Vanessa Miller

Founding a startup is a challenging endeavor that works best in a well-balanced team. Different thinking styles are needed throughout the founding journey. Archetypes are deeply engrained templates in the collective unconscious and can be used to reveal the hidden aspects of social interactions within teams. This book employs an archetypical personality test to uncover the eight most significant team roles needed in a startup: the leader, the mentor, the artist, the friend, the hero, the femme fatale, the rebel and the manager. The artist, for example, always finds unconventional solutions, the femme fatale attracts support for the idea, and the hero is undaunted in the face of setbacks. Archetypical roles can manifest in individuals or at the group level, and they can and should change throughout the journey. With the included personality test, this book offers entrepreneurs, investors and mentors alike a tool to improve the interpersonal processes in startup teams.

Founding a startup is a challenging endeavor that works best in a well-balanced team. Different thinking styles are needed throughout the founding journey. Archetypes are deeply engrained templates in the collective unconscious and can be used to reveal the hidden aspects of social interactions within teams. This book employs an archetypical personality test to uncover the eight most significant team roles needed in a startup: the leader, the mentor, the artist, the friend, the hero, the femme fatale, the rebel and the manager. The artist, for example, always finds unconventional solutions, the femme fatale attracts support for the idea, and the hero is undaunted in the face of setbacks. Archetypical roles can manifest in individuals or at the group level, and they can and should change throughout the journey. With the included personality test, this book offers entrepreneurs, investors and mentors alike a tool to improve the interpersonal processes in startup teams.

Three courageous women realize it will take their hearts, their minds, their friendship, and their education to make a mark on the world in the fight for equality. Oberlin College, 1884. Mary Church Terrell, Anna J. Cooper, and Ida Gibbs are used to standing out in a crowd. They're well known for their vocal stances on civil rights and women's suffrage. In fact, the Black women learned to debate at Oberlin College as they challenged the very belief systems that built the school, initially by becoming the first women to register for the men's four-year bachelor's degree, and later by demanding that they be recognized as American citizens with equal rights despite the color of their skin. But before they met one another, their worlds were completely unalike. Wealth and prominence allowed Mary endless privileges, while poverty pressured Anna into servitude. It isn't until the women meet and forge a lifelong bond that they realize the power of their differences. At Oberlin, the friends face classism, sexism, and racism, but they are determined to blossom and let the world see them for who they are . . . beyond all the labels. From USA TODAY bestselling author Vanessa Miller comes her next highly anticipated novel about strong Black women in pivotal moments in history.

Three courageous women realize it will take their hearts, their minds, their friendship, and their education to make a mark on the world in the fight for equality. Oberlin College, 1884. Mary Church Terrell, Anna J. Cooper, and Ida Gibbs are used to standing out in a crowd. They're well known for their vocal stances on civil rights and women's suffrage. In fact, the Black women learned to debate at Oberlin College as they challenged the very belief systems that built the school, initially by becoming the first women to register for the men's four-year bachelor's degree, and later by demanding that they be recognized as American citizens with equal rights despite the color of their skin. But before they met one another, their worlds were completely unalike. Wealth and prominence allowed Mary endless privileges, while poverty pressured Anna into servitude. It isn't until the women meet and forge a lifelong bond that they realize the power of their differences. At Oberlin, the friends face classism, sexism, and racism, but they are determined to blossom and let the world see them for who they are . . . beyond all the labels. From USA TODAY bestselling author Vanessa Miller comes her next highly anticipated novel about strong Black women in pivotal moments in history.

A USA TODAY bestseller!"The 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre is, shockingly, little more than a footnote in history . . . Miller's book, thankfully, reverses that egregious oversight . . . we viscerally learn how this vibrant Black community fought devastation with resilience, faith, and grit." --Jodi Picoult, #1 New York Times bestselling authorTwo sisters. One unassuming haven. Endless opportunities for grace.Sisters Margaret and Evelyn Justice have grown up in the prosperous Greenwood District of Tulsa, Oklahoma--also known as Black Wall Street. In Greenwood, the Justice sisters had it all--movie theaters and entertainment venues, beauty shops and clothing stores, high-profile businesses like law offices, medical clinics, and banks. While Evelyn aspires to head off to the East Coast to study fashion design, recent college grad Margaret plans to settle in Greenwood, teaching at the local high school and eventually raising a family.Then the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre upends everything they know and brings them unspeakable loss. Left with nothing but each other, the sisters flee along what would eventually become iconic Route 66 and stumble upon the Threatt Filling Station, a safe haven and the only place where they can find a shred of hope in oppressive Jim Crow America. At the filling station, they are able to process their pain, fill up their souls, and find strength as they wrestle with a faith in God that has left them feeling abandoned.But they eventually realize that they can't hide out at the filling station when Greenwood needs to be rebuilt. The search for their father and their former life may not give them easy answers, but it can propel them--and their community--to a place where their voices are stronger . . . strong enough to build a future that honors the legacy of those who were lost."The Tulsa Race Massacre is rarely covered in historical fiction, and this story is an absolutely worthy addition to the genre." --Booklist Starred Review"In a novel that should be required reading, Miller movingly explores the aftermath of racial trauma and how resilient people can open their hearts again." --Library Journal Starred Review

