Winny Lin is returning to Owensboro this August for a series of book signings celebrating her memoir, “Passing the Torch–My Chinese American Journey.” The book blends cultural history, personal reflection, and travel essays into a tribute to her dual identity as an immigrant and educator.
Lin spent 40 years in Owensboro and taught for more than three decades in Daviess County Public Schools. She will be signing copies of her book at several events:
- August 11 from 9–11 a.m. at Daviess County Public Library
- August 13 from 2:30 p.m. at Moonlite Bar-B-Q Inn
- August 15 from 9 a.m. at Nico’s Bakery & Café
- August 16 (all day) at the Owensboro Multicultural Festival
The book features 22 essays and nearly 100 full-color photographs that document Lin’s travels and experiences across California and around the world, viewed through the lens of a Chinese American woman and lifelong educator. Part memoir, part historical reflection, the work includes stories on Chinese immigrant communities, cultural exchanges, and international education programs she helped create — many of which involved local Owensboro educators.
“I want to open another world to the people of Owensboro,” Lin said. “This is about history, learning, and helping people see things from a different perspective.”
Lin began writing the essays after moving to California in 2014, following decades of teaching at Tamarack Elementary School and organizing cultural events in Owensboro, including launching the city’s Multicultural Festival in 1998. The essays were originally published in the Southern Chinese Daily News, based in Houston, and later compiled into a book.
Her inspiration for writing stemmed from discovering lesser-known stories of Chinese American history, including accounts of discrimination faced by Chinese fishermen in Monterey Bay and a public apology by city officials that followed.
“If I don’t write it, who will?” Lin said. “If you have the pen in your hand, you can make a difference.”
The memoir is available in paperback through BookBaby.com (ISBN 9798317802578) and as a $4.99 eBook on Amazon. Lin emphasized the value of the eBook version, which allows readers to view all photos in full color.
She credited the Daviess County Public Schools system with helping her develop as a writer and said she’s proud to return to the place that shaped her career and family.
“I give credit to Daviess County Public Schools for transforming me into an author,” Lin said.
