Written in Blood:
A Week of Story & Suspense

24th – 30th October 2027 | Greece
With Pony Louder & Chris Carter
Contact us for more info

One Workshop Leader,
One Bestselling Author,
One Week of Murder

For a week, you'll set aside everything except the story you're trying to tell.
Pony Louder leads the workshops — three sessions built around the mechanics of crime, thriller, horror, narrative non-fiction and true crime writing, from first clue to final twist — while bestselling author Chris Carter joins for an evening talk and co-presents the week's closing session.

It's a first outing for this pairing, built around one shared conviction:
that crime, thriller, horror, narrative non-fiction and true crime writing all reward precision as much as imagination.

Your Sanctuary

More details coming soon

[More details coming soon]

The Experience

Literary Suspense

What Happens Here

  • Monday — Welcome. Arrivals and a relaxed meet-and-greet dinner to kick off the week.

  • Tuesday — An Evening with Chris Carter. Talk, Q&A, and the inside track on writing bestselling suspense.

  • Wednesday — Crime Scene. Starting in the right place: openings, first bodies, first clues, and the choices that set any dark story in motion — fiction or fact.

  • Thursday — Evidence Room. Plotting the case: clues, red herrings, and how to keep readers guessing without cheating them.

  • Friday — Twist Reveal. Co-led with Chris Carter, this session is about the reveal readers don't see coming but believe completely — followed by a celebratory dinner to close the week.

  • Saturday — Departure.

  • Mornings are structured; afternoons are left free. Sessions run to roughly 90 minutes.

The Good Life

  • Long, unhurried group dinners, with a celebratory dinner to close the week.

  • Free afternoons — to read, write, wander, or simply sit with your notebook and let a plot take shape.

  • Total disconnection: no alarms, no emails.

  • Bring along your favourite book — or the one that made you want to write — ideally a physical copy, to share with the group.

Meet the Storytellers

Pony louder

Pony Louder is an award-winning author and writing coach who helps writers discover what makes their work unique.

She is the author of Octopus and The Memory of Blood. Her work has been recognised by the Grindstone Literary Prize, the Bath Novel Awards and the Comedy Women in Print Prize.

Alongside her fiction, Pony has worked as a writer and editor for national newspapers, magazines and global brands. Today, she creates literary experiences including book clubs, workshops and writer-in-residence programmes.

Pony believes every writer has something only they can bring to the page. Her sessions are designed to help people write with more confidence in their voice — and leave with even more love of what words can do.

www.ponylouder.com

Photography: Neil Spence

Chris Carter

Chris Carter was born in Brasilia, Brazil where he spent his childhood and teenage years. After graduating from high school at the early age of 15, Chris moved to the USA where he studied Criminal Behavior Psychology. During his University years he held a variety of odd jobs, ranging from flipping burgers to being part of an all-male exotic dancing group.

Chris worked as a Criminal Behavior Psychologist for seven years before moving to Los Angeles, where he swapped the suits and briefcases for ripped jeans, bandanas and an electric guitar. After a spell playing for several glam rock bands, Chris became a session musician and was fortunate enough to have played for a number of famous artists.

Chris left the music business a few years ago to write full time.  He now lives in London and is a number 1 international bestselling author.  His novels have topped the bestsellers book charts in the UK and Europe, including, Germany, Denmark, Poland, Hungary, and several other countries.

