Eugene Lawrence

T Kira Mahealani Madden is a Kanaka 'Ōiwi writer recognized for her memoir, "Long Live the Tribe of Fatherless Girls," and for establishing No Tokens Journal. She has received accolades, including the Lambda Literary's Judith A. Markowitz Award for Exceptional New LGBTQ Writers in 2021. Her literary work often explores themes of identity, queerness, and belonging, drawing from her multiracial upbringing and personal experiences.

Madden's background includes a diverse heritage, with a Jewish father and a Chinese and Hawaiian mother. This multiracial and multicultural upbringing, which involved exposure to various religions and traditions, has shaped her perspective on identity. She holds degrees from Parsons School of Design and Eugene Lang College, as well as an MFA in creative writing from Sarah Lawrence College. Beyond her writing, Madden is involved in community work, facilitating workshops for marginalized groups, and has held academic positions, including teaching at Hamilton College.

T Kira Mahealani Madden's literary output includes the acclaimed memoir "Long Live the Tribe of Fatherless Girls," published in 2019. This work delves into her experiences growing up as a biracial, queer individual in a privileged Jewish community, navigating family secrets and addiction. The memoir has been praised for its emotional honesty and tenderness, with critics noting its fearless exploration of pain and its capacity to resonate with readers' own outsider experiences. Madden also founded No Tokens Journal, an independent publication that aims to foster balance and inclusivity in publishing, particularly for women and non-binary individuals. She views editing and community building as integral to her artistic development, emphasizing generosity alongside craft.

Madden grew up in Boca Raton, Florida, and her family connections include being the niece of fashion designer Steve Madden. Her personal identity is deeply influenced by her multiracial heritage, comprising Jewish, Chinese, and Hawaiian ancestries. This diverse background, coupled with her parents' encouragement to explore various cultures and religions, has informed her understanding of selfhood. Academically, she earned a BA from Parsons School of Design and Eugene Lang College, followed by an MFA in creative writing from Sarah Lawrence College. She has also engaged in significant community outreach, leading writing workshops for homeless and formerly incarcerated individuals, and has held academic roles, including teaching at Hamilton College.

“as a full-fucking-blown 50-footer lesbian”

“I always knew I was gay, but I didn't understand the knowing, and that feels really true to me...As much as I wanted to front load the book with queer material, this feels truer to how I lived it. It was always present and by my side but it was operating in a different plane.”

“My mother, as a Chinese Hawaiian woman, was raised in a Mormon household with Buddhist grandparents. And my father is of course Jewish from Long Island. They always let me learn about every different religion, every culture. I went to temple, I went to church, we did Chinese New Year's — we did everything. They told me: Wherever you find your place, that's your place. We're not gonna tell you where you belong. So that mix — which was confusing at the time — is something that was really part of my becoming [by] learning about all those different components of my identity.”

“a coming-of-age memoir growing up in Boca Raton, Florida, in a very privileged Jewish community as a biracial, queer girl with a lot of family secrets: two addict parents and a famous family, as well.”

“a journal celebrating work that is felt in the spine.”