Sole Survivor by Derek Hansen with Heather Morris

About this episode

This episode features an interview with author Heather Morris discussing her works and the themes of healing and connection in Derek Hansen's novel Sole Survivor.

In Sole Survivor  by Derek Hansen, Rosie Trethewey leaves her unhappy city life after inheriting a remote shack on New Zealand’s Great Barrier Island, hoping for a fresh start. There, she meets two isolated and troubled neighbors, Red O’Hara, a traumatized former prisoner of war, and Angus McLeod, a bitter retired policeman, whose lives she gradually changes. As outside forces threaten their island home, the three form an unlikely bond and learn to heal from the pain of their pasts. My guest this week is author Heather Morris . In 2003, Heather met Lale Sokolov, whose story inspired The Tattooist of Auschwitz , now one of the 21st century’s bestselling books and adapted in 2024 as a widely acclaimed Stan Original Series. It was followed by Cilka’s Journey and Three Sisters , completing the Tattooist trilogy. Her first contemporary novel, The Wish, was inspired by her years working in a public hospital, alongside families facing the toughest of times with love and courage. The Wish’s US publication date is May 5, 2026. Her upcoming novel, The Piano Teacher of Montparnasse , releases in October 2026, and tells the story of French Resistance fighter Andrée Levallois, who risked…

People in this episode

Host: Gigi Howard

Guest: Heather Morris

Topics covered

• fiction
• literature
• author interview
• healing
• war stories

Keywords

• Sole Survivor
• Heather Morris
• Derek Hansen
• The Tattooist of Auschwitz
• Chardonnay

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Sole Survivor, The Tattooist of Auschwitz, Cilka’s Journey, Three Sisters, The Wish, The Piano Teacher of Montparnasse

Places: New Zealand, Great Barrier Island

More episodes of Drinks in the Library

• 1984 by George Orwell with Sam Helmick, President of the American Library Association 2026 · June 9, 2026 · 37 min
• The Golden Compass by Phillip Pullman with Laura McAsh · June 2, 2026 · 50 min
• The Seven Daughters of Dupree by Nikesha Elise Williams with Rhonda McKnight · May 26, 2026 · 40 min
• How to Save Your Own Life by Erica Jong with Selene Castrovilla · May 19, 2026 · 47 min
• The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah with Kara Infante · May 12, 2026 · 45 min
• Great Expectations by Charles Dickens with Francine Prose · May 5, 2026 · 31 min