Details:

Limited Registration Space for 45-50 participants:

Nestled at the serene Franciscan Renewal Center in Scottsdale, Arizona, the Ink & Agave Writing Retreat is an intimate writing and critique-workshop weekend designed exclusively for aspiring and/or published children’s book writers who are ready to stretch and polish their prose with professional agents, editors, and authors.

What you’ll receive: Over three soul-nourishing days, you’ll participate in four small-group workshops, each led by a seasoned editor, agent, or author. You’ll receive focused, personalized feedback on your manuscript(s) and have dedicated time to revise, reflect, and elevate your work in a truly creative setting.

Faculty: You’ll be guided by a powerhouse team of children’s publishing professionals – authors, agents, and editors!

2027 Faculty Being Assembled as I type. To give you an idea, here is the powerhouse team from our last retreat:

Editors

• Sylvie Frank, Senior Executive Editor, Flamingo Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House’s Penguin Young Readers division
• Melissa Manlove, Senior Executive Editor, Sourcebooks
• Ariel Richardson, Senior Editor Chronicle Books

Agents       

• Syrone Harvey, co-author of the Neecy and Nay Nay children’s book series and acquiring literary agent with Belcastro Agency
• Carter Hasegawa, former Candlewick editor and now acquiring agent at Tugeau 2 Art & Literary
• Jackie Kruzie, acquiring literary agent (for retreat attendees) with Focused Artists

Authors

• Dianne White, award-winning picture book author of Green on Green, Blue on Blue, The Sharing Book and more!
• Kim Tomsic (that’s me!)

Bonus Learning: Classroom-Style Presentations: In addition to your workshop, you are also invited to attend specially curated 50-minute lectures:

Sylvie Frank:
“I Wanted to Love Your Manuscript: Five Reasons I Had to Say No (and What You Can Do About It)”

Melissa Manlove :
“Topic, Theme, Thesis—Getting to the Heart of What Your Manuscript is Truly About”

Syrone Harvey:

Molding Unique Characteers

Location:

The Franciscan Renewal Center, 5802 E. Lincoln Drive, Scottsdale, AZ 85253

Surrounded by breathtaking desert landscape and mountain views, the Center offers 22 acres of walking gardens, fire pits, and quiet spaces that invite reflection and creativity.

This writing retreat at the Franciscan Renewal Center is open to all—no religious affiliation is required. Between workshops, you are welcome to pray, meditate, reflect, connect, hike, walk, or simply rest.

What you won’t find: For those booking a room on property, there are no TVs, clocks, or radios in rooms—just peace, nature, and time to write.

What you will find at the Center: Writers lounge stocked with tea, coffee, and inspiration; walking trails, and serene writing spots throughout the grounds. If you don’t use free time for writing, you might also a hike at nearby Phoenix Mountain Preserve, or Camelback Mountain, or Piestewa Peak.

Date: April 9-11, 2027: I urge you to arrive the night before! If that is not possible, arrive by noonish (exact schedule to come) on Friday and depart at 6:00pm-ish (details to come) on Sunday.

Meals: Meals for lodgers include breakfast, lunch, and dinner. If you don’t have a room, retreat registration includes dinner Friday, lunch Saturday, dinner Saturday, lunch Sunday. Meals are served at the onsite dining room. Sit with a faculty member! Sit with new friends! We want you to have a chance to connect with one another! *Gluten-free & dairy-free and vegan options will be available.

Lodging Details: Stay on-site to deepen your experience. Rooms are clean, comfortable, and very-very simple – bring your own blow dryer, shampoo, conditioner, soap, and lotion. Since this is a retreat experience, there are no clocks, televisions, or phones provided in the rooms. Of course, you are invited to bring your phone and use as you wish (you might need the flashlight at night!). Choose a quiet single or double occupancy rooms. You’ll book through me in the registration options.

