We chat with author Kristyn J. Miller about Given Our History, which is a sparkling romance where two professors with a complicated past get a second chance to prove history won’t repeat itself.
Hi, Kristyn! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hello, hello! Thank you for having me. Let’s see—I’m a contemporary romance author, but I also just finished my M.A. in history and museum studies last year, which served as real-time inspiration while I was drafting Given Our History. In my free time, you can find me hiking, antiquing, or sampling craft beers. I grew up in southern California, but these days I live in an old colonial farmhouse in rural New England with my husband and son.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
I used to staple sheets of computer paper together to make my own comic books when I was eight. I made a whole series about a bunch of birds who played different sports (I wish I had an explanation for this—I liked birds, but I did not, as a general rule, enjoy sports).
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: Do You Know What I’m Going to Do Next Saturday by Helen Palmer. It was one of my mom’s childhood books and for whatever reason, four-year-old me found it hilarious. Pretty sure it’s now out of print.
- The one that made you want to become an author: This is hard to pinpoint because just about every book made me want to be an author. The Hobbit definitely had a big impact. I also credit My Oxford Year by Julia Whelan for steering me toward contemporary romance, specifically.
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: I finally read The Cruel Prince by Holly Black back in January and I haven’t been able to get Jude and Cardan out of my head.
Your latest novel, Given Our History, is out August 27th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Autumn academia ft. elder emos
What can readers expect?
I’ve always gravitated toward cozy, low stakes romance where the characters are juggling their budding relationship with realistic problems, so that’s what I set out to write with Given Our History. It’s my take on “right person, wrong time” and how sometimes, second chances are less about a change in circumstances and more about how our priorities shift over time. It’s a gentle, nostalgic sort of read with a few millennial throwbacks and a dash of angst.
Where did the inspiration for Given Our History come from?
My husband was helping me brainstorm different romance ideas while we sat in the drive thru of a local burger place waiting on our food. It was his suggestion that I write a story about two professors who knew each other when they were younger, and from there, the idea sort of took on a life of its own.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
It was ridiculously fun to write the dynamic between Clara and her little sister, Reagan. I also loved getting to write the flashback scenes when Clara studies abroad. I’m always playing around with setting descriptions in hopes of really transporting readers because that’s something I look for in my own reads—the more evocative the setting, the better.
This is your second novel! What are some of the key lessons you learned between writing the two?
Oh, gosh. I mean, I’d hope I learned a lot! I feel like each subsequent novel is a little stronger than the last. One thing I paid a lot more attention to with Given Our History was character likeability. I personally love a deeply flawed protagonist, but you have to strike a careful balance. It’s hard to root for a character to find love if they just don’t seem ready.
What’s next for you?
Nothing official to share just yet, but I always have new stories in the works. Hopefully I’ll be able to say more in the near future!
Lastly, what books have you enjoyed so far this year and are there any that you can’t wait to get your hands on?
I took a break from reading contemporary romance in order to catch up on other genres and I’m just now jumping back into it, so I’m a little behind the times—currently reading Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood and really enjoying it. I suppose I have a soft spot for stories centered around academia!
