Meet the Author: Chanel Miller
Written by Shelby Schulz | January 30, 2026
Chanel Miller is an author and artist from California. Now based in New York, Miller has published three books, including a memoir and two middle-grade novels.
Earlier this month, she visited BookPeople in Austin, where she spoke with readers about her latest book, The Moon Without Stars. Before Miller’s presentation, Nopality Magazine had the opportunity to speak with her about the book.
Q: How has the book tour been so far?
Miller: It’s been awesome. I think feeding off the positive energy of children is probably what’s been getting me through the last couple of years. It’s also nice seeing who pops up in each city. For example, my middle school Spanish teacher showed up one night. It’s so delightful to have all these people from different phases of our lives show support. I think all of us have people who love us, and it can be easy to forget, but it’s a really nice feeling when they just appear.
Q: What do you enjoy most about being able to meet some of your readers in person?
Miller: I love that they’re not really interested in my writer credentials. They’re just interested in whatever I’m about to say in the present. They engage with that, which makes me feel like I don’t have to prove anything. I get to just be someone who is present and interested in their lives.
Photos by Shelby Schulz and Samantha Firmin
Q: What led you to pursue writing as a career? Is that something you always wanted to do?
Miller: My mom is a writer. A huge reason why she came to the U.S. was in pursuit of freedom of speech. I remember her always writing late into the night when I was growing up. For her, writing wasn’t just a subject in school; it was a privilege. If you’re allowed to say whatever you want, you’d better figure out what you want to say. That was instilled in me from a very young age. She signed me up for several writing camps, which made it feel like an option early on.
Q: I saw that you also created the cover art for some of your books. Did you study other forms of art as well as writing in school?
Miller: I think art is something we all do at the beginning. Some people fall off or don’t identify as artists, even though they have the ability to create drawings. I love art and hand-drawn art. There was a time in my life when I was trying to draw more realistically, but now I find what I respect most is an organic line. I love the imperfection of art. When I’m writing, I’m forcing myself to be very meticulous, but when it comes to drawing, the whole point for me is to let loose.
Q: How big of a part does drawing play in your life?
Miller: In college, when I had pent-up energy or stress, I would go to the student bookstore and buy this huge white cardstock that I’d bike home with, which was really hard because it was always flapping in the wind. At home, I would just put it on the floor and make these really big drawings. I’ve also done a piece with the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco. It’s a 75-foot mural that is made up of some pretty simple drawings, but I feel like it gets the message across. With art, I don’t try to show off. It’s just something I need to get out.
Q: Why did you decide to transition into the younger reader space after your memoir, and do you ever see yourself writing more for adult audiences in the future?
Miller: I actually took a children’s literature class in college and also did printmaking. I always wanted to make children’s books. Then my life took a nightmarish turn, and I decided I needed to address that first in order to move forward. As soon as I did that, the road felt clear again. I didn’t know if it would be possible to transition, but readers of my nonfiction book were encouraging me to write for kids. It felt like everyone was giving me a chance to re-establish my identity. That support was huge for me. It took a couple of years to get here, but I’m very happy in this space, and it feels like this is what I should be doing. But yes, I will write for adults again. Life is long.
Q: Where do you draw some of your biggest inspiration from?
Miller: One of my biggest inspirations is Miné Okubo. She was an artist who was relocated into internment camps during World War II. While she was there, she created more than 2,000 drawings documenting her experiences in camps in California and Utah. To me, having the ability to protect your point of view and honor the way you’re perceiving the world is very powerful. I tell myself to create all the time, like she did.
Q: What have you been watching, reading, and/or listening to lately?
Miller: I’ve been reading Things in Nature Merely Grow by Yiyun Li. I love it. It’s wonderful. I have not had time to watch anything. A couple of artists I’ve been listening to are French 79 and Monolink.
Q: What was the process like for writing this book? Were there any characters or plot points that were difficult for you to write?
Miller: It took about a year and a half to write. I never know the endings of my books, and I don’t outline. I just need an idea, then to commit to writing a certain number of pages. That’s my process.
Photos by Shelby Schulz and Samantha Firmin
Q: How have your own experiences influenced the writing of The Moon Without Stars? Would you say Luna is a reflection of yourself at all?
Miller: Yes. Luna is biracial. I also grew up in Northern California, where Luna is. I would say I was a pretty good kid in middle school, and I thought being good was enough. I never bullied anyone, although I did see people being bullied. As I got older, I realized that just made me a passive person, not necessarily a good one. So I want kids to think about how we’re always playing a role. Even if you’re quiet about something, you’re still taking a stance. Just be conscious of who you want to be, because it’s not an option to opt out.
Q: How big of a role has growing up Asian American and mixed race impacted the stories you choose to tell?
Miller: I really enjoy creating characters that resemble me, my friends and my family. Now that I’m in a position where I can create these worlds, I love populating them with people that I love so they can be immortalized.
Q: If you had access to books like The Moon Without Stars while growing up, how do you think that would have impacted your experiences?
Miller: I probably would’ve written about myself earlier. Even in college, I was writing short stories about white characters. I just didn’t see narrative stories centered around Asian Americans, so I didn’t think to center myself in my writing. Even when I got a deal to write a memoir, it was a strange concept for me. I wasn’t used to devoting that much time or attention to the details of my life. So when I go to schools, I try to tell kids to pay attention to the details in their own lives and to understand that they are interesting, because it took me a long time to understand that.
Q: The Moon Without Stars features many themes of feeling lost or dealing with constant change. What are some ways you like to stay grounded in your day-to-day life?
Miller: Honestly, my favorite thing about the tour is that I get so much face time with people, and it’s been so healthy for me. When you’re writing, you’re alone or online, and I have to be careful not to get too deep in my head. You have to go deep in your head to write, but you also have to know when to step out. There’s a difference between working hard and working past the point of being productive. I’m much more willing to take breaks now and am also a huge fan of walking. Those things help me get out of my head.
Q: Are there any particular messages you hope readers take away from The Moon Without Stars?
Miller: When things go wrong, think about your options and think about who can help you. Don’t just think, “How do I grit my teeth and get through this on my own?” Luna eventually has to ask for help, and that’s something I wish I knew to do sooner.
Q: What is next for you? Do you have any ideas for your next project?
Miller: I have so many ideas. I’ve never had a shortage of ideas. It’s just a matter of what I want to commit to for the next year. I don’t think about adults or kids, mostly just what character I want to follow and get to know better.
