“Through her radical openness, Katrina opens a door for those curious enough to listen instead of judging.”
- Jamil Zaki, PhD., Stanford professor of psychology, author of The War for Kindness, and Hope for Cynics
“I believe Katrina’s story is essential to creating compassion and connection across political divides…”
- Sarah Peyton, Nonviolent Communication trainer, Neuroscience educator, international speaker, author of Your Resonant Self, Affirmations for Turbulent Times, and co-author of The Anti-Racist Heart
“…invaluable for those seeking to address political polarization in a way that fosters respect and harmony.”
- John Kinyon, Nonviolent Communication trainer and mediator, co-founder of Mediate Your Life, author of Choosing Peace, From Conflict to Connection, When Your Mind Sabotages Your Dreams, and Mindfulness in Conversation
“…a beacon of light for all who are seeking to restore relational bonds in the wake of QAnon.”
- Jim Manske, Nonviolent Communication assessor, trainer and mediator, coauthor of Pathways to Liberation
About This Book
ReQovery: How I Tumbled Down the QAnon Rabbit Hole and Climbed Out offers a poignant and timely exploration of Katrina Vaillancourt’s descent into, experience of, and recovery from, “QAnon.” Drawing on first-hand experience, this narrative nonfiction memoir offers a case study as Katrina sheds light on the divisive impact of this phenomenon, revealing the deep scars it has left on relationships and communities. But more importantly, it provides a compelling testament to the power of empathy, understanding, and nonviolent communication in bridging seemingly insurmountable divides. This book is not just a journey through the shadows of conspiracy; it is a beacon of hope, demonstrating that healing is not only possible, but what our nation needs at this time.
Excerpts
My Motivation to Write This Book
“You have to write a book about your experience!” one of my mentors, Barbara McGraw, exclaimed to me in mid-February 2023. Her words carry weight with me not only because of our friendship, but also due to her esteemed roles as a professor of social ethics, law, and public life at Saint Mary’s College of California. Barbara’s extensive work as an author, speaker, and commentator on American identity, the role of religion in public life, and the moral foundations of the American political system made her advice impossible for me to ignore. Still, her suggestion stimulated incredulous laughter in me. “You’re kidding me, right?” I retorted, almost reflexively. “Not at all,” she asserted. “It’s crucial for people to grasp how someone like you, someone totally dedicated to peace, could be drawn into QAnon.”
About the Author
Katrina Vaillancourt is a certified Nonviolent Communication (NVC) trainer, mediator, and life coach. Born and raised in the liberal and progressive city of Madison, Wisconsin, she moved to California’s equally liberal San Francisco Bay Area in the late 1990s. Raised in a family of passionate Democrats, Katrina has consistently valued peace, environmental protection, and social well-being. Her life motto is “co-creating win-wins,” striving to live as an answer to the question “What would love do?” As a result of her experience falling into and emerging from the QAnon rabbit hole, Katrina has found ways to treat people across the entire political spectrum with compassion, understanding, and respect, modeling skills that are desperately needed in our time.
Note from the author: I often hear from believers who say, “There’s no such thing as QAnon”—that it’s Q and the Anons. I understand. And yet, “QAnon” is a term widely used to describe a collective of people with a shared belief in a satanic cabal of pedophiles who secretly rule the world. This book uses that term to reach readers familiar with it, aiming to heal divisions and support families. I respect that believers may see it differently and invite all to join in this journey toward understanding.