Meet the Authors
This month, Stroll the Georgia Club would like to spotlight three incredible authors that live right here in the club: Jill Hill, Cindy Miller, and Pam Heslep.
Jill Hill
Jill Hill is originally from Conyers, Georgia. “After graduating from Heritage High School, I moved to Athens to attend Athens Tech,” she recounts. “I met my husband, Lem, while in Athens, as he was attending the University of Georgia. We were college sweethearts!” The couple raised their incredible family in Madison, Ga.
Jill’s love for writing started with blogging. “In 2012, I began blogging on an online platform,” she continues. “It started as an online bible study, and I was brand new to reading The Bible at that time. The blog gave me an opportunity to write about stories from the Bible that I was learning about and how I was seeking to apply those principles to my own life. I also told stories of faith, hope, trials, motherhood, marriage, and the many different seasons of life that I experienced. There has been a lot to write about since 2012! I am still writing on my blog weekly, and I love to encourage other women, especially! Often, it can feel lonely at times in certain seasons, and I always pray that someone reading my blog will find HOPE and JOY in whatever season they are in.”
“I published my very first book, Rise and Shine: 30 Day Devotional, in the fall of 2025! It is a devotional format to help start our day in God’s Word. Often, mornings can be chaotic, so I wanted to help bring structure and peace to the chaos. Each passage is short, but hopefully just enough to start each day with JOY! My hope is that this book will help keep our hearts and minds in proper focus each day by cultivating a peaceful and prayerful heart.”
Jill and her family have lived in The Georgia Club for 3 years, and they have fallen fast in love with their home here. “Our youngest child graduated from high school in 2023, and we decided that for this new season of life, being empty nesters, The Georgia Club would be the perfect fit!” There is so much to do here, and we love being close to Athens. We moved to this wonderful community in the Fall of 2023.”
Cindy Miller
Cindy Miller originally hails from Columbus, Georgia, and she is a proud graduate of the University of Georgia. For her entire life, Cindy has always been passionate about the social and emotional well-being of both children and seniors, a passion that is reflected in her writing.
In Atlanta, Georgia, Cindy founded The Party Puff, a business where she brought joy to countless children by dressing up in costumes and entertaining at their birthday parties. She also worked as a public-school teacher for first and second graders and later as the Director of Activities at a large senior living facility.
The character she crafted for her stories, Alli the Alligator, represents her steadfast fight against bullying at any age, especially the most vulnerable. Cindy's deep love for her husband, Tommy Miller, her unwavering devotion to her children and their families, her dearest friends, and above all her faith in Jesus Christ are the foundations of her life and her work.
“Creating a character like Alli, an alligator that stands upright and does not fit into the world around her, especially with children, became one of the most meaningful parts of writing Alli’s story,” explains Cindy. “Alli is more than a gator…she is whimsical and kind and thoughtful. She looks different, acts different, and struggles to belong even on her first day.”
“As I developed the character, I realized that Alli represents something deeply human…the universal feeling of being different from the norm and wondering if WE ARE ENOUGH! I did not want Alli to be perfect. I wanted her to feel real emotion, even though she is an alligator standing upright in a classroom full of children. She simply struggles to belong.”
“Friendship is at the heart of Alli the Alligator. Even though Alli looks different from everyone around her, she still longs for what every person wants…. kindness, belonging, and friends that understand her. Even one friend can make the difference in someone’s life! Throughout the story, Alli experiences hurtful moments that make her feel alone and excluded…especially when she sits alone at lunch eating her sardines. This story teaches children that even though they look different, they are still loved and treasured. All children just want to be seen, heard, loved, and respected, and school is hard enough as it is. Alli teaches (at the end of the book) that we were all made for a great purpose and to be kind to everyone and make others feel included and accepted.”
Cindy could not have created Alli by herself, and she is incredibly thankful for the support of her family, friends, and her incredibly talented illustrator, Joan Coleman. “There was magic in how Joan helped bring Alli to life,” Cindy adds. “After my husband and I chose Joan, we knew God had put her in our lives for a reason. She clearly understood the heart of Alli’s story and transformed the book into a work of art. Her illustrations burst with life, color, emotions, and personality! As a first-time author, seeing my words transformed by Joan Coleman’s whimsical illustrations was one of the most emotional and rewarding parts of this journey. The first time I saw Alli the Alligator in print, I burst into tears. Joan’s artwork made Alli’s message stand out more than anything I could have ever imagined. She is the heart of Alli the Alligator.”
Cindy concludes by emphasizing Alli’s message of acceptance. “Just because a child wears different clothes, talks in a different language, or has a disability, there is no reason to be unkind. A child needs to be safe and loved and wholly accepted. I hope both children and adults learn this lifelong message from Alli. God made each one of us special and unique. We were all created in His image, and we can all do small acts of kindness with great love.”
