Greenville Alumna Shelli Altopp-Miller's novel weaves faith and culture
Published: October 18, 2024
Author: Liz Dowell
Shelli Altopp-Miller, a 1993 graduate of Greenville University, recently published Where Your Treasure Lies (West Bow Press 2024), a captivating novel set in the Appalachian Mountains during the 1990s.
Altopp-Miller, who earned her bachelor's degree from Greenville and a master's in social work from Washington University, draws from her experiences as a mental health therapist to shape the novel's themes of identity, betrayal, and faith.
Altopp-Miller's journey began at Greenville University, where she says her education and faith are deeply intertwined.
"Greenville was instrumental in broadening my worldview on religion and faith," she shared, recalling courses like Bible and Culture and formative trips that opened her eyes to the larger religious landscape.
Those experiences and lifelong influences from her Christian upbringing shaped her faith and the spiritual journey of her protagonist, Candy, in Where Your Treasure Lies.
WHERE YOUR TREASURE LIES
The novel tells the story of Candy, a young woman navigating complex family dynamics, faith questions, and rural Kentucky's rich yet challenging culture. Altopp-Miller drew inspiration from living in Appalachia with her husband, Phil, a Greenville and Washington University alum.
The couple worked as outpatient mental health therapists in the region, witnessing the early impacts of the opioid crisis and hearing the stories of people whose lives were shaped by the area's mining history and cultural traditions.
"It's a unique culture within the United States," Altopp-Miller explained. "The stories of the people I met stayed with me for years. Something about Appalachia is haunting and beautiful, and I felt compelled to weave those stories into my writing."
FAITH IS EXPLORED IN THE BOOK
At the heart of Where Your Treasure Lies is a story of faith and searching for what one truly needs to be content. Candy, the main character, grapples with her beliefs as she questions the faith passed down by her parents. The novel explores the natural progression of many experiences, from inherited faith to personal conviction.
Candy's journey parallels Altopp-Miller's need to question and grow: "I think it is okay to question. If we are not always asking ourselves why we believe what we believe, we stop growing."
BASED ON EXPERIENCES IN ALTOPP-MILLER'S LIFE
Altopp-Miller's work as a clinical social worker is evident in the novel's psychological depth. When Candy’s life turns upside down, she engages a therapist who helps her grow. Altop-Miller portrays the relationship with nuance and empathy.
"The way the therapist talks in the book is similar to how I would talk to a client in a session," she noted.
Though Where Your Treasure Lies is fiction, it incorporates historical events and reflects Altopp-Miller's firsthand experiences in Kentucky.
The novel also deals with mental health issues, which resonates deeply with Altopp-Miller's professional background. Candy's family history and mental health struggles bring a compelling human element to the story.
LABOR OF LOVE FINALLY FINISHED
"It took me 18 years to write it," she admitted.
The process started while she lived in Massachusetts and was part of a writing group, but life's distractions slowed the work. "It wasn't until the COVID-19 lockdown that I finally had the headspace to finish it."
Now residing in the Finger Lakes region of New York, Altopp-Miller continues to reflect on the significance of the novel's themes—for her and readers.
"It's such a joy to see the book finished," she said. "But more than that, I hope it encourages others to embrace the discomfort of life, question their beliefs, and trust that God is with them in the journey."
GREENVILLE UNIVERSITY PLAYS ITS PART
Greenville University played a foundational role in Altopp-Miller's life. She met her husband at GU, and her father, David Altopp, served a professor there.
The University's influence on her spiritual and intellectual growth is evident in her personal life and the thoughtful way she addresses faith and growth in her writing.
For more about Shelli Altopp-Miller's book, Where Your Treasure Lies, visit her website.
