Author Talk: “Stateless in Paradise: A Stranded Soul's Fight for Freedom" by Mikael Okuns
Schedule
Tue, 28 Oct, 2025 at 06:00 pm
UTC-04:00Location
Katharine Cornell Theatre | Vineyard Haven, MA
Advertisement
Join local author Mikael (Misha) Okuns, for a discussion of his extraordinary journey from statelessness to citizenship, as described in his newly released 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.“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 misinterpretation of his international passport and status.
Mikael 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, he lives on the island of Martha’s Vineyard, where he runs the popular Edgartown cafe, Behind the Bookstore.
Advertisement
Where is it happening?
Katharine Cornell Theatre, 54 Spring St.,Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts, United StatesEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
