1. Early Life

2. Career

3. Picture Books

4. Current Life

5. References

Andrea Miller is the deputy editor and a staff writer for the Buddhist magazine Lion’s Roar (formerly called the Shambhala Sun). She’s also a children’s author and freelance travel journalist.

Early Life

Andrea Miller was born on December 10, 1974 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Her family was Catholic, though not religious. She attended Sunday school of her own volition and considered herself a dedicated Catholic until she was in junior high. Growing up, she was also an avid reader. When Miller was a preschooler, her mother used to take her to the supermarket and ask if she wanted a chocolate bar or a book. Miller always chose the book.

After graduating from high school, Miller had a gap year during which she worked as an au pair in Paris. Then she enrolled at Dalhousie University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature. It was at Dalhousie that Miller took a class called “Chinese and Japanese Religions,” and learned about Buddhism for the first time. At that point, however, her interest in it was only academic. Miller went on to complete a Bachelor of Journalism at the University of King’s College and a Master's of Fine Arts in Creative Writing at the University of British Columbia.

Before becoming a journalist, Miller worked as a teacher of English as a second language in Japan, Korea, Mexico, and Canada.

Career

In 2006, Miller joined Lion’s Roar (then called the Shambhala Sun) as the associate editor. At that time, she did not identify as Buddhist, but she valued the tools and perspectives that Buddhism offers and loved the work that the magazine was doing to share these tools and perspectives more widely.

In 2010, Miller wrote a profile of Thich Nhat Hanh called "A Peace in Every Step"..^[1] and became interested in him and his teachings. She respected how he integrated social action into his Buddhist practice and was intrigued by how he engaged in the arts of calligraphy and writing. In 2012, Miller went on her first retreat with Thich Nhat Hanh in Vancouver, British Columbia, and wrote about this experience in the article “Awakening My Heart,”^[2]. At this retreat, Miller’s meditation practice deepened and she worked through issues related to her parents’ divorce. It was a powerful experience for her and she began identifying as a Buddhist.

Miller regularly writes articles for Lion’s Roar, including, “In the Country of the Present Moment”^[3] , “The Tears I Shed Yesterday Have Become Rain”, “The Dude and the Zen Master,”^[4] and many more. Miller is passionate about literature and narrative, animals and nature, and bettering the role of women in Buddhism and the larger society. Her work for Lion’s Roar frequently delves into these themes.

Miller also the is editor of three anthologies, each of which were published by Shambhala Publications as “A Shambhala Sun Book.” Her anthologies are: All the Rage: Buddhist Wisdom on Anger and Acceptance^[5]; Buddha's Daughter: Teachings from Women Who Are Shaping Buddhism in the West^[6]; and Right Here with You: Bringing Mindful Awareness into Our Relationships^[7]

She as well writes the book reviews for Lion’s Roar, such as "Review: “The Truth of This Life”'^[8], "Review: “I Wanna Be Well”'^[9], "Review: “Holy Rascals”'^[10] and many more.

Miller’s current title at Lion’s Roar is deputy editor.

Picture Books

For many years, of writing the book reviews for Lion’s Roar, and because she’s always loved the whimsical nature of children’s literature, she’s made a point of reviewing as many Buddhist children’s books as she can. A few days after Miller’s daughter—her first child—was born, Miller began reading to her and she quickly realized that, though there were many Buddhist children’s books available, there was none for very small children, so Miller decided to write the world’s first explicitly Buddhist board book. In June 2018, this book was published as The Day the Buddha Woke^[11], by Wisdom Publications. It tells the story of the Buddha’s life and teachings and is illustrated by the award-winning Buddhist artist Rima Fujita. The Day the Buddha Woke Up has been praised by Sylvia Boorstein, Eric Ripert, Robert Thurman, and others.

After writing The Day the Buddha Woke Up, Miller wrote My First Book of Canadian Birds^[12], a picture book for slightly older children, which was published in September, 2018, by Nimbus Publishing. Miller has plans to write additional picture books.

Current Life

Currently Miller lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia, with her husband Adán Cano Cabrera and their two children Alexandra and Antonio. In her free time, she works as a freelance journalist specializing in travel, food, and family. She has written for various publications including Saltscapes, The Globe and Mail^[13], and The Chronicle Herald, and Family Fun Canada^[14]

References

• Kim Mulkey
• Kim Mullen
• Kim (musical instrument)
• Kimmy Gibbler
• Kim nam il
• Kim Nam-il
• Kim nam-il
• Kimnaras
• Kim Newman
• Kim Ng
• Kim Novak
• Kim (novel)
• Kimobetsu, Hokkaido
• Kimodo Dragon
• Kimo Leopoldo
• Kimon Evan Marengo
• Kimon Georgiev
• Kimono
• Kimono My House
• Kimonos
• KiMo Theater
• Kimotsuki District
• Kimotsuki District, Kagoshima
• Kimotsuki, Kagoshima
• Kimotsuki Kaneta