Pennard House, in Somerset, will host their annual intimate five day writing retreat from Monday 12th October 2015 with prices starting from £750 per person, including daily tuition, healthy home cooked meals and comfortable accommodation.

Prize-winning novelist and academic lecturer, Susan Elderkin, has been hosting workshops since 2006. From Goldsmiths, Birkbeck and University of Manchester, Susan will bring her Masters of Arts in creative writing expertise to an intimate group of 10 ambitious authors.

This all-inclusive package comes with daily three-hour workshops with Susan Elderkin, plus a class with a mystery guest speaker mid-week. Whether its fiction, non-fiction or a little bit of both, this retreat offers the opportunity to relax in a quintessentially English country home, enjoy the tranquil peace of the stunning gardens and have the space to develop writing projects to a whole new level. For the full retreat experience, additional yoga classes can also be booked throughout the week.

Daily workshops will allow guests to critically analyse and edit their own work, and learn how to use carefully selected syntax to structure the ever thickening plot. Throughout the week there will be a number of varying events to jog the mind and get those creative juices flowing. Themed evening dinners and brain training exercises are some of the activities to be expected, plus the opportunity to pick the brains of professional authors and the guest speaker.

The theme of this winter's writing retreat will revolve around Emily Dickinson's poem Tell the Whole Truth, but Tell it Slant. Guests will see this theme seep into all of the day's activities included yoga and writing trigger sessions in the morning.

Throughout the week, the expected itinerary will be as follows:

Monday

• 12pm – 1pm: Arrive at Pennard House, settle in and meet the group.
• 2.30pm – 5.30pm: First of the daily workshops, where guests will be introduced to Susan
• 7pm: Pre-dinner drinks will be served, before supper which is served at 7.30pm

The rest of the week:

• 7am – 7.45am: Yoga (optional)
• 8am – 8.30am: Writing triggers to get those creative thoughts flowing
• 8.30am – 9am: Breakfast
• 9.30am: Workshop begins
• 1pm: Lunch will be served
• Afternoon: A  group walk with the family Labradors, or perhaps guests can look for a quiet spot to write, or read a book
• 4pm – 5pm: One-to-one tutorials with Susan
• 5.15pm – 6.30pm: Yoga
• 7pm: Pre-dinner drinks, then dinner served at 7.30pm

The retreat will give guests the chance to develop their craft in a comfortable homely surrounding. Previous guests include William Davidson who won The Puffin Review's Fairy Tale Contest for his novel The Giant.

Surrounded by cider-producing orchards, Pennard House is the perfect, relaxing setting for a budding author. The 17th century family-owned home has beautiful large bedrooms complete with en-suite bathrooms, and the Dearden family on hand to provide guests with the best possible experience.

Pennard House is a unique place, with lots to do on the 130-acre grounds. Guests are invited to enjoy winter walks around the estate and make themselves at home by curling up by the cosy fireplace to share plot ideas and character developments, with like-minded writers and friends.

Filled with history, the Grade II listed building, will transport would-be novelists back to the era of Jane Austen, Oscar Wilde and the Brontë sisters as they learn the essential writing skills all from some of the industry's best writers.

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For media enquiries and interviews, please contact Maya Powell at Perception Sales and Marketing Limited.

T: 0845 293 2552 or E: pr3@perception-uk.com

Notes to Editors: -

Pennard House
Pennard House is a 17th century stately home in the heart of Somerset. Bordering the famous Glastonbury festival, the estate boasts a separate Coach House, Victorian freshwater swimming pool, orchards, 130-acre estate and lawn tennis court.

Susan Elderkin
Susan Elderkin is the author of Sunset Over Chocolate Mountains which won her the Betty Trask Prize and a nomination for Orange Prize for Fiction. She was placed in Granta's top 20 young British novelist shortlist, as well as winning Society of Authors Travel Award. Following on from studying English at Cambridge, Susan went on to write for Financial Times, and then onto teaching MA students at Birkbeck University of London, Goldsmith University of London, and University of Manchester.

Pricing

Starting from £750 per person, the package includes a 4 night stay with dinner, bed and breakfast included. There are 10 places available, therefore early booking is advised.

Additional yoga sessions may be booked for £72 per person.

Wine and drink are also available for those who wish to keep a tab.

For bookings, call 01749 860700 or email info@pennardhouse.com to secure a place