Jodé Millman is an award-winning author of crime fiction and a lifelong resident of New York's Hudson Valley. Her debut thriller, "The Midnight Call," won the 2020 Bronze IPPY Award and the American Fiction Award for Legal Thriller, among other accolades. The novel was also shortlisted for the Clue Award and praised by the USA Today Network as a "must-read." Millman's subsequent works, "Hooker Avenue" and "The Empty Kayak," further established her reputation, earning awards such as the Independent Press Award and First Place in the Clue Awards. These three novels form "The Queen City Crimes" series, which received the First Place Award in the 2023 Clue Book Series Awards.
Millman holds a BA and JD from Syracuse University and an MA in English Literature from Eastern Michigan University. Before transitioning to writing, she practiced law and taught undergraduate and law school courses, blending her passions for literature and legal studies. Her thrillers often explore themes of justice and suspense, drawing from her legal background. Beyond writing, Millman contributes as a book reviewer for BookTrib.com and the New York Journal of Books and hosts "The Writer's Law School," a program educating authors on their legal rights.
A dedicated advocate for aspiring writers, Millman founded the Hudson Valley Fiction Writers Workshop in 2011. She also hosts the podcast "Backstage with the Bardavon," featuring performers from the historic theater. Her third novel, "The Empty Kayak," was released in May 2023, continuing her streak of critical acclaim with awards such as the First Place Clue Award and recognition as a finalist for the Independent Press and Best Thriller Awards.