DENENE MILLNER
New York Times best-selling author DENENE MILLNER is a highly respected and sought after award-winning journalist whose captivating books, columns and essays have secured her foothold in the entertainment, parenting, book publishing and social media industries. The veteran author has written and collaborated on 31 critically acclaimed and bestselling books, penning tomes with Taraji P. Henson, Will Smith, Charlie Wilson and Jessye Norman, among other celebrities, and co-authoring “The Vow,” the novel on which the hit Lifetime movie, “With This Ring” was based. She also has been a frequent contributing entertainment, parenting and relationships writer for some of the nation’s most well-read and respected magazines, penning high-profile cover stories on everyone from hit filmmaker Tyler Perry and Scandal’s Kerry Washington to super star George Clooney and The Walking Dead’s Lauren Cohan, for Essence, Women’s Health, Ebony and other top publications.
Denene also is vice president and publisher of Denene Millner Books, a Simon & Schuster imprint that publishes books featuring African American children. In its debut year, "Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut," won Newbery and Caldecott honors and the Kirkus Prize for Children's Literature. She has since gone on to publish a plethora of critically-acclaimed picture books and young adult novels, all with a singular focus: to celebrate the everyday humanity of Black children. As the sole African American woman with her own children’s book imprint at a Big 5 publishing house, Denene acquires, conceives and edits books for the imprint, oversees their artistic development, and helps conceptualize and execute all aspects of the publishing process, including marketing, publicity and sales, with a focus on creating opportunities for marginalized writers, artists and their stories.
In addition to running her imprint and penning books and magazine cover stories, Millner spent a decade working as a columnist, contributing editor, and blogger for Parenting, a national magazine for which she provided witty, engaging, mom-to-mom advice on everything from childrearing and marriage to work and friendship. Denene is also the founder and editor of MyBrownBaby.com, an oft celebrated, award-winning website that examines parenting and motherhood through a distinctive multicultural lens. Her work as a parenting and relationships expert has been covered extensively on national television, earning Millner regular appearances on the Today show, The Meredith Vieira Show and HLN, and guest appearances on CBS’s The Early Show, NPR, CNN, MSNBC, VH-1, The Nate Berkus Show and The Rachel Ray Show. In 2018, she became a founding co-host on Georgia Public Broadcasting's "A Seat at the Table," a talk show about black women, which led to her founding of the critically-acclaimed NPR podcast "Speakeasy with Denene," a celebration of the beauty of the African American experience.
Denene is a graduate of Hofstra University and lives in Atlanta with her two daughters and their adorable Goldendoodle, Teddy.
ONE BLOOD
Tor/Forge - September 5, 2023
Virginia, 1965. It is at her grandmother’s knee that Grace learns the power of connection of the blood. The blood that flows in all and how it connects all life. A respected midwife, rich in wisdom and lore, Maw Maw is Grace’s whole world. But everything changes the night her grandmother delivers a white woman’s Black baby and Maw Maw is the one to pay the price. When Grace is sent up North to live with her only living relative, her Aunt Hattie--a formidably ambitious woman who has firmly left behind her Southern roots in pursuit of upward mobility―Grace finds she is an outsider in what feels like a strange new land. It is only when she meets Dale, a beautiful boy with the heart of a warrior poet that Grace begins to feel that she belongs. When they fall in love, Grace knows that their future together is bright.
However, when their relationship is discovered by Dale’s equally ambitious mother, Dale is shipped off to the Army and soon after Grace discovers she is pregnant…and alone. Worse is when her Aunt Hattie discovers her pregnancy. In an ultimate act of self-preservation, cruelty and perhaps even love, Hattie betrays Grace by giving her daughter up for adoption, setting in motion the fates of three generations of three very different women: a birth mother who had her child taken away; the adoptive mother who raised that child; and the child who is the literal product of the two.
Stretching from the American South during the Great Migration to New York during the Civil Rights Movement and the fight for the Equal Rights Amendment, to Brooklyn and the racial unrest of ‘90s and early 2000s, Denene Millner’s beautifully devastating novel explores these three women’s intimate struggle with their own histories, with truth and healing, with being a mother, with being a woman, with knowing who you really are. And ultimately, with love and learning how that love intricately connects them.
