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From Chef to Sleuth

In this delicious episode, my guest is Orlando Murrin, a former high-profile food writer who transitioned into the world of mystery writing. After sharing his foundation in food writing, Orlando reveals the pivotal moment when a friend's book deal ignited his own passion for writing mysteries. I learned so much from Orlando, as we discussed his writing process, the creation of his protagonist Paul, editing challenges, and the importance of physical wellness for writers. We also touch on his inspirations, future book ideas, and invaluable advice for aspiring writers. Plus, as you’ll hear, there were multiple laugh-out-lound moments in this one. A must-listen!

Chapters:

01:46 From Food Writer to Mystery Novelist03:48 The Turning Point: A Friend's Success06:08 Crafting the Mystery: Character and Plot12:13 Writing Techniques and Challenges17:53 Life Lessons and Writing Advice21:49 Paul's Adventures and Future Plans24:34 The Joy of Imaginative Writing25:43 Character Development and Reader Reactions27:55 Setting and Scene Crafting30:42 The Writing Process and Plotting41:29 Physical and Mental Wellness for Writers46:29 Conclusion and Future Projects

About Orlando:

After being flung into the culinary limelight as a semi-finalist on Masterchef, Orlando Murrin edited Woman and Home, BBC Good Food and founded Olive magazine; then he switched track to become a chef-hotelier in SW France and Somerset.

He has written six cookbooks and received an Outstanding Achievement Award from the Guild of Food Writers, its highest accolade. A popular guest on TV and radio, and at food and literary festivals, he is also a regular podcaster and podcast host.

From his grandfather, a Met detective who rose to become a crack MI5 interrogator, he inherited a fascination with crime and mystery. He lives in domestic bliss in Exeter, Devon, and has written two culinary crime novels: Knife Skills For Beginners (shortlisted for the McDermid Debut and Crime Fiction Lover Debut Awards) and Murder Below Deck.

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