A USA TODAY bestseller!"The 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre is, shockingly, little more than a footnote in history . . . Miller's book, thankfully, reverses that egregious oversight . . . we viscerally learn how this vibrant Black community fought devastation with resilience, faith, and grit." --Jodi Picoult, #1 New York Times bestselling authorTwo sisters. One unassuming haven. Endless opportunities for grace.Sisters Margaret and Evelyn Justice have grown up in the prosperous Greenwood District of Tulsa, Oklahoma--also known as Black Wall Street. In Greenwood, the Justice sisters had it all--movie theaters and entertainment venues, beauty shops and clothing stores, high-profile businesses like law offices, medical clinics, and banks. While Evelyn aspires to head off to the East Coast to study fashion design, recent college grad Margaret plans to settle in Greenwood, teaching at the local high school and eventually raising a family.Then the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre upends everything they know and brings them unspeakable loss. Left with nothing but each other, the sisters flee along what would eventually become iconic Route 66 and stumble upon the Threatt Filling Station, a safe haven and the only place where they can find a shred of hope in oppressive Jim Crow America. At the filling station, they are able to process their pain, fill up their souls, and find strength as they wrestle with a faith in God that has left them feeling abandoned.But they eventually realize that they can't hide out at the filling station when Greenwood needs to be rebuilt. The search for their father and their former life may not give them easy answers, but it can propel them--and their community--to a place where their voices are stronger . . . strong enough to build a future that honors the legacy of those who were lost."The Tulsa Race Massacre is rarely covered in historical fiction, and this story is an absolutely worthy addition to the genre." --Booklist Starred Review"In a novel that should be required reading, Miller movingly explores the aftermath of racial trauma and how resilient people can open their hearts again." --Library Journal Starred Review

AS SEEN ON GOOD MORNING AMERICA: GMA 15 New Books to Read | 2024 American Fiction Award WINNER for African American Fiction AND Historical Fiction | 2025 Audie Awards WINNER for Best Faith-Based Fiction or Non-FictionThere is only one known queen who truly ruled a kingdom on American soil. Meet the queen of Happy Land.Transformative and breathtakingly honest, The American Queen is based on actual events that occurred between 1865 - 1889 and shares the unsung history of a Black woman who built a kingdom in Appalachia as a refuge for the courageous people who dared to dream of a different way of life.Over the twenty-four years she was enslaved on the Montgomery Plantation, Louella learned to feel one thing: hate. Hate for the man who sold her mother. Hate for the overseer who left her daddy to hang from a noose. Hate so powerful there's no room in her heart for love, not even for the honorable Reverend William, whom she likes and respects enough to marry.But when William finally listens to Louella's pleas and leads the formerly enslaved people off the plantation, Louella begins to replace her hate with hope. Hope that they will find a place where they can live free from fear. Hope that despite her many unanswered prayers, she can learn to trust for new miracles.Soon, William and Louella become the appointed king and queen of their self-proclaimed Kingdom of the Happy Land. And though they are still surrounded by opposition, they continue to share a message of joy and goodness--and fight for the freedom and dignity of all.The American Queen weaves together themes of love, hate, hope, trust, and resilience in the face of great turmoil. With every turn of the page, you will be transported to a pivotal period in American history, where oppressed people become extraordinary heroes.

AS SEEN ON GOOD MORNING AMERICA: GMA 15 New Books to Read | 2024 American Fiction Award WINNER for African American Fiction AND Historical Fiction | 2025 Audie Awards WINNER for Best Faith-Based Fiction or Non-Fiction"Miller brings to enthralling life a hidden gem in American history." --Publishers WeeklyThere is only one known queen who truly ruled a kingdom on American soil. Meet the queen of Happy Land.Transformative and breathtakingly honest, The American Queen is based on actual events that occurred between 1865 - 1889 and shares the unsung history of a Black woman who built a kingdom in Appalachia as a refuge for the courageous people who dared to dream of a different way of life.Over the twenty-four years she was enslaved on the Montgomery Plantation, Louella learned to feel one thing: hate. Hate for the man who sold her mother. Hate for the overseer who left her daddy to hang from a noose. Hate so powerful there's no room in her heart for love, not even for the honorable Reverend William, whom she likes and respects enough to marry.But when William finally listens to Louella's pleas and leads the formerly enslaved people off the plantation, Louella begins to replace her hate with hope. Hope that they will find a place where they can live free from fear. Hope that despite her many unanswered prayers, she can learn to trust for new miracles.Soon, William and Louella become the appointed king and queen of their self-proclaimed Kingdom of the Happy Land. And though they are still surrounded by opposition, they continue to share a message of joy and goodness--and fight for the freedom and dignity of all.The American Queen weaves together themes of love, hate, hope, trust, and resilience in the face of great turmoil. With every turn of the page, you will be transported to a pivotal period in American history, where oppressed people become extraordinary heroes.

