SECRET
WRITING RETREATS
UNIQUE WRITING RETREATS IN INSPIRING LOCATIONS
A DAY OF INSPIRED WRITING AT GUY’S CLIFFE HOUSE
With guest Author Harriet Cummings
Saturday 21st June 2025
About the location
Rarely open to the public, Guy's Cliffe House is a magnificent location with a rich history steeped in myth, legend, and even romance! Once a magnificent stately home that overlooking the River Avon, the location is now home to the freemasons, and still houses an old chapel and secret cave that was said to be the hermitage used by Sir Guy of Warwick back in the Saxon age. The current house where we will be based for this fantastic writing retreat day is overlooked by the ancient ruins and will be set in a building that holds a few surprises of its own! This location is the very definition of a ‘secret writing retreat.’
ABOUT OUR GUEST AUTHOR
Attendees of this inspiring event will be joined by author and writer Harriet Cummings. Harriet is a published novelist, scriptwriter and freelance copywriter from Leamington Spa. Her debut novel, We All Begin As Strangers, was shortlisted for a Books Are My Bag award and her scripts have been performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and in venues around London. She loves chatting about writing, especially the nuts and bolts of story structure.
Crime Writing at
The West Midlands Police Museum
With guest Author Natalie Marlow
Saturday 12th July 2025
ABOUT THE LOCATION
An exclusive opportunity to fully immerse yourself in your crime fiction narrative as you explore an authentic Victorian lock-up, constructed in 1891 and operational as a police cell block until 2016. This retreat includes free entry to the museum, chartering the history of West Midland’s policing and up to the current day so is also a perfect opportunity to research policing techniques to ensure your crime novel is as accurate as possible. With the museum to ourselves and plenty of time to write, you'll be free to choose a writing spot - from an interview room or even an old cell!
ABOUT OUR GUEST AUTHOR
Natalie Marlow is an historical crime novelist with a fascination for the people and landscapes of the Midlands. Her critically acclaimed debut novel, Needless Alley, was both a Val McDermid New Blood pick and shortlisted for the Crime Fest debut prize. Natalie holds an MA in Creative Writing from the University of East Anglia and is currently working on the next book in the William Garrett series.
As writers, we rarely celebrate the every day achievement of getting the writing done.
This was something I wanted to incorporate at every event by Secret Writing Retreats.
Whether its just a glass of something fizzy or a full blown confetti cannon party, you'll come away feeling like like you've achieved something and had fun while doing it!
Jen Flannery, founder of Secret Writing Retreats
“The Secret Writing Retreat was a godsend.
It gave me the time and space I needed to really get my head into my book. No thinking about meal prep or childcare or other domestic diversions, just hours of productive work surrounded by nice people in a calm, quiet environment. Bliss!”
Liam Brown, author of
'Broadcast', 'Skin' and 'Evergreens.'
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