Frequently Asked Questions

Inquiries?

For inquiries about my writing, please contact my agent, Mollie Glick, at Creative Artists Agency: mollie.glick@caa.com. UK rights: Rachel Mann (rachel.mann@caa.com). International rights: Peppa Mignone (peppa.mignone@caa.com).

For inquiries about press or events, please contact my manager, Irene Liu: irene@myukistories.com.

For inquiries about specific translated works, please contact the book’s publisher (e.g. for Taiwan Travelogue, please contact Graywolf US, And Other Stories UK, Scribe AU).

Name? Lin is my first name. King is my last name.

Why “King”? Why not “Jin” or “Chin”? When my dad’s family applied for passports in Taiwan, “King” was how the immigration office transliterated “金”. This is not unique; I’ve met other Kings from Taiwan. My personal theory is that, because famous Western names like Larry “King” were transliterated in Taiwan as “金“, the officers did the same in the reverse direction.

Why “Lin”? Why not “Ling” or or “Lynn”? I don’t know. It’s the name on my birth certificate. You can ask my parents, I guess.

How should I address you?
English: Lin King. (Not King Lin or Ling King or Lin Kin or Jin Ling or Jing Lin, please.) If we’re on a first-name basis, please call me Lin. If not, Ms. King.
Mandarin: 姓金，單名翎（ㄌㄧㄥˊ）。不姓林。是本名，非筆名。可以叫我金翎、金同學、金老師、金小姐、金女士等等。
Japanese: 苗字がキン（金）、名前がリン（翎）です。

Languages? I only translate into English; I don’t translate English writing into other languages. I only write my own fiction in English, but have contributed to some articles/columns in Mandarin and Japanese.

Why? I’m a fluent and functional user of Mandarin and Japanese, but all of my higher education was conducted in English. I don’t feel that I have enough control over Mandarin and Japanese to write literarily.

How do you know Japanese? I learned it in school and have been using it in professional contexts since college.

Do you know any other languages? I am a heritage user of Taigi (sometimes known as Taiwanese Hokkien) but have not studied it systematically. I took French in middle and high schools but am now very bad at it.

Nationality? I am a dual citizen of the US and Taiwan, meaning I hold two passports.

How come? My parents, both Taiwanese citizens, had me when they were living and working in New York as architects. We relocated to Taipei when I was one (1) year old.

Does this mean you’re Taiwanese American? No. I identify as Taiwanese and American. I lived in Taiwan for ages 1~18 and did not have an American upbringing. I think conflating the two identities does a disservice to both people like me and to actual Taiwanese Americans, who have distinct immigrant experiences.

Socials?

Instagram is @linkinglionking. BlueSky and Twitter/X are infrequently used, but also @linkinglionking.

Threads account is private and for memes. I don’t use Facebook or any other social media.