Milking It: Kianna Naomi @KIANNANAOMI @NOTKIANNASBOOKCLUB

Interview by TMILKY

Introducing Kianna: a travel enthusiast, content creator, and founder of a book club that celebrates stories by women, blending her passion for literature and adventure.

What’s your go-to milk? 

Almond Milk :)

What inspired you to start a book club, and how does it relate to your love of travel and creating beautiful content?

I wanted the girls to start reading. 

I wanted them to get lost in the worlds I've wandered, feel heartbreak for fictional characters, and see their reflection in the words on the page. I deeply value the impact reading has had on my life and the way it’s shaped my worldview. I want as many people as possible to read the books I love, and if they could feel even an ounce of what these books made me feel, that is priceless to me. Much like the beautiful places I see and the content I capture, I want whoever is watching to know that all the beauty in my life is also waiting for them.

How do you select the books for your book club, and do you have a particular theme that you focus on? 

I usually just select my favorite reads! Sometimes, the girls and I pick books together. So far, I’ve only chosen books written by women, and I've really enjoyed that aspect of the club.

Can you share a memorable moment from your travels that was inspired by a book you read?

I remember bringing ‘Normal People’ by Sally Rooney to Ireland and letting it guide me around the country. Exploring Trinity College and Irish suburbs while reading the novel was a delightful experience.

How do you think reading and discussing books has enhanced your life? And how can it do the same for your audience? 

I see myself more in books than in any other form of media – from the way I act and look to what goes on in my head. That kind of representation is unsurpassable.

“You think your pain and your heartbreak are unprecedented in the history of the world, but then you read.” – James Baldwin

What has been the most rewarding aspect of having a book club on the side of your other projects? 

Meeting my girls. They inspire me so much, and I’m so grateful to be supported by such a beautiful group of women.