Corrections in Ink

A Memoir

By: Keri Blakinger

Narrated by: Keri Blakinger

Length: 8 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

An electric and unforgettable memoir about a young woman's journey—from the ice rink, to addiction and a prison sentence, to the newsroom—emerging with a fierce determination to expose the broken system she experienced.

An elite, competitive figure skater growing up, Keri Blakinger poured herself into the sport, even competing at nationals. But when her skating partnership ended abruptly, her world shattered. With all the intensity she saved for the ice, she dove into self-destruction. From her first taste of heroin, the next nine years would be a blur—living on the streets, digging for a vein, selling drugs and sex, plunging off a bridge when it all became too much, all while trying to hold herself together enough to finish her degree at Cornell.

Then, on a cold day during Keri's senior year, the police stopped her. Caught with a Tupperware container full of heroin, she was arrested and ushered into a holding cell, a county jail, and finally into state prison. There, in the cruel "upside down,” Keri witnessed callous conditions and encountered women from all walks of life—women who would change Keri forever.

Two years later, Keri walked out of prison sober and determined to make the most of the second chance she was given—an opportunity impacted by her privilege as a white woman. She scored a local reporting job and eventually moved to Texas, where she started covering nothing other than: prisons. Over her career as an award-winning journalist, she has dedicated herself to exposing the broken system as only an insider could.

Not just a story about getting out and getting off drugs, this rich memoir is about finding redemption within yourself, as well as from the outside world, and the power of second chances. Written in a searing voice, Corrections in Ink is told with unflinching honesty and jolts of irreverent humor, and uncovers a dark and brutal system that affects us all.

A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin's Press.

©2022 Keri Blakinger (P)2022 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

[Corrections in Ink] is a hair-raising tale of a girl torn between perfectionism and self-destruction, and a woman who uses her profound gifts to help set others free. How that girl became that woman demonstrates the beauty of storytelling—and sobriety."—Sarah Hepola, New York Times bestselling author of Blackout

"It's hard to think of a reporter more deeply devoted to exposing the brokenness of the American prison system than Keri Blakinger, who in Corrections in Ink turns her journalistic eye and narrative gift to her own story—a riveting journey through the depths of addiction and incarceration. As Keri writes, so few who are sucked into the carceral system receive the second chance that she was given, which is why it's impossible to read this book and not be inspired, and called to action, by her dedication to exposing the inhumane and injustice status quo within our country's jails and prisons."—Wesley Lowery, Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and author of They Can't Kill Us All: Ferguson, Baltimore and a New Era in America's Racial Justice Movement

Dark but moving, great book

Keri Blakinger, Cornell graduate, the star journalist and so much well known media person, tells the story of a self-destructing troubled teenager, failed in all possible ways and ended up in prison, after years of life in streets, sex industry, drug abuse, suicidal thoughts and attempts... The story of Keri herself, true to the word, brilliantly written and narrated by the author. Absolutely must read. Or better listen.

Thank you, Keri

Great book. I myself have never abused drugs, or been incarcerated, but these experiences are all to come in for many people in our society. This forthright personal account let me walk in those shoes, a little. And brought me to tears several times near the end. The author did a terrific job with the narration.

What an amazing life!

Well written, captivating story. It was such a delight to hear this in Keri’s voice. Brilliant.

Powerful tale of hope, loss, despair, and redemption

Powerful is the best word I have to describe this book and performance. Such a well written and well performed story of so many hard hitting topics and an amazing tale of a life that almost ended before being redeemed by a combination of hard work, determination, and of course good fortune. This is an amazing title which I will certainly be re-reading!

I grieved when this book finished.

This is a deeply personal, empathetic, courageous work. It was all the more moving to hear the author herself read it. This book is incredibly important, but also inspiring and entertaining. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

What a stand out.

This memoir is so well written. You can feel her journey. The performance matched the story. Well done all around.

What it’s like to be in Prison!

Very Informative and well written! I thought Keri did a great job of explaining what it’s like to be behind Bars/Prison.

Brutal honesty, great listen

I work in law enforcement and enjoyed Keri’s for several years now. Her corrections may be in ink, but her impact has been in Sharpie, bold and long-lasting. Some of the chapters are jaw dropping, and will linger in the back of my mind as I interact with people in the early stages of their journey to what I hope is recovery, and consider what I can do to help them along the way.

Jaw dropping story.

Keri does not spare her self as she tells her dramatic story of her plunge into addiction and debauchery which landed her in prison. thanks to her skill as a writer we also get to see the abuses that occur behind prison gates that go unchecked but for people like Keri bringing them to light. For me, an informative memoir that kept me on the edge of my seat.

Very Enlightening Read

I have followed the prison system biases and abuse for decades. This is well written and opens one's eyes to the problems in the prison system. Punishment is not the answer and it is evident ones needs people, tools, the will to recover, and everything else that helps one succeed. She was lucky to come from privilege and she knows it and does not make excuses for it. Her work, post incarceration, is very commendable.