An Interview with Ann Lin

I am a writer, speaker, and survivor who decided to share my true story of what it means to lose freedom – and find a new life after prison.

In Prison in China, I reveal my painful experience of surviving one of the world’s most brutal prisons. This book is not just about what happened to me – it’s about how I was transformed inside those walls. I wrote it to give hope and an example to anyone who might find themselves trapped in darkness, whether it’s a real cell or a prison of fear.

After my time in prison, I rebuilt my life step by step. I chose to speak up instead of staying silent. Today, I write, travel, and share my story with people who believe that freedom, truth, and dignity are worth fighting for.

Many people ask me: What’s the difference between Taiwan and China? For me, they are two completely different worlds. Taiwan is a place where freedom of speech, human rights, and democracy exist – values I learned to cherish only after losing them. China showed me the harsh reality of a closed system that breaks the human spirit to keep control.

When I’m not writing or speaking, I love reading, learning languages, and connecting with people who believe in the power of untold stories.

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What was the most rewarding/meaningful part of publishing your book?

When you write a book for the first time, without being a professional author, you don’t concentrate much on the process itself. Writing itself certainly requires a lot of effort, time, and patience. As a result, you can be emotionally exhausted and nervous, which is certainly the norm in a difficult creative process. But when you hold your book in your hands and receive feedback from friends and other readers, you can’t believe that you did it all yourself. This great work definitely increases the sense of self-worth. The result inspires me to write new books and search for new ideas.

What is one thing you hope readers take away from reading your book? How do you envision your perfect reader?

The main goal of the book is to show the reader, by example, that you should never give up. No matter how low you fall, you can always grow and achieve your goals.

What creative projects are you currently working on?

I’m considering writing a new book.

How was working with Atmosphere Press? What would you tell other writers who want to publish?

It was a great experience to work in a team of professionals who could always answer questions and help with the creative process. What I liked most was the well-coordinated work of the team. I would advise other authors, or people who are writing a book for the first time, not to doubt and not to be afraid. The process may seem complicated and confusing at first, but with the support of professionals, everything becomes much easier.

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Are you a writer, too? Submit your manuscript to Atmosphere Press.