Praise for One Blood
One of Apple Books' Most Anticipated Audiobooks, Fall 2023
One of Audible's Best Fiction Audiobooks of 2023
“One Blood is a book you’ll drop everything to read.” —The Washington Informer
“Powerful, deeply moving saga” — People magazine’s Best New Books
“Black American women navigate the decades in a powerful family saga” —The Observer/The Guardian
“A powerful story of blood, secrets and love connects the lives of three unforgettable Black women. Millner skillfully explores how societal pressures have forced generations of Black women to make difficult choices.” —Washington Post
“Millner explores the ways Black women searched out paths to survival for themselves and their families…[a] gripping saga.” —Kirkus
“Millner beautifully limns the experiences of a woman who must give up her child, a mother who has adopted, and Black women everywhere who must negotiate the roles of wife and mother while entertaining their own dreams.” —Library Journal, starred review
“Millner’s prose is effortless and honest. She leans into the voices of her characters—brought to life by an amazing cast of narrators—to tell this tender tale of Black motherhood, identity, and love.“ —Audible
“In delicious, decadent prose, Denene Millner does what few authors can--compose a sprawling multigenerational tale that is necessary American reading. One Blood sings the song of the South in a voice that is heartbreaking, hopeful, and resilient. A masterpiece.” —Tara M. Stringfellow, national bestselling author of Memphis
“One Blood is the haunting, yet wonderfully written story of three women, Grace, LoLo and Rae, who are connected through time, circumstances…and more than just blood. From the first pages, Denene Millner had me captivated with the intimate stories and too many heartbreaking moments of these women as they struggled against every adversity, fighting to find their place and their voice in this world. With prose that was so beautiful, I often paused to read a sentence twice, I was left thinking about these women and how their lives were eternally linked, long after I finished this amazing novel." —New York Times bestselling author Victoria Christopher Murray
“Denene Millner is a masterful weaver of words, characters, and worlds. One Blood is a beautiful, brilliant American epic that speaks to Black motherhood, female relationship, marriage, family, legacy, love and healing. It is simultaneously deeply intimate and grandly sweeping." —Tarana Burke, New York Times bestselling author of Unbound: My Story of Liberation and the Birth of the Me Too Movement
“Clear your calendar before you turn the first page of Denene Miller’s irresistibly engaging One Blood because you won’t be able to put this compulsively readable novel aside once you start. A profound meditation on generational trauma, Miller’s characters leap off the page. Grace, Lolo, and Rae’s stories will become your stories, stories that will linger long after you turn the final page." —Sarah Bird, author of Daughter of a Daughter of a Queen
“The beauty of this tale lies in the intergenerational relationship between three women. The deep examination of the shifting, changing roles and statuses they take on." —Lucy Anne Hurston, author of Speak, So You Can Speak Again: A Life of Zora Neale Hurston
FRESH PRINCESS
STYLE RULES!
HarperCollins - March 31, 2020
Join Destiny the Fresh Princess in her second adventure! Based on The Fresh Prince created by Will Smith.
Now that Destiny settled in to her new neighborhood, she is on her way to the next big thing: a new school!
Destiny loves everything about school, but when she shows up to Paul Robeson Prep, it’s bigger than she ever imagined, the uniforms are plain, and all her friends already have a “thing.” Destiny suddenly doesn’t feel so fresh and wonders how she’ll ever stand out. That’s when she notices something super cool about her uniform jacket…
Will Destiny find a way to make her mark?
Written by celebrated author, blogger, and editor Denene Millner and illustrated by Gladys Jose, Fresh Princess: Style Rules! is the perfect book to encourage kids to be creative, be smart, and most importantly, be themselves!
Perfect for fans of Juno Valentine created by Eva Chen and Fancy Nancy created by Jane O'Connor.
FRESH PRINCESS
HarperCollins - April 2, 2019
Based on The Fresh Prince created by Will Smith, Destiny is the Fresh Princess.
Meet Destiny—a cool, energetic, and strong-willed young girl who approaches every day with her own signature style! That is, until she moves to a brand-new neighborhood, where nothing looks quite the same as it did at her old house.
Even with new challenges and new friends to make, Destiny always has a plan. With a few reminders from her loving family and after remembering what being the Fresh Princess is all about, she may just take the leap and jump right in!
Written by celebrated author, blogger, and editor Denene Millner and illustrated by Gladys Jose, Fresh Princess is the perfect book to encourage kids to proudly stand out and be themselves!
THE WARRIOR CODE
11 PRINCIPLES TO UNLEASH THE BADASS INSIDE OF YOU
St. Martin’s Press - February 5, 2019
From American Grit co-star, former Marine Gunnery Sergeant Tee Marie Hanible comes the story of how she became a warrior...and how you can do it too.
In The Warrior Code, entrepreneur, philanthropist, reality star and retired Gunnery Sergeant Tee Marie Hanible serves up eleven principles to awaken your inner badass and thrive in the face of adversity.
