Acclaimed Author Linda Lael Miller
Funds Scholarship Program for Women


Spokane, WA-Bestselling novelist turned philanthropist Linda Lael Miller believes that educating a woman will impact endless future generations.

The author of more than 70 novels, Miller put her money where her beliefs are and established the Linda Lael Miller Scholarships for Women in 2001. This month the Washington author of novels set in the old and new West awarded $1,000 scholarships to ten women. More than 1,400 applied in the sixth round of her self-funded scholarship program.

The unique program, for women 25 and older, allows the grants to be used not only at colleges and universities, but at any accredited institution of learning. Unlike traditional scholarships, a Linda Lael Miller grant may be used not only for tuition and books, but also for daycare, lab supplies and transportation expenses.

The author, whose current novel, McKettrick's Luck, scored #4 on the New York Times list hopes the grants will enable the winners to demonstrate to their children and to their children's children that a woman can overcome adversity and succeed, through education.

The winners of her 2006 scholarships are:

Carey Frost, 32, of Adrian, MI, was a housewife and divorced mother of two who had given up her dreams for a higher education. Three years ago she moved back to her childhood home and registered for classes at a nearby community college she would attend while working full time.

Frost is working toward a degree in Applied Science for Law Enforcement from Jackson Community College. She aspires to work in Homeland Security while teaching her children to never give up on their dreams.

"Despite my situation, Linda helped bring back a little of what I lost over the years-faith and hope," Frost said. "After reading Linda's books, I picked up some of the traits that her characters had: courage in the face of fear, determination and perseverance."

Holly Bloesser, 34, of Mather, CA is a single mother who battled homelessness, addiction and extreme poverty after following in the footsteps of her mother, who also struggled with drugs.

"I became pregnant and made the momentous decision to give up my unhealthy lifestyle and raise my baby differently than I myself had been raised. I abandoned everything and everyone I knew to start over," Bloesser said.

Thanks to her tenacity, Bloesser has received her Associates Degree in Social Sciences. She is working toward a bachelor's degree at California State University-Sacramento.

Kristy Martell, 27, of Hermitage, PA is a single mother of three who already juggles motherhood as a full-time student.

Pursuing her career goal as a Registered Nurse, Martell will now study at Sharon Regional Health System's School of Nursing. Her stipend will go toward childcare and transportation expenses.


Mary Carley, 51, of Omaha, TX, endured abuse and neglect as a child. As an adult, Carley recognized a need to release the secrets and emotions associated with her past, but she found she did not have the words to express herself.

"Art became my words. Suddenly, I could take a sculpture to my counselor or a drawing, and even without words, I could scream silently. Art became an intricate part of getting me to who I am today, because it became my voice, my words and my emotions," she said.

With a bachelor's degree in art and working toward a master's in counseling at Texas A&M University-Commerce, Carley aspires to work with children and adults from trauma backgrounds, incorporating the use of art as a healing medium.

Katherine Weaver, 30, of Olathe, KS, is a mother of three, who is pursuing a bachelor's of science degree in dietetics at Johnson County Community College. Her five-year-old daughter suffers from severe allergies, which make anything with milk or soy protein, most nuts, red dye #40, vaccination medicines and even green beans and oranges potentially deadly.

Due to her allergies and the wide variety of associated hazards, Weaver has kept her daughter at home until now. But a strong desire to earn a good income without being gone from her family on nights and weekends drove Weaver to obtain a higher education.

Encouraged by this scholarship, Weaver said, "Now I can be out of school before my kids start college. I can actually start saving for their college funds!"

Susan Coder, 40, of Royersford, PA, has channeled the tragedies in her life to a useful pursuit of a nursing degree from Montgomery County Community College.

Two years ago, Coder and her family were in an auto accident, in which her nine-year-old daughter sustained a brain injury. Coder credits the rehab hospital staff with exceptional medical care for her daughter and priceless encouragement and emotional support for her and the rest of the family.

"Having the support of such knowledgeable and caring professionals made a huge difference in my daughter's recovery," Coder said. "I believe someday I will be able to give support to another family in the way that we were supported. Not only do I want to be able to confidently care for another person, I want to be able to give hope when the situation seems helpless."

Dina Gilio, 48, of Albuquerque, NM, was an economically disadvantaged Native American who survived domestic abuse. Then her ten-year-old's father lost his battle with cancer.

"Not only do I feel the responsibility to my son, I also am deeply aware of my responsibility to my community as an American Indian," Gilio said.

An accomplished artist and political activist, Gilio decided the most powerful way she could help people was through the legal system. She is currently working on her degree from the University of New Mexico and hopes to attend law school to eventually practice federal Indian law.

Returning to school after 30 years in the workforce, Maureen Muzorewa, 55, of Madison, WI, demonstrated that it is never too late to pursue an education, and a lifelong goal, despite the added financial obligations of college tuition.

"There have been many times now in my adult life that I have reflected back to the time when my father asked me to attend college. I have thought of how my life would have been different," Muzorewa said about her decision not to enroll then. "There is a saying, 'You have made your bed, now you have to lay in it.'"

After raising a son on her own and working two jobs, Muzorewa knows now is the time to take care of herself and prepare for the future. She enrolled at Upper Iowa University and is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Human Resources Management.

Rebecca Rice of South Pittsburg, TN, caught the attention of the Linda Lael Miller Scholarships for Women judging panel with her simple introduction. "I do not have a unique or dramatic story. In fact, my story is all too typical."

Rice, a factory worker for ten years, found motivation to change her circumstances when she went through a divorce and heard that the plant she worked for might close. She chose a nursing career and earned a 4.0 grade point average in her first year of studies.

"When I graduate in spring of 2008 and pass those board exams, I will be in glory!" Rice said. "Doing something meaningful and fulfilling while being self-sufficient and providing security for my family seems hard to beat."

Married as a teenager, Mae Artrip, 30, of Bayonne, NJ, left high school at the insistence of an overprotective spouse and focused on raising her young child. After enduring years of abuse, Artrip faced the world on her own with no education or work skills.

Pursuing a nursing degree, she enrolled at the Hudson County Community College. Her mother watched the children until dying a year later.

"In addition to being able to stand on my own two feet and make it on my own for the first time in my life, I want to show my boys what sheer determination can achieve," Artrip said. "I want them to see what can be accomplished when you never give up. Most of all, I want them to recognize the importance of an education."