Milam McGraw Propst
Hello! Let me introduce myself. I've had careers as a newspaper reporter and feature writer and also in public relations with national companies in addition to a variety of volunteer positions.
Highlights for the last several years include the publication of three books with Mercer University Press: A Flower Blooms on Charlotte Street, It May Not Leave a Scar, and, Ociee on Her Own. I'm delighted with BelleBooks' publication of my book, Creola's Moonbeam, and am currently working on several projects, including a new novel for young readers.
Charlotte Street brought honors to me as Georgia Author or the Year for first novel and a nomination for the Townsend Prize for fiction, and nationally, it won the Parents' Choice Fiction Recommendation. As well, the book was made into a motion picture, The Adventures of Ociee Nash which premiered at Atlanta's Fox Theater on June 1, 2003.
Produced and directed by Amy McGary and Kristen McGary, the film was released nationally in 2004, with the DVD and video release set for August 2005. The film introduces Skyler Day as Ociee and stars Keith Carradine and Mare Winningham along with a number of noted Georgia stage actors, including Tom Key, Anthony Rodriquez, Janice Akers, and John Lawhorn.
My short story "Nestle" was published in the March 2004 issue of ATLANTA Magazine.
Born in Memphis, Tennessee, I've also lived in Birmingham, New Orleans, Springfield, Massachusetts, and Atlanta. Married to Jamey Propst, my college sweetheart at the University of Alabama, we have been blessed with three children: Amanda, William, and Jay, and thanks to William and his darling wife, Abigail, we have two grandsons Loftin and Emmett. Notably, the children and I were extras in the movie while Jamey netted a small role with some six lines!
I currently enjoy public speaking about my work and the movie.
I want to thank everybody for your kind reception of my first Belle Book Creola's Moonbeam. The story remains dear to my heart because it's based on my own personal experiences.
However, my darling grandmother, Ociee Nash, continues to call to me from her white puffy cloud. Also Belle Book's own very talented Deborah Smith also "calls to me" via e-mail. She suggests I write additional stories about my grandmother.
I'm delighted to say I did or IT did. The truth is The Further Adventures of Ociee Nash just about wrote itself! Perhaps my grandmother's spirit continues to push my fingers on this keyboard?
The wonderful news is Belle Books will release the new book on September 1st.The storyline includes a Witch, the Milam Madstone, a copperhead snake and a Dominican nun. Only Ociee Nash could stir that pot and come up with a belieable story! I'm also blogging so please visit me at milamwritesbooks.
Her Books From BelleBooks/Bell Bridge Books:
The Further Adventures of Ociee Nash
Ociee on Her Own
A Flower Blooms in Charlotte Street
Creola's Moonbeam