Michael Isaac Shokrian

Michael Isaac Shokrian is an Iranian-Jewish writer born in Hamburg, Germany and raised in Los Angeles by way of Tehran. With little knowledge of the English language or American culture, Michael became a self-taught American via terrestrial radio and TV. He began writing at UCLA and as he honed his poetic flair in his adopted language, a theme emerged: the voice, perspective and humor of the Outsider and the struggle of marginalized characters to find their place in America through hard compromises, small triumphs and poignant defeats.

Always a dedicated and self-reliant writer, Michael kept his literary aspirations alive by working in newsrooms, restaurants and warehouses. He has been a private investigator, rug merchant, delivery driver, P.R. executive, news editor, line cook, waiter and more. In his 30s, he entered law school and eventually set up a solo practice in the Los Angeles suburb of Studio City.

In 2017, Michael launched a non-profit online literary quarterly, the Thieving Magpie in an effort to create a literary community and platform for established, emerging and underrepresented voices.

American Playground is Michael's debut novel.