In an illuminating interview, acclaimed author and entrepreneur Mirela Kanini opened up about her remarkable journey from Albania to the United States, shedding light on the challenges, triumphs, and lessons learned along the way. Kanini, known for her captivating storytelling and innovative approach to skincare, provided a candid account of her experiences as an immigrant, business owner, and community leader within the Albanian diaspora.

From her humble beginnings in Albania amidst political upheaval and economic hardship, Kanini reflected on the pivotal decision to immigrate to the USA in 1996. She detailed the challenges of navigating a new country, building a successful career, and establishing herself as a prominent figure within the Albanian community in the North Suburbs of Chicago, Illinois.

As the co-founder of Riche Organics Company, Kanini shared insights into her entrepreneurial journey and the creation of organic and cruelty-free skincare products. With a commitment to ethical practices and quality ingredients, Riche Organics has garnered praise for its innovative approach to skincare and commitment to animal welfare.

In addition to her business ventures, Kanini discussed her prolific literary career, including the recent publication of her novel, “The Sins of Mrs. Ema,” in the United States. Offering a glimpse into the themes and messages of her work, Kanini highlighted the universal struggles and strengths portrayed in her characters, resonating with readers both in Albania and beyond.

What inspired you to immigrate from Albania to the USA, and how has that journey influenced your writing and entrepreneurial endeavors?

I came to USA with my family on 1996. Albania the country I was born and raised was going through a very hard and unstable situations during those years, due to a dictatorial communist regime collapsing after ruling for almost half century long. My country it was in a really bad shape economically at that time and had a shortage of almost everything available in the Western World. But this situation created business opportunities for some on the private sector that it was never available during communist era. Before the revolution and falling of that regime government owned everything and after the collapse of it for the first time people realized they have a future on entrepreneurship. As result businesses were thriving due to the shortage of supplies and need for food, clothes, furniture and all kind of things. My husband and I “jumped on that train”, and started trading goods from Greece. That was exiting for a young couple since we were so isolated from the outside world before. No one was allowed to travel outside the country. If someone tried to escape through the borders because it was no other way, they would get executed if got caught and their families persecuted. In a few words we started to enjoy this new life, and we thought we’re doing very well for their standards. We had a small business established, our modest house, two small children and a lot of hopes and dreams for our future. We enjoyed weekends by the beach or hiking to the mountain, both being short distance from us. We started exploring Albania and taking short trips to the neighboring countries. We weren’t rich even though much richer than during communism, but for some reasons we became a target to certain groups with ties to old or current new government installed. We couldn’t figure out why. At first we blamed our strong anticommunist political views.

We lived constantly in fear of threats. Albania’s new democratic government was so fragile and Albania itself wouldn’t be considered a place of law and order yet, so most of the time you had to rely on yourself or family for protection rather then police. We never thought to leave our country, hoping things would improve with time. Fortunately, we had in our disposition American Visas on our passports for traveling. This wasn’t that common then,but we got them because we fulfilled all the requirements of the American Embassy. We came to America to visit some family members at first, and I was the one to fell in love with this country. It was love at first site. I noticed how different my life and my children ’s life would be if we had the opportunity to live in USA, where after all we didn’t have to live in fear anymore. I loved freedom, law and order, and a place where we felt safe. We stayed a few months to try, but my husband really wanted for us to go back. While we were trying to adjust and dealing with the dilemma to stay to America leaving everything we had and now until now behind ,or go back, in a meantime a cilvil War started in Albania, and it became a dangerous place. Family members of ours advised us to not go back for awhile. It was obvious that the situation created would have put us in greater danger. That sealed the decision for us to stay permanently in USA having only our clothes and some many left in our pockets. Everything else was put behind to start a new life. Adjustment at the beginning was really hard, and the road of becoming American citizen wasn’t easy either. It took us a very long time to became American Citizens, but we waited patiently and thankful that at least we had that chance. I wanted that thing so badly, I wanted to live in a place where sky is the limit and I told myself every day while working hard and long hours, I will make it someday. We can’t choose the country we are born but I was lucky enough to choose the country where I wanted to be with my family for the rest of my life. What we went through ourselves it makes me feel very compassionate about people on similar situation I was to choose America, because as an immigrant I have been on their shoes, as an American I understand them. When I think today from my writer’s point of view, if I didn’t experience what we did I wouldn’t have so many stories to tell.

