Maggie O'Farrell on gardening for stories

I’ve long been fascinated by roots - and the crossover between our families and the land that we are raised on. And it seems I’m not alone: Maggie O’Farrell was drawn to the Wild Atlantic Way after hearing stories about her heritage. Years later, and her latest novel, LAND, is inspired by her own family history and the potent mythology of the Irish landscape. 

Maggie O’Farrell has sold more than four million novels internationally over a 25-year-long career, winning The Costa Novel Award and the Women’s Prize along the way. Earlier this year she earned an Oscar nomination for the screenplay of her novel Hamnet, which is also preoccupied with women, growing and the powers of the earth. 

And it’s in the midst of this career-defining year that we meet Maggie, on the morning of her  book launch, in between sunshine and showers in a woodland, to talk about writing, womanhood and what keeps luring her back to the soil. 

Thank you to Maggie O’Farrell. Land is out now, and I heartily recommend you read it.

This podcast is inspired by my book, ⁠⁠Why Women Grow: Stories of Soil, Sisterhood and Survival⁠⁠, which is available in all good bookshops. We’ve also been photographing our guests and their gardens and you can see the beautiful images captured by India Hobson ⁠⁠on my website⁠⁠ and instagram account @⁠⁠⁠⁠alicevincentwrites⁠⁠⁠⁠. Thank you to our friends at ⁠⁠Niwaki⁠⁠. You can get 10% off your order with the code WHYWOMENGROW.

If you’re new to the Why Women Grow podcast, do check out our previous episodes, including guests such as Michelle Ogundehin and Daisy Johnson. And if you’ve enjoyed this episode, it would mean so much if you could rate and review the podcast on whichever platform you’re listening in on, or share it with someone you think may enjoy it.

This episode was produced by Holly Fisher. The theme music is by Maria Chiara Argiro.