"An unforgettable read from cover to cover." --Tia McCollors, bestselling authorTwo girls' lives are irrevocably intertwined the summer of 1985 in the streets of Brooklyn, New York, and neither will ever be the same in this coming-of-age story that spans decades.In the summer of 1985, Lisa Whitaker is a church kid headed to college on a scholarship while her best friend, Dana, is floundering in the wake of her mother's latest eviction. Though Lisa tries to help, their paths diverge. Fifteen years later, Lisa has a beautiful family and is stepping into her dream job as the director for a social services organization. Everything is going right--until her future is snatched away by identity theft. Her life begins to unravel, and Lisa wants nothing more than to see the woman responsible pay for her crimes.When she was a teenager, Dana Jones always felt alone in this world. Her mother was addicted to drugs, her boyfriend was entering a life of crime, and it seemed Dana, too, was heading down the wrong path. The only bright light was her friendship with Lisa. Now, in the new millennium, Dana finally gives herself permission to dream--to believe she is stepping into better days. But when the betrayal of their friendship comes to light, it will take a lifetime to forgive the destruction that youthful summer in Bed-Stuy set in motion.Perfect for book clubs, this inspirational Christian fiction novel is about two girls from the Bed-Stuy neighborhood of Brooklyn who find that their paths have been woven together by the love of community and a friendship that is tested by time, betrayal, and unforgiveness.

Another storm is on the horizon for the Reynolds women. And the only way out is to go through it.Good things never happen in November—at least not for the Reynolds women. It was the month they lost their patriarch. And the month when fourteen-year-old Trinity went missing during a tropical storm. So Hope Reynolds isn’t surprised when it becomes the month she walks in on her boyfriend kissing another woman. Or when she receives a panicked call from her mother about a mistake that could cost the family their treasured beach house.Meanwhile, Faith Reynolds-Phillips is facing her own financial struggles. She’s also looking down the barrel of divorce and raising a daughter who reminds her so much of her younger sister, Trinity, that sometimes it physically hurts. The last place Hope and Faith want to be is in Hallelujah, South Carolina, during hurricane season. Going home will force them to confront the secrets that have torn their family apart. But if they can survive another storm, they’ll have a chance to rebuild on a new foundation—the truth.In the latest novel from prolific writer Vanessa Miller, three women must find the strength to endure the storm and the faith to believe in a miracle.“A heartwarming, page-turning, beautiful story about family secrets, mother-daughter relationships, forgiveness, and restored faith.” —Kimberla Lawson Roby, New York Times bestselling authorInspiring contemporary fictionStand-alone novelIncludes discussion questions for book clubsOther books by Vanessa Miller: Something Good

When three women find their lives inextricably linked after a terrible mistake, they must work together to make the most of their futures.Alexis Marshall never meant to cause the accident that left Jon-Jon Robinson paralyzed—but though guilt plagues her, her husband hopes to put the past behind them. After all, he’s in the middle of selling a tech business—and if Alexis admits to texting while driving, the deal could collapse and cost them millions. Meanwhile, Alexis’s life is not as shiny and perfect as it may seem from the outside. She has secrets of her own. As she becomes consumed with thoughts of the young man she hit, can she reconcile her mistake with her husband’s expectations?Trish Robinson is just trying to hold it together after the accident that left Jon-Jon dependent and depressed. As the bills pile up, Trish and her husband, Dwayne, find themselves at odds. Trish wants to forgive and move on, but Dwayne is filled with rage toward the entitled woman who altered their lives forever. Trish can’t see how anything good can come from so much hate and strife, so she determines to pray until God intervenes. Then one afternoon Marquita Lewis rings their doorbell with a baby in her arms and changes everything.Vanessa Miller’s latest inspirational novel reminds readers that differences may separate us, but if we cling to each other, God can bring something good out of our very worst moments.Praise for Something Good:“This real-to-life story doesn't shy away from some hard issues of the modern world, but Miller is a master storyteller, who brings healing and redemption to her characters, and thus the reader, through the power of love and faith. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.” —Rachel Hauck, New York Times bestselling authorInspiring contemporary fictionStand-alone novelIncludes discussion questions for book clubs

The sixth and final book in the Family Business series brings the Shepherd family and the Walker family from the Rain series together as they struggle to do the work of the Lord in this evil and confused world they now live in. Dam Shepherd is a full grown man, married to the love of his life, with a baby on the way. Life is good

The Shepherd family has come a long way. Demetrius has finally stepped out of his father, Don Shepherd's shadow and is living for the Lord. But Demetrius has to find a way to forgive Don before it's too late. Don Shepherd has been no angel and with his last days in front of him, he begins to realize that he has a lot to atone for. But has his heart been so hardened that he can't accept the forgiveness he so desperately needs? By all accounts, God was showing up and showing out in Dam Shepherd's life. He had just graduated from college, was about to begin his ministry and had met the woman he planned to marry... then his grandfather became deathly ill and one of his brothers overdosed. Dam is left questioning his ministry while he struggles to get his family to come together. Amarrea Harris refused to forgive her father and wanted nothing to do with him. But if she can't find a way to forgive the first man she ever loved, she would never be able to accept the love Dam wants to give her. Family Business 5 is about God's ability to forgive horrendous sin and our ability to step out of God's way.