Reading Retreat with J.D. Barker, Clare Mackintosh, and others!
Reading Retreat with J.D. Barker, Clare Mackintosh, and others!
Lakki Village, ΠΑΡΑΛΙΑ ΑΙΓΙΑΛΗΣ, Lagada, Greece
Up to 40 in group
June 23 - 29, 2025
Retreat Highlights
- Greek dance night: The hotel will provide live music while staff perform popular Greek dances, all while trying to get guests involved!
- Monastery Excursion:11th-century monastery Hozoviotissa is a wonder that must be seen.
- Village Tour: ChoraThe ancient village of Chora is a magnificent sight to see, with its historic windmills still adorning the hillside.
- Hiking tour: We take you from the village of Tholaria across a mountain path to the neighboring village called Lagada for a picturesque walk.
About this Retreat
Details of this retreat
Guest Authors: JD Barker, Clare Mackintosh, Jonas Saul, Liane Carmen, and Rania Stone!
Join us for our annual Reading Retreat, set for six enchanting nights on the stunning Greek island of Amorgos. We’ve planned an amazing, fun-filled week that will make you never want to leave. Come for the stories, stay for the memories!
Note: Plan to arrive in Athens a few days before taking the ferry to the island of Amorgos. We have an Acropolis tour, and a tour of the National Museum arranged. We can stroll down the shopping streets of Athens and enjoy some Greek cuisine as a group over several days, then take the ferry together. (All excursions are optional)
JD Barker is the New York Times and international best-selling author of numerous novels, including DRACUL and THE FOURTH MONKEY. His latest, BEHIND A CLOSED DOOR, was released on May 13, 2024. He is currently collaborating with James Patterson. His books have been translated into two dozen languages, sold in more than 150 countries, and optioned for both film and television. Barker resides in coastal New Hampshire with his wife, Dayna, and their daughter, Ember.
With over 2 million copies of her books sold worldwide, number one bestseller Clare Mackintosh is the multi-award-winning author of I Let You Go, which was a Sunday Times and New York Times bestseller and the fastest-selling title by a new crime writer in 2015. It also won the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year and France’s coveted Prix du Polar in 2016. Four of her thrillers have been selected for WHSmith's Richard & Judy Book Club, and her books have been translated into forty languages. Her new crime series, featuring Welsh detective DC Ffion Morgan, has been critically acclaimed, with both The Last Party and A Game of Lies hitting the Sunday Times top ten. Her books have spent more than sixty-five weeks in The Sunday Times bestseller lists. In 2024, she published a memoir, I Promise It Won't Always Hurt Like This.
Join us for our annual Reading Retreat, set for six enchanting nights on the stunning Greek island of Amorgos. We’ve planned an amazing, fun-filled week that will make you never want to leave. Come for the stories, stay for the memories!
Note: Plan to arrive in Athens a few days before taking the ferry to the island of Amorgos. We have an Acropolis tour, and a tour of the National Museum arranged. We can stroll down the shopping streets of Athens and enjoy some Greek cuisine as a group over several days, then take the ferry together. (All excursions are optional)
JD Barker is the New York Times and international best-selling author of numerous novels, including DRACUL and THE FOURTH MONKEY. His latest, BEHIND A CLOSED DOOR, was released on May 13, 2024. He is currently collaborating with James Patterson. His books have been translated into two dozen languages, sold in more than 150 countries, and optioned for both film and television. Barker resides in coastal New Hampshire with his wife, Dayna, and their daughter, Ember.
With over 2 million copies of her books sold worldwide, number one bestseller Clare Mackintosh is the multi-award-winning author of I Let You Go, which was a Sunday Times and New York Times bestseller and the fastest-selling title by a new crime writer in 2015. It also won the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year and France’s coveted Prix du Polar in 2016. Four of her thrillers have been selected for WHSmith's Richard & Judy Book Club, and her books have been translated into forty languages. Her new crime series, featuring Welsh detective DC Ffion Morgan, has been critically acclaimed, with both The Last Party and A Game of Lies hitting the Sunday Times top ten. Her books have spent more than sixty-five weeks in The Sunday Times bestseller lists. In 2024, she published a memoir, I Promise It Won't Always Hurt Like This.
Schedule
The Retreat Week Summary:
Each morning, we meet for a buffet breakfast between 08:00 – 09:30.
Our morning session begins at 10:00 and runs to 13:00, with a short break in between. (These sessions are detailed in the itinerary).
