Personal Thankfulness

A lot happened in 2025 and, it's just who I am to be focused on the terrible things that are happening in the world.

But on a personal note. I have to acknowledge that in 2025 I became a published novelist with "Under The Full and Crescent Moon". It was such a long effort to write a story that is not only about an imagined Muslim Matriarchy and a young woman defending it, but also imagining how it would be compatible with Islamic Law and to have it available everywhere is a blessing. And it's something that I need to remember. Especially how many people helped. It's because of the support of my wife and family that it even exists, it was the time of my friends and academics who I reached out too who read early versions that gave me the strength to keep going, and it's because of the editor and the publisher who believed in me back in 2023 that it's in bookstores now. Check it out.

And something that I didn't even think about was how many people I've met because of it. I've talked to readers who've loved the book which is what made it all worth it. I've been interviewed about my thoughts on websites, shows and podcasts. And I have author friends now. How crazy is all of that?

Speaking of, because I know people now, I know about books that are going to come in 2026 that are going to be so amazing. And not only do I know about them, I'm involved in small ways in helping some of them.

There's "Pizza Before We Die" By Hassan Kanafani with Yasuko Thanh, which is an eyewitness account in Gaza that I was honoured to write a blurb for.

There's "In the Country I love" By Alaa Al-Barkawi which I'm on the street team for and I'm reading it right now and it's Iraqi diaspora family drama to the max.

Both are coming in May and before that there's "The Unravelling of Ou" By Hollay Ghadery which is coming out early in 2026 and about a woman's emotional dependence on a sock puppet. How did I get lucky enough to know about this stuff and be able to read it early?

I heard this year, 2025, that gratefulness is an antidote for a lot of negative emotions, and I think that's true. Because the process of writing this and remembering all the good that has happened and all the good that is yet to come is giving me hope for the next year.

Wishing everybody who wants universal justice, strength and resilience, and a lot of good reading, creating, and fighting the good fight in 2026.