Welcome to WHAT ABOUT WOMEN, with Milli Hill
Hi there! Welcome to my space on Substack.
I’m Milli Hill, a bestselling non-fiction author and somewhat inflammable witch.
Here on this substack I offer regular, good quality writing, access to me and the WHAT ABOUT WOMEN community, zoom writing groups, and more. Over and above everything else, I write punchy pieces about contemporary culture and news that consistently ask: what about women? Because, in spite of the progress of feminism, this question is one of the most neglected of our times.
If you subscribe, you’ll hear from me twice a week, with an article mid-week, most often news-led, and my popular round-up ‘the nosebag’ every Sunday, where I share personal news, stories, reading recommendations and the occasional dog pic.
Some of my most popular pieces include:
By subscribing, you support me to keep writing, and I give back to you in every way I can.
As well as full access to my writing, as a paid subscriber you’ll get:
a monthly writing group, Writing for Change, via zoom.
a quarterly Phoenix Salon, where women share writing, ideas and plans.
discounts on workshops, one to one coaching, group mentoring and other chances to work with me
a private subscriber chat (bit like a whatsapp group)
occasional book giveaways
Sometimes this schedule shifts or evolves, but I always keep in touch with you, and on the one occasion I’ve taken a complete four week break, I pressed pause on all paid subscriptions.
Paid or unpaid?
I’m always glad to have subscribers, whether you choose to pay or not. Free subscribers will get access to some posts, but won’t be able to comment or join in community discussions. They’ll also miss out on Writing for Change and the Phoenix Salon, and they won’t get The Nosebag each Sunday. The best way to support me to keep writing is - if you possibly can - to take out a paid sub. But if you genuinely can’t afford a sub and want to be part of WHAT ABOUT WOMEN, drop me a line.
About me
I started writing a blog called The Mule all the way back in 2010 and since then I’ve developed as a writer, becoming a freelance journalist and author. My books to date are The Positive Birth Book, 2017; Give Birth like a Feminist, 2019; My Period (for preteen girls), 2021; and Ultra Processed Women, 2025. I also have a fifth book coming out in 2026, and to date my books have been translated into seven languages.
How it works
You can subscribe by clicking the button below:
At this point you’ll be offered the choice between becoming a paid or a free subscriber.
You don’t have to pay to become a subscriber, but it helps! WHAT ABOUT WOMEN is a ‘reader supported publication’ - which essentially means that it’s the paid subscriptions that keep me going.
As a paid subscriber, you can also interact with me and the WHAT ABOUT WOMEN community, not only supporting my writing but also influencing it. Here at WAW I have full creative freedom, I am uncensored and unedited and I answer only to myself. You will also notice that there are no adverts on substack, because all the revenue is generated by this subscription model.
With a paid subscription you are supporting this new model of writing, as well as supporting me and enabling me to keep giving and creating. It’s a low cost way to basically ‘crowd fund’ a writer.
A bit more about my books
You can buy my books from any good book seller. Here’s a brief summary so you know what they are about:
Ultra Processed Women (Harper Collins 2025)
This book was conceived when I found myself reading a great deal of books and articles about the impact of ultra processed food (UPF) on health, and wondering, but what about women? I didn’t see women’s health being give much specific focus - nor did I see much discussion of how the food industry has played on feminist ideas about liberation from drudgery whilst selling us their toxic products. Ultra Processed Women is a deep dive into this topic, an empowering read which I hope will help to bring about positive change. Feminist Julie Bindel has described it as, “A perfect book”, and BBC health journalist and author Melissa Hogenboom has called it, “A sharp and timely wake-up call…and an essential read”.
The Positive Birth Book (Pinter and Martin 2022)
First published in 2017, this book rapidly became a much loved bestseller. It’s the only guide a pregnant woman and her partner need to prepare them for whatever kind of birth they hope for, or end up having! It’s Mumsnet’s Best Overall Pregnancy Book 2023, The Bump’s Most Empowering Birth Book 2023, Evening Standard Best Pregnancy Book 2022, it’s in Tommy’s top 10 reads for mums to be, and it has been praised by everyone from the Unmumsy Mum who said it was, “…everything I ever googled pre-birth rolled into a friendly, warm format and is full-to-bursting with USEFUL information”, to Ella Mills who said it, “completely changed my way of looking at giving birth”, and wrote the foreword to the 2022 edition.
Give Birth like a Feminist (HQ Stories / Harper Collins 2023)
First published in 2019, Give Birth like a Feminist is now republished in a brand new edition for 2023, including a new chapter. Featured on BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio 5 Live with Emma Barnett, and selected as one of the Independent’s best pregnancy books, Give Birth like a Feminist blasts the feminist spotlight into the labour ward, insisting that birth is no longer left off the list in discussions about female power, control and agency. You can read this book if you are pregnant and it will help inform you of the power imbalances in the modern birth room, and how to challenge them. You can also read it if you are not pregnant but are interested in feminism, women’s rights and bodily autonomy.
My Period (Wren and Rook / Hachette 2021)
This book puts information into the hands of girls aged 9 to 12 about the power of their female bodies, and the wonder of biology. It teaches them about cycles and cycle charting, the different energy and moods they may have during each cycle, and how to tune into their bodies needs and take care of themselves. It’s also full of practical tips on everything from period products to what periods are any why we have them. TV’s Dr Chris van Tulleken has called it ‘phenomenal’ and children’s author Onjali Rauf says it’s ‘a must have for every girl’. It’s a one stop puberty guide, and girls love it!
All four books are available on kindle. The Positive Birth Book and Give Birth like a Feminist are both audiobooks read by me. All three books are translated into Dutch by Samsara. GBLAF is available in German and also available in the USA, and is coming soon in Ukrainian and Czech. My Period is now available in simplified Chinese!
Please note that some of the links to purchase my books are Amazon affiliated. This means I earn a small commission when you use them. Thanks!
Image credit @triselly7
Other stuff
As a journalist since 2013 I've written for many publications including Telegraph, Guardian, ipaper, GoodtoKnow, Daily Mail and Mother&Baby. I’ve been a columnist for Best Magazine and Telegraph Women.
I’ve also spoken globally on women’s experience in the birth room and I’ve appeared on BBC Breakfast, BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio 2, BBC 5 Live, talkradio, and many leading podcasts - there’s a playlist of most of them over on Spotify.
Prior to turning to writing as a creative outlet when my kids were smaller, I was a Dramatherapist (a form of Arts Psychotherapy), and worked with a wide range of clients from children in foster care to adults in rehab and with a diagnosis of personality disorder. I do draw on this experience - as well as finding it helpful to unpick the psychological dimensions of my writing topics, I also offer occasional coaching and consultancy - contact me if this is of interest but please be aware that I only work pro bono in exceptional circumstances.
My agent is Jane Graham Maw of Graham Maw Christie.
You can also find me on instagram, twitter (x), and facebook, but mostly I’m here on substack.
