Expected for February, 2026
A story about the sound and silence of survival, and the rhythms that carry us home.
In Mixtape: A Memoir, therapist and storyteller Johnzelle Anderson weaves a raw, lyrical portrait of resilience, identity, and healing.
Born to a disengaged West African father and a volatile white mother, Anderson grows up mixed race in 1990s Roanoke, Virginia—feeling like an outsider in every room. Amid childhood abuse, neglect, and racism, he clings to the safety of his grandmother’s love and his inner voice’s promise of a better future.
Told in tracks rather than chapters, Mixtape charts Anderson’s journey from trauma to triumph—from being body-shamed and silenced to building a career in mental health and forming a family of his own. Along the way, he confronts the legacy of generational pain, redefines his sense of belonging, and takes a life-changing trip to Ghana in search of the roots his father never shared.
Honest, at times humorous, and unflinching in its vulnerability, Mixtape: A Memoir is a coming-of-age story for anyone unlearning and daring to rewrite the soundtrack of their life.
“I couldn’t put this book down. Told with humor, empathy, and courage, Johnzelle Anderson’s Mixtape: A Memoir is a powerful tale of perseverance. Readers will root for young Johnzelle as he strives to find belonging and forge his own path. This story is an inspiring reminder that no matter what our past holds, we all have the power to shape our future.”
~Shauna Robinson, author of Lauryn Harper Falls Apart
“Structurally, the book’s track-by-track format is a masterstroke. It allows Anderson to move fluidly through time and memory, tying life’s pivotal moments to songs, emotions, and revelations. This musical framing gives the memoir a unique rhythm—it feels alive, as if the narrative is being spun from a turntable of memory and meaning, interludes included. The memoir feels less like a book and more like a conversation—one that will stay with you long after the final track fades out.”
~Charnjit Gill, author of Pray Tell
Johnzelle is a licensed therapist by trade, and believes in the power of storytelling to heal, imagine, disrupt, and inspire. His writing focuses on mental health, race, relationships, and identity.
He’s an avid reader and reads approximately 100 books annually. He lives in Virginia with his daughter and an energetic Sheprador.
© 2025 Johnzelle Anderson