Anne Marie Wells on Happy Iceland, Writing, and Finding Joy in Everyday Moments

In this episode, I sit down with poet and memoirist Anne-Marie Wells to talk about her debut travel memoir Happy Iceland, out June 27th from Star Belt Press. In the conversation we cover what it took to write a book from scratch over ten years with no format training, what Icelandic strangers taught her about happiness, and the simple daily practice she now uses to stay connected to joy. If you've been feeling the weight of the world lately, this one is for you. Pre-order Happy Iceland, here. Subscribe to the Notes from Erin newsletter, here. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Anne-Marie Wells02:28 The Evolution of Reading and Writing05:02 Role Modeling Reading for the Next Generation07:33 Exploring 'Happy Iceland': The Journey Begins10:25 The Writing Process: From Notes to Manuscript13:01 Overcoming Challenges in Writing15:54 Lessons on Happiness from Iceland18:44 Finding Joy in Everyday Moments22:34 Finding Joy in Everyday Delights26:49 Building Confidence Through Experience31:20 The Importance of Community and Connection36:39 Lessons in Happiness and Mindfulness40:09 Connecting Through Stories and Experiences