Wayward Girls by Susan Wiggs

In this episode of Historical Happy Hour, bestselling author Jane Healey sits down with Susan Wiggs to discuss her moving and deeply researched novel, Wayward Girls. Inspired by the shocking true history of the Good Shepherd Institute in Buffalo, New York, the book sheds light on the hidden network of U.S. Magdalene laundries and the young women whose lives were upended there. Wiggs shares her personal connection to the story, her extensive research—including survivor accounts and archival documents—and how she crafted a fictional sisterhood of resilient characters navigating systemic repression, secrecy, and hope. The conversation also explores the creative process, challenges of writing historical fiction, and the enduring relevance of these untold histories.