Hello and thank you for visiting Awe & Wonder Academy.  I’m Carolyn Miller – a daughter, sister, aunt, wife, mother, grandmother, Christian, and proud American.  Growing up in the ‘70s and ‘80s, I have cherished memories of a childhood filled with lifelong friends, American pride, caring teachers, and a well-rounded public-school education that prepared us for a bright future.

The world has changed a lot since then.  I found myself called to create a collection of children’s books that carry a trusted seal of approval – an assurance that books can be picked up and read with children of all ages, knowing they’re filled with wholesome  content, free from anything objectionable.  Awe & Wonder Academy is the result.

​​​​​​​At Awe & Wonder Academy, we believe in protecting the age of innocence.  With the utmost care and dedication, our goal is to be a trusted place where children, parents, teachers, caregivers, and grandparents enjoy books that encourage imagination, promote learning, and celebrate the magic of childhood.

We are devoted to creating fun and entertaining stories that spark curiosity and inspire a lifetime love of reading.  Each book is crafted to develop young minds while preserving the Awe & Wonder that make childhood so special and memorable!

Our hope is that these stories become beloved treasures – well-worn and passed down through generations.  We envision readers of all ages excitedly turning pages together to see what lies ahead, one day realizing that all the while they were adding priceless stitches to the fabric of their lives.

Thank you for joining me on this journey.  All our precious children are worth it! ​​​​​

My Life Before Becoming a Children's Author

In 2017, my husband and I became 'Grammie and Grampi' to the first of many grand-dogs.  When our first grandchild arrived in 2020, our titles of 'Grammie and Grampi' were well established so we stuck with them.  As of July, 2025, we'll have EIGHT grandchildren and EIGHT grand-dogs.  To say we are blessed is an understatement!

Before becoming a children's author, I spent many years in the business world, with a focus in the franchise industry.  Working on both the corporate and the franchise side with companies such as McDonald's, Chipotle, Red Robin, CiCi's Pizza, and Carl's Jr/Hardees, I helped create the infrastructure for growing franchise brands across the country.  With experience in areas that include real estate, design, architecture, real estate legal, construction, staffing and hiring, staff development, management, budgeting, branding, marketing, business development and sales, I enjoy bringing 'big brand' experience to start-up franchise concepts.  I have spent more than a decade consulting with franchise and independent companies about how to streamline their processes and procedures so their businesses run more efficiently and they are able to scale and strategically grow their brands.

In 2015, I founded the National Franchise Institute and in early 2017, I authored my first book -- a business book titled 'Brick & Mortar Franchise Success: Know The Costs or Pay The Price​​​​​​​'.  This book, which became an Amazon #1 Bestseller, helps Franchisors and Franchisees get new locations open in the least amount of time, for the best overall price, without making costly mistakes in the process. 

I'm enjoying this season of my life where I'm able to continue working in the business world while I begin this new chapter as a children's book author.  Needless to say, it has been quite a ride!  Thanks for joining me on the journey.