“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Maya Angelou
Pam Heslep
Pam Heslep is originally from Charlotte, NC, and she graduated from the University of Tennessee with a degree in Journalism and Public Relations. She and her loving husband, Tom, have been married for 51 years. They have two children and three grandchildren, and they are blessed to have their families live nearby. Due to her passion for teaching young children, Pam decided to further her education by getting her Masters and Specialist degrees in Education. She went on to teach for 34 years in Gwinnett County, 25 of which were spent teaching Kindergarten.
While she was growing up, Pam’s family often encouraged her to write, proudly stating how talented she was and praising her natural flair; however, it wasn’t until later in life that she finally took the leap of faith and published her own work.
“It’s amazing how God works in our lives,” states Pam. “In college, I had a Journalism professor write across the top of one of my papers, ‘Pam, you are a flowery writer!’ In that class, that was not a good thing! I was disappointed at the time and never forgot that incident. Years later, I realize I write from the heart, and that’s OK!”
Along Came Jill
“Last year, God sent a younger friend into my life, Jill Hill. We met in the TGC Bible study. She was my group leader in my small group. One day, she shared a God story and I shared one too. We both realized that day we were kindred spirits! We went to lunch, and I carried in all my folders of 40 years of writing. She said, ‘We are publishing your book! I want to publish one too, so we can do it together.’ After lots of hesitation on my part, our journey began. We wrote for 9 months, like birthing a baby, meeting every week at Barnes and Nobles. We sat in front of our computers back-to-back and rarely spoke. She told me I was her mission and she cared more about my book getting published than hers. I am 22 years older than she is, so she probably has more time than I do! How right she was! Her book was published last November and mine in December!” Pam’s process relied on writing from the heart and seeking constant spiritual guidance. “Most of the time, the writing flows like a river. I pray first and try not to ever do it on my own. I want His direction.”
“Not only did God send Jill into my life, but also Cindy. She was one of my biggest cheerleaders in sharing my stories. I surprised her with my book, but she was a driving factor in the importance of sharing what God had done in my life and others’ lives. Our friends are true treasures in our lives.”
Pam’s first book, Signs of Wonder Signs of Might, chronicled the TRUE stories of how God “showed up” and intervened in her life and in the lives of others. It’s an easy read, as each chapter tells a different God story and stands alone. “Some of these events are so astonishing, while some are supernatural, so they could only be God at work! These stories were originally meant for my children and grandchildren one day. I had wanted to leave a legacy for them of TRUE stories revealing God’s miraculous presence in daily life, showing how He guides, protects, and works wonders for those who trust in Him. We read Bible stories of long ago, but God is alive and involved in His children’s lives today. We just must recognize Him every day and share our own stories.. We need to expect divine surprises, ” answered prayers and moments that make you stop and say, ‘Only God could have done that!’ He goes before us to prepare the way. He walks with us filling our hearts with peace, so we are never alone. He comes behind us and weaves all things together for good. We need to watch for Him. When we learn to recognize Him, it will be the greatest treasure in your life!” Pam has even begun the process of writing a second book of TRUE God stories!
Pam and her family have lived at The Georgia Club in Oconee Springs for 5 years. They were first inspired to move to the area by their long-time best friends, Pat and Bubba Wadley and Jim and Deanne Beesley, who live here in the club. “We loved it here every time we came out to visit them,” adds Pam. “We have been friends with them for 45 years. I am SO thankful we landed in TGC. This subdivision if full of those treasured friendships!
To conclude our spotlight of these amazing women, we asked if they had any advice for aspiring authors.
Pam - “Take the leap and just do it!” answers Pam. “Our stories need to be passed down, and in my case, I believe God is alive and at work in all our lives. We read Biblical stories of long ago, but no one talks much about what is happening today. God is always at work always and we need to pass it on! For others, simply tell your stories. Everyone can be a writer if they want to be. Pass them on to your children and grandchildren. Let that be part of your legacy! Even if it’s a recipe book, write whatever your heart desires. If there is no time in your life now to write a book, just write what you can. Don’t make excuses, and don’t have regrets. Take the time, because what you have to share could be such a blessing for others!”
Jill – “Before I even sit down at my computer to write, I pray. I ask God to give me wisdom and to give me the words to write and encourage others who may be reading. My creative process is usually reading my Bible and reading a particular passage of scripture, then applying it to something in my own life through a story. The Bible always gives me inspiration to begin writing. It is the GREATEST book ever written!”
Local Book Signing!
Would you like a chance to meet these authors in person? Jill, Cindy, and Pam will be doing a book signing event on Thursday November 12th from 3:00 to 5:00PM in Village Hall. Not only will they autograph each book that you buy, but they will also wrap it for Christmas, free of charge! These books are the perfect Christmas gifts for kids, teachers, and friends! There is even a free raffle at the event, where the authors will give away 2 gift boxes filled with all sorts of wonderful goodies.
