Miriam Dufer was born in and raised in Alabama. She attended Gordo High School in Gordo, AL. She received a B.A. in English with a minor in Creative Writing from the Unversity of Alabama. She received an M.A. in Humanities with a concentration in Literature from California State University Dominguez Hills. She is now working on her PhD in English at Old Dominion Unversity.

 Writing has been my passion since I was about 4 years old. Yes, I could read and write at 4.:) The ability to express yourself through fiction, poetry, and narrative is a solitary journey and adventure that I find cathartic and liberating. Everyone has a voice and a story to tell and when universal themes, thoughts, needs, and feelings reach others, there is a communication that goes far beyond speech. Language can be bonding or divisive. I love to play with words and symbolism and explore different subjects that intrigue me. I have published two books of poetry that I believe show just that. In Confessions and Other Strange Impulses: A Book of Poetry in Two Acts, I wanted to explore the sacrament of reconciliation, secret thoughts, confessions, and self identity. The journey to find self combines all these subjects and are exciting to play with. How one identifies oneself in terms of race (biological vs. sociological), how the world identifies that person, and how both affect emotions deep down is intriguing. With Stage Left, I chose the theme of music/ballet for two reasons. First, my daughter is a music and ballet lover and I wanted to use a theme that would express my admiration for her. Second, the poetry in this book focuses on the sound of words, their musicality, and staging of scenes to reflect the music we hear in our heads everyday. There is no doubt that arranging words is quite similar to arranging notes in a music composition. It all comes together at the end. Ballet has been a love of mine and I have studied it extensively. A ballerina tells a story with her body and I wanted this book to shadow the flow and elegance of a ballerina.

I am currently working on a novel, From Within: The Club, the first in a series of mystery books. Follow Rye Summerville as she investigates the bizarre death of one of the worlds' richest daughters. Enter a world of secrecy, ancient traditions, and modern power never seen before.

Frequently Asked Questions :

What motivated you to become a writer? Like many writers, I have an inner dialogue that screams at me or sometimes whispers. Sometimes it comes in my dream state, sometimes it comes from a face on the street or something that I notice in nature. Unlike many writers, my muse is not fixed but a mutable source of inspiration that randomly taps me on the shoulder or sucker punches me in the gut until I put pen to paper.

Why don’t you write about the military? The military is my career and my duty. My passion is writing and will one day be my sole career. For me, I am too emotionally close to military themes like war, strategy, death, to write about them. It's difficult to live through once but the idea of living it twice is not one that I embrace just yet.

What are your favorite 6 books and why? 1. The Secret by Rhonda Byrne. Fragments of a Great Secret have been found in the oral traditions, in literature, in religions and philosophies throughout the centuries. For the first time, all the pieces of The Secret come together in an incredible revelation that will be life-transforming for all who experience it. In this book, you'll learn how to use The Secret in every aspect of your life -- money, health, relationships, happiness, and in every interaction you have in the world. You'll begin to understand the hidden, untapped power that's within you, and this revelation can bring joy to every aspect of your life. The Secret contains wisdom from modern-day teachers -- men and women who have used it to achieve health, wealth, and happiness. By applying the knowledge of The Secret, they bring to light compelling stories of eradicating disease, acquiring massive wealth, overcoming obstacles, and achieving what many would regard as impossible. 2. Lord of the Flies by William Golding. The classic tale of a group of English school boys who are left stranded on an unpopulated island, and who must confront not only the defects of their society but the defects of their own natures. 3. La Cucina by Lily Prior. La Cucina combines the sensuous pleasures of love and food, simmering in the heat of a Sicilian kitchen. Rosa Fiore is a solitary middle-aged librarian who has resigned herself to a loveless life, and expresses her passionate nature through her delicious cooking. Then, one day, she meets an enigmatic chef, known only as l'Inglese, whose research on the heritage of Sicilian cuisine leads him into Rosa's library and into her heart. They share one sublime summer of discovery, during which l'Inglese awakens the power of Rosa's sexuality, and together they reach new heights of culinary passion. When he vanishes unexpectedly, Rosa returns to her family's estate to grieve for her lost love only to find a new fulfillment as well as many surprises in the magic of her beloved Cucina. A love song to Italy, La Cucina is a celebration of all things sensual. It spills over with intense images, colors, fragrances, and exuberant characters, all reflecting the splendor of the Sicilian countryside in which it is set. 4. The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. Three brothers struggle to stay together after their parents' death, as they search for an identity among the conflicting values of their adolescent society in which they find themselves "outsiders." 5. Empress of the Death House by Toi Derricotte. The poetry in this book is bar none some of the best imagery ever. Derricotte makes you feel, laugh, cry, and celebrate with each poem. 6. The Black Notebooks: An Interior Journey by Toi Derricotte. This book was actually the catalyst for my MA Thesis. As I was reading Derricotte's words, I wondered why I identified with them so greatly although I can not pass for white as she can. The way she deals with race and self-identification is so fascinating and this book should be on everyone's shelf.