After surviving the death of her father, enduring foster care and being expelled from school, Tee joined military reform school, where she began uncovering her inner warrior. As part of one of the first female classes of recruits to complete the Marine Corps Crucible and the Marine Combat Training, and as the only woman to deploy with her unit to Iraq in 2003, Tee tested her mettle and learned the key to becoming an unbreakable woman.
With insightful honesty and wisdom, and set against the backdrop of Tee’s life, The Warrior Code will help you understand that things can beat us back from realizing our true potential...but the key is finding the way to realize one’s own innate strength.
PRAISE FOR THE WARRIOR CODE
"Tee Marie Hanible is a real life warrior and an incredibly fierce woman in her own right. The Warrior Code is a must read!"—Alyssa Milano
"Tee Marie Hanible, a woman of incredible strength and courage, has now given readers a guide that will show them how to tap into their own power with The Warrior Code. A must have!"—Montel Williams
"Hanible's practical, no-nonsense advice and her candidness about both her missteps and all she's endured and conquered make her an impressive role model and guide for women and men of all ages who are navigating challenges in their lives."—Booklist
"Hanible, a retired Marine Corps gunnery sergeant and military expert on the TV show American Grit [...] gives readers advice on rising to be their best in her spirited debut. Readers who have seen Hanible on TV or who are willing to commit to a regimented program of self-betterment will find this forceful book useful."—Publishers Weekly
AROUND THE WAY GIRL
A Memoir
Atria / 37 INK – October 11, 2016
From Academy Award nominee and Golden Globe winner, Taraji P. Henson, comes an inspiring and funny book about family, friends, the hustle required to make it from DC to Hollywood, and the joy of living in your own truth.
With a sensibility that recalls her beloved screen characters, including Yvette, Queenie, Shug, and the iconic Cookie from Empire, yet is all Taraji, the screen actress writes of her family, the one she was born into and the one she created. She shares stories of her father, a Vietnam vet who was bowed but never broken by life’s challenges, and of her mother who survived violence both in the home and on DC’s volatile streets. Here too she opens up about her experiences as a single mother, a journey some saw as a burden but which she saw as a gift.
Around the Way Girl is also a classic actor’s memoir in which Taraji reflects on the world-class instruction she received at Howard University and the pitfalls that come with being a black actress. With laugh-out-loud humor and candor, she shares the challenges and disappointments of the actor’s journey and shows us that behind the red carpet moments, she is ever authentic. She is at heart just a girl in pursuit of her dreams.
Praise for AROUND THE WAY GIRL
“An engaging read. As much a manual on acting as it is a memoir…[with] plenty of inspiration for readers.”—Library Journal
“Taraji P. Henson, a Golden Globe winner and an Academy and Emmy Award nominee, shares her rocky road to fame in a bona fide hit memoir.“—Essence Magazine
“Henson’s memoir is an inspiring account of overcoming adversity and a quest for self-discovery, written with vitality and enthusiasm”—Shelf Awareness
BELIEVING IN MAGIC
My Story of Love, Overcoming Adversity, and Keeping the Faith
Howard Books – September 20, 2016
In her new memoir, Cookie Johnson, wife of NBA legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson, shares details of her marriage, motherhood, faith, and how an HIV diagnosis twenty-five years ago changed the course of their lives forever.
On November 7, 1991, basketball icon Earvin “Magic” Johnson stunned the world with the news that he was HIV-positive. For the millions who watched, his announcement became a pivotal moment not only for the nation, but his family and wife. Twenty-five years later, Cookie Johnson shares her story and the emotional journey that started on that day—from life as a pregnant and joyous newlywed to one filled with the fear that her husband would die, she and her baby would be infected with the virus, and their family would be shunned. Believing in Magic is the story of her marriage to Earvin nearly four decades of loving each other, losing their way, and eventually finding a path they never imagined.
November 7, 2016 will mark a quarter-century since the announcement and Cookie’s survival and triumph as a wife, mother, and God-fearing woman.
Cookie has never shared her full account of the reasons that she stayed and her life with Earvin “Magic” Johnson. Believing in Magic is her story.
I AM CHARLIE WILSON
Atria / 37 INK – June 30, 2015
The long-awaited memoir of seven-time Grammy-nominated artist Charlie Wilson, the iconic R&B and Funk singer-songwriter-producer—interwoven with his recollections of collaborating with fellow artists such as Stevie Wonder, the Rolling Stones, and Snoop Dogg.
