What I'm Reading

Here is everything I've read this month, with a very mini review. I am really trying to get back into solo video reviews this month. Wish me luck!

The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones (horror)

This is our Good Day To Read Indigenous Book Club selection for April! (I'm sure I mentioned, 7, 589 time that SGJ is coming to our bookclub meeting on May 5! Make sure you are in the Discord to submit your questions.

This will be in my top 5 reads of the year and it replaces The Only Good Indians as my favorite SGJ book. This is a historical horror vampire revenge story taking place is 1912. Told in epistolary form (one of my fave ways to tell a story), a Lutheran Pastor interviews an American Indian named Good Stab. You may have guessed this, but in case you didn't: Good Stab is a vampire. SGJ is an extraordinary storyteller and I highly recommend doing this book as an immersive read with the gorgeous hardcover edition (with red end pages) and the audiobook.

“What I am is the Indian who can’t die. I’m the worst dream America ever had."

Before I Let Go (Skyland #1) by Kennedy Ryan (romance)

My first Kennedy Ryan and I'm super excited to see her on tour next month!

The story follows Yasmen and Josiah who discovered their love couldn't save their marriage. This is a story about love, but also one of overcoming grief and loss. This book deals with child loss, mental health, therapy, family and the healing journey. Truly beautiful, incredible story.

The Fifth Season (The Broken Earth, #1) by N.K. Jemisin (sci-fi/fantasy)

Some people have the ability to manipulate the earth and the world is plagued by cataclysmic events called seasons. Perhaps I made the mistake of doing this one on audio but I found it difficult to understand what was going and it leaned more sci-fi than my liking. I DNFed about 85% of the way through because I knew I was never going to pick up the other two books. This is one of the most popular sci-fi/fantasy books out there and I'm disappointed to say that I was bored and it just was not for me. (I think I would absolutely watch this as a TV series, though!)

Heartwood by Amity Gaige (mystery, contemporary)

I've seen a lot of comparisons to Liz Moore's God of the Woods and I have to say that comparison is very generous. I don't think Amity Gaige comes close to Liz Moore's talent. A woman goes missing on the Appalachian Trail and the story is told from her POV, a man she hiked with for awhile, the lead investigator and an elderly woman in a nursing home overlooking the woods. I picked up this book because 1. Appalachian Trail 2. hiking mystery. I think people go into this expecting it to be a thriller and it's not faced paced. It is a slow burn and I suspect that is why it get the God of the Woods comparison. I think the best way to describe this book would be to call it a slow burn mystery/contemporary fiction. I enjoyed the multiple POV and how the different perspectives ended up coming together. I enjoyed the drama surrounding the church. I especially enjoyed Lena's story and background. I was not satisfied with the way the book wrapped up but overall this book was still a 4 Star read for be based on enjoyment level (though technically, I'd say it's closer to a 3- 3.5) Would love more hiking/outdoorsy Thriller/Horror recs

The Last Session by Julia Bartz (thriller)

Now listen, I really enjoyed The Writing Retreat even when things went a little left field and paranormal, but what the heck was going on here? This is a story about a social worker who cares for a famous actress who is catatonic but looks just like her and they share the same birthday. The patient escapes. The social worker has to go undercover and infiltrate a wellness cult. The premise is so wild, but right up my alley but I'm sorry I can only suspend belief so much. The first quarter of this book in the psychiatric ward was great. Everything after that was DUMB AS HELL. I will never read another book by this author. LOL

Tell Me What You Did by Carter Wilson (thriller)

This story follows Poe who hosts a podcast where people call in and confess their crimes. One day, a creepy old dude calls in and claims to be her mother's murderer, but she's not sure how that can be true because she killed her mother's murderer and no one is supposed to know that! There were a few moments early on where I said outloud, UGH MEN WRITING WOMEN, but it improved as the book went on and this was a really solid, engaging thriller. I was pretty locked in and finished it in one day. I liked the main character (even though she was kind of a dummy) and I loved her dad. I love a thriller with a podcast element, so I'd love more recs if you've got them!

