In an age dominated by fleeting digital trends, two 16-year-old entrepreneurs from Eimsbüttel, Hamburg, are championing an old-school yet profoundly modern mission: preserving the rich tapestry of life stories from the older generation. Mats Sydow and Oskar Hoppmann, the visionary founders of ‘Malix Publishers,’ are defying their youth to connect generations through the enduring power of the printed word.
A Publisher is Born in a Living Room
The genesis of ‘Malix Publishers’ wasn’t in a bustling corporate office, but rather at a family dining table in Mats and Oskar’s parents’ home. Surrounded by tablets, these two young men embarked on a journey to guide authors from their initial memories and ideas to a finished, published book. “The process of publishing a book is actually quite difficult,” explains Oskar, the young publisher. “We always thought self-publishing was easy. But then there’s the hurdle of getting it into bookstores.”
Their ambition isn’t just about creating books; it’s about making these invaluable narratives accessible and engaging for younger audiences. Mats elaborates, “We wanted to spruce up these old stories from older people, which would otherwise be forgotten, and make them a bit cool, so that they are also interesting for young people.”
From Grandmothers’ Recipes to Autobiographies: The First Fruits of Malix Publishers
The duo’s initial projects are as diverse as the lives they seek to document. Take Kalle Voigt, another 16-year-old, who, with the support of Malix Publishers, has published his first cookbook. This isn’t just any cookbook; it’s a heartfelt collection of his grandmother’s recipes, adorned with Kalle’s own illustrations. “I’ve always loved cooking with my grandma,” Kalle shares. “Now I live a bit further away because she moved. I still wanted to have that feeling of being able to continue cooking with her. That’s why I made a cookbook, to keep that feeling alive.”
Petra Bähre, an author, has also collaborated with the young publishers to develop her first children’s book, a charming tale about Max the mole, crafted specifically for her grandchildren. Currently, she’s focused on writing her autobiography. “I want to write it down for my daughter so she knows what I’ve experienced, so she can tell her children, my grandchildren, about it,” Bähre explains. “Primarily, it’s meant to remain private for now, but if it’s finished and I think it’s great, then I would publish it.” These stories, whether private memoirs or public narratives, are becoming tangible legacies for future generations.
Bridging Generations, One Story at a Time
Mats and Oskar are not content with merely publishing. They are actively seeking to expand their reach and impact. “We are now planning to hold lectures and writing workshops in retirement homes – first in our area, to reach older people directly on site, because that is of course easier than doing it via social media,” Mats reveals. He acknowledges the practicalities of their target audience: “That’s not good advertising for us, because older people don’t use it, or rarely use it.”
Their approach is a refreshing counter-narrative to the fleeting nature of social media, emphasizing the lasting value of personal narratives. In a world increasingly fragmented by digital divides, ‘Malix Publishers’ is a testament to the enduring human need for connection, understanding, and the timeless art of storytelling. Whether it’s a biography, grandmother’s recipes, private memories, or an original novel, these personal stories are being transformed into printed memories, ensuring that the wisdom and experiences of one generation are lovingly passed down to the next.
