Q&A With Daniel G. Miller 

Mark Gottlieb was kind enough to connect me with USA Today Bestselling Author Daniel G. Miller! Daniel is the author of the Orphanage By The Lake mystery thriller series and the adventure series Tree Of Knowledge. 

Q: Welcome to Book Notions Daniel! I’m so excited about interviewing you! Would you please give a brief description of both of your series? 

A: Thanks for having me! The Orphanage By The Lake is a mystery-thriller series featuring Hazel Cho, a down-on-her luck private investigator in Manhattan. In Book 1, her business is days away from going under when she’s approached by a mysterious socialite named Madeline Hemsley who wants Hazel to find her god-daughter Mia who’s gone missing from a children’s home up-state that the locals call the Orphanage By The Lake. She takes the job, expecting it to be a standard runaway case, but as she digs deeper, she finds out that Mia is not the only girl who’s gone missing. In The Red Letter, Hazel continues her investigations, this time into a series of murders, each accompanied by a mysterious red letter. 

The Tree of Knowledge is an adventure-thriller series which will be re-released next year. The series features a professor, Adam Shaw, who discovers an algorithm that enables the holder to predict and manipulate people’s behavior. But he’s not the only one who knows. The discovery sets off a race to determine who will control the algorithm and the future. 

Q: The mystery genre is one of my favorite genres to read, though I have an eclectic taste in books! What drew you into writing in the mystery genre? What drew you into writing adventure? 

A: I’ve loved mysteries since I was a kid. I remember devouring a children’s series called Enyclopedia Brown. My love for mysteries has continued as an adult because of their unique ability, when done right, to spotlight injustices in our society in a way that isn’t preachy, but gets under your skin. The Orphanage By The Lake series is a fast-paced mystery-thriller, but it’s also a commentary on power and how it can be abused. 

What I love about adventure is that it allows you to go big. You can tackle big themes, with big characters, and global stakes in a way that is just plain fun. 

Q: How long does it take you to write a book? How many hours a day do you spend plotting, writing and editing? 

A: I take 6 months to write a book. I spend about a month plotting the book, creating a detailed chapter-by-chapter outline. Then I spend the next 2-3 months writing a chapter a day until I’m done with the first draft. I spend the next 2 months editing until I can’t stomach looking at the manuscript one more time. 

Q: Are there any reminders, lessons and emotions you hope readers come away with once they read the final pages of your books? 

A: There are only two: 1) Sometimes the biggest evils are hiding in plain sight. 2) It only takes one person to point them out.  

Q: Are you currently writing sequels to either Orphanage By The Lake mystery thriller series or the adventure series Tree Of Knowledge? If you are, what can fans expect in future books? Or are you writing a story not connected to either series? 

A: I just finished the rewrite of The Tree of Knowledge, which will be substantially different and better, I hope, than the original release. I am also midway through the third novel in the Orphanage By The Lake series. 

Q: What’s one piece of wisdom you have for anyone wanting to become an author, especially a mystery thriller author like you? 

A: Before you write, figure out what genre you want to write in (e.g. PI mystery, psychological thriller, etc.) and then read every author you can in that genre. Read enough, and you’ll learn how to write your book by osmosis. 

Q: Does Hollywood currently have the rights to your work? Whether they do or not, who would be your dream cast to be in the film adaptations of Orphanage By The Lake & Tree Of Knowledge? 

A: There have been many discussions, but nothing official yet. Dream cast would be Awkwafina for Hazel Cho and Ryan Gosling for Adam Shaw in The Tree of Knowledge. 

Q: How does it feel knowing your books have been described as “irresistible” by thriller master James Patterson? I think it’s so amazing! I did an interview with Duane Swierczynski, who collaborated with James on three Audible Original radio dramas. Would you ever write a book with James Patterson or do an audible book with him if he approached you?

A: It was the honor of a lifetime. I almost fell over when he sent me the quote. I’d be open to doing any project James Patterson wanted to do. 

Q: Would you please provide your social media accounts? The readers of Book Notions and I would love to follow you! 

A: https://www.instagram.com/danielgmillerauthor

https://www.facebook.com/DanielGMillerAuthor/

https://www.tiktok.com/@danielgmillerwrites