Contemporary Writers Retreat
June 2022 Workshops
Keris Stainton
June 2022 In-Resident Author/Coach
Set It Like You Mean It
Setting is an essential aspect of fiction and memoir writing. Get it right and your setting becomes an intriguing secondary character; flub it–or try to fake it–and you’ll hear from readers. Keris Stainton has published books set in NYC, LA, London, and Italy (One Italian Summer, which Rainbow Rowell calls “Gentle and romantic. A holiday in itself.”), and will guide you on how to make your setting resonate with your readers.
She’s the bestselling author of fourteen novels, including adult and YA romcoms and one Christmas novel for younger readers that is not a romance, but does star a talking pug. She previously worked as a bookseller, a PA in the music industry, and once got a casual job as an arena steward so she could see New Kids on the Block for free.
She was born in Canada, grew up on the Wirral, lived in London for a while and now lives in Lancashire with two boys, one guinea pig, an unhealthy obsession with One Direction (yes, she has a boyband problem) and a plan to move to the seaside in the next 12 months.
She can almost always be found on Twitter or Instagram, avoiding writing her next book (but she’s working on it in her head. Probably).
Lisa Anselmo
Author/Branding Expert
Think Like A Brand
We all have a great story to tell, but how do you convince agents, publishers, and readers to care? Author, speaker, and branding coach Lisa Anselmo will show you how thinking like a brand can create a more compelling read—and a passionate following. She’ll discuss everything from identifying your core theme to positioning yourself with a unified approach (head shots, website, marketing messaging), and even rebranding strategies for authors looking to relaunch their careers.
Lisa lives in Paris and NYC, and is the author of My (Part-Time) Paris Life—How Running Away Brought Me Home (Thomas Dunne Books/St. Martin’s Press). She also hosts a travel series on Youtube, My (Part-Time) Paris Life. She spent most of her professional career in magazine publishing, working on such iconic brands as Allure (Condé Nast), InStyle, and People (Time Inc./Meredith).
Her unique background in design and branding, as well as writing and performing, informs her coaching method, Finding Your Authentic Voice, which shows writers how to create—and market—a must-read, helping them and their work connect on a personal level with their audiences.
Édith de Belleville
2022 Tour Guide
Marais DiverCity
Native Parisienne Édith de Belleville is the author of Belles et Rebelles, tales of the flamboyant, extraordinary women–including Joséphine de Beauharnais, George Sand and Sarah Bernhardt–who have left their indelible marks on the City of Light.
Passionate about Paris her whole life, Édith left a 20-year career as a lawyer to become a licensed tour guide, officially recognized by the French government. A voracious reader, Édith combines her love of literature, formidable knowledge of Paris, and admiration of rebellious women to lead engaging, witty tours. We’re thrilled that she’ll be showing us the Marais, with its richly diverse culture, through her unique perspective.
As well as her own writing, Édith is featured in Jamie Cat Callan’s Parisian Charm School, and is currently collaborating on a book about Marie-Antoinette.
