In this episode of The Good Girl Confessional, host Sandy Lowres welcomes the extraordinary Barbara Sumner, a New Zealand filmmaker, author, and PhD scholar. Barbara shares the inspiration behind her latest novel, The Gallows Bird, a historical fiction set in the 1830s that unveils the untold stories of women convicts transported to Australia. Drawing from both research and personal history, Barbara crafts an unforgettable narrative about a woman named Birdie, her brutal life in London, and her journey across the seas to an unknown land.
Throughout the podcast, Barbara and Sandy delve into the erasure of women from historical records, particularly convict women, whose lives and contributions have long been overlooked. Barbara also touches on her own personal experiences with adoption and how they have informed her writing and worldview. Together, they explore the challenges of writing about forgotten women’s histories and how their stories are more relevant today than ever.
Barbara also gives insight into her previous memoir, Tree of Strangers, and her extensive research process, which includes uncovering surprising family connections to convict ancestors. With deep reflection on identity, survival, and the resilience of women, this conversation is a compelling journey into history, memory, and storytelling.
Tune in for a fascinating exploration of history, writing, and the enduring power of women’s stories. This is an episode you won’t want to miss!