Retreat Registration: Includes 4 small-group workshops (6 writers + one faculty); 2 presentations; 1 panel. Group meals & beverages; access for lodgers to the Writer’s Lounge stocked with beverages; and the full retreat experience. Price variations depending on if you are requesting a room or not.

Partnership: This retreat is offered in partnership with the 501c3, Kids Need to Read. “Founded with a passion for improving the lives of disadvantaged children by providing inspiring book collections and engaging literacy programs to underfunded schools, libraries, and organizations across the nation, Kids Need to Read aspires to empower and embolden every last child through a culture of reading. For many of the children it serves, Kids Need to Read represents a crucial link to a strong literacy education, and its programs help build and nurture support systems for the development of literate minds. By immersing children in an integrated world of literary experiences that teaches them, firsthand, the impact of reading on every aspect of life, imagination is ignited and confidence is built for a prosperous future, regardless of race, economic status, or personal capabilities.” Read more about Kids Need to Read here.

Cost:

As mentioned above, this retreat is offered in partnership with the nonprofit organization, Kids Need to Read. This organization provides books to underserved children. Therefore, the cost of registration is comprised of the fee options below plus one book that you’ll donate to Kids Need to Read.

Options:

$1,369.00 includes retreat registration + two nights single-occupancy at Franciscan Renewal Center+ meals

$1,099.00 includes retreat registration + two nights roommate option at Franciscan Renewal Center (price per roommate) + meals

$899.00 no room – includes full retreat experience – registration and meals (*this is for those who live in town or are rooming elsewhere)

*There are no price adjustments available for those unable to partake in meals.

Come for the feedback. Stay for the friendships. Leave with a stronger manuscript — and a renewed belief in your path. Register soon! This retreat will fill up quickly.

Ready to join me?
Write. Connect. Grow.
I’ll save your seat by the beautiful blue agave!

Cancellation Policy:

Because faculty, flights, event space, and meals are pre-booked and paid for; and because proper planning is a beast, the cancellation policy is as follows:

If canceled by or before December 1st, a refund will be given minus a $25 cancellation fee.

If canceled between December 2nd-December 15th, a refund will be given minus a $100 cancellation fee.

If canceled between December 16 and January 15th, a $300 cancellation fee

If canceled anytime after January 15, there is no refund. Do I feel badly about having a timed no-refund policy in place after this date – absolutely. Thank you for understanding that I have to value my time and manage all the tangible and intangible costs of juggling the many moving parts to host an event like this.

Trigger Warnings: If you would like to bring a story that requires a trigger warning, please email me to discuss in advance for pre-approval. Trigger warnings warn the readers and leader in your group about any topic that has potentially distressing material such as trauma, violence, abuse, and/or anything that might feel politically charged. Please honor this requirement so that we can care for others who might need to mentally prepare or excuse themselves. If you bring something that should’ve had a trigger warning, the group leader might need to stop your discussion which will cause you to miss your opportunity for critique. No refund will be provided if we have not pre-discussed trigger warnings. If you have any questions, please email me to help prior to the event!

Anti-Harassment Policy: Attendees come to this retreat to fill their cups with joy, community, growth, opportunities, and connections. Ink and Agave prohibits harassment of all kinds, including but not limited to: deliberate intimidation, stalking (or following), inappropriateness including belittling jokes, unwanted physical contact, unwelcome attention, sustained disruption of talks, etc. If an individual is asked to leave the retreat, no refund will be awarded. If at any point during attendance you feel uncomfortable about a situation, please inform retreat organizers and we will remedy the situation immediately.

How will I know that my registration materials have been submitted to you?

Once you complete the registration, you will receive an auto-generated copy of your answers at the e-mail address you provide on this form

How and when to pay: PAY BUTTON on the site – your registration is complete once you’ve paid and received a notice of registration. If you do not receive notice, please contact me right away to hold your your spot.

“This retreat isn’t just about writing. It’s about reigniting your purpose, nurturing your craft, and walking away with clarity and confidence.”  Kim Tomsic