Mountainside Novelist Retreat
November 9, 2025—November 12, 2025
1 Ridgecrest Dr.
Black Mountain, NC
A Hands-on Experience for Novelists
Call 1-800-588-7222 to Register Today!
Plan to join us November 9 - 12, 2025 for the next Mountainside Novelist Retreat at Ridgecrest!
Storytelling is the ancient art of entertaining others with a powerful story. What better way to move farther along your publishing journey than at a novelist retreat in the mountains? This event will equip writers through workshops and private meetings around all aspects of being a novelist—from improving the craft of writing to valuable tips for marketing and launching a book. Through a variety of classes geared specifically for novelists, this event will help focus on building strengths from challenges. The Novelist retreat is ONLY open to fiction writers: from those with a fiction manuscript in progress, to those with multiple novels published. Join us at the Ridgecrest Conference Center in Black Mountain, NC for hours of hard work, spiritual renewal, and building a career as a novelist.
The Premise
This event will be a retreat to equip novelists—from those with an in-progress novel to those with multiple books. Featured Instructors include best-selling novelist Kara Swanson, along with other industry professionals soon to be announced. During these four days writers can expect:
- classroom instruction time including:
- the craft of writing
- book launches
- organization
- social media & marketing
- private writing time
- meetings with editors, agents and industry professionals
Details
- Program Fee:
- Accommodations:
- Meals:
The Schedule (just an outline, specifics updated soon!)
Sunday
1:00 – 3:00 p.m. Registration
3:15 – 3:30 Opening
3:45 – 4:00 Icebreaker
4:15 – 5:15 Class:
- TBA
5:30 – 6:30 Supper
7:00 – 8:15 Panel Discussion – working with a publishing house
- TBA
Monday
7:15 – 8:15 Breakfast
8:30 – 8:50 Announcements & Devotion
9:00 – 10:15 Class:
- TBA
10:30 – 11:45 Class:
- TBA
12:00 – 1:00 Lunch
1:00 – 2:30 Private Writing Time and/or Brainstorming
1:00 – 2:00 Round Table Discussions
- TBA
2:45 – 3:45 Class:
- TBA
4:00 – 5:00 Class:
- TBA
5:30 – 6:30 Supper
7:00 – 8:15 Keynote – Kara Swanson
Tuesday
7:15 – 8:15 Breakfast
8:30 – 8:50 Announcements & Devotion
9:00 – 10:15 Class:
- TBA
10:30 – 11:45
- TBA
12:00 – 1:00 Lunch
1:00 – 2:30 Private Writing Time and/or Brainstorming
1:00 – 2:00 Round Table Discussions
- TBA
2:45 – 3:45 Class:
- TBA
4:00 – 5:00 Class:
- TBA
5:30 – 6:30 Supper
7:00 – 8:15 Class:
- TBA
Wednesday
7:15 – 8:15 Breakfast
8:30 – 8:50 Announcements & Devotional
9:00 – 9:30 Pack Your Car
9:45 – 11:00 Closing Keynote
11:15 – 11:45 Final Faculty Q & A
12:00 – 1:00 Lunch
Meet the Leaders
Edie Melson
Director/Author/Social Media Expert
Edie Melson is a woman of faith with ink-stained fingers experiencing life through the lens of her camera. No matter whether she’s talking about faith, writing, or social media, her first advice is always “Find your voice, live your story.” Her reputation as an online expert is well-deserved. Her blog reaches thousands and has been on the Writer’s Digest Top 101 Sites for Writers since 2017. In her role as social media coach she’s worked with clients that range from authors and speakers to business and ministry leaders. Her bestselling eBook on this subject, has been updated, expanded and re-released with co-author DiAnn Mills as Social Media for Today’s Writer. She’s the director of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, board member of the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, and author of numerous books. She’s quick to remind those she meets about the practical and personal applications of God’s infinite love. Visit her online at www.EdieMelson.com
Edwina Perkins
Co-director/Publisher Harambee Press
Edwina Perkins is an award-winning writer, experienced teacher, speaker, and free-lance editor. She served on the Word Weavers Orlando Leadership Team and now is a part of the Word Weavers International Advisory Committee. She worked as a content editor with Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas and is currently the Managing Editor for Harambee Press—LPC’s ethnic voices imprint which seeks to publish ethnic writers.
She is a wife, mother of four adult children, grandmother of two, and owner of a 16-year-old bichon poodle mix who believes the world revolves around him.
Lynette Eason
Assistant Director/Literary Agent
Lynette Eason is the best-selling, award-winning author of over sixty-five books. Many have appeared on the USA Today, Publisher’s Weekly, CBA, ECPA, and Parable bestseller lists. Lynette teaches at writing conferences all over the country, but when she’s not plotting and writing her next story, she’s hard at work as an agent for the Steve Laube Agency.
Lynette is looking to represent a wide variety of fiction including, but not limited to, romantic suspense, thrillers, mysteries, speculative fiction, historical, women’s contemporary, YA, and writers targeting the Love Inspired suspense lines. I’m also interested in YA non-fiction and may be interested in some adult non-fiction, depending on the topic. For fun, Lynette enjoys hanging out with her family and putting her photography skills to good use. You can find more about Lynette at www.lynetteeason.com and www.stevelaubeagency.com
Kara Swanson
Keynote, Best-selling Author
Kara Swanson writes stories about fairytales and fiery souls. She spent her childhood a little like a Lost Girl, running barefoot through lush green jungles which inspired her award-winning Peter Pan retellings, DUST and SHADOW.
She is also the co-founder of the Author Conservatory (authorconservatory.com) where she has the honor of teaching young writers to craft sustainable author careers.
You’ll find Kara with her toes in California sand as a SoCal resident, belting Broadway show tunes on weekend drives to Disneyland with her delightfully-nerdy husband, or chatting about magic and mayhem on Instagram (@karaswansonauthor).