What if plot was the last thing on a mystery writer's mind? In this episode of Ray of Light, Eleanor Ray sits down with cozy crime author Fliss Chester to talk about her brand new series set in Cornwall, beginning with Murder in a Cornish Tea Shop — out now!

Fliss shares how setting and characters come before plot, why an eye for interior design is the perfect skill for a fictional detective, and the real-life cat behind her beloved character Burnt Toast (plus her plan to get a ginger kitten called Crumpet if the books do well enough).

They also chat about what makes cozy crime so irresistible, Fliss's love of golden age mysteries, the joy of new beginnings, and what's coming next — including Murder in a Cornish Book Club, due out in June.

If you love charming seaside settings, 1920s glamour, and just the occasional murder, this one's for you.

Books mentioned: 📚 Murder in a Cornish Tea Shop — Fliss Chester (out now) 📚 Murder in a Cornish Book Club — Fliss Chester (June 2025) 📚 See the Stars — Eleanor Ray 📚 Everything is Beautiful — Eleanor Ray

Find Eleanor: 🌐 www.eleanorraybooks.com 📱 @eleanorraybooks

Ray of Light — a podcast about reading, writing, and happiness. Like and subscribe for more!

#CozyCrime #CozyMystery #MurderInACornishTeaShop #FlissChester #EleanorRay #RayOfLightPodcast #AuthorInterview #WritingCommunity #AspiringAuthor #AmWriting #WritingTips #WritingProcess #BookPodcast

What does it really take to get a top editor's attention — and keep it past the first page? Phoebe Morgan is a fiction publisher at Simon & Schuster and the author of five psychological thrillers, so she knows what it's like on both sides of the submission email.

In this episode, Phoebe pulls back the curtain on what happens inside acquisition meetings, why your book's hook matters more than you think, and what she's really looking for in those crucial first 20 pages. She also talks about the emotional reality of receiving edits as a writer, her Substack The Honest Editor, and her advice for aspiring authors navigating the publishing world.

Whether you're writing your first novel or trying to crack the code of commercial fiction, this conversation is packed with honest, practical insight from someone who lives and breathes both sides of the industry.

ABOUT THE GUEST

Phoebe Morgan is a fiction publisher at Simon & Schuster and the author of The Doll's House, The Girl Next Door, The Wild Girls, and The Trip. Find her Substack: The Honest Editor.

ABOUT THE HOST

Eleanor Ray writes uplifting book club fiction about hope, connection, and the unexpected turns life can take. Her most recent novel, See the Stars, is out now in paperback. Find out more at www.eleanorraybooks.com and follow @EleanorRayBooks on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

#WritingAdvice #HowToGetPublished #PublishingIndustry #AmWriting #AspiringAuthor #WritingCommunity #RayOfLightPodcast

Bestselling crime novelist Andrea Mara joins Ray of Light to discuss her novel All Her Fault, its TV adaptation starring Sarah Snook and Dakota Fanning, and writing stories about motherhood's deepest fears. We talk about the casting moment that made her scream, how her books grow with her children, emotional labor in parenting, and keeping emotional truth at the heart of page-turning thrillers. A must-listen for writers, parents, and anyone who loves stories about real human dynamics.