Maralyn Dennis Hill, the Epecurian Explorer, was born in Chicago, Illinois. She had her first train ride at 2weeks and was hooked on travel. She says she was born to travel and tell the tale. She grew up with great cooks and enjoys all aspects of food. Maralyn writes about food, wine and travel together. She views them as a geography lesson.
In addition to Chicago, Hill lived in Connecticut, the Carolinas, and Arizona, plus some other destinations short term.
After co-authoring "Our Love Affairs with Food & Travel" with Brenda Hill (no relation), Maralyn and Brenda joined French Master Chef Hervé Laurent in writing "Cooking Secrets: The Why and How..." in 2008, and then the Hill team wrote 2009 Indie Finalist,"$uccess, Your Path to a Successful Book" (a workbook on how to write a book).
Hill has hosted, produced and interviewed chefs for a Time Warner Cable show; and has been a presenter at the Santa Barbara Writer's Conference, Rancho La Puerta and Infinity Authors Retreat in addition to numerous workshops. Hill enjoys collaborating on articles and is a frequent judge at food events.
Starting as a Board Member and co-chair of its Conferences/Press Trips Committee, Hill became President of the International Food Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA) in 12-2008 to 12-2012. She continued on the board through 2014. Hill is also a member of the Society of American Travel Writers and the Society of Professional Journalists.
Hill is also Executive Editor of Luxe Beat Magazine which started in November 2013 and Editor-in-Chief of Where and What in the World,
A highlight of food, wine and travel for Maralyn was attending Bocuse d'Or in Lyon, France in 2009, 2011 and 2015 with French Master Chef Herve Laurent and Brenda Hill, as well as Sherrie Wilkolaski in 2015.
She has two great children, daughter, Lindsay and son, Eric as well as a granddaughter, Alecia and great grandchildren, Naneah and Zakiah.
All of this fun came after a 25 year career in business that always involved travel. She still does workshops, consulting, coaching and speaking. For a few clients, she also recommends sites for incentive programs and meetings. Hill always enjoyed business writing, marketing, and motivational copy and keeps her hand in that market.