Home » Featured » NYT Bestselling Memoir Author, Celebrity Ghostwriter Brings Writing Retreats, Mentoring to Washington Coast
  • NYT Bestselling Memoir Author, Celebrity Ghostwriter Brings Writing Retreats, Mentoring to Washington Coast

    Joni Rodgers, a New York Times bestselling memoir author, novelist and top celebrity memoir ghostwriter, is bringing the world of writing and publishing to Westport, Washington, through a series of ongoing writing retreats and one-on-one mentoring sessions that combine the art, craft and business of book writing and publishing.

    Rodgers, who recently moved to Westport from Houston, Texas, says she started Westport Lighthouse Writers Retreat to serve as a lighthouse for writers of all levels—shining light on the obstacles standing in the way of a successful writing and publishing career.

    “I see it as a metaphor for mentorship in this crazy profession,” notes Rodgers, who says she was also inspired by the actual lighthouse she looks out on from her new home at Westport by the Sea. “I wish something like this would have been available to me early in my career. It would have made such a huge difference for me.”

    Westport Lighthouse Writers Retreat, which officially kicks off the first week in November with a three-day intensive weekend memoir writing retreat taught in conjunction with New York Times bestselling memoir author Ingrid Ricks, is designed to feed the hearts, souls, minds and appetites of participating writers.

    Rodgers says she wanted to provide a nurturing, all-inclusive experience that gives writers everything they need to immerse themselves in their work. As such, all writing retreats will include lodging in condos at Westport by the Sea and gourmet meals prepared by Joni’s husband, Gary, a trained chef. The fall memoir writing retreat will kick off with a Thursday evening meet & greet dinner and sunset walk. Each morning will feature several hours of intimate writing time and one-on-one mentoring sessions with Rodgers and Ricks, followed by afternoon craft workshops and evening discussions on the business of writing, and the ins and outs of both traditional and indie publishing. There will also be time for solitude, nature and camaraderie.

    “I want to mentor writers in a very personal way and provide the spiritual and mental space they need to pursue their art,” explains Rodgers. “I think there is a real need for this, particularly among women writers. I think they are less likely to indulge in the space and time they need.”

    In addition to the memoir writing retreat, Rodgers is planning a ghostwriting retreat next spring that will drill down on the business of ghostwriting books. She will also start hosting one-on-one mentoring sessions and retreats that give individual writers the space, environment and coaching they need to take their writing or book project to the next level.

    Registration is currently open for the fall memoir writing retreat, with special early bird rates through June 15, 2017. For more information, visit https://www.lighthousewriter.com/memoirretreat

     

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