Resort pool area with sun loungers and thatched umbrellas overlooking the ocean, clear blue sky, and a distant island.
Aerial view of a beachfront swimming pool area with loungers and umbrellas, adjacent to a grassy and desert landscape, with buildings and the ocean in the background.
Aerial view of white Mediterranean-style buildings with blue accents, palm trees, and a courtyard with greenery and pathways, against a backdrop of distant hills and mountains.
View from a porch with a wooden table holding a wine carafe and two glasses, overlooking palm trees, a garden, and a distant playground area with a clear blue sky.
A wooden table on a balcony with a slice of watermelon and a red rose, overlooking palm trees, the ocean, and distant mountains under a clear blue sky.
Bright, modern reception area with white walls, marble floors, large glass doors, a reception desk with computer, and seating area with chairs and sofa.
Pancakes topped with blueberry syrup on a white plate, with jars of jam and a decorative vase in the background.
A white platter with cinnamon rolls dusted with powdered sugar on a wooden table. In the background, there are small plates and a blurred view of a kitchen or dining area with natural light.
Living room with white walls, a large bookshelf filled with books, a small workspace with a computer, printer, and chair, and a beige sofa. The floor is marble, and there are decorative vases on top of the bookshelf.
Three jars of homemade preserves or jams on a wooden surface next to a plant and a refrigerated display case with bowls of yogurt in the background.
Side view of a bookshelf with various books, mostly dark-colored, including titles in German and English, on a wooden shelf against a white wall.
Breakfast table set with orange juice, coffee mug, cereal, and fruit, on a white porch with greenery outside.
An outdoor dining area with several white tables and chairs on a wooden floor, surrounded by green plants and trees, under a white pergola.
Outdoor patio with white dining tables and chairs, some with breakfast food and drinks, overlooking greenery and a palm tree.
A basket and a white box holding various tea and coffee sachets on a wooden surface, with a framed sign in the background.
A breakfast table with plates of scrambled eggs, bacon, tomato slices, pancakes, a glass of orange juice, and a bowl of yogurt with berries, set outdoors with greenery in the background.
View of a lush garden with various green plants, trees, and a pathway, overlooking the coastline with the ocean in the background, as seen from a shaded porch or patio.
A colorful garden with paved pathways, various plants, shrubs, trees, and outdoor furniture including a thatched umbrella, seating area, and wooden playhouse with slides, set against a backdrop of green hedges and a clear blue sky.
A sunny day scene with tall palm trees, green bushes, and well-maintained lawns in a landscaped garden area near white buildings with balconies and blue accents, under a clear blue sky.
Bright sunny day at a tropical resort with white buildings, tall palm trees, green bushes, and a children's playground with a slide and houses in the background.
Outdoor patio area with a hanging wicker chair, chairs, and a table, with a garden featuring flowers, palm trees, and thatched umbrellas under a clear blue sky.
A garden with stone pathways, lush green plants, colorful flowers, two straw umbrellas, and a stone bench under the umbrellas, with a clear blue sky above.
A sunny outdoor garden with a stone pathway, two thatched umbrellas, a bench, and various flowering plants and bushes.
Outdoor seating area with wooden benches, a thatched umbrella, and a stone wall in front of white Mediterranean-style buildings with blue shutters and balcony railings.
Outdoor seating area with wooden benches and gray cushions under a thatched umbrella, surrounded by palm trees and white buildings, on a sunny day.
View from shaded patio overlooking a pool, white buildings, palm trees, and lounge chairs on a sunny day at a resort.
Swimming pool in a resort with lounge chairs and umbrellas, surrounded by palm trees and white buildings under a clear blue sky.
A poolside bar with a white roof and glass walls, with seating and a bar area visible inside, adjacent to a swimming pool with clear blue water, and thatched umbrellas and outdoor seating on the patio.
A simple hotel room with two single beds pushed together, white linens, a blue door open to a balcony, a chair, a cabinet, wall paintings, an air conditioner, and a vase with orange flowers on a dresser.
A balcony or porch with a wooden table holding two red coffee mugs, a tray, and a vase with colorful flowers, overlooking a lake and distant mountains under a clear blue sky.
A small kitchenette with beige cabinets, patterned tile backsplash, a black faucet, a small fridge, a kettle, a bowl, and a vase with red and orange flowers. There is a mirror on the wall and a wall-mounted light fixture. A doorway with a wooden fram
A bright hotel room with two single beds covered in white linens, each with a towel, set against a wall with a stone accent. There is a window with blue curtains and a door that opens to a sunny outdoor space. A small nightstand is next to the beds,
A bright hotel room with two beds, white bedding, and folded towels. The room has a blue door, window, air conditioning unit, and a wall-mounted TV. There's a decorative stone wall panel on one side and a view outside to greenery.
Bathroom with a double sink vanity, large mirror, wall-mounted TV, blue door, wooden furniture, and a TV reflected in the mirror.
A bright, clean hotel bedroom with a balcony door open to outdoor seating and ocean view. The bed has white pillows, a beige bedspread, a sun hat, sunglasses, and neatly folded towels. There are minimal furnishings, including side tables, a shelving
Bathroom with two vessel sinks on a white countertop, a large wooden-framed mirror, wall-mounted faucets, a flat-screen TV on the wall, a wooden cabinet with hat and sunglasses, a small mirror and toiletries on the side, and beige tiled walls.
A table with sliced watermelon and two glasses of orange juice, with a scenic view of trees and the ocean in the background.
View of a seaside resort with two palm trees in the foreground, a swimming pool, loungers with umbrellas, and the ocean in the background under a clear blue sky.

Details

    • A pre-retreat online meeting for all participants — last-minute questions welcome!

    • A goody bag of local treats.

    • Accommodation for the week.

    • Daily breakfast.

    • Group meals with wine and soft drinks.

    • All workshops, talks and events.

    • Airport transfers.

    • Visas, flights and travel to Greece — we can help you plan this!

    • Travel insurance (essential).

    • Extra drinks outside of scheduled meals.

  • Details to be confirmed once the venue is finalised.

  • Perfectly!

    In a thriller, the solo traveller usually gets into trouble. On our retreat, they just make new friends.

    The group is welcoming, and you’ll have plenty of company at dinner.

A white paper tablecloth with blue text and a map design, a small clear glass, a white die showing four, and a metal bucket in the background.
A group of people sitting at a dinner table outdoors, raising their glasses in a toast, with a woman standing and smiling at the head of the table. There are wrapped gifts and various drinks on the table, and lush greenery in the background.
People sitting at tables outdoors under a large tree on a sunny day, with a person relaxing in a bean bag chair near the tree, and a plant in the foreground.
People dining outdoors under tan shade sails, sitting at wooden tables and chairs, with a large tree, green plants, and a stone wall in the foreground, bright blue sky with clouds in the background.
A person with long red hair wearing a blue shirt is reaching to grab a book from a white bookshelf filled with various books. There is a large decorative vase with flowers on top of the shelf.
A coastal town with white buildings on a hillside and boats docked along the shore, waves crashing against rocks in the foreground.
A woman with red hair, wearing a light blue shirt and sunglasses on her head, drinks from a spoon held by another person. The setting appears to be a kitchen with large windows in the background.
White Mediterranean building with stairs, blue shutters, and colorful flowering plants in pots
A wooden table with a small white cup, a plate with two slices of cake, and a glass bowl with a pink flowering plant inside.
A woman with red curly hair in a blue and purple checkered strapless dress is holding a wrapped gift and standing beside a table with more wrapped presents, in a room with a view of the sunset over water in the background.
A small round black table with a black metal frame, holding a glass bowl with water and pink flowers, stacked books titled 'ARIA DNE' and 'ELEKTRA,' a white textured pot with green leafy plants, and a clear drinking glass, set against a sheer white c
A woman with long, curly red hair, wearing a blue sleeveless top, sitting outdoors with her arms crossed, looking thoughtfully into the distance.

Hesitating?

Come.

Plot the murder.

Land the twist.

Arrive curious. Leave inspired.

Book your escape now

Arrive curious. Leave inspired.