Sun Shining on Morning Snow: a Memoir of Identity, Loss, and Living Boldly
by Ingrid Hu Dahl
GENRE: Memoir
PUBLICATION DATE: 06/11/2025
DESCRIPTION:
From her rebellious early days as a touring musician to her ground-breaking work in the rock ‘n’ roll camp for girls’ movement, 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 their strength…
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Ingrid Hu Dahl is an author, speaker and leadership coach. She is the founder of her own coaching and consulting business, dedicated to empowering the next generation of leaders. With over two decades of experience in learning and development, she specializes in leadership, inclusion and belonging, bringing her expertise to a wide range of industries, from corporate and media to nonprofit and social justice organizations.
A TEDx speaker and a founding member of the Willie Mae Rock Camp in Brooklyn, Ingrid has a lifelong passion for amplifying underrepresented voices. She has performed in multiple touring bands and has written, filmed and directed two short films exploring identity, representation and the mixed-race experience. Through her work, she shares stories of living in the in-between with curiosity and empathy, fostering deeper connections and cross-cultural understanding. Ingrid has toured in multiple rock bands, playing bass, guitar, synth, drums (on occasion), and vocals.
REVIEWS:
"'Sun Shining on Morning Snow' is a profound and beautifully told exploration of mixed-race identity, resilience and belonging. Ingrid Hu Dahl captures the nuanced experience of growing up between cultures with honesty and grace, offering a powerful reminder that being mixed is not about division — it’s about the strength of embodying two worlds. A must-read for anyone seeking to understand the complex realities of being mixed and navigating identity in a world that often demands simplicity." — Alex Chester-Iwata, CEO, Mixed Asian Media
“This book is a reflection of the power of being authentic, being vulnerable, digging deep into yourself and having the courage to shine your light, even when it feels scary.” — Shantell Martin, British mixed-race artist
COMPARATIVE FILM/BOOK:
Crying in H Mart
CASTING:
Dichen Lackham playing Ingrid’s mom at the start of the film along with Austin Butler as her dad. Kristen Kreuk to play Ingrid as a 20-30 something.
PRIMARY VENUES/LOCATIONS WITHIN THE BOOK:
San Francisco, NYC, touring musician spots, Portland, OR, Taipei, Taiwan, Rutgers University in NJ
BOOK EXCERPT:
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