The latest from Korean-American author Maija Rhee Devine, The Voices of Heaven (Seoul Selection, 2013) is a rare gem in English-language literature about Korea, a story that takes us deep into the devotion and secrets of a family living in Seoul at the cusp of the Korean War. A tale that spans decades, The Voices of Heaven has been expertly woven together to reveal not only the injustices of unmitigated life circumstances but also the restorative power of truth and love. Maija Rhee Devine presents a stellar cast of empathetic characters to spin a tale that draws readers into the shadows of Korea’s Confucian web that at once constrains and defines the powerful will of its people.

During the final years of the Japanese Occupation, when most Korean brides and grooms were married sight unseen, Gui-yong and Eum-chun strike gold by finding a love as sweet as sticky rice. But their love for each other and for their secretly adopted daughter is not enough, as they must soon accept the impossible—a mistress moving in to bear Gui-yong the male child deemed necessary in a society still smoldering in Confucianism. After the Korean War drives the family apart, it falls on the shoulders of their adopted daughter, Mi-Na, to figure out how to keep her parents’ love burning through this life and into the next—and ultimately make sense of the past.

Flowing from her firsthand experience of growing up in Seoul during the Korean War, Maija Rhee Devine’s novel reveals uniquely Korean colors and sounds as she leads readers through an extraordinary love story that parallels the tragedies of the war.

Photo & Imaging Seoul 2013 will take place at COEX, bringing together 300 leading brands—including Samsung, Canon, Nikon, and Sony—from 18 countries. Five exclusive photography-focused events are expected to attract an estimated 90,000 domestic and international participants. Over 750 booths will showcase everything from compact and DSLR cameras to printers, SD cards, editing software, and photo albums. On-site events will provide visitors with hands-on activities and demonstrations for an unparalleled photo and imaging experience. Exclusive biz-matching meetings between buyers and exhibitors will optimize trade opportunities at the event, ensuring global exposure for participants.

VENUE: Hall A & B, COEX

PERIOD: Apr 4–7

ADMISSION: Online registration: free; on-site: KRW 20,000

MORE INFO: T. 02-6000-8133, www.photoshow.co.kr/english

GETTING THERE: Samseong Station, Line 2

Tell Us About ‘Your Korea’: If you’re a longtime resident of Korea and would like to share your story in KOCIS’s KOREA Magazine, shoot an email with your story idea to book@seoulselection.com.

Update Your Shopping Mall ID – Seoul Selection encourages you to change your ID and password for our online bookshop and shopping mall at Seoulselection.com. The old IDs and passwords no longer work following our recent upgrade.

Looking for Translators – Seoul Selection is looking for a few good translators (Korean to English) for general translation work. Those interested should send a resume and cover letter to Kyehyun at trans@seoulselection.com.

Seoul Selection eBooks – You can purchase some Seoul Selection titles in ebook format via Amazon.com (for Kindle) and Apple’s iBookstore. Titles include Ask a Korean Dude, Moon Tides, Doing Business in Korea, Once Around the Sun, and seven volumes of our Korean Film Directors series: BONG Joon-ho, IM Kwon-taek, KIM Jee-woon, LEE Chang-dong, LEE Man-hee, PARK Chan-wook, and SHIN Sang-ok.