The romance of French cuisine with Karina May

Better Words

Karina May is a Sydney-based former magazine journalist turned digital marketer, avid reader and writer of lively love stories that span the globe. When she's not dreaming up her next meet-cute, you'll likely find her rescuing her paperback from the bath, or out guzzling espresso martinis in the name of research. We're discussing her new novel, Duck á l'Orange for Breakfast.

Our interview begins at 21:00

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It's been a real week for us reading-wise. Michelle's been abandoning books left, right and centre and we couldn't settle on a book club. We're both in a bit of a reading slump!

So, this intro is slightly chaotic with a moving-to-the-UK update from Michelle, plus book and TV recommendations from both.

Caitlin recommends: Happy Place by Emily Henry and Queen Charlotte (TV)

Michelle recommends: Double Booked by Lily Lindon and Blue Lights (TV)

In this interview, we chat about:

• How Karina's own experience undergoing two brain surgeries inspired the novel
• In contrast, how Karina wrote what she didn't know using the help of a French chef to create recipes for the novel
• Why IKEA became such a focal point of Max's story
• Karina's love of travel and how it helped shape the novel
• The journey to publication and why Karina has a second book coming out this year

Books and other things mentioned:

• The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
• 500 Days of Summer (film)

Follow @karinamaywrite on Instagram

Duck á l'Orange for Breakfast is available now. Thank you to Pan Macmillan Australia for providing copies of the book in preparation for the interview.

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