Reemerging Into the Light

Dear subscribers,

Welcome to those of you who just signed up in the new year. And thank you to all of you who remain dedicated to independent journalism. In case you were wondering about my silence for the past several weeks, I'll refer you to the last message I sent.

I'm slowly reemerging into the landscape of the everyday mundane and the broader, politically insane. Each day brings new forms of grief. In the next few days, whether I'm ready or not, I plan to dive right into work, the news, the analysis, the solutions journalism you care about. I thank you for your grace.

Today is the one-year anniversary of my last book Talking About Abolition: A Police-Free World is Possible. Last year, the book was published exactly one week after the devastating Eaton Fire that left my community reeling. And this year... well, it's getting to the point where I'm now terrified of Januaries.

Still, I can't help but be reminded every day how relevant the book is in outlining a vision for a world where we fund the things that keep us safe (housing, childcare, schools, healthcare) and defund those that don't (police, ICE agents, border patrol, the military). The book is still available for sale so please do purchase a copy and find inspiration for how our nation can emerge from the crises we face.

Talking About Abolition

Powerful interviews with scholars, organizers, and activists who are leading the movement to end policing and prison. Award-winning journalist Kolhatkar presents a visionary outlook for a future rooted in liberation, freedom, and justice.

sevenstories.comSonali Kolhatkar

In the mean time, for my Los Angeles-based subscribers, I'll be doing a book event this Friday January 16 at 7 pm at Skylight Books with my good friend and newly published author Tayyba Kanwal.

Tayyba was one of my closest friends in high-school at a Catholic convent in Dubai, U.A.E. As 15-year-olds, we were both physics students and cheered each other on. Now, as we both have left hard science for more creative pursuits, we are still cheering each other on and I'll be joining her as a conversation partner to mark the release of her new, spectacular collection of short stories, Talking With Boys. It will be my first foray into normalcy since the death of my sister. Click on the image below to RSVP.