About Larada Horner-Miller

About Larada Horner-Miller

Award-winning author Larada Horner-Miller writes from the heart—and it shows in every page of her remarkable collection of ten books, three cookbooks, and three audiobooks. Whether she’s weaving poetry about loss and resilience, sharing memoirs of growing up in rural Southwest America during the 1950s and 60s, or preserving the legacy of the world’s most famous square dance caller, Larada brings authenticity and warmth to every story she tells.

Her journey as an author is as diverse as it is deeply personal. From the heartwarming chaos of Hair on Fire: A Heartwarming & Humorous Christmas Memoir to the raw emotion of A Time to Grow Up: A Daughter’s Grief Memoir, Larada doesn’t shy away from life’s messy, beautiful moments. Her award-winning poetry collections—including Was It a Dream? and Time Measured Out—transform personal struggles into universal truths that resonate long after the last verse.

But Larada’s writing isn’t confined to one genre or format. She’s just as comfortable crafting recipes that nourish the body as she is writing verses that feed the soul. Her three cookbooks celebrate the flavors and traditions close to her heart, while her audiobooks bring her stories to life in her own voice, creating an intimate connection with listeners.

With roots in the American Southwest and a background in education, Larada writes with both scholarly precision and emotional honesty. Now living in Boquete, Panama with her husband, she continues to craft stories that honor rural America’s heritage while exploring the timeless themes of family, loss, love, and resilience.

Whether you’re discovering her work for the first time or you’ve been on this journey with her from the beginning, Larada welcomes you to pull up a chair and share in the stories that connect us all.

Larada’s Other Interests

As co-manager of her family’s southeastern Colorado ranch, she enjoys spending time exploring her family’s historic ranch and reminiscing with her brother and his children about their mom, dad, and granddad.

Larada and her husband, Lin, Larada now lives with her husband in Boquete, a town in the mountains in western Panama. When not writing books, this passionate, energetic, and enthusiastic woman loves to spend time kicking up her heels at square dancing gatherings, traveling, knitting, and reading.

Larada’s Cat

Larada lost her nineteen-year-old cat, Jesse, a silver-tip Siamese in October 2023. He had feline diabetes, so she had to give him insulin twice a day. She rescued him in 2009, so she’s enjoyed him for fourteen years. Her mom said he was one of God’s angels because he came to Larada during a difficult time in her life.

I have been an avid reader all my life. My favorite books are any of Charles Dickens (you can see the English major come out in me), Gone With the Wind, and all of Tony Hillerman’s book about the Southwest. Currently I am reading Mary Oliver’s My Alleluias.