Helen Markley Miller

Helen Catherine Knapp Markley Miller (December 4, 1896 – November 1984) was an American writer of historical and biographical fiction for children taking place in the Western United States.

Biography
Helen Markley Miller was born in Cedar Falls, Iowa. In 1919 she graduated from the Iowa Teachers College in her city of birth. Subsequently, she worked as an English teacher until her marriage. She married journalist Martin Baxter Miller (May 30, 1900 – May 14, 1944), who became managing editor at the Idaho Statesman. After her husband died of a heart attack, she picked up teaching again.

In 1953 Doubleday published Miller's first book, Promenade All. In 1954 she graduated with a master's degree from Western State College of Colorado. Her masters' thesis, Let me be a free man, was about Chief Joseph. Like many of her books, it was a fictionalized biography.

After her graduate studies, Miller lived in McCall, Idaho and wrote 21 more books. All were published by major publishing houses. She was represented by literary agent Barthold Fles. Miller had taught at the University of Idaho.

Helen Markley Miller's only son, Andrew Markley "Mack" Miller, participated as a cross-country skier in the Winter Olympics of 1956 and 1960. Mack and his sport formed the inspiration to Mrs. Miller's sixth novel, Ski fast, ski long.

In 1966, Promenade all was published in German as Indianerblut (Indian blood).

Honors and awards

 * 1966 - Nominee for the Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award with Kirsti (Ribsy by Beverly Cleary won)