This week on Ray of Light, I'm joined by author Flora Dunn, who writes warm, feel-good fiction set in the fictional English village of Tillingham. Her latest book, A Gala Ball at Tillingford Hall, follows former supermodel Sahara Seaton-Smith as she rebuilds her life — with a rescued piglet named Muffin, a TV historian co-presenter, and a chance at the happy ending readers have been waiting for.

We talk about building a fictional world that feels real, why romance is spiritual solace rather than "flimflam," the role of faith and forgiveness in her stories, and the Audible deal that changed her writing life. Plus: self-publishing freedom, gardening happiness, writing advice for new novelists, and what's next from Tillingford Hall.

📖 Flora Dunn's latest book — A Gala Ball at Tillingford Hall — is out on October 15th.

Follow Eleanor Ray: Instagram: @eleanorraybooks TikTok: @eleanorraybooks

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Welcome back to Ray of Light! Season 3 kicks off with historical fiction author Jack Jewers, a BAFTA-nominated filmmaker turned novelist, whose latest book Seething Lane imagines Samuel Pepys as a reluctant investigator solving a brutal double murder in the freezing winter of 1670s Restoration London.

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!

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