“The Sins of Mrs. Ema “ has gained attention in Albania: what theme or messages do you hope resonate with American readers as it’s published for the first time in the USA?

“The Sins of Mrs. Ema” is a book that many women in the world might find it relatable. It’s a book about struggles and strength Ema goes through her journey on becoming who she is. A women who escapes communism, but mostly she is escaping her past and a hard upbringing Her past , upbringing and habitate dictated her fate like I does for most of us. She married at a very young age had one daughter from the marriage but her desires and ambitions didn’t change. She worked hard to have them all but then she found herself on a loveless marriage. A life dulled by routine and no passion. Then she met someone, maybe it was her destiny, or her escape from the emotional struggles she was going through while she was married to a husband with whom Ema built the life she always wanted, a wealthy life only to find out that it wasn’t as fulfilling as she once thought. How do you decide what’s good for you. Do you choose the men you love or the men who loves you? Why is she confused ? Does this has to do with her past? Can we leave the past behind or it will hunt us forever. Ema walks us to her journey that take so many twists and turns and while we follow her sometimes we judge her, sometimes we hate her, sometimes we love her, some people find themselves on her. Her struggles are real that’s what makes this book relatable , but not only that, Ema is a strong women who surprisingly might pull it through from her heartbreaking story. What if she looses all? I won’t take the curiosity away and let the readers find out on their own. It’s an intense psychological thriller and it seems like those books are received well by American readers. It’s a fiction but on my experience as a writer I have had people writing me how they identify themselves with Ema. They feel like I know them, and that makes this book relatable.

How does your involvement with the Albanian community in the USA influence your creative work and business venture.

Our community is our identity that sets us apart from the others. From the beginning when I came I created connections and friendships with albanians from Albania, Macedonia, Kosovo. Maybe they have not much connection with my business and what I do for a living, but definitely are connected with my books, through casual events and bookclubs. As a writer is very important for me to meet people, even random ones and listen to their stories. Not only I enjoy their company but it sparks my imagination, and I create characters for my books. I find meaning of life from different points of view by meeting different people. Sometimes all kind of questions are raised and I find answers sometimes. Ocationally I warn them “ be careful to what you tell a writer because it might be use on their stories”. They don’t mind of course.

 

As a Co-founder/ Owner of Riche Organics Company, what drove you to focus on creating a organic and cruelty -free skincare products?

I have worked on the Beauty industry for one of the biggest corporation in the Midwest for years and was one of the managers responsible for bringing the best products on beauty salons. While working closely searching for the best new thing I realized there weren’t many good organic skincare products out there. My daughter on the other side since teenager was experimenting creating her own homemade skin products that fight eczema. After so many trials and experiments we we’re able to create our first body care line and soaps. Then we created our brand, our company which had to be approved and licensed before selling them to Farmers Markets and beauty salons first. We are animal lovers and our products will never be tested on them. They are safe and the whole point of using organic products is their safety because they don’t contain chemicals that might effect one’s health. From the beginning our products got PETA Certified, which is another reason for people to like them more. Beginning was hard from creating the right formulas involving professional chemists to trademarking our brand. But when you work hard for something you really want things start happening. My daughter and I also had full support of our family Genci, Megi, Endi, Flutra, Brett, and to be successful sometimes you have to wear different hats.

Can you share some insights into the process of developing “ethical” skincare products, and what sets Riche Organics apart in the market?

When it comes to organic products the main thing are the ingredients. They determine the quality. We choose them carefully. No harsh ingredients and we use most current concrete information and research.

Mirela Kanini: Chronicles of a Migrant Writer: A Journey to Publication