Author Talk: “Stateless in Paradise: A Stranded Soul's Fight for Freedom"

The Vineyard Haven Public Library is pleased to welcome local author Mikael (Misha) Okuns for a conversation about his extraordinary journey from statelessness to citizenship, as described in his new book, Stateless in Paradise: A Stranded Soul's Fight for Freedom. This event will be held at 6:00 PM on Tuesday, October 28th at the Katharine Cornell Theatre, located at 51 Spring Street in Vineyard Haven (above Tisbury Town Hall). Free and open to the public. No registration required.

About the book: 

Stateless in Paradise: A Stranded Soul's Fight for Freedom recounts the agonizing true story of a stateless individual, and his desperate fight to return to the United States. After living and working in the U.S. for 16 years, Mikael becomes stranded in American Samoa for over a year and five months, barred from re-entry due to a flawed immigration system and misunderstanding of his international passport and status.

Mikael's planned four-day New Year's Eve getaway to American Samoa in December 2011 quickly transforms into an unexpected ordeal, as he becomes ensnared by the island's harsh realities. Between the oppressive heat and humidity, which particularly affect the heat-sensitive Mikael, and frustrating bureaucratic challenges, he finds himself longing for the familiar comforts of Los Angeles – its fresh produce, juice bars, and vibrant coffee scene.

Desperate for a connection to the outside world, Mikael frequents the local McDonald's to use their free Wi-Fi and to email friends and advocates, seeking help for his case. He blogs about his experiences, sharing his struggles with the world and in the process, shedding light on the plight of the 4,000 stateless individuals living in the United States.

The book explores Mikael's family history, uncovering the events that resulted in his stateless status. Born to an Armenian family in Azerbaijan during the Soviet era, Mikael and his family were displaced by the war between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Tragically, his aunt was stoned to death by local Muslim Azeris, and his family's subsequent attempts to seek asylum in other republics were thwarted by discrimination stemming from their Armenian ethnicity and his sexual orientation.

About the author:

Mikael Sebastian Okunuga (aka Misha Okuns) is a multifaceted professional and creative entrepreneur with a diverse international background. Originally from the former Soviet Union (Azerbaijan SSR), he lived in the United States as a stateless person for over 16 years before becoming a U.S. citizen. A passionate world traveler, he has visited over 77 countries across Europe, Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Cuba. Mikael is married to Quadri Okunuga, and the couple divides their time between the United States and Latvia. In the United States, Mikael lives on the island of Martha’s Vineyard, where he runs the popular Edgartown cafe, Behind the Bookstore.

For more information, please contact the library at vhpl_programs@clamsnet.org or (508) 696-4211.