I Should Have Worn Panties!
This is the title of a new book by Michael Lee Miller, Local Author & Guest Blogger (see below!!!) and many other things. She, as in The Girl Michael, will be joining us for a book signing. Please come in and meet her and show your support to a local author! February, 8th, 2019, Friday, 5-7 p.m. I Should Have Worn Panties! Michael Lee Miller Book Signing at Ye Olde Bookshoppe, 11 Palouse St., Wenatchee.
A random gust of wind and unfortunate timing lead to me mooning the entire pickup line at my son’s elementary school. I scurry into my car and cover my face with both hands. “I should have worn panties!” I cry and my daughter giggles and says, “That’s the name of your first book.” It becomes our inside joke.
A few months later, I used it for the title of a story I needed to tell. A story about a gutsy, unapologetic sex-worker making ends meet but the metaphoric conceit shows the grim reality of recovery from addiction, mental illness, and grief. Parts of the story are my own: my mother died and a few months later my husband left me. I had to figure out how to support my children with a bare resume and a broken heart.
The rest is the story of Joelys. She’s a gorgeously self-destructive sass-monster. She uses her wits and creative problem-solving to tackle the life’s challenges in ways most couldn’t imagine or dare try. She navigates these trials as the book follows her lowest moments and watches her grow and learn and truly start the path of recovery. I learned a great deal from Joelys in the process of creating her world. She inspires me every day. I’m braver for knowing her.
And who am I? I’m Michael Lee Miller, a 30-something mom of three in East Wenatchee. That’s all I could think to put on the book jacket. But we’re all more than our technical biography, aren’t we? I’m an artist, philosopher, warrior, and comedian. I take care of my sick dad and work several jobs to pay the bills. I have too many pets. I’m great at falling in love but terrible at keeping it. I Should Have Worn Panties is my first book but certainly not my last. Find me: @thegirlmichael on all the internet things.