SESSION WITH HEATHER MORRIS & RUTH UNDERWOODÂ
Join #1 New York Times Bestselling author, Heather Morris in a compelling conversation with UK Story Producer Ruth Underwood about the adaptation of Morrisâs multi-million selling novel The Tattooist of Auschwitz into the multi award-winning TV series starring Harvey Keitel and NZâs Melaine Lynskey.
Morris and Underwood will delve into their creative journey of adapting a beloved and deeply human story from page to screen. Together, theyâll explore the challenges of staying true to a Holocaust survivorâs lived experience, the responsibilities of translating history into visual drama, and the collaborative process of crafting a series that is both respectful and emotionally resonant.
This session will offer a rare insight into the unique journey of this project including the creative dynamics between author and story producer, and what it takes to bring powerful true stories from literature to a global television audience.
HEATHER MORRISÂ
An internationally bestselling author with a passion for stories of survival, resilience and hope.
Born in Te Awamutu, New Zealand, Heather Morris has lived between Australia and New Zealand since 1971. After completing a Bachelor of Arts degree at Monash University, she worked for over two decades in the Social Work department at a major Australian teaching and research hospital. During this time, Heather continued to pursue her lifelong passion for storytelling, enrolling in professional scriptwriting courses in both Australia and the USA.
In 2003, Heather was introduced to an elderly man who âmight just have a story worth tellingâ. The day she met Lale Sokolov changed both their lives. Laleâs story formed the basis for The Tattooist of Auschwitz, published in 2018, and for the follow-up novel, Cilkaâs Journey (2019). Three Sisters (2021), the story of three Holocaust survivors who knew Lale from their time in Auschwitz-Birkenau, concluded the Tattooist trilogy. The Tattooist of Auschwitz went on to become one of the 21st centuryâs bestselling books, and in 2024 an adaptation of the novel was released as a Stan Original Series, to wide acclaim.
Her most recent historical novel, the heart-wrenching Sisters Under the Rising Sun, is based on the true-life experiences of women held in Japanese POW camps during World War II.
Together, Heatherâs books have so far sold over 18 million copies worldwide.
The Wish is Heatherâs first contemporary novel. It was inspired by her years spent working in a busy public hospital, alongside families facing the toughest of times with love and courage.
RUTH UNDERWOOD
Ruth Underwood was instrumental in picking up the rights to Heather Morrisâ international bestseller, The Tattooist of Auschwitz, for Synchronicity Films. She story-lined the series alongside lead writer, Jacquelin Perske, ran the script department throughout development, and was Story Producer on the six-part adaptation which premiered on Sky Atlantic, Stan and Peacock in May 2024. She subsequently Script Produced and wrote on Critical Incident, a crime drama created by Sarah Bassiuoni for Matchbox which aired in August 2024 on Stan.
Ruth is currently developing her own slate including two original TV projects of her own, a third with co-creator Stuart Page, a feature film with director Ruth Borgobello, and two adaptations. She is Script Producing a biographical drama which is in pre-production for ABC. She has also just worked for a semester at Melbourne Universityâs VCA, teaching Adaptation to the third year students on the BA in Screenwriting.