Recognized the world over for his distinct voice and timeless hits spanning a career of nearly half a century, Charlie Wilson is one of the most celebrated musicians of his generation. So it took friends and family by surprise when he checked into rehab and revealed that he had been not only homeless, but also helpless.
Here, in the memoir fans have been demanding, is the story of how love and faith carried him through not only his addiction, but also prostate cancer. Here, too, is the story of his work in the music business, including a career resurgence that saw collaborations with some of the most sought-after artists of today, including Pharrell and Justin Timberlake.
Now over twenty years sober, Wilson recounts a life filled with vertiginous highs and heartbreaking lows. His is a story of triumph over adversity, courage in the face of extreme hardship, and love when all else is lost. It is a tale of the last sixty years in social and pop culture history, and one that will stay with you for years to come.
Praise for I AM CHARLIE WILSON
New York Times Bestseller
“I can still remember first hearing the music of Uncle Charlie and The GAP Band as a kid in Long Beach, California. When I started taking my rapping seriously, he was someone that I always wanted to work with. I was lucky enough to make that happen when he got down with me on my album Tha Doggfather. It’s been nearly two decades since that record dropped and Charlie and I have been family the whole time. We’ve made hit records together, rocked the Live 8 stage, and I even got to honor him at the BET Awards when he got the Lifetime Achievement Award. He’s been an inspiration, mentor and a big role model to me as a father and a husband. He taught me how to love my wife and kids first and my career after. He’s been there for me when I needed him the most and I hope I have been the same to him and his lovely wife and son Michael “Pesci” Paran. We are family. He’s my uncle by love not by blood. First name Charlie last name Wilson.“—Snoop Dogg
“Wilson’s engaging story frames the excess of a life in pop-culture music while illustrating the way that faith, love, [and] determination can overcome even major obstacles.“—Publishers Weekly
“A moving, powerful story of survival and redemption—like The Gap Band would say, outstanding!“—Alan Light author of Let’s Go Crazy: Prince and the Making of Purple Rain
STAND UP STRAIGHT AND SING!
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt – May 6, 2014
One of America’s most admired and decorated artists tells her amazing story, from her childhood in the South to the world’s greatest stages.
Jessye Norman is not only one of the world’s most admired and beloved singers, she is an American icon whose life story is as moving and dramatic as the great operatic roles she has performed on stage.
Born and raised in Augusta, Georgia, nurtured in a close family and tight-knit community centered around the church, she studied the piano and sang the songs of her childhood, not dreaming that this passion for music might lead to her life’s profession.
In Stand Up Straight and Sing!, Jessye Norman recalls in rich detail the strong women who were her role models, from her ancestors to family friends, relatives, and teachers. She hails the importance of her parents in her early learning and experiences in the arts. And she describes coming face-to-face with racism, not just as a child living in the segregated South, but also as an adult out and about in the world.
She speaks of the many who have inspired her and taught her essential life lessons. A special interlude on her key relationship with the pioneering African American singer Marian Anderson reveals the lifelong support that this great predecessor provided through her example of dignity and grace at all times.
The story of one woman’s astonishing life, Stand Up Straight And Sing! is not just for lovers of music, but for everyone.
Praise for STAND UP STRAIGHT AND SING!
“This is a terrific read for anyone who loves opera and classical music, but it is also the story of a compelling and uniquely American journey.”—AARP.org
“Norman is a storyteller, and Stand Up Straight and Sing! unfolds the life of a conscientious artist who prominently meshes with the history of her times.”—Santa Barbara Independent
“[It] is this memoir’s life-affirming richness that most readers will take away – its hard-won wisdom and magnanimity.”—The Augusta Chronicle
“The best parts of Ms. Norman’s book are her lyrical evocations of her early life in Augusta, Ga. She builds a rich portrait of a childhood firmly grounded by family, church and community.”—The Wall Street Journal
STRAIGHT TALK, NO CHASER
How to Find, Keep, and Understand a Man
By Steve Harvey with Denene Millner
Amistad – December 7, 2010
In the instant number one New York Times bestseller Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man, Steve Harvey gave millions of women around the globe insight into what men really think about love, intimacy, and commitment. In his new book he zeros in on what motivates men and provides tips on how women can use that knowledge to get more of what they need out of their relationships, whether it’s more help around the house, more of the right kind of attention in the bedroom, more money in the joint bank account, or more truth when it comes to the hard questions, such as: Are you committed to building a future together? Does my success intimidate you? Have you cheated on me?
In Straight Talk, No Chaser: How to Find, Keep, and Understand a Man, Steve Harvey shares information on:
- How to Get the Truth Out of Your Man
Tired of answers that are deceptive? Harvey lays out a three-tier, CIA-style of questioning that will leave your man no choice but to cut to the chase and deliver the truth.
