Beyond The Ninth Wave - One Year Later

and an editorial note

The Beyond the Ninth Wave project consumed a huge amount of my time and focus in 2024, but of all the things I've ever done in my life I can't remember anything being more interesting, meaningful, humbling, and fun. I look forward to expanding the project in several new directions in 2025.

Though I didn't produce anywhere near the number of finished pieces I'd envisioned when I first put my oars into the sea alongside countless other exiled souls, the process of networking with others who survive and thrive in similar dire predicaments and whose life experiences mirror my own was its own reward – but never fear, there's plenty of work in progress and more on the horizon than just an endless stretch of ocean.

Some numbers, since I have a particular fondness for quantifiable data:

• In 2024 Beyond the Ninth Wave attempted contact with just over 140 individuals in state prisons and hospitals across the United States and abroad.

• We received responses from 52 different people, an astonishing [to me] reply rate of 37%. I had hoped for 20% and been prepared to accept anything above 10% without thinking 'maybe it's me,' but I am stunned by just how many people were curious enough to answer the call, not to mention offer their time and experiences to the project. While many only sent one letter, others feel as if they are already on the road to becoming lifelong friends. That is also something I did not expect when I went into this project.

• Beyond the Ninth Wave received responses from 22 different states' prison and 4 different state hospital systems, as well as answers from Germany and Australia. I had wanted to make contacts in every state but considering the insane amount of research that went into figuring out fifty different sets of prison mail rules – and weathering the frustration of discovering that virtually every state doesn't even follow its own rules, including mine – I feel like contacting 41 states and getting answers back from 22 is a great start for our first year.BNW.3

• Of those the project contacted and the mail came back Return to Sender, at least 8 of the people had been paroled, including 2 who were originally on death row.

• At least 5 other Return to Senders were dead: 2 had been executed, 2 died while in prison, and 1 was released from death row and died a free woman.

As we head into a new year I am eager to see how much we and our slowly growing network of Ninth Wave participants can expand on what I see as a hell of a foundation for this collaborative, independent prison journalism project. I'm grateful for all I have learned and experienced while doing this work, even when it hurt. Maybe especially then.

Rest in Peace:

A. M.

V. B.

K. G.

M. B.

N. W.

–ronin

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Hi, everyone! This is Sarah. I’m the usually silent partner of the project, here with a few words of gratitude.

The thousands of words published here are a drop in the bucket compared to the words Ronin sent out in the mail. I got to look over his shoulder for some of this process and am proud of the kindness and curiosity that are guiding principles in his correspondence. I concider it a privilege to partner on this - the impact of being seen and listened to by another person in similar circumstances on these people’s lives is the surprise takeaway; when it started, I expected that it would be information gathering for a journalism project. It is so much more than that. I really look forward to sharing these collaborations in the coming year.

We were so lucky to have found other Substack writers who have been kind and supportive — shout out to:

In six months’ time, Ronin Grey has gathered 15 subscribers, and we thank you all sincerely for taking the time to read.

Please feel free to send a note to me with any suggestions or requests that would make your reading experience better in any way -