Cut from the Same Cloth

Does a talent for writing run in the family, or is it shaped by the environment in which we grow up? Acclaimed New Zealand author and poet Marilyn Duckworth, whose works include The Chiming Blue: New and Selected Poems, joins her daughter, writer Mia Farlane, author of And How Are Things With You, for a fascinating and personal conversation about creativity, family influences and growing up surrounded by literature. A celebrated figure in New Zealand literature, Marilyn Duckworth received the Prime Minister's Award for Literary Achievement in 2016 and is the sister of renowned poet Fleur Adcock. Her distinguished writing career spans decades and includes novels, short stories and poetry. Mia Farlane, whose debut novel Footnotes to Sex explored relationships and identity, has previously reflected on how watching her mother transform family experiences into fiction influenced her own interest in storytelling. Together, mother and daughter explore what it means to grow up in a literary household, how family relationships shape creative expression, and whether the urge to write is inherited or developed through experience. The conversation takes an intriguing turn as they ask each other questions they may never have dared to raise before, offering a rare glimpse into their shared history, individual writing journeys and the connections between family life and storytelling. The discussion is hosted by Tracy Farr, an award-winning New Zealand author whose novels include Wonderland. Part of VerbCrawl 2026, this intimate literary conversation promises a thoughtful, revealing and entertaining exploration of family, creativity and the stories that connect generations.