Join us as we close out Black History Month with USA Today bestselling author Vanessa Miller—author of historical fiction titles The Filling Station, The American Queen, and dozens of other books!
RSVP IS REQUIRED: We are asking you to RSVP in advance so we can make the necessary arrangements for seating, coffee, etc.:
ABOUT THE FILLING STATION
“Should be required reading.” —Library Journal, starred review
Two sisters. One unassuming haven. Endless opportunities for grace.
Sisters Margaret and Evelyn Justice have grown up in the prosperous Greenwood District of Tulsa, Oklahoma—also known as Black Wall Street. In Greenwood, the Justice sisters had it all—movie theaters and entertainment venues, beauty shops and clothing stores, high-profile businesses like law offices, medical clinics, and banks. While Evelyn aspires to head off to the East Coast to study fashion design, recent college grad Margaret plans to settle in Greenwood, teaching at the local high school and eventually raising a family.
Then the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre upends everything they know and brings them unspeakable loss. Left with nothing but each other, the sisters flee along what would eventually become iconic Route 66 and stumble upon the Threatt Filling Station, a safe haven and the only place where they can find a shred of hope in oppressive Jim Crow America. At the filling station, they are able to process their pain, fill up their souls, and find strength as they wrestle with a faith in God that has left them feeling abandoned.
But they eventually realize that they can't hide out at the filling station when Greenwood needs to be rebuilt. The search for their father and their former life may not give them easy answers, but it can propel them--and their community--to a place where their voices are stronger . . . strong enough to build a future that honors the legacy of those who were lost.
The Filling Station weaves together themes of love, hate, hope, trust, and resilience in the face of great turmoil. With every turn of the page, you will be transported into a story about strong Black women in a pivotal moment of history.
Discussion questions are included, so it’s perfect for book clubs! Keep your tissues nearby because this one is practically guaranteed to make you feel all the feelings.
ABOUT THE AMERICAN QUEEN
“A hidden gem in American history.” —Publishers Weekly
A Christy Award WINNER | A 2024 American Fiction Award WINNER | A 2025 Audie Awards WINNER | Best Historical Fiction of 2024 (She Reads)
There is only one known queen who truly ruled a kingdom on American soil.
Transformative and breathtakingly honest, The American Queen is based on actual events that occurred between 1865-1889 and shares the unsung history of a Black woman who built a kingdom as a refuge for the courageous people who dared to dream of a different way of life. As seen on Good Morning America: GMA 15 New Books to Reads.
Kingdom of the Happy Land in The Asheville Citizen newspaper, 1957
The article on page two of The Asheville Citizen from July 11, 1957, explores the beginnings of the Kingdom of the Happy Land, a vision brought to life by Robert Montgomery.
After the Civil War, Montgomery, a former slave owner, sought a new beginning for himself and his former slaves. With the abolition of slavery, these newly freed individuals faced numerous challenges and uncertainties as they navigated their newfound freedom.
Over the 24 years she was enslaved on the Montgomery Plantation, Louella learned to feel one thing: hate. Hate for the man who sold her mother. Hate for the overseer who left her daddy to hang from a noose. Hate so powerful there’s no room in her heart for love, not even for the honorable Reverend William, whom she likes and respects enough to marry.
But when William finally listens to Louella’s pleas and leads the formerly enslaved people off the plantation, Louella begins to replace her hate with hope. Hope that they will find a place where they can live free from fear. Hope that despite her many unanswered prayers, she can learn to trust for new miracles.
Soon, William and Louella become the appointed king and queen of their self-proclaimed Kingdom of the Happy Land. And though they are still surrounded by opposition, they continue to share a message of joy and goodness—and fight for the freedom and dignity of all.
The American Queen weaves together themes of love, hate, hope, trust, and resilience in the face of great turmoil. With every turn of the page, you will be transported to a pivotal period in American history, where oppressed people become extraordinary heroes.
ABOUT VANESSA MILLER
“Miller captivates with a propulsive historical based on a true story.” —Publishers Weekly
Vanessa Miller is a USA Today bestselling author. Her writing has been centered on themes of redemption and books about strong Black women in pivotal moments of history. Vanessa is a best-selling author, playwright, and motivational speaker. She started writing as a child, spending countless hours either reading or writing poetry, short stories, stage plays and novels. Vanessa’s creative endeavors took on new meaning in 1994 when she became a Christian. Since then, her writing has been centered on themes of redemption, often focusing on characters facing multi-dimensional struggles.
Miller’s book, The American Queen won the prestigious Christy Award, the Audie Award, and was the 2024 American Fiction Award winner for Historical Fiction. The American Queen is a North Carolina Reads pick for 2025.
Her novel, The Filling Station, has received starred reviews from Library Journal and Booklist. It is a Positively Charlotte book club pick and a USA Today bestseller.
Vanessa’s novels have received rave reviews, with several appearing on Essence Magazine’s Bestseller’s List.
Miller graduated from Capital University with a degree in Organizational Communication. She and her family live in the Charlotte, NC, area.