Serena B. Miller's Blog

Christmas in July Celebrates Heartwarming Holiday Tale Set in Ohio's Amish Country Minford, Ohio --- The magic of Christmas meets the charm of Ohio's Amish community in Sugarcreek in USA Today bestselling author Serena B. Miller's "The Heart of Sugarcreek," which has been announced as a finalist in the prestigious 2025 ACFW Carol Awards in the Romance category. As readers embrace "Christmas in July" celebrations, Miller's fifth installment in the beloved "Love's Journey in Sugarcreek" series offers the perfect seasonal escape to the snow-covered hills of Ohio's Amish country. Set during the holiday season in the picturesque village of Sugarcreek, Ohio, "The Heart of Sugarcreek" weaves together the touching love stories of two couples finding second chances at happiness. When Amish widow Lydia Troyer meets the kindly widower Malachi during an unexpected winter storm, neither expects to discover love again. Meanwhile, her sister Bertha finds her heart rekindled with Anthony, a Mennonite doctor from her past, leading to life-changing decisions that will forever alter the close-knit Troyer family. "After that first book was published, I kept missing my characters and the only way to revisit them was to go back and write another book," says Miller, reflecting on her decade-long […]

"Searching for Samuel" Explores Missing Person Mystery in Ohio's Amish Country Where Community Response Reveals Cultural Heart MINFORD, Ohio --- USA Today bestselling author Serena B. Miller returns to the beloved community of Sugarcreek, Ohio, with "Searching for Samuel," the compelling second installment in her acclaimed "Secrets of Sugarcreek" series. Following the successful February launch of the cozy mystery collection with "A Stranger for Christmas," Miller deepens her exploration of small-town mysteries that prove the most gripping puzzles often involve the secrets we keep rather than crimes we commit. When Samuel Troyer, a devoted Amish family man, vanishes without a trace while cycling to work, his brother-in-law, Lucas, and Amy must search for him before it's too late. Their desperate hunt for Samuel forces Amy and Lucas to confront the feelings for one another they've been trying to ignore, while uncovering secrets that threaten to tear apart their quiet Sugarcreek community. Miller's research for "Searching for Samuel" led to several surprising discoveries that became important story elements. "How do you create a missing persons’ poster when you're Amish and there's no photos of you?" Miller wondered while developing the storyline. "The Amish typically don't allow photographs, which creates a real […]

There's something magical about the way motherhood unfolds in perfect little circles, like the rings of a tree that mark time's passage. Just when you think you've graduated from one stage, life has a way of bringing you right back to the beginning—but with the wisdom to appreciate it more.

"A Stranger for Christmas" Introduces Manhattan Writer to Ohio's Amish Country in Series That Proves Mysteries Don't Always Need Murder MINFORD, Ohio --- USA Today bestselling author Serena B. Miller ventures into new territory with the launch of her "Secrets of Sugarcreek" series, beginning with "A Stranger for Christmas," a cozy mystery that proves the most compelling puzzles often involve the secrets we keep rather than crimes we commit. Set in the beloved Ohio community that has captured readers' hearts through Miller's acclaimed "Love's Journey in Sugarcreek" series, this new collection explores the darker corners of peaceful Sugarcreek through the lens of antique treasures and hidden stories. When Manhattan ghostwriter Amy Stanton inherits her ex-stepfather's farm and three-story antique store in Sugarcreek, Ohio, she discovers a world far from the city life she knows. With the help of Lucas Hershberger, her late stepfather's devoted Amish farm manager, Amy must navigate small-town mysteries hidden within Rick's Attic while confronting her growing feelings for a man whose faith and culture seem to make any relationship impossible. "As a lover of cozy mysteries myself, I've often wondered why our genre seems to require a body count," Miller reflects. "After all, life's most compelling […]

"Today is our last day on the set. More outdoor scenes. We say good-bye to the friends we’ve made on set. I get to connect for a few more minutes with Agnes before we film a short interview with Luke. As always, he’s as friendly and accommodating as ever. Luke is a genuinely nice, humble guy who seems grateful to get to star in a Hallmark movie."

"The scenes today will mostly be filmed within the courtyard in the middle of the town. I wish there was a way I could sit beside those who view this movie and tell them that this is REALLY how this place looks!"

"If I could choose one place to live in Europe, this town would be it. I wonder what it would be like to live here and just write and write. I’m certain it would inspire all sorts of wonderful stories. So, just out of sheer curiosity (my kids would not be happy if I moved my baby-sitting self all the way to France) I start to look up prices of houses for sale within the town. "

"And then at the end of one of the final takes of this scene—just because she enjoys making people laugh—Rachelle surprises us by falling to her knees dramatically and screaming “WHY!!” It breaks the tension that everyone has been feeling because of the random weather, and we all laugh."

"We awaken to miserable-acting weather. One minute it wants to rain, the next minute it clears up. We go to Castel Beau where much of the crew are staying and have breakfast in its huge dining room. We are limited in time because the production crew will be filming in that very dining room this morning."

"Again, I mention how uncanny it is to see him because he looks exactly like the character I envisioned while writing the book. Serge is a lovely man who jokes about how nice it is to get to meet his 'creator.'"