired of the same old, same old stories and want something fresh, original, and masterfully crafted, this should be your pick.” –Rosslyn Elliott, award-winning author of Fairer than Morning

“There's just something about this story...it's the kind of story that sticks with you, gets you asking questions and pondering answers. I loved that about it. Add in a plot that moves along, a three-person POV and lyrical writing, and this is a not-to-be-missed story.
Can't recommend enough!” –Melissa Tagg, author of Made to Last

“I just finished reading Wendy Paine Miller's The Disappearing Key, and wow, what a fabulous book. Intriguing stories like this one are few and far between. The plot is unique and amazing, the characters are real and 3-dimensional, and the writing is superb. I highly recommend The Disappearing Key. I will be reading more of Wendy Paine Miller.” –Sharon Souza, author of Lying on Sunday and Unraveled

“I hope you have a few free hours when you pick up this book, because Wendy Paine Miller's THE DISAPPEARING KEY is one of those you can't put down. From the first page I was caught by the emotional depths of her characters, and before the first chapter ended I was totally immersed in the mystery. Miller does a great job of staking out the territories inhabited by each character, with a unique voice for each. This is very classy writing, and the book, which plumbs the depths of human needs and emotions, will provide wonderful fodder for reading group discussions.” –Sue Harrison, author of Mother Earth Father Sky Triology

“I could not stop reading this book from the first sentence. Deep, quirky, beautifully written story. Truly makes you ponder the lengths we will go to for our children. I loved the three POVs and each was handled so well. I will be watching for more of Wendy's books! I especially loved the novella length--it was just right and packed a powerful punch.” –Heather Day Gilbert, author of God’s Daughter

“I read this in one sitting. That's rare for me. But I needed to know what happened. The story was compelling and very intriguing. I look forward to seeing more from Ms. Miller!” –Susie Finkbeiner, author of Paint Chips
“I expected a wonderful story from Wendy Paine Miller, and she met those expectations and more! The Disappearing Key is a touching tale that tugs at the heart strings and speaks truth into darkness. What parent wouldn't risk it all to save their child? Yet, the story poses tough questions and leaves the reader pondering, in a good way, about life, loss and things that may not be in our control. Miller's strong writing voice and thoughtful prose will leave you wanting more from this debut author.” Cathy West, author of Yesterday’s Tomorrow


Other Publications:


Podcast with Hank Garner & authors of Tinfoil
Podcast with Hank Garner, Episode 66


The Numbing of Fall – Poem, The Wittenberg Review of Literature & Art
Making It as a Mom – Short Story, Chicken Soup for the Soul: Power Moms
Mothers & “Others” – Article, WEFC Weekly
Give Me Your Eyes, Acting Mercifully – Article, WEFC Weekly
Time with the Pond – Short story, Christian Fiction Online Magazine
Hotel Lobby – Short story, Christian Fiction Online Magazine 
Time-Keeper - Article, Lucid Magazine
Beware of Barracudas on Bikes - Short story, Love is a Flame, published by Bethany House
What She Gives - Short story, Christian Fiction Online Magazine
Peonies on Wednesday - Short story, Christian Fiction Online Magazine
Advice in Marriage Hacks: 25 Ways to Make Love Last by Tyler Ward
Still Time - Short story, Womenxchange Magazine



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