Sun Shining on Morning Snow: A Memoir of Identity, Loss, and Living Boldly

Winner of the International Book Award 2026 — Multicultural Nonfiction

Winner of the IndieReader Discovery Award — Memoir Nonfiction

Silver Medal Winner of the IPPY Awards — LGBTQ Nonfiction

Finalist for the National Indie Excellence Award

Embark on an unforgettable journey of self-discovery.

Sun Shining on Morning Snow is a fearless and deeply moving memoir that celebrates the power of authenticity, love, and resilience. Ingrid Hu Dahl, a mixed-race, queer woman, takes readers on an intimate journey through the challenges of self-discovery—navigating the weight of social, cultural, and familial expectations.

From her rebellious early days as a touring musician to her groundbreaking work at the Rock ‘n’ Roll Camp for Girls, Ingrid’s story is one of courage, defiance, and empowerment. She fights to carve out space for herself and others, embracing her truth despite the pressures that seek to silence her. Through love, loss, and an unbreakable connection to the fierce women before her—especially her mother—she ultimately finds reconciliation and the strength to live boldly in her identity. In grief, she discovers not just sorrow but also a deeper understanding of love, memory, and the invisible threads that connect past and present. She recalls her mother's words about going through fire to become pure gold, a metaphor that takes on new meaning as she recognizes the parallels in their struggles—two women, generations apart, yet bound by resilience in the face of cultural and personal battles. Despite their differences, their journeys echo each other, revealing the strength they both carried and the ways they were more alike than she ever realized. She comes to see the power in her own—in the name her mother gave her, Sun Shining on Morning Snow, a reflection of transformation, a crystalline purity shaped by both fragility and strength, ever-changing yet luminous in its own becoming.

At once lyrical and badass, Sun Shining on Morning Snow is a testament to the radical act of being seen on your terms. Perfect for readers seeking inspiration, representation, and the courage to step fully into their own light, this memoir is a rallying cry for anyone who has ever struggled to claim their place in the world.