Kali J Desautels

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Originally intended to simply focus on book reviews, over time, KaliDesautelsReads has morphed into its own entity. I write about issues that are near to my heart, be they political, feminist, motherhood, mental health, or, as the title holds, books. A thirty-something Canadian woman in my mid-thirties, I have been “super married” to my high school sweetheart since 2006, and together we have two crazy, clever, kind, hilarious, wonderful kids. My first book – How Not To Blog: Finding Myself, One Post at a Time is available on Amazon (in eBook formats for you clever tech readers, and paperback for those of us who love that new book smell!) I have tried a podcast – it’s still on Apple and Google Podcasts – but writing is where my heart is. My life changed dramatically when my husband was diagnosed with Stage 3 cancer in 2018, and I am now a writer for a leading Canadian Cancer Non-Profit. I am lucky enough to have a family that loves me and pushes me to be my best, even if it is outside of my cushiony comfort zone. I have a village of friends that nourish me, mentally, and spiritually. Welcome to my thoughts. Sit down. Stay a while. Enjoy a cup of coffee!

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  • We need to burn it down to build it back up.

    Originally posted on Kali J Desautels: Why we must dismantle racist systems. Image of Shaun King not mine – from https://medium.com/@ShaunKing/shaun-king-a-private-law-enforcement-group-on-facebook-is-literally-plotting-to-kill-me-f1e916c90bf8 I am tired. I really wanted to take a break, and write some fluffy fiction, then watch an episode of Supernatural while I ate my frozen cherries and coconut chunks (trust me, if you…

  • Once Upon a Time…

    Originally posted on Kali J Desautels: Once upon a time, there was a young white-presenting Métis girl. She shared a birthday with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and felt strongly that if the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s happened now, she would have been just like Viola Liuzzo – a young white face marching…

  • Reblog – There Is No Such Thing as a “White Ally.”

    Originally posted on Kali J Desautels: By Catherine Pugh, Esq. https://blog.usejournal.com/there-is-no-such-thing-as-a-white-ally-469bb82799f2 This post is not mine, I am sharing it because I believe strongly in Ms. Pugh’s message, and this is a way to reblog it across all of the platforms that I have to my name. Please understand that this is me working to…

  • Indigenous Peoples For BlackLivesMatter

    Originally posted on Kali J Desautels: I am so excited to have had one of my works selected for this amazing project! Thank you, Bren, for your necessary edits and help and letting me know about this!! This EagleSpeaker Publication is a fundraiser for #BlackLivesMatter and for support to Indigenous People’s in Canada. An anthology…

  • “White People Have Been Looting Black Bodies Forever.” Trevor Noah’s Monologue Makes the Point White People Need To Hear.

    Originally posted on Kali J Desautels: “White people tear up the contract every single day. Black bodies are looted every single day.” If you are shaking your head over the anger and violence happening in Minneapolis today, watch this video. Ask yourself how it feels to have violence perpetrated against your every single minute that…

  • May You Live All The Days of Your Life ~ Jonathan Swift

    Originally posted on Kali J Desautels: As always, taking a quote out of context means that we are imposing upon it our reading of just those words, without any understanding of what the overlying meaning is. So, I have decided to include the entire letter by Jonathan Swift, so that you might understand fully what…

  • Summer Savings with Four Sigmatic Mushroom Coffee

    Today is a great day to smash the patriarchy! Join me for a Four Sigmatic Mushroom Coffee! No, it does not taste like mushroom. It’s a super delicious coffee that provides alertness and extra focus from the lions mane and chaga mushroom powder. Until June 28th, you can receive up to 50% off any purchase…

  • Unpacking Privilege

    Originally posted on Kali J Desautels: The only way to unpack my white privilege is to gain perspective from people of colour who suffer because of it. Social equity starts with looking in the mirror and acknowledging our contribution to inequity. As a white, cisgender, heteronormative, Western/Anglo-Christian Feminist, it is my duty to pull back…

  • We need to burn it down to build it back up.

    Why we must dismantle racist systems. I am tired. I really wanted to take a break, and write some fluffy fiction, then watch an episode of Supernatural while I ate my frozen cherries and coconut chunks (trust me, if you are in a hot climate, it is worth a try). I was set to just…

  • Personal Disclosures – Porochista Khakpour

    Register for courses and apply for Personal Disclosures Scholarships Posted @withregram • @pchza My series of summer workshops and seminars kicks off tonight! Make sure you sign up at personaldisclosures.org.And don’t forget that they offer scholarships. Email tellus@personaldisclosures.org for details. #writer #scholarship #writing #webinar #poc #learn #seminar #workshop #book #sick #essays #read #tbr #joinus #summer2020…