Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Millie Perez. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Millie, appreciate you joining us today. Going back to the beginning – how did you come up with the idea in the first place?

I came up with the idea of my first book during my first year of motherhood. There are so many long nights and repetitive actions, that my brain needed a little escape in order to stay awake. So I started piecing together a story in my mind, and once I had a clear view of who these characters were, I decided to take a chance, and put pen to paper. I released my first book “You Never Forget Your First” on November 15, 2022 and my second book, “You Never Forget Your Worst” will be released on August 3, 2023.

Millie, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I actually have my Masters in Mental Health Counseling and Marriage and Family Therapy, so I’ve primarily worked in the mental health industry. After having my son, and quitting my job to stay home with him during the pandemic, I started to think outside of the box. The world seemed like it was falling apart, and none of the old rules seemed to matter anymore. With that kind of mentality, I started wondering, what is something that I’ve always wanted to do, yet held back for whatever reason? I the answer was immediate. Writing. I’ve always loved reading books, and have always loved writing stories during my many years of studies. So in between my son’s nap times or before bed, I started chipping away and writing pieces of my story, until I eventually had a full manuscript. I decided to self publish, because I was doing this for me, and I feared that if I had to “pitch” my book to someone, it would let my self doubt run rapid. So I took a chance on myself, and I’ve never looked back since.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

I am a true lover of reading romance. But the more I read, the more I noticed the last of representation in the romance industry. I wanted to read stories about people who looked like me, or who had similar struggles and aspirations. When I started writing my first book, I was intentional about creating a female main character who was Dominican, like me. If writing ended up being a dead end, I at the very least wanted one book in which I could look back to and see the character I wish were more prominent in the industry. Once I started writing book two, I had already laid down the ground work for the male main charter to be Dominican as well. I really wanted to tackle mental health in the hispanic community, specifically amongst men. I realized that there was a way to combine my two life passions, and I think it is why there is so much joy in my books.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Yes! I wish I knew more BIPOC bookstagram accounts when I started on my journey. Connecting with these content creators not only feeds your soul, but also helps get your books into the right audience.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.millieperezauthor.com
• Instagram: @millieperezauthor

Image Credits
Simone Barr