- Dating Tips, Decade by Decade
Whether you’re in your twenties and just starting to date seriously, in your thirties and feeling the tick of the biological clock, or in your forties and beyond, Steve provides insight into what a man, in each decade of his life, is looking for in a mate.
- How to Minimize Nagging and Maximize Harmony at Home
He said he’d cut the lawn on Saturday, and you may have been within reason to think that that meant Saturday before ten in the evening, but exploding at him is only going to ruin the mood for everyone, which means no romance. Steve shows you how to talk to your man in a way that moves him to action and keeps the peace.
And there’s much more, including Steve’s candid answers to questions you’ve always wanted to ask men.
Drawing on a lifetime of experience and the feedback women have shared with him in reaction to Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man, Harvey offers wisdom on a wealth of topics relevant to both sexes today. He also gets more personal, sharing anecdotes from his own family history. Always direct, often funny, and incredibly perceptive, media personality, comedian, philanthropist, and (finally) happily married husband, Steve Harvey proves once again that he is the king of relationships.
Praise for STRAIGHT TALK, NO CHASER
“One of our most successful and sought-after relationship gurus, the man women trust to tell them the truth about, well, everything.”—Essence
NEVER MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE TWICE
Lessons on Love and Life Learned the Hard Way
By Nene Leakes and Denene Millner
Touchstone – August 11, 2009
Nene Leakes shares her wild journey from a scandalous past to the pinnacle of reality television stardom.
Nene Leakes is outrageous, captivating, and unafraid to tell it like it is. Lauded by her fans for her refreshing honesty, infectiously genuine style, and clever sense of humor, Nene is an empowered, self-made woman who has not forgotten where she came from and who knows exactly where she wants to go.
In this straight-talking and provocative memoir—written with #1 New York Times bestselling coauthor Denene Millner—Nene charts her journey from the family black sheep to single motherhood to making good and realizing her dreams. With her charm and bold, self-possessed voice, Nene tackles her painful childhood, the abuse she suffered at the hands of a violent boyfriend, her struggle to support her first born son, and her path to true love, self-acceptance, and pride.
In Never Make the Same Mistake Twice, Nene will dish on her cast mates, take on the rumors about her past and share hard-earned and inspiring life lessons in her fierce, no-nonsense, and irreverent style.
“I don’t even know where to begin with Nene….She’s my favorite character on the show.”—Anderson Cooper, CNN
Praise for NEVER MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE TWICE
The breakout star of Bravo’s The Real Housewives of Atlanta
One of Entertainment Weekly’s Entertainers of the Year
People Magazine’s Diva of the Season
Winner of the A-List Award for Reality TV’s Guiltiest Pleasure
“With the candidness of a close girlfriend and the constant reassurance that ‘it is what it is,’ fan favorite Leakes keeps it interesting for all 228 pages. Far more than a behind-the-scenes look at ‘Real Housewives of Atlanta,’ ‘Mistake’ is an urban fairy tale…“—Athens Banner-Herald
“Leakes is just as entertaining as a writer, as she is as a performer…Her candor and apparent desire to lay everything on the line, is affectively charming and disarming.“—Canyon News
ACT LIKE A LADY, THINK LIKE A MAN
What Men Really Think About Love, Relationships, Intimacy, and Commitment
By Steve Harvey with Denene Millner
Amistad – January 27, 2009
Steve Harvey, the host of the nationally syndicated Steve Harvey Morning Show, can’t count the number of impressive women he’s met over the years, whether it’s through the “Strawberry Letters” segment of his program or while on tour for his comedy shows. These are women who can run a small business, keep a household with three kids in tiptop shape, and chair a church group all at the same time. Yet when it comes to relationships, they can’t figure out what makes men tick. Why? According to Steve it’s because they’re asking other women for advice when no one but another man can tell them how to find and keep a man. In Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man, Steve lets women inside the mindset of a man and sheds lights on concepts and questions such as:
—The Ninety Day Rule: Ford requires it of its employees. Should you require it of your man?
—How to spot a mama’s boy and what if anything you can do about it.
—When to introduce the kids. And what to read into the first interaction between your date and your kids.
—The five questions every woman should ask a man to determine how serious he is.
— And more…
Sometimes funny, sometimes direct, but always truthful, Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man is a book you must read if you want to understand how men think when it comes to relationships.
