U.P. author publishes novel about coping with death from male perspective

IRON RIVER — An author from Iron River published a novel in September called The Last Photograph, which is about sudden loss and the grief that follows, with a twist.

Anne Miller’s novel follows a couple named Jake and Adrian, who’s relationship is rocked by a sudden tragedy — Adrian’s death. During her transition into the afterlife, Adrian is concerned with how Jake will cope with her death, as he was raised to be a “man’s man” and to never show emotion.

Miller said her novel is different from other love stories because she writes about the loss from a Jake’s perspective.

“I always see movies and books and TV shows about where, you know, how the woman has to learn how to be strong and learn how to survive on her own. It never really had anything where it was from the man’s perspective. I thought ‘That could be the twist on it,’ is to try to get inside a man’s head,” said Miller.

The idea for The Last Photograph came to her about twenty years ago, after listening to a Garth Brooks song entitled “The Dance.” While the novel did take a while to complete, it was because Miller is passionate about her work.

“Just the idea of my words affecting people, making them cry or making them angry, you know, that’s something I wrote, that’s something I came up with that nobody else did,” she said.

There are two book signings scheduled for November 16th at Greenway Books in Iron Mountain from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and at the AmericInn in Iron River on November 18th from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

The Last Photograph can be purchased in several shops in the Iron River area, including Silver Moon Gifts, Mr. T’s and Pasty Corner. The book can also be purchased on Miller’s website.

Miller also said she is currently writing a sequel to The Last Photograph and has an idea for a third novel in the series.