Good morning, my friends. Today, I am excited to share something very close to my heart: my debut novella, A Family of Seven and One T.V., is now available for preorder. This story grew from years of working closely with refugee communities in the Middle East, shaped by the stories, laughter, and grief we have shared. It invites readers to see these communities with softer, more loving eyes. This novella is a light-hearted comedy told through nine segments, capturing the r

On this Memorial Day, we remember every soldier, every civilian, every mother and child whose life was taken by war — American, Afghan, and all those whose names history forgets. We honor the fallen most truly when we refuse to let their sacrifice be in vain...

My father, Lal Zereh, came to California twice in his life. The first time, he was a teenage exchange student from Afghanistan — full of curiosity, living with an American family, learning what the world looked like from the outside. The second time, he came as a refugee. The Soviets had taken his homeland. He packed up our family and started over at 43 — from nothing. But here is what the newspaper didn't say: He chose California specifically. Not by accident. Not just