Experience our in-community Rainbow Retreat that warmly welcomes queer and questioning authors and illustrators who are crafting stories for children and teen audiences. Our goal is to provide a lightly structured retreat for you to explore your creativity and share your stories while fostering connections with a diverse and accepting community. Embrace your authentic self, make progress on your stories, and find ways to amplify fellow creatives.

Join this 3-night/4-day, in-community retreat thoughtfully designed to bring LGBTQIA2S+ creatives together. It is an informally structured retreat where the focus is on your own projects with room to celebrate and cultivate the joys of this community!

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

Experience our in-community Rainbow Retreat that warmly welcomes queer and questioning authors and illustrators who are crafting stories for children and teen audiences. Our goal is to provide a lightly structured retreat for you to explore your creativity and share your stories while fostering connections with a diverse and accepting community. Embrace your authentic self, make progress on your stories, and find ways to amplify fellow creatives.

How It’s Structured

This is a lightly scheduled program with optional/informal group activities (like fireside chats, open mic, and publishing Q & A). There will be an abundance of writing, illustrating, and retreat time; please bring your stories.

Your Hosts include: Alex Gino, Rob Costello, Alexandra Villasante, & A.M. WIld

Click here to apply and find out more about the Rainbow Retreat.

This intensive, transformative Whole Novel Workshop offers writers the rare opportunity to have the entire draft (up to 80,000 words) of a novel read by faculty, with detailed written feedback and two private consultations provided. Attention in an intimate setting makes this program one that guarantees significant progress in preparation for submission.

OVERVIEW:

In-person 6-Day/5-Night Workshop and Retreat with a Full Novel Critique Included

This intensive, transformative Whole Novel Workshop offers writers the rare opportunity to have the entire draft (up to 80,000 words) of a novel read by faculty, with detailed written feedback and two private consultations provided. Attention in an intimate setting makes this program one that guarantees significant progress in preparation for submission. This Whole Novel Workshop is specifically designed for writers of novels for children and teens.

• Apply on or before July 31 (with final notifications on or before August 15)

• Optional online pre-retreat activities (via Zoom): August & September (2 evenings, dates/times TBD)

• Complete manuscript submissions due by September 7

• Feedback letters delivered to writers by October 11

• 45-minute, 1:1 Private Zoom Consultation prior to the retreat: Scheduled at a mutually convenient time, October 13 – 17

• The cost of the full course (including retreat- lodging, meals, lectures, + pre-retreat zooms, feedback letter, 1:1 consultations, and writing exercises) is $2,799.

• The in-person workshop at our Retreat Center includes inspirational sessions and opportunities for time in the company of fellow creatives.

  • Begins with dinner 5:30pm Eastern on Thursday, October 17

  • Ends with lunch at 11:45am Eastern on Tuesday, October 22

  • We include ample time to relax, retreat, and work on your revisions.

  • Lodging and meals are included at the retreat.

• 16 participants max

Faculty include: Erin Entrada Kelly, Jennifer Jacobson, Ernesto Cisneros, Sarah Aronson, Nora Shalaway Carpenter, Alicia D. Williams, Nicole Valentine, & Rob Costello

Click here to find out more and apply now.

A Focus on Revision:

The inaugural R(ev)ise and Shine! Residency, will be held August 31 thru September 3, 2024 at the Highlights Foundation in Milanville, PA.

Take advantage of a full schedule of lectures, targeted writing exercises, one-on-one meetings with mentors, face time with an agent, and other group activities. Our special guests will be the amazing agent and author Eric Smith, and the renowned illustrator and artist, James Ransome. All attendees will have their own private room/cabin, and will enjoy gourmet, chef-prepared meals.

A tentative schedule of events, a comprehensive FAQ, and detailed lecture/workshop descriptions are available on our website.

This intensive, transformative Whole Novel Workshop offers writers the rare opportunity to have the entire draft (up to 80,000 words) of a novel read by faculty, with detailed written feedback and two private consultations provided. Attention in an intimate setting makes this program one that guarantees significant progress in preparation for submission.

OVERVIEW:

In-person 6-Day/5-Night Workshop and Retreat with a Full Novel Critique Included

This intensive, transformative Whole Novel Workshop offers writers the rare opportunity to have the entire draft (up to 80,000 words) of a novel read by faculty, with detailed written feedback and two private consultations provided. Attention in an intimate setting makes this program one that guarantees significant progress in preparation for submission. This Whole Novel Workshop is specifically designed for writers of novels for children and teens.

• Apply on or before May 15 (with final notifications on or before May 31)

• Optional online pre-retreat activities (via Zoom): June & July (2 evenings, dates/times TBD)

• Complete manuscript submissions due by July 1

• Feedback letters delivered to writers by August 10

• 45-minute, 1:1 Private Zoom Consultation prior to the retreat: Scheduled at a mutually convenient time, August 10 – 14

• The cost of the full course (including retreat + pre-retreat zooms, feedback letter, 1:1 consultations, lectures, and writing exercises) is $2,799.

• The in-person workshop at our Retreat Center includes inspirational sessions and opportunities for time in the company of fellow creatives.

  • Begins with dinner 5:30pm Eastern on Wednesday, August 14

  • Ends with lunch at 11:45am Eastern on Monday, August 19

  • We include ample time to relax, retreat, and work on your revisions.

  • Lodging and meals are included at the retreat.

• 16 participants max

Faculty include: Sarah Aronson, Diana Ma, Nancy Werlin, Janae Marks, Rob Costello, I.W. Gregorio, Crystal Allen, Nicole Valentine, & Alicia D. Williams.

Click here to find out more and apply now.

Rob Costello will attend Readercon 33 to participate in the Lethe Press reading and book signing to promote his short story collection The Dancing Bears: Queer Fables for the End Times. A limited number of copies of We Mostly Come Out at Night: 15 Queer Tales of Monsters, Angels & Other Creatures will also be available for sale/signing.

Details TBA

Click here to find out more about Readercon.