Miller was born in Greenville, Mississippi on October 3, 1949.

His father, Rush Glenn Miller, was a Methodist minister, who was Pastor Emeritus of the University Methodist Church in Oxford, Ms. until his death on Oct. 3, 2007. His mother, Dr. Gene Ramsey Miller, PhD, was a history professor.

He attended Delta State University in Cleveland, Mississippi where he studied art.

In 1972 he was working as a still photographer and graphic designer at an ABC TV network affiliate station in Mississippi when he accidentally became embroiled with Martha Mitchell and the burgeoning Watergate scandal. He was fired from his job for trying to help a friend protect Mrs. Mitchell from the press. Thanks to Helen Thomas, he conducted an exclusive filmed interview with Martha Mitchell, which aired on The Dick Cavett Show, August 9, 1973.

In 1981 John set up a studio in a narrow hallway of death Row at Angola and produced a series of formal portraits of the inmates. Over the next four years he set up a portable studio and produced formalized portraits of individuals associated with "groups." He photographed firemen, policemen, klansmen in their robes, Skinheads and Identity Christians as well as their children. He photographed artists, entertainers, prostitutes, doctors, lawyers, drug addicts and politicians. His portrait work has been shown in museums and included in several books and national magazines. The Death Row series was published in Oxford American, and his portraits of white supremacists in New Times and The Miami Herald's Sunday magazine, TROPIC.

In 1990, working with Luther Campbell, he wrote a non-fiction book on 2 Live Crew and the obscenity trials.

In 1994 Bantam Books bought his book, The Last Family. The book was a Literary Guild Main Selection, was published in twelve languages, was optioned by Hallmark Entertainment for a feature film, made it to #16 on the New York Times Best Seller list, and is still in print.

John, working in a collaboration with 14 other noted writers, including friend Jeffrey Deaver, wrote the 17-part serial thriller "The Chopin Manuscript" narrated by Alfred Molina that was broadcast on Audible.com from September 25 to November 13, 2007. * "The Chopin Manuscript" on Audible.com

NonFiction

• As Nasty as They Wanna Be: The Uncensored Story of Luther Campbell of the 2 Live Crew (1992) (With Luther Campbell)

Feature articles for Miami Herald's Tropic Magazine (Covers and stories illustrated with photos by the author)My Friend the Nazi, by John R. MillerThe Fifth Street Gym, by John R. MillerBusting With Pride, by John R. MillerPawnography, by John R. MillerThe Estimable Mr. Campbell, by John R. Miller

New Times Magazine, Miami (Features)Welcome to the Cobra Club

Fiction

• The Last Family Publisher: Bantam (July 1, 1997) ISBN 978-0553574968
• Inside Out Publisher: Dell (May 31, 2005) ISBN 978-0553583373
• Upside Down Publisher: Dell (June 28, 2005) ISBN 978-0553583403
• Side by Side Publisher: Dell (August 30, 2005) ISBN 978-0553583434
• Too Far Gone Publisher: Dell (August 29, 2006) ISBN 978-0440243090
• Smoke and Mirrors Publisher: Dell (March 25, 2008) ISBN 978-0440243106
• The Last Day Publisher: Bantam (December 30, 2008) ISBN 978-0440243113