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About the Author

About Jean Michelle Miernik 

Suburban mom. Urban church lady. Barbarian novelist.

Hashtag-blessed woman whose household income has never exceeded $55K. Wealthy in advice on how to live well without getting rich first.

I come from the land of ice and snow and Great Lakes, where I reside with my bestial husband, wonderful daughter, and a tortie cat whose middle name is MurderMittens.


I am a heavy user of my local library, and my favorite things to check out are psychologically complex novels, historical fiction, and foreign films.

I've been writing and rewriting novels since my 20s, and my latest work is an epic historical thriller called Leirah and the Wild Man, about charismatic young thieves who prey upon the rich. Local writing communities inspired me to start and commit to my noveling practice. I spent over 10 years participating in writing critique groups, conferences, and other events by Capital City Writers, Rally of Writers, and the friendly neighborhood NaNoWriMos.

I've worked in nonprofit communications, data management, reception, and home-baked cookie tantalization since 2006. I have a BA from Kalamazoo College, where I studied psychology and classical mythology. I studied abroad in Rome and have enjoyed traveling to other places rich in living culture and ancient history, such as Florence, Venice, Athens, and the highlands of Mexico.

Meanwhile, my husband and I have both managed our mischief of serious financial and health challenges to transform into the stable, healthy parents of a child who lives a more beautiful life than any of her known ancestors did. This is my life's greatest pride and hereby grants me the authority to gift my wisdom on the topics of:

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35 Great Things About Turning 35

The prime of life starts at 35! It's the best-kept secret from younger people, but your 35th birthday is a major cause for celebration. For mine, I have made my own listicle of 35 reasons why experts agree that 35 is the best age to be:
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Happy Spring Awakening of the Rusalki!

The water spirits demand hard-boiled eggs.


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My family will be baking bread and boiling and decorating eggs, you know, just in case. We do live very close to a river. And traditions are important.

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P.S. Matka Danu Miklagarth, epic historical thriller featuring rusalki-impersonating pirates, is nearly 170,000 words long. If this book ever gets printed, it could be used as a weight to walk across the bottom of a river for real.
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The Tiny Tweens

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My Alpha

It turns out my husband is a fantastic alpha reader. Who knew? We've been married for 13 years and have known each other for 21. And last weekend was the first time I ever had him alpha read for me. Turns out he's the best creative partner I could ever hope for and that he still has the ability to surprise me with hidden talents and acts of love.

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Word Count Flood

What the meow?

Matka Danu Miklagarth is busting its banks. It's now almost 175,000 words long, and writing it feels like having a weird dream that I can only partly control. I'm not sure I want it to end, but I also know it needs to end soon.

I'm going to be late for work.

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Come on, it's just for historical accuracy.

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The Golden Moments

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