The Queen of Tears

"[McKinney] has a keen eye for details of places and people. The storyline is well developed. . . . McKinney is pitch-perfect on the social and racial climate of Hawaiians, Asians, immigrants, mixed-bloods, and whites (haoles). . . . The frequent dialogues are crisp and pointed and the sharply etched characters and often biting dialogue make The Queen of Tears a worthwhile read."-Korean Quarterly

"McKinney's portrait of a besieged woman within a multicultural, multigenerational family saga poignantly and powerfully dramatizes the troubles women face, the pan-Asian melting pot of Hawaiian culture, and the conflicts inherent in Americanization."-Booklist
"McKinney demonstrates a talent for restraint and tight pacing."-Publishers Weekly

By age fourteen she was on her own, fleeing the communists, a waif living in the streets of Seoul, begging from American soldiers and stealing food. Then fate intervened: She was hit by a car driven by a prominent filmmaker. He mentored her into an acting career. By age nineteen, Park Soong Nan was the brightest star of Korean cinema. They called her "The Queen of Tears."

Many years later, her three grown children are settled in Hawaii, and she comes to visit. Soong's presence is catalytic, setting off smoldering jealousies, dormant longings, and the unending contest for primacy in her affection.

Chris McKinney is the author of The Tattoo and Bolohead Row. He received both his BA and MA in English from the University of Hawaii and currently teaches at Honolulu Community College. He resides in Honolulu.