| John Ramsey Miller | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 3, 1949 Greenville, Mississippi, United States |
| Occupation | writer |
| Genres | Thriller fiction, Mystery fiction, crime writer |
| Spouse(s) | Susan Dedmon |
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www.johnramseymiller.com |
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John Ramsey Miller is an American author.
He began his writing career as a journalist, including an exclusive interview with Martha Mitchell during the Watergate era. His interview with Mitchell appeared on The Dick Cavett Show when John himself was interviewed by Cavett.[1] (photo of John on Cavett Show)[2]
As a commercial portrait photographer, John photographed notable recording artists for album covers for major labels and portraits of recording artists for illustrating music related magazine articles and for publicity purposes, including; Tennessee Ernie Ford and The Jordanaires,[3] Bill Monroe,[4][5] Bill Anderson, David Allen Coe,[6][7][8][9] Amy Grant,[10] Brenda Lee, Dion,[11] B.J. Thomas, Dr. Hook, Don Williams, Eric Clapton, Waylon Jennings, Mel Tillis, Tammy Wynette, Earl Scruggs, Bill Gaither Trio, Eddie Rabbitt, Jerry Clower, Terry Bradshaw, Dottie West, Crystal Gayle, Dolly Parton, Carlene Carter, Ed Brown, Alex Chilton,[12] Ronnie Milsap,[13] Fury Lewis, BB King, Burt Reynolds, Robbie Benson, Jerry Reed, Chet Atkins, Les Paul, Porter Wagoner, Johnny Cash, Gary Stewart, Guy Clark, 2 Live Crew, Johnny Duncan,[14][15] Tommy Overstreet,[16] Dogwood,[17] 2 Average White Kids[18]
Additionally John produced a thought provoking series of photos after setting up an unheard of 'studio' at Angola Prison Death Row.
John continued to deal with controversy with an insider's no holds barred account of the obscenity trials of 2 Live Crew. The book, As Nasty as They Wanna Be: The Uncensored Story of Luther Campbell of the 2 Live Crew,[19] takes the wraps off the notorious rap group, revealing the people behind the bad-mouthed persona.
Switching genres to produce a popular thriller, The Last Family,[20] John entered a relationship with Bantam Books that included the spine tingling Winter Massey series from which [21] UPSIDE DOWN was nominated for an International Thriller Writers Award for best PBO (Paper Back Original)and INSIDE OUT was nominated for a BARRY Award for best PBO.
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Miller was born in Greenville, Mississippi on October 3, 1949.
His father, Rush Glenn Miller, was a Methodist minister, who was Pastor Emeritus of the University Methodist Church in Oxford, Ms. until his death on Oct. 3, 2007. His mother, Dr. Gene Ramsey Miller, PhD, was a history professor.
He attended Delta State University in Cleveland, Mississippi where he studied art.
In 1972 he was working as a still photographer and graphic designer at an ABC TV network affiliate station in Mississippi when he accidentally became embroiled with Martha Mitchell and the burgeoning Watergate scandal. He was fired from his job for trying to help a friend protect Mrs. Mitchell from the press. Thanks to Helen Thomas, he conducted an exclusive filmed interview with Martha Mitchell, which aired on The Dick Cavett Show, August 9, 1973.
In 1981 John set up a studio in a narrow hallway of death Row at Angola and produced a series of formal portraits of the inmates. Over the next four years he set up a portable studio and produced formalized portraits of individuals associated with "groups." He photographed firemen, policemen, klansmen in their robes, Skinheads and Identity Christians as well as their children. He photographed artists, entertainers, prostitutes, doctors, lawyers, drug addicts and politicians. His portrait work has been shown in museums and included in several books and national magazines. The Death Row series was published in Oxford American,[22] and his portraits of white supremacists in New Times and The Miami Herald's Sunday magazine, TROPIC.
In 1990, working with Luther Campbell, he wrote a non-fiction book on 2 Live Crew and the obscenity trials.
In 1994 Bantam Books bought his book, The Last Family. The book was a Literary Guild Main Selection, was published in twelve languages, was optioned by Hallmark Entertainment for a feature film, made it to #16 on the New York Times Best Seller list, and is still in print.
John, working in a collaboration with 14 other noted writers, including friend Jeffrey Deaver, wrote the 17-part serial thriller "The Chopin Manuscript" narrated by Alfred Molina that was broadcast on Audible.com from September 25 to November 13, 2007. * "The Chopin Manuscript" on Audible.com
Feature articles for Miami Herald's Tropic Magazine (Covers and stories illustrated with photos by the author)
My Friend the Nazi, by John R. Miller
The Fifth Street Gym, by John R. Miller
Busting With Pride, by John R. Miller
Pawnography, by John R. Miller
The Estimable Mr. Campbell, by John R. Miller
New Times Magazine, Miami (Features)
Welcome to the Cobra Club