ShadowScript Sessions: 'Eat With The Seasons'

We’ve been working with Cork based author, Cathy Fitzgibbon, for several years now and wanted to give readers a peek into the thinking behind her fabulous book, ‘Eat With The Seasons’. Here’s a ShadowScript Sessions Q&A with Cathy moderated by our founder, Conor.

 
Q: What’s the question you wish readers would ask about your work, but never do?

I wish someone would ask, “What surprised you most about yourself while writing this book?” Writing it revealed how much I take the everyday for granted - sunlight, seasons, quiet moments, uninterrupted mealtimes and how noticing those details can completely change how we experience life.

Q: What was the first idea, image, or line that kicked this book into motion?

It began with a bowl of warm soup in winter. Steam rising, the scent of root vegetables and a sense that food could anchor us to the present moment.

Q: If your book had a soundtrack, what three songs would have to be on it?

Fields of Gold by Sting - for its warmth and harvest calm.

Bloom by The Paper Kites - because it feels like growth and renewal.

Colours of the Wind by Judy Kuhn - for grounding flow and mindful self-reflection.

Q: What rule of writing do you break on purpose?

The book is also a journal so I left space throughout for readers to self-reflect and discover their own eating patterns, habits and behaviours, guiding them towards understanding, acceptance and self-love.

Q: What’s the most unexpected place your writing has taken you—geographically, emotionally, or otherwise?

Emotionally, it took me back to my parents’ kitchen. It became a reflection of the people who nourished me before I knew what mindful eating was.

Q: What’s the strangest bit of research you’ve ever had to do for your book?

The strangest research I did was asking different farmers how they decide when to bring certain produce to the market. Everyone had their own answer, some checked the weather, some just ‘knew.’ Those short conversations taught me a lot about how seasonal eating actually works from a farm to table perspective.

Q: What part of the writing process do you secretly look forward to, even if you pretend you don’t?

Editing. The quiet, meditative pruning of words. It’s like preparing a meal by chopping, stirring, tasting and refining.

Q: What non-writing habit improves your writing the most?

Spending time in nature. Observing the changing patterns of the seasons reminds me that good writing, like the natural world, has rhythm and pause.

Q: What’s the biggest misconception about mindful eating?

That it’s a diet. It’s not - it’s a relationship. It’s about listening, not restricting. My book tries to shift that conversation.

Q: Which tiny detail in the book means the most to you personally; something readers might easily miss?

The dedication to my parents. It’s a small line at the front, easy for readers to overlook, but it carries everything: gratitude, love and the foundation of who I am.

Q: What non-writing habit most improves your writing?

Walking outdoors keeps my mind sharp and my observations grounded. It’s research without realising it!

Q: What nearly made the final draft but didn’t, and why?

I nearly included a chapter about foraging, because it’s such an interesting way to connect with the seasons. But the more I wrote, the more I realised it would send readers down a whole different path. It felt too specialised for this book, so I cut it and kept the focus on seasonal eating.

Q: Which author (living or dead) would completely understand your work and why does that amuse you?

Thich Nhat Hanh would completely understand my work. His writing on mindfulness captures exactly what I’m trying to share. While his wisdom is profound and serene, my book is full of very practical tools for real‑life moments.

Q: If your book were a place readers could physically visit, what should they pack?

If my book were a place, it would be a bustling farmers market at the height of the season. Readers should pack a sturdy tote bag, a notebook for jotting down inspiration and an appetite for tasting - because every page is about noticing, enjoying and savoring what’s fresh and in season.

Q: What’s the single bravest decision you made while writing this book?

The bravest decision I made was focusing on practical tools rather than just theory. It would have been easier to write a book full of ideas about mindfulness, but I wanted readers to walk away with simple, actionable ways to eat more consciously every day.

Q; What’s the biggest misconception people have about your genre and how does your work challenge it?

The biggest misconception about mindful eating is that it’s just about eating less or following strict rules. In reality, it’s about awareness, enjoyment and connection to your food.

Q: If your future self, ten years from now, sent you a note about your writing, what would it say?

Keep noticing. Keep slowing down. Keep finding the extraordinary in ordinary moments.

 *©ShadowScript Team, November 2025. 
*Find Cathy’s book online and in selected bookstores around Ireland.