The Recommended Reading Path for April Davila
April Davila is a modern American author, writing coach, and certified mindfulness instructor whose works bridge the gap between regional literary fiction and mindful living. Because her bibliography consists of a celebrated debut novel, select short fiction, and a mindfulness-focused writing guide, navigating her catalog is straightforward but deeply rewarding. For the best experience, we recommend starting with her award-winning fiction before diving into her short stories and non-fiction work.
- 142 Ostriches (2020) – Start here. This debut novel is the cornerstone of Davila's literary reputation and showcases her ability to blend quirky, vivid settings with intense family dynamics.
- "Ultra" (2019) and Short Anthologies – Read these next to appreciate her skill with brief, punchy flash fiction and short stories.
- Sit Write Here: 6 Mindfulness Practices to Help You Write More and Suffer Less (2026) – Finish with her non-fiction guide to understand the underlying Buddhist and mindfulness practices that shape the emotional clarity of her fiction.
Understanding Her Standalone Fiction: 142 Ostriches
Published in 2020 by Kensington Books, 142 Ostriches is a standout work of contemporary Western fiction. The novel is set on a dusty ostrich ranch in the California Mojave Desert and follows Tallulah Jones, a 24-year-old protagonist who has spent over a decade working on the ranch after being taken in by her grandmother, Helen, to escape her mother's severe alcoholism. Tallulah is on the cusp of leaving the desert behind for a new life in Montana when her grandmother dies suddenly, leaving Tallulah sole heir to the ranch and its flock of 142 ostriches.
The plot intensifies when the ostriches suddenly and mysteriously stop laying eggs, threatening the financial survival of the ranch. At the same time, Tallulah's estranged, dysfunctional family members arrive, eager to claim their share of the inheritance or exploit the land. The book explores themes of inherited trauma, the burden of family legacy, and the difficult choices involved in breaking cycles of dysfunction. Critics praised the novel for its lyrical, evocative prose and realistic portrayal of the harsh desert landscape. The book was honored with the 2021 WILLA Literary Award for Women Writing the West, securing Davila's status as a key voice in Western American letters.
Short Fiction and Anthology Contributions
Before and alongside her longer work, Davila has crafted concise, impactful short stories. Her most notable short piece is "Ultra", a flash fiction story published in the Toho Journal in 2019. Written under a strict 500-word limit, "Ultra" earned a Pushcart Prize nomination. The piece highlights Davila's ability to develop high emotional stakes and complete character moments within a very limited space. Additionally, her short fiction has been featured in collaborative collections, including the 42 Stories Anthology Presents: Book of 42² (published in 2024), which gathers diverse voices exploring brief but resonant themes.
Mindfulness and Non-Fiction: Sit Write Here
In July 2026, Davila released Sit Write Here: 6 Mindfulness Practices to Help You Write More and Suffer Less through St. Martin's Essentials. Drawing on her credentials as a certified mindfulness teacher and founder of the writing community A Very Important Meeting, this guide outlines a framework for using Insight Meditation to improve the creative process.
Rather than offering standard advice on plot or syntax, the book focus on the psychological challenges of writing. It is organized into six core practices:
- Get Writing: Techniques to build deep concentration and access creative flow.
- Embrace Discomfort: How to sit with difficult emotions to write more authentic conflict.
- Keep Going: Mindful strategies to dismantle writer's block and self-doubt.
- Explore Emotions: Grounding exercises to tap into genuine character feelings.
- Engage Reality: Using clear-sighted awareness to edit work objectively.
- Find Equanimity: Building resilience against critique, rejection, and the pressures of the publishing industry.
What to Know Before You Start
Before reading April Davila's work, it helps to understand the unique elements that define her writing style. Her background as a marine biology student at Scripps College and her frequent ecological excursions to the Mojave Desert heavily influenced the setting of 142 Ostriches. The ranch is not just a quirky backdrop; it functions as a character itself, representing both the stark beauty and the punishing, unforgiving nature of the California desert.
Furthermore, Davila's fiction is deeply informed by her Buddhist practice. Readers will notice a sense of emotional clarity, stillness, and patience in her character development. Even when dealing with high-stress situations like family greed or animal illness, her narrative voice maintains a grounded, observing quality that invites readers to pause and reflect on the emotional realities of the characters.