Cheryl Miller's career in publishing began as a journalism student at the University of Iowa, working with Harry Duncan and his Cummington Press. In the early 1970s, she worked with several San Francisco small presses, including the legendary Cranium Press, before starting Five Trees Press to publish letterpress editions of work by women writers. Over her career, Miller has edited books of poetry, short stories, politics, and conservation. She was married to Will Powers and a frequent collaborator on publishing projects.