What are your favorite films and why? Splendor in the Grass - Deanie Loomis (played by Natalie Wood), a teen-aged girl living in a small town in Kansas in 1928, follows her mother's advice to resist her desire for sex with her boyfriend, Bud Stamper (Warren Beatty), the scion of the most prosperous family in town. In his turn, Bud reluctantly follows the advice of his father (Pat Hingle), who suggests that he find another kind of girl with whom to satisfy his sexual desires. Bud's parents are disappointed by, and ashamed of, his older sister—she is sexually promiscuous, smokes, drinks, and has had an abortion—and accordingly 'pin all their hopes' on Bud. As the story progresses, Deanie is driven close to madness and institutionalized. Bud's family loses its fortune in the Great Depression, which leads to the father's suicide; and Bud takes up farming, which he had postponed because of his father's aspirations for him. In the final scene, Deanie, home from the sanitorium after two and a half years, goes to meet Bud. He is now married to the daughter of Italian immigrants; he and his wife, whom he met while complying with his father's desire that he attend Yale University, have an infant child. After their brief reunion, Deanie and Bud see that they must continue their lives separately. The Godfather is an Academy Award-winning 1972 crime film based on the novel of the same name by Mario Puzo and directed by Francis Ford Coppola, with screenplay by Puzo and Coppola. The film stars Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton and James Caan. The story spans ten years from late 1945 to 1955 and chronicles the life of the Corleone crime family. Roots is a 1977 American television miniseries based on Alex Haley's work Roots: The Saga of an American Family, his critically acclaimed genealogical novel. Roots was a ground-breaking event in U.S.A. television history, receiving 37 Emmy Award-nominations. It went on to win 9 Emmys, a Golden Globe, and a Peabody Award. It received unprecedented Nielsen Ratings (with the finale still standing as the 3rd highest rated U.S. program ever, behind the series finale of M*A*S*H and the resolution to "Who Shot J.R.?" on Dallas) and captivated American television audiences, successfully crossing racial lines and piquing the interest of families in all ethnic groups. The Joy Luck Club is a 1993 American movie about the relationships between Chinese-American women and their Chinese mothers. It was based on the 1989 novel of the same name by Amy Tan. The film was produced by Oliver Stone and directed by Wayne Wang. The cast is notable for consisting primarily of Asian American women. Profondo Rossa written and directed by Dario Argento. After witnessing the brutal murder of his psychic neighbor (Macha Meril) by person or persons unknown, a British musician in Rome (David Hemmings) obsesses over details of the crime and uncovers a series of clues which lead to further bloodshed and horror. Romeo and Juliet by Zefferilli The film was directed by Franco Zeffirelli, and won Academy Awards for Best Cinematography and Best Costume Design. It was also nominated for Best Director and Best Picture. Sir Laurence Olivier spoke the film's prologue and epilogue and dubbed the voice of the Italian Actor playing Lord Montague, but was never credited in the film. La Vita è Bella is a 1997 Italian language film which tells the story of a Jewish Italian, Guido Orefice (played by Roberto Benigni, who also directed and co-wrote the film), who must learn how to use his fertile imagination to help his son survive their internment in a Nazi concentration camp.

