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.

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