Atlanta Writers Club Writer’s Retreat 2023
October 13-15
Every writer needs to get away from the demands of life and have time for yourself to write in a relaxing setting, experience nature at the peak of autumnal beauty, enjoy the company of other writers, and recharge. The AWC Retreat at Kennedy Creek Resort in Suches, Georgia, provides all that and much more.
Suches, “The Valley Above the Clouds,” is just 80 miles north of Atlanta and offers renowned Blue Ridge Mountain scenery and outdoor activities galore, including hikes to Sea Creek Falls, Chattahoochee Forest, and the famous Appalachian Trail. The Kennedy Creek resort boasts 40 acres of woods, creeks, trails, and even its own airstrip.
During your retreat, in addition to relaxing in the fresh mountain air and getting the chance to write in a peaceful new environment, you will also experience two evenings of live musical entertainment, an open mic opportunity to share your writing, a keynote talk by award-winning author Ann Hite, famous for her Black Mountain novels, and three hours of panel discussions and Q&A about writing with AWC Executive Director George Weinstein and the Wild Women Who Write: Kim Conrey, KJ Fieler, Lizbeth Jones, and Kathy Nichols.
WHO CAN ATTEND
Open to all current members of the Atlanta Writers Club.
The $218.91 cost covers
-
Educational Writing Talks
- Ann Hite – Keynote Speaker
- George Weinstein
- Kim Conrey
- KJ Fieler
- Lizbeth Jones
- Kathy Nichols
-
Meals
- Friday: dinner
- Saturday: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
- Sunday: breakfast
-
Entertainment
- Live musical entertainment on Friday night and Saturday night
Does Not Include
This price does not include accommodations. You can see a full list of our accommodations here.
Please note: our cabins can be shared with other participants. To reserve a cabin to share, we ask that you designate a primary contact, for your party, for the purposes of registering and paying for a cabin.
Cancellation
If you cancel before September 13, 2023 you will receive a full refund minus Eventbrite’s fees. The refund is automatic, but you do have to cancel through Eventbrite to receive the refund.
Itinerary
Note: All meals and events will be held at the Tavern, unless otherwise noted.
Friday, Oct. 13:
- Check in (3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.)
- Dinner (6:00 p.m.)
- Evening mixer with live entertainment (7:30 p.m.)
Saturday, Oct. 14:
- Breakfast (7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.)
- Keynote address by Ann Hite (9:00 a.m.)
- Outdoor activities including guide-led hikes and other nature activities on the resort grounds and access to the Appalachian Trail and/or writing time (10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.)
- Lunch (12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.)
- Cocktail Hour (5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.)
- Dinner (6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.)
- Open mic opportunity to share your writing (7:30 p.m.)
- Live musical entertainment (8:30 p.m.)
Sunday, Oct. 15:
- Breakfast (7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.)
- Writer’s panels and Q&A with the Wild Women Who Write and George Weinstein (9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m)
- George Weinstein
- Kim Conrey
- KJ Fieler
- Lizbeth Jones
- Kathy Nichols
- Check out (2:00 p.m.)
Our Speakers
Ann Hite – Keynote Speaker
At age 51, Ann Hite became a published novelist. Hite’s debut novel, Ghost on Black Mountain, won Georgia Author of the Year and was a Townsend Prize Finalist in 2012. She is the author of the following books: The Storycatcher (2013, Simon & Schuster), Where the Souls Go (2015, Mercer University Press), Sleeping above Chaos (2016, Mercer University Press_, a novella Lowcountry Spirit (2013, Pocket Book), Going to the Water (2021, Firefly Southern Fiction), and her newest, Haints on Black Mountain: A Haunted Short Story Collection (2022, Mercer University Press), as well as a memoir, Roll the Stone Away (2020, Mercer University Press). Her books have been finalists in IndieFab and Georgia Author of the Year Awards. She has been nominated for three Pushcarts. Haints on Black Mountain was selected as one of 10 finalists for the 2023 Townsend Prize, an Inde Award finalist, nominated for a Pushcart, Weatherford, and Georgia Author of the Year 2023. Being a city girl most of her life, Ann now writes each day in her home office that looks out on a decent clutter of trees, where she is hard at work on a biography of Lucille Selig Frank, Leo Frank’s wife. Her website is www.annhiteauthor.com.
George Weinstein
George Weinstein is the author of a diverse range of novels, including the beloved Southern historical novel Hardscrabble Road; its 2022 sequel, Return to Hardscrabble Road; the novel of forgotten U.S. history The Five Destinies of Carlos Moreno; the domestic drama of reinvention The Caretaker; the amateur-sleuth murder mystery Aftermath, the kidnapping thriller Watch What You Say, and even a satirical sci-fi romp titled Offlining. His website is www.GeorgeWeinstein.com. He also is the Executive Director of the Atlanta Writers Club and has helped thousands of writers on their quest for publication through the Club and the twice-yearly Atlanta Writers Conference, which he has managed for 15 years.
Kim Conrey
Kim Conrey is the author of the sci-fi romance series Ares Ascending and the urban fantasy, Nicholas Eternal, Book One of The Wayward Saviors series. When she’s not writing the Ares and Wayward Saviors series, she writes a blog about living with OCD at harmocdkimconrey.com. You can also find her marching in Atlanta’s Dragon Con parade as a Box Hero Wonder Woman. She also serves as VP of Operations for the Atlanta Writers Club. In addition, she collaborates on a podcast with the Wild Women Who Write where they interview authors and industry professionals with a primary goal of supporting female writers.
K.J. Fieler
Author K.J. Fieler is a panelist on the Wild Women Who Write podcast, a member of the Atlanta Writers Club, Florida Writers’ Association, North Florida Writers, Henderson Group, and the Amelia Island Book Festival. Her short story, “Loyalty,” is slated to be archived on the Moon via the Lunar Codex project. Her novel, Shadow Runner, is the first in a three-book Victorian Adventure series. Technically a Florida resident, Fieler spends most of the year traveling with her husband and blogging from their Airstream at various national parks.
Lizbeth Jones
Lizbeth Jones is a published writer of short fiction, nonfiction articles, interviews, and poetry, as well as a freelance editor. She earned her degree in Creative Writing from the University of Arizona where she was awarded a faculty scholarship. Her blog Ulterior Colors explores the creative process, passing along insights from professors, mentors, and various artists.
Kathy Nichols
Katherine Nichols is the award-winning author of The Sometime Sister, a family saga with suspense, heart, and humor, as well as The Unreliables, and Trust Issues. A vice president of The Atlanta Writers Club, she also serves on the board of Sisters in Crime Atlanta. As a strong proponent of women authors supporting each other, Katherine co-hosts the inspirational Wild Women Who Write Take Flight podcast. When she isn’t spending time with her children and grandchildren, she loves to read, walk, and travel. She lives in Lilburn, Georgia with her husband, two rescue dogs, and two rescue cats.