Who are your favorite music artists? Elisa Toffoli is an Italian singer and songwriter. Her music includes a variety of genres: rock, blues, soul and ambient. Her music is soulful and resonates in my heart. Celine Dion's ballads are unrivaled. Enigma is an innovative electronic musical project founded by Michael Cretu, David Fairstein and Frank Peterson in 1990. Cretu is both the composer and the producer; his wife Sandra often provides vocals on Enigma tracks. The pair have also worked together under the name Sandra. Enigma was among the first recording group to use non-percussion musical instrument and vocal samples, such as the iconic Shakuhachi flute and Gregorian monk chants samples on their crossover hit album, MCMXC a.D.. Apotheosis (musical group). A British Rave music group consisting of Luc Rigaux and Patrick Samoy. The are most well know for their 1991-2 adaptations of "O Fortuna" composed by Carl Orff.

What are you working on now? Currently, I'm working on a non-fiction self-help guide for females who want to pledge a Sorority. I'm also working on a novel with the main character of Rye Summerville, a criminal investigator who wrestles with her past, her work, and her future.

Tell us 4 things about yourself that are lesser known. 1. I love journals. I collect them when I travel. My most prized journal is a fine leather bound that I picked up in Roma, Italia. The smell of the leather is hypnotizing and the paper is unbelieveable. 2. I'm an Etymology nerd. I love to learn the origin of words and their meanings. My 10th grade English teacher, Mrs. Lewis, turned me on to this and I have been obsessed with Etymology since. 3. When I was 13 years old, I wanted to be a nun. Born and baptized a Baptist, I'm sure this was an odd aspiration. Nonetheless, I was completely fascinated with nuns. As a Catholic convert, my fascination still exists and I love my faith. 4. I have no regrets in my life. I'm human and of course I've had difficult times and made mistakes but I believe that every moment of our past leads us to where we are supposed to be. If you live with regret, you mix the blessings before you. Life is a journey.

Professional Memberships/Affiliations: Modern Language Association The Academy of American Poets The Dante Society of America Alabama Poetry Society The Military Police Regimental Association The R.O.C.K.S, Inc. Gamma Sigma Sigma National Service Sorority Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. The National Genealogical Society The Alabama Genealogical Society The Catholic Daughters of the Americas Military Officer's Association of America MENSA Sigma Tau Delta The Rhetorical Society of America

From the interview questionnaire on Inside the Actor's Studio: What is your favorite word? Hope What is your least favorite word? Can't What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally? The psychological "why" What turns you off? Pessimism What is your favorite curse word? F&c$ What sound or noise do you love? My daughter's laugh What sound or noise do you hate? Nails on blackboard What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Actor What profession would you not like to do? Selling anything If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? Welcome home

Books my Miriam D. Dufer: (1) Dufer, Miriam D. The Image and Identity of the Black Woman in the Poetry and Prose of Toi Derricotte. (Proquest/UMI 2005 and 2006) Paperback: 94 pages Publisher: ProQuest / UMI (October 31, 2006) Language: English. ISBN-10: 0542039087 (2) Dufer, Miriam D. Confessions and Other Strange Impulses: A Book of Poetry in Two Acts. Paperback: 64 pages. Publisher: Lulu.com (October 12, 2006) Language: English. ISBN-10: 1847283543. ISBN-13: 978-1847283542 (3) Dufer, Miriam D. Stage Left. Paperback: 74 pages. Publisher: Miriam D. Dufer (June 1, 2007). Language: English. ISBN-13: 978-0-6151-4796-3. (4) Zealous for Cooking: Recipes, Photos and Memories. The Sisters of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., Pi Eta Zeta Chapter, Seoul, South Korea share their recipes, photos and memories in a wonderful, color cookbook. The proceeds from sales of this cookbook will provide scholarship funds and community philanthropy. Edited by Miriam D. Dufer.