From University of Oklahoma Press https://www.oupress.com/9780806194677/the-bone-picker/
“A thrilling collection of authentic Choctaw lore that blends elements of horror and adventure into a fast-paced, interesting read. I felt like I had been transported back in time with many stories I won’t soon forget. I couldn’t put this book down!”—Nicholas Sansbury Smith, NYT bestselling author of Hell Divers
“I stand in awe of Devon Mihesuah’s work. It’s timeless and haunting. I’ll be thinking of each of these stories for years to come. Each one is a handshake with the ancient, and the beings the reader and the characters meet in The Bone Picker aren’t always kind. What a privilege to read. I’d follow Devon Mihesuah anywhere.”—Richard Van Camp (Dogrib [Tlicho]) Nation, author of Night Moves
“This unique, compelling collection of stories inspired by tribal narratives brings readers into a world of well-imagined, engaging characters. The Bone Picker is skillfully rendered by a writer with a vast breadth of knowledge of history, ancestry, and place.”—Gordon Henry (White Earth Anishinaabe), author of Spirit Matters: White Clay, Red Exits, Distant Others
“A captivating collection of reimagined, originally oral stories that grab the reader and hold them till the end. The Bone Picker is well suited for anyone who enjoys a good scary story, particularly those interested in Choctaw and Indigenous cultures.”—Sandra Muse Isaacs, author of Eastern Cherokee Stories: A Living Oral Tradition and Its Cultural Continuance
“In this stunning assemblage of Native stories, Devon A. Mihesuah summons age-old gods, demons, witches, and other mythological tribal entities who use their abilities, equally magnificent and monstrous, to right wrongs, win justice, protect the disempowered, and punish those who act in evil ways. Though these stories sprout from ancient roots, they strike a balance between history and the here and now, making them as vital today as traditional Native tales were centuries ago. Compelling, empowering, and dire, The Bone Picker induces shivers while masterfully exhibiting the importance of Native storytelling.”—Nick Medina, author of Indian Burial Ground
“The Bone Picker will make you laugh, cringe, cry, and keep the lights on all night long. Mihesuah can write anything and knows more than she tells. I’m thrilled she has turned her hand to scary stories that will haunt readers long after the last page.”—Andrea L. Rogers (Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma), author of Man Made Monsters
“The Bone Picker weaves together a bewitching tapestry of narratives drawn from the deep reservoir of Choctaw lifeways and mythology. It speaks to the “aliveness” of Choctaw stories and traditions, and their ability to communicate messages of resiliency, hope, and insight. Centered on the cultural continuity of the Choctaw people, the stories address the legacies of colonialism and the complications of the present world. This powerful collection from a gifted and talented Choctaw scholar reminds us that Indigenous stories, even scary and unsettling ones, are roadmaps in the search for meaning and ways of better understanding the past and the challenges of the present.”—Brady DeSanti (Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe), co-editor of Understanding and Teaching Native American History
Roads of My Relations, Document of Expectation, Hatak Witches, and Dance of the Returned are all optioned for film and/or television!
“What Not to Say to a Cherokee,” Belladonna Comedy, February 15, 2023
“American Indian Identities, pt.1,” “The Sacred Outdoors,” “Medicine Woman,” Comments on Prey (2022), Yellow Medicine Review, Fall, 2022: https://www.yellowmedicinereviewstore.com/store/c2/Current_Issue.html
Dance of the Returned
University of Arizona Press, Sun Tracks series, 2022.
The disappearance of a young Choctaw leads Detective Monique Blue Hawk to investigate a little-known ceremonial dance. As she traces the steps of the missing man, she discovers that the seemingly innocuous Renewal Dance is not what it seems to be. After Monique embarks on a journey that she never thought possible, she learns that the past and future can converge to offer endless possibilities for the present. And that she must accept her destiny of violence and peacekeeping.
