Writing Podcast Episode 704: Fergus Craig discusses 'I’m Not the Only Murderer in my Retirement Home'

The cosy crime genre has exploded in recent years, with older protagonists featuring heavily (they tend to have more time on their hands for solving mysteries, you see). But what happens when your older protagonist has a murderous past? That’s the hilarious set up for British actor, comedian and author Fergus Craig’s new ‘cracked cosy’ whodunnit I’m Not the Only Murderer in my Retirement Home. In this episode, Fergus talks about how he started writing crime books, the joys and challenges of bringing his latest novel to life, its international bidding war, and why he decided to walk from the UK to New Zealand. 00:00 Welcome03:59 Writing tip: Keep track of your stories07:29 WIN!: On the Edge by Kate Horan09:47 Word of the week: ‘Infuscate’12:05 Writer in residence: Fergus Craig13:00 Fergus explains I’m Not the Only Murderer in my Retirement Home15:30 The attraction of cosy crime16:55 Getting a book deal via social media17:54 The appeal of a whodunnit plot22:42 The writing process: Planning vs. improvisation24:27 Challenges and joys of writing the book26:04 Differences between writing for TV and books28:02 Fergus’s daily writing routine29:49 Publishing journey and success32:59 Advice on writing comedy35:32 Promoting the book and social media success39:20 Extra tips about writing40:46 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.