Currently Reading

The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley (thriller)

A fancy hotel. A fire. Four guests: The Founder, The Husband, The Mystery Guest and The Kitchen Help. A dead body discovered. This story is told in a present day timeline: a weekend in 2025 and a summer journal written in 2009. I'm really into it so far. I haven't read any other of Lucy Foley's books, but she was on a panel at Shelves and the City and I got this book for free. Elite people taking over a small town. I am enjoying it, but as you know with thrillers, they can go from a 5 star read to a 2 star read within the last few pages, so stay tuned.

Currently Watching

I've been keeping up on the few serials I watch: SVU, Organized Crime, Chicago PD and Found (but ACAB, I swear!)

Last nights episode of THE LAST OF US! Truly one of the best episodes of television I've seen with a fight scene to rival any fight episode of Game of Thrones. Beautifully shot, excellent storytelling, phenomenal acting, punch to the gut tv.

I am headed out to see Sinners in the theater sometime this week! Horror! Black Vampires! I'm sold. (and I've got book recommendations coming later this week).

Call To Action

At Shelves and the City, I filmed influencers recommending their favorite Indigenous books and I'd love you to participate! Take a video of yourself and email it : mixedupdeskmedia@gmail.com

Tell me: Your Name

Your user handle

"My favorite Indigenous Book Is" or " An Indigenous Book I Would Recommend Is"

be sure to include the spelling of your user name in the email so I can tag you!

These would be due next Monday, APRIL 28.

BOOZHOO BOOKS UPDATE

We are currently looking for a book to publish in Fall 2026. We are looking for books written by First Nations/Native American authors or horror books written by women (BIPOC especially encouraged to submit!) I will be posting more graphics throughout the week, so if you see them, kindly reshare them!

Upcoming Travel

LOS ANGELES in MAY:I got invited to be press at Ya'll West. I am so freaking excited! Will I see you there? Happy to be back in Los Angeles and reunited with my one and true love: Hailey Bieber's Erewhon Smoothie. So many great authors but really looking forward to: Tracy Deonn, Andrew Joseph White, Hayley Dennings, Jackie Khalileah, Akwaeke Emezi, Zakiya Jamal, Margaret Owen and Angela Montoya

NEW YORK CITY in JUNE: headed back to NYC for Bindery's spring release party. Very excited to see my favorite Bindery tastemakers, meet the new batch of authors to celebrate their stories! and hopefully get to tour some publishing offices again! I am determined to get Hamilton tickets to see Leslie Odom Jr. reprise his role and I'm also very eager to see Hadestown again. I love going to musicals ON BROADWAY! Once again, I have multiple books for sale on Pango! Buy some books! or if you click on any of the books on my bookshelf here (or even go search for others once you've clicked one of the books from my shelf! that would greatly help me prepare as I get a small commission!

I am also looking forward to: Walking the Highlane, The Met, Natural History Museum and hanging in Central Park again. I think I am more out of shape that I was the last time I was there, so I really am trying to ramp up my walking in preparation. If you'd like to join me on my endurance journey, I'll be detailing it here. Of course, I'm pairing my walks with audiobooks and encourage the same. Here is this week's schedule:

Week One Walking+Audiobooks

Monday: 10 minute walk

Tuesday: 15 minute walk

Wednesday: rest

Thursday: 15 minute walk

Friday: rest

Saturday: 20 minute walk

Sunday: 20 minute walk

Now, of course, I can walk longer than 20 minutes, but I am trying to build endurance slowly rather than trying to do too much and burning out early. Time increases each week. Week 8 is NYC and by that time WE WILL BE PROFESSIONALS. Let me know if you're joining my walking adventure and if you'd like to see some vlogs.

Quiet Time Book Club

We are meeting this eve at 5pm PST/8pm est on Zoom. We read for 30 minutes. We chat for 30 minutes:

Naomi Darling is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Quiet Time Bookclub
Time: Apr 21, 2025 05:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89738104133?pwd=rKRf6yvsMgesT9VCfbkA1Vbn12qXHy.1

Meeting ID: 897 3810 4133
Passcode: 518843

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