Praise for ACT LIKE A LADY, THINK LIKE A MAN
“Women should listen to Steve Harvey when it comes to what a good man is about. Steve Harvey dispenses a lot of fabulous information about men. It’s more than the average man will usually tell you. Steve Harvey will give it up.“—Aretha Franklin
“Filled with practical principles, rules and tips, and illustrated with humorous and warm-hearted anecdotes from Harvey’s life and friendships, Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man gives readers the real deal about the differences between the sexes and how to bridge them for a mutually rewarding partnership.“—New York Beacon
“A thorough, witty guide to the modern man…those in need of tough (but ticklish) love advice should check it out (especially the hysterical last-chapter Q&A).“—Publishers Weekly
“[This] book offers surprising insights into the male mentality and gives woman a few a few strategies for taming that unruly beast.“—The Philadelphia Inquirer
WHAT GOES AROUND
The HOTLANTA Series
By Denene Millner and Mitzi Miller
Point – April 1, 2009
At their prestigious Atlanta high school, twins Sydney and Lauren Duke rule the roost. While straight-A Sydney wields her power in Tory Burch flats and pearl studs, reckless, sultry Lauren makes it happen as head of the cheerleading squad. But the girls’ messy family history—and their involvement in a dark mystery—may topple everything they hold dear. Their mother and stepfather want to tear apart Sydney and her new boyfriend. And Lauren’s true love, Jermaine, is tied to sketchy dealings on the wrong side of town. Can the Duke sisters redeem themselves while staying true to what’s real?
IF ONLY YOU KNEW
The HOTLANTA Series
By Denene Millner and Mitzi Miller
Point – October 1, 2008
Twins Sydney and Lauren Duke are the privileged princesses of the Atlanta social scene. But an unsolved murder mystery keeps drawing them back to the wrong side of town. There, wild child Lauren has to risk everything to protect the boy who’s stolen her heart. And prim-and-proper Sydney discovers details about their family’s past that no one—least of all the girls’ fiercely guarded mother—wants to face. When the twins realize what they’re up against, can they deal with the dark, dangerous truth in Atlanta’s ritziest neighborhood, they find themselves shockingly close to the victim and the wild speculation that ensues. But is it just the victim…or the murderer they know as well?
HOTLANTA
The HOTLANTA Series
By Denene Millner and Mitzi Miller
Point – April 1, 2008
The Duke twins, Sydney and Lauren, live the life: They attend the fanciest school in Atlanta, they live in Buckhead, the most exclusive neighborhood, and they only date the hottest guys. And their secrets? Are the darkest of all. When their estranged father is released from prison and a murder is committed, their lives are plunged into a whirlwind of tabloid scrutiny, vicious gossip, and shocking revelation. Lauren, always such a party girl, and Sydney, bent on perfection by way of the Ivy League, can’t trust anyone. Not their mother, not their rich stepfather. Maybe not even each other.
DREAMGIRLS
A novelization by Denene Millner based on the screenplay by Bill Condon
HarperEntertainment – October 31, 2006
It was a time of miraculous change in America, as the cry for justice and equality rang out, from the Deep South to the West Coast. And in the Motor City, a new sound was about to explode that would break down the barriers between white and black. Three close friends from the Detroit streets, Effie, Deena, and Lorrell, had the electrifying talent to bring any audience leaping to its feet—and with the help of C.C.‘s groundbreaking music and Curtis’s vision and ruthless ambition, they were poised on the giddy brink of greatness. But fame never comes cheap. And truth, loyalty, and love will always have to struggle to survive in the spotlight’s merciless glare…
THE VOW
By Denene Millner, Angela Burt-Murray, and Mitzi Miller
Amistad – October 25, 2005
In this runaway hit novel, three best friends come together for their sorority sister’s glitzy wedding in Atlanta and make a vow to get married within one year. As they embark on their search to find their soul mates, they navigate the full-contact sport known as being a SSBFLA (successful, single, black, female in L.A.) and negotiate the shark-infested waters of making a name for themselves professionally in Hollywood.
Can Trista, the hyper-driven celebrity agent, find the time to schedule a meaningful romance? Will Amaya, the sexy starlet, convince the married hip hop-label exec she has been seeing to leave his wife, or will the NBA star steal her heart in the final seconds? After undergoing a complete makeover, will Vivian, the jaded gossip columnist, win back the father of her child?
As seductive as it is empowering, The Vow is a page-turner that will keep you cheering for these women as they discover that their desire to find a husband isn’t as important as finding themselves.