The afternoons are yours to write, edit, walk the beach, swim, go for a hike, or take a nap—whatever you like. We are also doing one-on-ones for an hour with guest authors.
We meet for dinner in the early evening, around 8:00 p.m., and then spend the rest of the evening chatting about writing.
We’ll have readings, critiques, motivational stories of success, how to manage your career, and marketing tips on finding readers that cost little or nothing.
Each morning, we meet for a buffet breakfast between 08:00 – 09:30.
Our morning session begins at 10:00 and runs to 13:00, with a short break in between. (These sessions are detailed in the itinerary).
The afternoons are yours to write, edit, walk the beach, swim, go for a hike, or take a nap—whatever you like. We are also doing one-on-ones for an hour with guest authors.
We meet for dinner in the early evening, around 8:00 p.m., and then spend the rest of the evening chatting about writing.
We’ll have readings, critiques, motivational stories of success, how to manage your career, and marketing tips on finding readers that cost little or nothing.
Note: Schedule is approximate and may change
Getting Here
Imagine Greece Retreats, Lakki Village, ΠΑΡΑΛΙΑ ΑΙΓΙΑΛΗΣ, Lagada, Greece
Directions
Book your flight to the Athens Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport (ATH) or Santorini Airport (JTR), and then purchase a ferry ticket to either port on Amorgos: Aegiali or Katapola.
Note: The Aegiali port is minutes from the Aegialis Hotel & Spa. The Katapola port is a 25-30 minute transfer.
Note: The Aegiali port is minutes from the Aegialis Hotel & Spa. The Katapola port is a 25-30 minute transfer.
Accommodation
Consists of one spacious room overlooking the garden or the swimming pool. Each room has its own unique design. Daily cleaning service Air condition Refrigerator TV Kettle Safe box Bath Amenities Hair dryer
Single Occupancy
Double / Triple
Venue & Amenities
A/C in Rooms
Free Wifi
Spa
Sauna
Pool
Towels
Free Parking
Kitchen
Tour Assistance
Hot Tub
Coffee/Tea
Cafe
Restaurant
Fitness Center
Yoga Studio
Housekeeping
Bicycles For Rent
Lakki Village is situated at the beach of Aegiali bay in the north part of Amorgos. It is well suited for families with all necessary facilities on the premises. The hotel is in a beautiful garden with a pool bar, playground, and restaurant just at the seafront where you can sit enjoying your meal while the kids are playing on the beach.
Meals
Menu Types
Vegan
Vegetarian
Pescetarian
Ayurvedic
Includes Meat
Organic
Gluten Free
Dairy Free
Nut Free
Greek American buffet every day , Buffet dinners every day ,
What's Included
- Transport to/from hotel:Buses will be waiting to transport you to and from the hotel upon arrival and departure.
- Accommodations:All six nights at Lakki Village Hotel are covered in the Reading Retreat fee.
- Access to all Sessions:The retreat fee offers you unfettered access to all the sessions with J.D. Barker and Clare Mackintosh, and the guest authors, as well as the book signing event, plus more!
- Greek buffet breakfast:Buffet breakfast is served every day from 8:00 - 10:30 with a wide variety of dishes and beverages: Coffee, tea, juices, jam, cheeses, olives, eggs, warm dishes, seasonal fruits, and more ...
- Dinner buffet:Buffet style dinner - Greek and American dishes.
- Visit the Monastery:11th-century monastery Hozoviotissa is a wonder that must be seen.
- Village Tour: ChoraThe ancient village of Chora is a magnificent sight to see, with its historic windmills still adorning the hillside.
- Greek Night: Greek music, Greek food, and a wonderful Greek good time takes place on Greek Night.
- Retreat materials:Attendees will be given a gift bag of fun and exciting things related to the retreat, as well as new books offered from authors worldwide.
- Village hike:We take you from the village of Tholaria across a mountain path to the neighboring village called Lagada for a picturesque walk.
- Free use of yoga Shalas:There are several yoga shalas on site for any of the attendees to use.
What's Not Included
- Flights to/from Greece:Attendees must find their own way to and from Greece.
- Ferry tickets:Blue Star Ferries offers tickets online. Please plan ahead and get your tickets to Amorgos before the retreat begins, and for when the retreat is over.
- Unlisted Food:Any meals or refreshments not listed in the itinerary
- Beverages: All beverages (even during buffets) can be charged to your room and settled up later.
- Travel insurance:Please investigate what travel insurance works best for you, if needed.
