Jen Miller

Miller’s book, “Now I Lay Down to Sleep: The Story of Sara,” is the true story of Sara.

Sara was born into a life of abuse from which she was unable to escape until she was 19.

Miller said although it is about issues of abuse, it also addresses the many debilitating issues that countless men and women struggle to overcome as a result of abuse.

Miller added that she wants readers to realize they can not only survive, but thrive, regardless of what they have been through in life.

“I do not want to pigeon hole the book into another book about abuse,” Miller said.

“You seldom find a woman who has trouble as an adult” who has not suffered some form of trauma growing up, Migit said.

Miller said her book starts with the abuse Sara suffered starting at a very young age, and takes it into the present.

“It shows everything beyond the abuse,” she said, adding, “It is about principles, teaching and messages about God’s grace. It is an example of who we can be despite what we experience.”

Although the book focuses on a woman’s story, Miller said the book is also for men.

“Any man who has an influence over a girl’s life can benefit from this book,” she said.

As a result of Sara’s story, the Sara Ministry Foundation was formed even before the release of the book.

“I had no idea, no agenda,” Miller said. “It just all happened. It was the natural movement of God.”

Miller took a synopsis and presented it to small groups of women for seven months.

It soon became apparent a curriculum was needed and the foundation was born, Miller said.

“We are living in the land of ahh,” Miller said, “ outside of our hands and influence.”

Miller grew up in Little Rock, Ark. She said she started writing at an early age.

“Writing is my passion,” Miller said, “my natural inclination.”

However, it was not until Miller was a senior in high school that she seriously embraced writing, she said.

Miller’s English teacher helped her realize her true potential.

“Until then, I hadn’t claimed ownership (of my writing),” she said.

In her early 30s, Miller began writing for publication. Her resumé includes magazine articles, praise and worship songs and courses for groups.

Miller, 48, has two children with her husband Dale, 45. They have been Washington residents for 12 years.

Bobby, 18, will be a senior and a varsity football player at Washington Community High School this year.

Hannah-June, 6, will be in first grade at Lincoln Grade School.

“The community has really been a family of support,” Miller said.

Debbi Migit
Migit’s book also focuses on God’s grace and promise, she said.

“Child of Promise” started out to be about Migit’s children and what she and her husband, Phil, 55, went through to adopt Alex, 19, Ethan, 7, and Katelyn, 7.

However, Migit, said, it evolved into something else.

“We each have promises from God,” she said.

“It is about how God speaks to me,” Migit said, adding, “It is both a Christian testimony and a horror story.”

Migit’s book is a series of stories centering on her life and the promises she believes God whispered to her.

“There are promises God whispers to each of us. They come true if we listen,” she said.

As a result of her book, Migit started Child of Promise ministries.
Migit said she started writing before she could read.

“I would tell my mom my stories, she would write them down,” she said.

In fourth grade, Migit, who is originally from Pekin, wrote a play that her classmates performed for in school.

Because Migit was unclear on the difference between plays and TV at the time, she also wrote in commercials, she said.

Migit’s first taste with being published was in seventh grade when she wrote an essay for Pekin’s sesquential celebration.

“I won,” she said, “and it was published.

Despite that winning experience, Migit said she did not do a lot of writing.

“It came to a point where God told me to write,” she said, adding, “and he sent me to a publisher who then published my work.”

Although Migit has written fiction stories, she said she prefers non-ficiton because it is more comfortable.

The first time Migit said she felt like an author was something she wrote was published n “Wee Wisdom.”

“I felt I could impact people,” Migit said.

With regard to Promise, Migit said “God lets me live such an interesting life because I am willing to tell the story.”

Although the book is a compilation of true stories from Migit’s life, it is written to read like a novel, she said.

Signings
In addition to the book signing at the library, Miller and Migit will be signing books at The Blend in Washington Aug. 15.

They will also have a booth at the Washington Fine Arts Festival on the square Aug. 16 and 17.

Miller’s book is scheduled for release by Tate Publishing Aug. 26.

Migit’s book is set to be released by Tate Publishing Aug. 19.

The pair will be at the Berean Book Store in Peoria from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 13.

Following that, the two will start their book tour with a weekend trip to Boston. Other stops will include Houston, Dallas, California, Arizona, Kansas City, Atlanta and New Jersey.

Miller said they were also invited to London.

While on tour, they plan to visit churches and women’s groups to share and sign books.