Crime, Suspense and Mystery Writing With Jo Callaghan at Guy's Cliffe House

Step through the gates of history and find your focus at the stunning Guy’s Cliffe House for an exclusive one-day writing retreat. Nestled among the atmospheric ruins of Warwick, this is your invitation to escape the noise and dedicate a full day to your craft.

We are thrilled to welcome Sunday Times bestselling author Jo Callaghan, who will join us for an intimate, deep-dive session into the mechanics of a hit novel. Whether you’re working on getting submission ready, finding a quiet corner of the grounds for self-directed writing, this retreat offers the rare blend of professional mentorship and the serene space you need to bring your stories to life.

About Our Guest Writer:

Jo Callaghan works as a senior strategist, carrying out research into the future impact of AI and geonomics on the workforce. After losing her husband to cancer in 2019, she started writing In the Blink of an Eye, her debut crime novel and the first in the Kat and Lock series, which explores learning to live with loss and what it means to be human.

It was a BBC Two’s Between the Covers pick, as well as a Waterstones Thriller of the Month, and went on be a Sunday Times bestseller and 2024 winner of both the prestigious Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year and the CWA ILP John Creasey (New Blood) Dagger awards. To date it has been published in over fifteen different countries.

Jo lives with her two children in the Midlands, and loves connecting with readers on social media as @JoCallaghanKat. She is currently working on further novels in the series.

About The Location:

Rarely open to the public, Guy's Cliffe House is a magnificent location with a rich history steeped in myth and legend. For over a century, the site has served as a sanctuary for the secret ceremonies of the Freemasons. As you walk the grounds, you are treading over hidden rock-cut caverns and through halls that have witnessed decades of whispered tradition and symbolic ritual.

For a writer, the mystery of the "Great Unknown" is baked into the very walls, providing a hauntingly perfect backdrop for uncovering the hidden depths of your own narrative. This location is the very definition of a ‘secret writing retreat.’

Planned structure of the day*

9.30 am - Join us for tea, coffee and pastries and meet the other writers you'll be joining for the day.

10.00 am -Setting your focus for the day. Whether that's writing something new, trying to improve your word count or editing a work in progress, you can set your personal goal that you'd like to work towards.

10.20 am - Tour of Guy's Cliffe House and the surrounding grounds*

10.40 am - Find yourself a quiet spot for some uninterrupted time to write.

12.00 pm - Short coffee break

12.15 pm Second writing session

1 pm Take a break with others to enjoy a spectacular buffet provided by Guy's Cliffe catering.

2 pm - One hour Q&A with our guest Jo Callaghan. This is your chance for you to ask your questions about Jo's novels, writing process, or her experience as a published writer. She will also be able to sign any books (you can also pre-order copies through our online store to collect at the retreat day)

3pm - Final writing session for your last sprint towards your goal.

3.40pm - Reflect on your goals, share insights from the day and make a toast to the rest of your writing journey. Optional sharing of work.

4.00pm- event ends.

*exact timings of the sessions may be subject to change. The tour of Guy's Cliffe includes a walk down to the cave and is not suitable for wearing heels.

Note: This retreat is for over 18s only.