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Start giftingThe Writing Retreat
A Novel
Bookseller recommendation
“My goodness. This debut took me on a wild ride. It basically turns into a locked room murder mystery. A dream come true opportunity for four female writers to participate in a writing retreat with their favorite author at her isolated gothic mansion quickly becomes their worst nightmare. A winter storm then transforms the setting vibe from isolated to claustrophobic. The tension continually ratchets up with weird experiences, competitiveness, and former friend friction. And that's all before people start dying. There’s also a story within the story with excerpts from the main character Alex’s writing, which is inspired by the creepy legends of the mansion’s previous owners...I often do mysteries as audiobooks because it keeps me from controlling the pacing and starting to skim. I suspect that might have been the case if I read the print copy. ”
— Cori • Bright Side Bookshop
Bookseller recommendation
“This story takes ‘never meet your heroes’ to a whole new level. I loved the use of tension in the book, and how the author played with supernatural elements while still keeping the story grounded in reality. Twisty, dark, and even fun!”
— Ann Branson • Beach Books
INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
“Sex, suspense, and the supernatural fuel this propulsive debut.” —People
A young author is invited to an exclusive writer’s retreat that soon descends into a pulse-pounding nightmare—in the vein of The Plot and Please Join Us.
Alex has all but given up on her dreams of becoming a published author when she receives a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: attend an exclusive, month-long writing retreat at the estate of feminist horror writer Roza Vallo. Even the knowledge that Wren, her former best friend and current rival, is attending doesn’t dampen her excitement.
But when the attendees arrive, Roza drops a bombshell—they must all complete an entire novel from scratch during the next month, and the author of the best one will receive a life-changing seven-figure publishing deal. Determined to win this seemingly impossible contest, Alex buckles down and tries to ignore the strange happenings at the estate, including Roza’s erratic behavior, Wren’s cruel mind games, and the alleged haunting of the mansion itself. But when one of the writers vanishes during a snowstorm, Alex realizes that something very sinister is afoot. With the clock running out, she must discover the truth—or suffer the same fate.
A claustrophobic and propulsive thriller that “will keep you up all night with its intriguing premise and gasp-worthy twists” (Kirthana Ramisetti, author of Dava Shastri’s Last Day), The Writing Retreat expertly explores the dark side of female relationships, fame, and the desire to have our stories told.
Julia Bartz is the New York Times bestselling author of The Writing Retreat, a practicing therapist, and a creative coach. Her fiction writing has appeared in The South Dakota Review, InDigest Magazine, and more. She lives in Brooklyn. Connect with her on social media @JuliaBartz.
