Lindsay Marie Morris

August 16 marks another trip around the sun.

It has been a year of firsts, unforgettable experiences, and reconnection. My last birthday was spent on a two-week research road trip for Beneath the Sicilian Stars, visiting the WWII internment camp at the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula, paddling Oregon’s Lost Lake, and seeing Glacier National Park’s few remaining ice masses.

Four months of nonstop writing followed as I finalized The Last Letter from Sicily. Although my debut was published in January, the hometown launch came in February with a front-page feature in Racine’s Journal Times, bookstore events at Vintage and Modern Books and Boswell Book Company, and reunions with friends and family.

Since then, I have finished a third novel, taught writing workshops, attended the Historical Novel Society North America conference in Las Vegas, and celebrated Beneath the Sicilian Stars' release with a virtual launch party and a Railroad Book Depot appearance.

Now, just over a month after my second launch, it is incredible to see reader reviews and hear about the ways people connect with my work.

What a remarkable trip around the sun it has been. Thank you for your friendship. Here’s to another year of adventure together!

Thanks to all who joined me for the release of my newest novel, Beneath the Sicilian Stars (Storm Publishing, July 2025). I'm also so grateful for our party host, Catherine Maita. July 8's party brought readers together from near and far (from across the United States to India!) to celebrate a tale of family, resilience, and the enduring ties that span an ocean and generations.

Beneath the Sicilian Stars is my attempt to bring overlooked history to light and honor the resilience of ordinary people during extraordinary times. I believe these stories matter—not just to remember the past, but to remind us how fear can too easily overshadow compassion, and how immigrant communities have historically managed to endure even through the darkest times. Thank you for watching, for reading, and for supporting my journey.

Click here to see a list of where and when you can catch my future appearances (many are virtual).