Praise for THE VOW
“Veteran author Millner (What Brothers Think, What Sistahs Know) has teamed with Burt-Murray and Miller (editors at Jane and Teen People, respectively) to produce an emotionally charged portrait of contemporary Hollywood with a cast of unforgettable characters. Reunited at a wedding on New Year’s Eve, three 30-something sorority sisters pledge to become engaged within a year. Trista Gordon, a power hungry talent agent, will do whatever it takes to beat her politically connected colleague, Steven Banks, to a partnership. Beautiful actress Amaya Anderson, in line for her first leading role, juggles two boyfriends while focusing on toning down her flashy image. Slightly plump Vivian Evans, an entertainment journalist, remains hopelessly in love with her son’s father, her ex-husband. Fortified with new skills meant to drive a man wild, the trio find their wants don’t often meet those of their romantic prospects, who include a basketball star, a closeted gay attorney and a hip-hop artist. Readers will eagerly turn the pages of this edgy, sexy novel to learn what’s happening next.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review
“A juicy read about the complex lives and loves of hip, hardworking young sisters who happen to be Hollywood insiders.“—Essence
“A warm-hearted Jackie Collins-meets-Terry McMillan ode to sisterhood, with a few surprises.“—Kirkus Reviews
“Outrageous and fun.“—Glamour
“The Vow puts readers on a glamorous, sexy roller coaster ride…The page-turning stories will speak to women everywhere.“—Erica Kennedy, author of Bling
A LOVE STORY
By Denene Millner and Nick Chiles
Dutton Adult – June 3, 2004
The irresistible husband-and-wife duo behind Love Don’t Live Here Anymore and In Love and War returns with another romantic round of “his and hers” storytelling.
Writing with a winning combination of wit and dead-on savvy, Denene Millner and Nick Chiles take the tension up a notch in novels that unfold through alternating points of view. Now they apply their delicious he said/she said approach to the story of two childhood friends who wonder if the unbreakable bond they formed in their once-in-a-lifetime friendship would be in danger of snapping if they become lovers.
Aaron and Nina have been buddies ever since he moved into her neighborhood and offered her a piece of candy. Their families could not have been more different, but growing up across the street from each other helped these instant friends discover how much they actually had in common. Now, twenty-five years later, their friendship is stronger than ever. They’ve seen each other through a string of broken hearts and family feuds, but these playmates turned soul mates haven’t let their platonic love develop into anything more. With a lifetime of friendship at stake, is it worth it to take a chance on romance?
Fun and sexy, with secrets revealed at every turn, A Love Story proves that romance is even sweeter-and scarier-when the stakes are sky high.
Praise for A LOVE STORY
“The skillful and balanced rendering of his/her voices deepens the reader’s insights into the characters’ symbiotic relationship. This above-average summer romance should find its way to many beach blankets.”—Publishers Weekly
“Funny and real… Millner and her man bring alive the ‘everything-to-lose, everything-to-gain’ dynamic that intense attraction can create.”—Honey Magazine
“Perfect for hopeless romantics looking to learn how relationships really operate.”—Upscale
THE ANGRY BLACK WOMAN’S GUIDE TO LIFE
By Denene Millner, Angela Burt-Murray, and Mitzi Miller
Plume – March 30, 2004
The smart, sassy guide to embracing your inner Angry Black Woman
Rosa Parks, Claire Huxtable, Serena Williams. What do these women have in common? They are all Angry Black Women, whether they know it or not.
Throughout history, women’s attempts to stand up for themselves have been dismissed as the ramblings of “angry women.” But there’s a method to their madness. Using quizzes, historical references, career advice, and irreverent Top 10 lists such as “Top 10 Signs That You Should Prepare to Meet Your Maker,” The Angry Black Woman’s Guide to Life will help you find out what type of ABW you are, and empower you to be the best ABW you could possibly be-and have your loved ones live to tell about it.
A lively look at the art of being a true Angry Black Woman-from her relationships to her career to her family-this hip, hysterical manifesto is the perfect gift for all of the ABWs in your life-no matter what their type!
IN LOVE AND WAR
By Denene Millner and Nick Chiles
Dutton Adult – January 27, 2003
Denene Millner and Nick Chiles made waves with Love Don’t Live Here Anymore, their debut novel hailed by critics for its “insightful look at modern marriage” (Publisher’s Weekly) and its “humor, compassion and honesty” (Booklist).
In Love and War takes us into the lives of Zaria Chance, sister of Mikki Chance-Murphy, the female protagonist ofLove Don’t Live Here Anymore, and Kenneth Roman, a teacher and basketball coach. When Zaria walks into Kenneth’s classroom to discuss her son’s unruly behavior, there is instant conflict as these two strong personalities go head-to-head-but there is also a powerful physical attraction. Though they see the world in completely different ways, it soon becomes clear they can’t live without each other. But when Kenneth gets caught in a colossal lie, Zaria must decide whether she can overcome her pain and outrage to take him back.