“What a trip! In this dazzling return of Detective Blue Hawk, Devon Mihesuah forever alters the genetic code of the mystery genre with heavy doses of Chahta cosmology, prying open portals to the Native past and pondering mysteries of time and space. With profound knowledge, ironic humor, and a gift for visionary narrative, Mihesuah expands the consciousness of the reader.” –Michael Snyder (author of John Joseph Mathews: Life of an Osage Writer, Our Osage Hills, and James Purdy: Life of a Contrarian Writer)
“Devon A. Mihesuah’s talent as a writer and vision as a storyteller is mind-blowing. Dance of the Returned is unforgettable. Consider me a fan for life! Mahsi cho!”—Richard Van Camp, author of The Lesser Blessed and Moccasin Square Gardens
“Mihesuah’s novel draws us in with a series of mysteries that keep you guessing, and the stakes quickly become personal, weaving in elements of the mystical, and blending genres: historical fiction meets sci-fi and alternative history caged inside the expectations of a good mystery—all from the perspective of Choctaw Detective Monique Blue Hawk. You’re in for a surprising ride.”—Nathan Niigan Noodin Adler, author of Ghost Lake
“This novel is a fascinating and thrilling ride into Choctaw cosmology and he supernatural, and explores themes of the sacred, tribal belief, and existing between two worlds.”—Tiffany Midge, author of Bury My Heart at Chuck E. Cheese’s
“Mihesuah offers readers a deep dive into the mythos of past and present Indigenous consciousness. She delights with impenetrable questions that spiral us into the mysteries of the human psyche. Submersing readers into an otherworld enigma, Mihesuah mingles deep research of her Choctaw traditions and history with a compelling plot. I couldn’t read fast enough. I raced toward the story’s thought-provoking conclusion.” — Oscar Hokeah, author of Calling for a Blanket Dance
“You’ve got to love Detective Monique Blue Hawk. This time we follow her on a trip that leaves us wondering if this will be her last case or is it a new beginning? Mihesuah seamlessly weaves her knowledge of Native history throughout this story. Recommended!”—Bill McCloud, author of The Smell of the Light
“Tenure”
Forthcoming in Apex Magazine, March 2022.
A young scholar gets more than he wanted after lying to procure a tenure-track position.
The Hatak Witches
A baffling museum murder that appears to be the work of twisted human killers results in an unexpected and violent confrontation with powerful shapeshifters for Choctaw Detective Monique Blue Hawk (first introduced in the award-winning crime novel Document of Expectations). Blending tribal beliefs and myths into a modern context, The Hatak Witches continues the storyline of Choctaw cosmology and cultural survival that are prominent in Devon Mihesuah’s award-winning novel, The Roads of My Relations.
“As informative as it is gripping, this supernatural mystery from Mihesuah is rooted in Choctaw cosmology and contemporary Native American life. Set on Oklahoma’s Chalakwa Ranch, the story follows Det. Monique Blue Hawk as she investigates a break-in and the murder of a security guard at a nearby children’s museum. As Monique’s investigation pulls her deeper into the supernatural, Mihesuah expertly weaves in Choctaw legends and superstitions. The author’s ability to immerse the reader in the lives of her characters is prodigious, making the social realism of Monique’s life as fascinating as the supernatural elements. Readers looking for intelligent, diverse supernatural fiction will be captivated. “-Publishers Weekly
“If you are looking for a journey into modern-day Choctaw spirituality, The Hatak Witches is a trip waiting to be taken.”—Geary Hobson, author of The Last of Ofos
“A Native American woman detective is called to the local museum to investigate a murder. A man and his son out hunting come upon a gruesomely slain deer. Owner of the Chalakwa Ranch and his wife witness a dark entity on their land that causes all of the winged beings to flee in a panic. This mystery novel, set in contemporary Oklahoma, tells of tribal magic, dark powers, and forces that manipulate and collide into the present day, causing these characters’ lives to tumble into chaos and to reckon with the otherworldly and supernatural.”—Tiffany Midge, author of Bury My Heart at Chuck E. Cheese’s
“Devon Mihesuah’s The Hatak Witches, is a sharp, smart, supernatural thriller that you won’t be able to put down.”—Erika T. Wurth, author of Crazy Horse’s Girlfriend
Document of Expectations
Oklahoma Writer’s Federation Trophy Award for Best Book of Fiction
“A novel of great drama and high crime. With obvious anger and subtle plotting Document of Expectations manages to keep the reader on the edge of their seat with anticipation…. One is reminded of Ishmael Reed. The drama, politics, and culture all mingle to create a wonderful effect.”- David Treuer, Leech Lake Ojibwe, author of The Translation of Dr. Apelles
