Set against the quiet beauty and rich history of the Enfield Shaker Museum, this intimate Writer's Retreat Weekend, October 2–4, offers a rare opportunity to learn, write, and connect. Designed for writers of all levels. This immersive experience brings together three accomplished, published authors—Janis Robinson Daly, James Nehring, and Gail Ward Olmsted—for a weekend of creativity, exploration, and professional insight. Participants will enjoy a thoughtfully curated schedule of workshops, discussions, and shared experiences: Friday, October 2 The weekend begins with check-in at 12:00 PM, followed by a 3:30–5:00 pm Meet & Greet and Writers Workshop led by Janis Robinson Daly. This engaging session will include prompts and writing exercises designed to inspire creativity and encourage writers. Each writer will explore styles beyond their usual genres. Dinner will be served at 6:00 pm. Followed by at 7:00 PM by An Evening of Readings and Book Sale and Signing at the Chosen Vale Performance Center. This event is open to the public. Saturday, October 3 You will start your day with an Adventure Walk from 7:30–8:30 am led by James Nehring. He will be offering a reflective experience. This will be centered on finding inspiration in the world around us. Breakfast follows from 9:00–9:45 am. From 10:00 am–12:00 pm, Nehring will lead a memoir writing workshop. This will focusing on research techniques and balancing fact with narrative. Lunch will be served from 12:30–1:00 pm. In the afternoon, from 1:30–3:30 pm, Gail Ward Olmsted will host a marketing and branding workshop. Guiding writers through the essentials of building an author platform and connecting with readers. From 4:00–5:30 PM, Janis Robinson Daly returns with a second writing workshop filled with prompts and creative exploration. Dinner is at 6:00 pm, followed by Participant Readings at 7:00 pm—an encouraging space to share work and celebrate creativity. Sunday, October 4 The final day begins with breakfast from 7:30–8:00 am. From 8:30–10:00 am, Janis Robinson Daly will lead a Publishing Workshop. She will be offering insight into the many paths to publication and practical steps for moving forward. The weekend concludes with a Wrap-up Session at 10:30 am. For those seeking a fully immersive experience, overnight accommodations are available in the historic Great Stone Dwelling. All meals will be provided. Evening gatherings and shared meals create a warm, welcoming atmosphere that fosters creativity and community.
Whether you join for the full weekend or workshops and meals, this limited-capacity retreat offers inspiration and professional guidance. This weekend will give you the chance to deepen your writing practice in a truly unique setting
About the Authors
Janis Robinson Daly
Splitting her time between Cape Cod, NH, NJ, and snowbird destinations, a tablet becomes Janis Robinson Daly’s library and desk, packed for reading and writing, wherever she might land. Inspired by the discovery that an ancestor founded the Woman’s Medical College of PA, Daly’s first two novels, The Unlocked Path and The Path Beneath Her Feet, celebrates pioneering women doctors in the first half of the 20th century. Her third book, Under Two Flags, is a retelling of a memoir of a young Boston woman who travels to Berlin in 1916 to study opera. Daly's grandfather, Eliot H. Robinson, Sr. ghost-wrote the original memoir in 1918.
James Nehring loves a good adventure, and he doesn't let his fear of heights, risk, and speed get in the way.
Author of eight books, he's appeared on National Public Radio and CNN. His essays have appeared in the Boston Globe, Washington Post and Chicago Tribune. Recipient of a Fulbright award and a career in education, he most recently served as a professor at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. He lives in central Massachusetts with his wife, Laurie, and two cats standing in for three kids who've flown the coop. When he's not teaching, writing, or volunteering around town, you can find him outdoors on his bike or trekking through the woods just a few steps from his kitchen door. Website: www.jamesnehring.com/Substack: “The Daily Adventure” jamesnehring.substack.com/?utm_id=97758_v0_s00_e233_tv4_tp1_a1demonkqx92bi
Gail Ward Olmsted
Gail Ward Olmsted was a marketing executive and a college professor before she began writing fiction on a full-time basis. A trip to Sedona, AZ inspired her first novel, Jeep Tour. Three more novels followed, including Landscape of a Marriage, a biographical fiction featuring landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, a distant cousin of her husband’s, and his wife Mary. Her latest books are a trio of legal dramas featuring a former district attorney trying to salvage her once promising career: Miranda Writes, Miranda Nights and Miranda Fights.
Olmsted enjoys writing about quirky, wonderful women in search of a second chance at a happy ever after. When not writing, she loves being on the water, especially in a kayak. She is well known for her blonde brownies and coffee is her love language. Website: gailwardolmsted.com/
*All proceeds go to the educational mission of Enfield Shaker Museum
Coming from a distance? Stay in our historic Great Stone Dwelling. Check our room availability here.
