In 1999, after a difficult period fighting addiction, Michael found an unlikely path to healing through an obsession with Tuva. This fascination eventually led him to travel to the region three times and inspired his book, My Adventures in Tuva—a narrative that tracks his journey from the depths of struggle to lasting personal growth. Originally from the United States, Michael now resides in Barcelona, Spain. He is also the author of the "New York" series: New York City Junky Days, a dark exploration of the heroin subculture in the 1980s East Village, and its follow-up, New York Recovery Days.