Finding Joy in the Journey: Anne-Marie Wells' Path to Publishing "Happy Iceland Still"

Episode #0016

When Anne-Marie Wells boarded a plane to Iceland at age 29, she had no itinerary, just a simple question: "What makes you happy?" Armed with this question and a backpack, she began a five-week adventure that would transform her life and inspire her upcoming travel memoir, "Happy Iceland Still."

I recently discovered Wells' fascinating story. She shared not just her Icelandic adventure, but her winding path as a writer seeking to bring her story to the world.

A Journey Born from Necessity

Wells didn't plan to write a book when she first set out for Iceland. Approaching her 30th birthday, she was working as a nanny in Minneapolis, feeling stuck in both her career and relationships.

"I was jumping from relationship to relationship hoping this one is the one. And then of course being disappointed," Wells explained. After having previous birthdays "ruined" by partners, she decided to celebrate her 30th alone.

But why Iceland specifically? The Nordic island consistently ranks among the happiest countries in the World Happiness Index, and Wells, struggling with her own happiness, wanted to understand why.

"I was really miserable in my life and wondering why is it that I can't figure out my career? Why is it that I can't figure out a relationship? What is it about me? What is it that I'm doing wrong? Why am I so sad all the time?"

Her approach was beautifully simple and deeply human: she would ask locals about their happiest memories and then visit the places they mentioned.

The Unconventional Itinerary

Wells' method created an organic, authentic experience far removed from typical tourism. Her first question was posed to an airline worker on a cigarette break outside the airport.

"Could you please tell me about a time that you felt really happy?" she asked the bewildered man.

He shared a story about camping with family and friends in Vestmannaeyjar. Wells noted the location, then immediately began hitchhiking in that direction.

This pattern continued throughout her journey. She collected happy memories from locals and let their stories guide her path. What's fascinating is that none of these happy memories involved material wealth or status symbols.

"What I realized was none of these stories were extravagant," Wells reflected. "Nobody said, when I got this big raise at my job or when I bought this really fancy car, I was so happy. None of the stories were like that. They were simple moments of joy."

From Adventure to Manuscript

After returning home with a notebook full of experiences, Wells realized she had more than just memories—she had a story worth sharing.

"It wasn't until after I got back. I had this notebook full of notes," she explained. "I knew I wanted to journal about it. And I kept a lot of notes because when I did have Wi-Fi, I would update my friends and my family on Facebook."

The transition from traveler to writer wasn't immediate or easy. Wells started from scratch, asking friends who wrote for guidance and recommendations.

"I really started from the bottom up," she admitted. "I started by asking my friends that I knew wrote, and I just started by asking them where do I start? How do I learn how to write and what are your recommendations of books I can read or courses I can take?"

The Publishing Odyssey

Perhaps the most enlightening part of Wells' story is her publishing journey—a tale of persistence in the face of rejection that would make any aspiring writer take note.

In 2022, "Happy Iceland Still" won the Wanderlos Travel Book Contest, but Wells ultimately walked away from the publishing contract offered.

"They essentially wanted to self-publish my book on Amazon, but then split the royalties of the book publication," she explained. "I know enough about the literary industry to know that wasn't a good deal. So I ended up walking away from the contract."

This wasn't a decision made lightly. Wells has sent her manuscript to hundreds of literary agents over the past nine years—she estimates between 300-400 submissions.

"The first round of agents that I sent it out to eight and a half years ago was 120. I sent out 120. I got 120 nos," she shared.

Recent feedback from a mentor's literary agent was particularly frustrating. While praising her writing as "beautiful," the agent explained that Wells' social media presence wasn't robust enough to guarantee sales.

"They want authors to BYOB, bring your own buyers," Wells explained. "It made me feel like all of the years of reading books, going to conferences, taking courses... it felt like it was meaningless because I didn't have a certain number of followers on Instagram."

Finding Delight in Small Moments

Though Wells still hasn't secured a publisher for "Happy Iceland Still," her journey has already yielded its most valuable lesson—one she's incorporated into her daily life.

"Every night before we go to bed, we ask each other what delighted you today," she shared, referring to a practice with her partner. "Not what you're grateful for, not what extraordinary thing happened. No, just what delighted you."

These can be simple moments—her young son learning to use a straw, a squirrel jumping in the bird feeder, or receiving no bills in the mail.

"Even on the day that my father died, which is the worst day of my life, there are still moments that delighted me," Wells reflected. "It delighted me that the last food that he ate on this earth was banana cream pie."

The Iceland Effect

When asked about a particularly meaningful experience from her Iceland journey, Wells shared a story that perfectly encapsulates the kindness she encountered.

While hitchhiking in freezing conditions, wearing all her clothes and still feeling cold, she met a local woman through a chance encounter. Without prompting, the woman gave Wells a handmade Icelandic sweater (Lopapeysa) that had belonged to her son.

"She didn't know me at all, but just willing to give me this thing that she handmade, that she handmade for her son, but that he outgrew so he wasn't going to wear it," Wells marveled. "I still have it."

This sweater became more than just warm clothing. "After she gave me that sweater, I was never cold again. I never shivered. I slept so well that night."

What's Next for Wells?

Despite years of rejection, Wells remains committed to sharing "Happy Iceland Still" with the world. She's considering self-publishing but wants to explore a few more traditional avenues first.

In the meantime, she's working on other projects, including the skeleton of a novel that she might develop into a "novel in verse," drawing on her experience as a published poet.

For writers struggling with rejection, Wells offers this advice: "Find a community. Find a community of writers that are writing what you're writing."

These connections provide not just emotional support, but practical guidance and resources that can help navigate publishing's challenging landscape.

As for overcoming writer's block? "Writer's block is more of writer's fear," Wells suggests. "You have an idea of what you want to write, but you're afraid that it's not going to be good... The only way to beat writer's block is to write something that's garbage."

The Pursuit Continues

While Wells' publishing journey hasn't yet reached its destination, her Iceland adventure has already achieved its purpose. She discovered that happiness doesn't come from extraordinary circumstances or achievements, but from noticing and appreciating life's simple delights.

As her story demonstrates, sometimes the journey itself contains the greatest rewards—even when the destination remains just over the horizon.

For those interested in following Anne-Marie Wells' work, you can find her online at https://annemariewellswriter.com or on social media.

And if you're ever feeling lost or unhappy, perhaps consider asking a stranger about their happiest memory. You might just discover your next adventure.