Hey everyone,
Ian Tan here, lead editor and project coordinator of UnCensored Ink: A Banned Book Inspired Anthology, set to release this October 29. Here is the UnCensored Ink interview series to introduce you all to the incredible writers, as well as the local bookstores and libraries that gave them safe creative spaces. Hopefully you can put these incredible places on your to-visit list, and feel inspired to support your own local bookstore, library and indie authors.
Today I am with Rebecca Linam from Alabama. She has also studied in Germany. Over 50 of her short stories for children, teens, and young adults have been published in magazines and literary journals.
1. You’ve written a fine piece for UnCensored Ink: A Banned Book Inspired Anthology. Can you give us a synopsis? How did the idea for this piece come about?
To sum it in one sentence, “An elderly lady returns from years in rehab to find her small village practically a ghost town, spawning memories from her oppressive childhood during World War II.” The idea came to me while visiting the abandoned village of Morschenich, Germany. The citizens were paid to relocate elsewhere for the mining of brown coal and was briefly used to house refugees from Syria and Afghanistan. It was a creepy sensation to see perfectly good houses, shops, and churches standing empty. I asked myself, “If I had come here not knowing what was wrong, what would I think?”
2. Now, we would love to know you more! What do you enjoy doing in your free time, what is your favorite book quote, and how did you get into reading and writing?
I have a ton of hobbies besides reading and writing. I like to learn foreign languages, sew costumes for the Alabama Renaissance Faire, play the harpsichord, travel through Europe, and figure skate. I even took Irish step dance once to research for a novel I was writing. I was read to as a child since before I can remember. I read a variety—children’s, YA, historical, fantasy, and out-of-print books in English, German, and Russian. Since I normally write humor, my favorite book quote is probably from Barbara K. Robinson’s The Best Christmas Pageant Ever: “The Herdmans were absolutely the worst kids in the history of the world.” It tells me I’m in for a laugh-a-minute adventure in children’s literature.
3. Do you have a favorite local library or bookstore? Also can you remember bookstores and libraries from your childhood, if they are not the same as the ones now?
My favorite bookstore is the Mayersche Buchhandlung Aachen in Aachen, Germany. It has four floors of books, a café, and a piano that guests can play. Every time I go back to visit my family, I make sure to visit it at least once. I’ve even taken some of my current students there on study abroad trips, and they fell in love with it too. The ones from my childhood were much smaller, but I remember going on field trips with my school to different math competitions, and when they dropped us off at the mall for lunch, I headed straight to the bookstores to spend my lunch money on books.
4. Tell us more about this bookstore/library. What do you love most about it?
I first ran across the Mayersche Buchhandlung bookstore when I was studying abroad at the Fachhochschule Aachen. I spent at least five days a week here combing through a variety of books not found in America. They had a large selection of foreign language books and medieval German history books, as well as the largest children’s and YA section—a whole floor—I’ve ever seen. I regularly find my favorite authors here that are not available in the U.S. The top floor opens out to a sunny green area where patrons can sit in reclining chairs and read. They regularly do book signings; I can only hope one day it’s me signing a German release of my upcoming novel. That would be a dream come true!
The one I go to the most after that would be “2nd and Charles” in Madison, Alabama. It’s a bookstore that sells new and used books. It also sells a lot of new books from publishers not in the Big 5, such as Entangled Publishing, which is one thing that catches my attention. I hope one day they’ll carry my books! It’s the kind of store where people go to hang out on the weekend and find the latest books along with the classics from back in the day.
5. What do you have to say on the importance of sustaining bookstores and libraries?
If we didn’t have libraries and bookstores, reading would be cut in half and reduced to only those who could afford to buy books online. It’s just not feasible. Most kids are exposed to reading in school—and that means we need libraries to start them reading at an early age. After all, they’ll need to do it in order to get a job one day…
6. Do you have any projects that your current and future readers can look forward to?
I’ve self-published four novels for children and young adults, and my first traditionally published novel, Lady Weatherby’s Soirée, comes out next June 2025 from Vinspire Publishing. I’m in the process of querying two others in the historical romcom and new adult romantasy genre and have plans to write several others.
7. Lastly, what platforms can we find you?
Website: www.rebeccalinam.com. Here you can find everything I’ve written from short stories to novels and even my blog, “The Writing Cat,” where I like to do author Q & A’s.
Twitter (X): @rebecca_linam. I usually post on here what I’m currently reading and do the occasional comp novel review.
Youtube: Here’s my account, but it’s mostly videos of me teaching German. Occasionally, I post a book trailer.
Goodreads: I review most everything I read on here.
Well, that’s Rebecca Linam from Alabama, everyone! Stay posted till the next one as we keep heading north, into Tennessee next.
Wild Ink Publishing 