Born in London in 1974, A.D. Miller studied literature at Cambridge and Princeton. After working as a television producer, he joined The Economist to write about British politics and culture. From 2004 to 2007, he was the magazine's foreign correspondent in Moscow, travelling widely across Russia and the former Soviet Union, which gave him the inspiration for Snowdrops, his first novel. Man Booker nominated, the book tells the story of naive lawyer Nick Platt who becomes embroiled in the underworld of the Moscow crime scene after failing for a mysterious woman on the underground. Crane.tv catches up with the author at his day job as the Britain Editor at the Economist.
Miller claims that journalism and fiction are two different kinds of writing obviously, but the challenges remain pretty much the same for both disciplines. Adding that journalism is a very good training for writing fictions: according to him it makes a writer better and more efficient. He points out that the internet and new media have deeply affected print journalism all around the world, whilst highlighting the predominant role played by British journalism in parliamentary expenses scandal last year, demonstrating its strength and vitality.
Finally, admitting that his nomination to The Man Booker Prize strongly encouraged him to write more fictions, Miller declares that he would not give up journalism. "I think journalism is both an interesting and enjoyable way to make a living, and also you know a valuable and important part of democratic life, so if I can find the time I'd like to continue both."
Text by Paul Rappaport for Crane.tv
Crane.tv App now available for Nokia devices from the OVI Store