Tala Khanmalek

Tala Khanmalek (aka mecca monarch) is a writer, editor, and scholar with a PhD in ethnic studies from UC Berkeley. Tala is author of The Sun Planters (Asemana Books 2026) and An Infinity of Traces (Blue Cactus Press 2026) as well as the children’s book My Name Means Free (Blue Cactus Press 2027).