“In this carefully woven narrative, Mihesuah takes readers though an intricate maze of dysfunctional departmental politics and the lucrative world of stolen Indian artifacts. Along the way, she exposes a range of long-held stereotypical and colonial assumptions about indigenous people, and in particular about the aims and purposes of indigenous activist scholarship in American universities. This book is a compelling and highly entertaining mystery, but is also an important contribution to the literature of indigenous resistance.”- Michael D. Wilson, author of Writing Home: Indigenous Narratives of Resistance
When it comes to money, the competition within a school can be fierce, and maybe even turn bloody. “Document of Expectations” is an intriguing novel set in a dysfunctional school. When some unique American Indian artifacts are stolen, racism and stereotypical assumptions throughout an American university are exposed. Tackling many issues while proving a high entertaining read, “Document of Expectations” is an excellent pick for fiction and Native American studies collections. –Midwest Book Review
The Roads of My Relations
Oklahoma Writers’ Federation Trophy Award for Best Fiction Book of 2000
“The Roads of My Relations is a store of hearty, attentive stories of an extended family. Devon A. Mihesuah creates a mighty sense of time and place in the close relations of her characters, an actual native presence. The many roads over more than a century come alive in a generous mosaic of memories, philosophies, and cultures. The reader becomes part of this great native family.”–American Book Award winner Gerald Vizenor
“A sprawling, yet intimate, portrait of one family’s place in [Native American] society and in the larger society in which we all live.” —Resound
“Throughout her vignettes, truth is carefully balanced with magical realism and remnants of Choctaw lore. For her first work of fiction, Mihesuah wields a deft pen. Full of powerful imagery, sometimes whimsical, often bleak . . . What is particularly refreshing about Mihesuah’s lushly detailed work is that it eschews both contemporary New Age renderings of Native American culture and nineteenth-century romanticism. . . . Mihesuah creates fascinating characters and robust histories.” —American Indian Quarterly
With the publication of Roads of My Relations, [Mihesuah] branches out to fiction, thereby extending the scope of her call for nation-based, tribally specific writing. Roads of My Relations . . . travels rewarding roads of family remembrance, with compelling meditations on losing home, making home, and returning home.” –SAIL
On reading The Roads of My Relations it became immediately apparent that I was reading more than a piece of fiction. The work is like a reflexive culture history of one Choctaw family as they labor to find peace in a rapidly changing world. As Mihesuah writes in her afterward, many of the stories evolved from family stories but are embellished to add interest. I would add to her admission, intricate, complex cultural nuances that lead the reader through a complex maze filled with humor, tragedy, and persistence. . . Every once in a while it is a delight to venture beyond the traditional disciplinary boundaries drawn by academia. By reading Roads of my Relations I had the opportunity to do so. It was a pleasurable journey. The story is an absorbing tale, mixing history, legend, and the author’s vivid imagination, accompanied by rich cultural insights. In her first collection of stories, Devon A. Mihesuah gives us a rich mosaic of interwoven lives.—American Indian Culture and Research Journal
The Lightning Shrikes
“Like and unheralded rookie hurler who comes out of nowhere, reaches the big leagues and wins 20 games with a dazzling assortment of pitches and pinpoint control, The Lightning Shrikes is a surprising literary diamond in the rough.” Arizona Daily Sun
“The Lightning Shrikes Hits a literary Home run!” Ceilon Asperon
“Mihesuah, as usual, hits it out of the park, so to speak, with The Lightning Shrikes. This novel is remarkable in that it manages to be both a page turner, and a highly effective investigation of a plethora of issues germane to Indian country.” Jennifer Woodcock
“This easy to read page turner was one of the most enjoyable books I have read recently.” Heather Miller
Grand Canyon Rescue
Arizona Writer’s Association Best Non-Fiction Book
Honorable Mention for Arizona Writers’ Association Best Book of the Year
Finalist, Oklahoma Book Awards
Oklahoma Writers’ Federation Trophy Award for Young Adult Novel Award
Big Bend Luck
One could consider Big Bend Luck as a field manual for desert hiking. Not only is it a cool setting, if you’ve hiked the Outer Mountain Loop, you’ll enjoy visualizing exactly where they are along the adventure. It is full of keen advice for the young adventurist. –Big Bend Chat
Red Ink
“Medicine Woman,” in Red Ink 6 (Spring, 1998)
The Tamfuller Man,” Flagstaff Live! 3
“The Tamfuller Man,” Flagstaff Live! 3 (April 17-30, 1997). Winner of the 1997 Flagstaff Live! Short story contest. University of Arizona Press