The Honest Editor: Bestselling Author Phoebe Morgan Reveals the Truth About Publishing and the Perfect Hook. episode artwork

EPISODE · Nov 20, 2025 · 1H

The Honest Editor: Bestselling Author Phoebe Morgan Reveals the Truth About Publishing and the Perfect Hook.

from The Writing Community Chat Show · host Christopher Aggett

In this exclusive interview, we sit down with Phoebe Morgan, the rare publishing powerhouse who has seen success on both sides of the desk. As an Executive Fiction Publisher at Simon & Schuster and a Sunday Times bestselling author of psychological thrillers like The Trip and The Doll House, Phoebe offers unparalleled insight into the world of commercial fiction.What You’ll Learn:The Editor’s Secrets: Phoebe lifts the lid on the opaque world of the Big 5 publishers, revealing exactly what editors look for in a submission and how books truly get acquired, marketed, and turned into bestsellers.The Perfect Hook: Discover the critical element that separates a book club hit from a manuscript that fails to launch. Phoebe breaks down the commercial “hook” and how authors can use it to sell their stories.Mastering Psychological Thrillers: Get an inside look at her writing process, including how she plots (or doesn’t plot) her high-stakes suspense novels and balances a demanding full-time job with a prolific writing career.If you’re an author serious about navigating the industry, understanding the market, and writing a bestseller, this interview is essential viewing.Buy Pheobe’s latest book, The Trip, here.Podcast LinkListen to the full audio episode wherever you get your podcasts:Listen on Spreaker (The Writing Community Chat Show Podcast)Join our brand new community on our Stanstore! After conducting 360 plus interviews, we have compiled digital products to help your writing. Plus, community members get access to our live writing sprints where we write with you, keep you accountable, and give you free access to our 1-on-1 video coaching. There are forum like tabs in our community group where you can post work and receive advice, plus, much more. Join here: https://stan.store/TheWCCS This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thewccs.substack.com/subscribeBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-writing-community-chat-show--5445493/support.Connect With The Community🏆 Ranked #3 Writing Podcast in the UK (2025) The WCCS is more than a show; it’s a masterclass in the craft and business of storytelling. Join 380+ interviews with NYT Bestsellers, Indie Icons, and Celebrities.📺 Watch the Full Shows: The Writing Community Chat Show | 360+ Author Interviews, Writing Tips & Creative Chaos.✍️ The Stories Behind the Stories And Great Writing Articles: WRITE, CONNECT, GROW, With The Writing Community Chat Show. | 📚The WCCS | Substack🚀 Support the Mission With Tips And Donations: PayPal.MeTogether as one, we get it done! The Writing Community Chat Show is a proud supporter of indie authors and creative persistence.

In this exclusive interview, we sit down with Phoebe Morgan, the rare publishing powerhouse who has seen success on both sides of the desk. As an Executive Fiction Publisher at Simon & Schuster and a Sunday Times bestselling author of psychological thrillers like The Trip and The Doll House, Phoebe offers unparalleled insight into the world of commercial fiction.What You’ll Learn:The Editor’s Secrets: Phoebe lifts the lid on the opaque world of the Big 5 publishers, revealing exactly what editors look for in a submission and how books truly get acquired, marketed, and turned into bestsellers.The Perfect Hook: Discover the critical element that separates a book club hit from a manuscript that fails to launch. Phoebe breaks down the commercial “hook” and how authors can use it to sell their stories.Mastering Psychological Thrillers: Get an inside look at her writing process, including how she plots (or doesn’t plot) her high-stakes suspense novels and balances a demanding full-time job with a prolific writing career.If you’re an author serious about navigating the industry, understanding the market, and writing a bestseller, this interview is essential viewing.Buy Pheobe’s latest book, The Trip, here.Podcast LinkListen to the full audio episode wherever you get your podcasts:Listen on Spreaker (The Writing Community Chat Show Podcast)Join our brand new community on our Stanstore! After conducting 360 plus interviews, we have compiled digital products to help your writing. Plus, community members get access to our live writing sprints where we write with you, keep you accountable, and give you free access to our 1-on-1 video coaching. There are forum like tabs in our community group where you can post work and receive advice, plus, much more. Join here: https://stan.store/TheWCCS This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thewccs.substack.com/subscribeBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-writing-community-chat-show--5445493/support.Connect With The Community🏆 Ranked #3 Writing Podcast in the UK (2025) The WCCS is more than a show; it’s a masterclass in the craft and business of storytelling. Join 380+ interviews with NYT Bestsellers, Indie Icons, and Celebrities.📺 Watch the Full Shows: The Writing Community Chat Show | 360+ Author Interviews, Writing Tips & Creative Chaos.✍️ The Stories Behind the Stories And Great Writing Articles: WRITE, CONNECT, GROW, With The Writing Community Chat Show. | 📚The WCCS | Substack🚀 Support the Mission With Tips And Donations: PayPal.MeTogether as one, we get it done! The Writing Community Chat Show is a proud supporter of indie authors and creative persistence.

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The Honest Editor: Bestselling Author Phoebe Morgan Reveals the Truth About Publishing and the Perfect Hook.

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In this exclusive interview, we sit down with Phoebe Morgan, the rare publishing powerhouse who has seen success on both sides of the desk. As an Executive Fiction Publisher at Simon & Schuster and a Sunday Times bestselling author of psychological...

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