Happy Iceland: A Travel Memoir (Currently seeking representation)

A vibrant mix of Amy Schumer’s wit in The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo and the heartfelt storytelling of Brandon Stanton’s Humans of New York, HAPPY ICELAND chronicles my journey to escape the doldrums of life and fulfill a dream of traveling to Iceland. Instead of following an itinerary, renting a car, and staying in hotels, I asked a random Icelandic worker at the Keflavik airport about his happiest memories in Iceland. This spontaneous inquiry ignited a five-week odyssey of backpacking, hitchhiking, and relying on the kindness of strangers as I traversed Iceland’s lesser-known gems—from childhood sports fields and family farms to whimsical waterfalls and the remote Highlands—in search of what truly brings joy to the Icelandic soul.

As Icelandic journalist Reynir Traustason noted in Icelandic newspaper, Stundin, (now called Heimildin)  “Leitaði hamingjunnar á Íslandi í ástarsorg”—the Icelandic people taught this lowly American the true meaning of happiness. Read the article now. 

Listen to Anne Marie on KHOL Public Radio telling a story about Iceland that earned her first place in the Teton County Story Slam. 

Advanced praise for HAPPY ICELAND:

“Anne Marie is a wonderful spirit filled with adventure, spontaneity, humor, and bravery who makes an instant connection to one's heart the way music does--no words needed. In her book, she recounts the incredible adventures she had while traveling and hitchhiking on her quest to find what made random Icelanders happy. Happy Iceland chronicles the people Wells met, the friends she made, the culture she shared, the beautiful (and sometimes harsh) nature she encountered, and how the journey helped her to see more clearly what changes she needed to make in her own life to be happier. A wonderful story and a reminder that connecting and loving other people is the essence of our existence.” - Þórlaug Sveinsdóttir, Icelandic local, Reykjavik tour guide

“Anne Marie´s story is unique. When heartbreak came knocking, she embarked on an incredible journey of uncertainty where she sought out Icelandic locals and their knowledge of happiness. I met her in Norðurfjörður, one of Iceland’s most sparsely populated communities and was instantly captivated by her broad smile and optimism. Happy Iceland is the tale of a hero who conquers her sorrow and spreads hope.” - Reynir Traustason, Editor-in-Chief of the Icelandic news magazine, Mannlíf