Told in alternating viewpoints, this warm-hearted, sensual novel gives us an intimate perspective on each of the main characters’ thoughts and feelings—the suspicions of the single mom and the panic of the wary bachelor. Peopled by a cast of complex and appealing characters drawn from real life and imbued with the candor, compassion, and humor that made their first novel a success, this Millner-Chiles tale is for anyone who has ever loved, lusted, and struggled to make a relationship work in the face of irrepressible drama and intense emotional baggage.
Praise for IN LOVE AND WAR
“A husband-wife team who blend two distinctive voices into a seamless, satisfying whole.”—Kirkus Reviews
“A penetrating portrayal of start-to-finish real love that unfolds with all of the bumps along the way.”—Upscale
“Funny and real…bring[s] alive the dynamic that intense attraction can create.”—Honey Magazine
“These sharp-tongued, intelligent protagonists crackle with life.”—Publishers Weekly
LOVE DON’T LIVE HERE ANYMORE
By Denene Millner and Nick Chiles
Dutton Adult – February 28, 2002
The Washington Post called Denene Millner and Nick Chiles’s What Brothers Think, What Sistahs Know “a funny and frank relationship survival guide.” Now this husband-and-wife writing team make their fiction debut in a spirited and original novel for anyone who has ever tried to find the right balance between career and love—in the face of ambition, financial struggle, and sexual temptation.
Randy Murphy and Mikki Chance-Murphy are a contemporary couple whose marital bond is tested by the demands of their emerging professional lives. He is an ad executive who has temporarily relocated to Paris to pursue a prestigious account. She is a fashion designer living in Brooklyn, trying to move her struggling bridal boutique into the black.
Unfolding in alternating chapters from each of their points of view, Love Don’t Live Here Anymore tells the story of what happens to a marriage when infidelity and distance—both physical and emotional—enter the equation. As Mikki finds herself powerfully drawn to her husband’s best friend, it will take some major shaking up—not to mention faith, understanding, and lots of love—to put the pieces of their marriage back together. If it’s not too late.
A novel about the choices that shape our lives and relationships, this is a moving and captivating addition to contemporary African-American fiction.
Praise for LOVE DON’T LIVE HERE ANYMORE
“Love Don’t Live Here Anymore is wise, witty, and loads of fun, a charming, tender story for anyone who believes in the power of love.”—Valerie Wilson Wesley, author of Ain’t Nobody’s Business If I Do
“This husband-and-wife team again tackles the complex issues that couples face, but they broaden their successful theme of exposing the male and female perspective now in a powerful fiction debut….Millner and Chiles’s first novel is written with humor, compassion, and honesty.”—Booklist
“[An] entertaining first novel….An insightful look at modern marriage.”—Publishers Weekly
“Clever…filled with hip references and attitudes.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Love Don’t Live Here Anymore offers up real-life characters dealing with their problems head-on.”—Black Issues Book Review
“The book is perfect for hopeless romantics looking to learn how relationships really operate.“—Upscale
MONEY, POWER, RESPECT
What Brothers Think, What Sistahs Know
By Denene Millner and Nick Chiles
William Morrow – January 9, 2001
First, in What Brothers Think, What Sistahs Know, the bold and beautiful Denene Milner and Nick Chiles gave the real deal of love and relationships. It was hailed as the African American Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus. Then, in What Brothers Think, What Sistahs Know About Sex, the savvy supercouple told African American daters and maters how to get it on and heat it up in the bedroom—or wherever else couple may find themselves.
Now Nick and Denene have set their sites on three of the hottest topics facing couples today. Money. Can he deal when she makes more? Power. He’s at the office 24/7. Where does she get her face-time? Respect. How much of their dirty laundry should both he and she air to their friends? In their inimitable he-said/she-said format and hip approach, Denene and Nick reveal the real deal on what black men and women think about financial issues, power struggles, and the importance of respect. They delve into everything, from whose career is more important to who should punish the kids to who should pay for dinner.
Enlivened by their trademark humor and sassy and bold approach, the message in Money, Power, Respect is crystal clear: While money issues may lead to power struggles, this doesn’t have to lead to lack of Respect. In this perspective and insightful guide, Nick and Denene show couples how engaging in fierce, sincere communication will have both partners wearing the pants in the family.
Praise for MONEY, POWER, RESPECT
Gold Pen Award Nominee, Black Writers Alliance
“[Millner and Chiles’s] lively book will spark debate.”—Publishers Weekly