Written in Blood:
A Week of Story & Suspense

24th – 30th October 2027 | Greece
With Pony Louder & Chris Carter
Reserve Your Place

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

Nastasia Village Hotel

We’re staying at Nastasia Village — a small, beautiful hotel in the heart of Naxos Town, with just 18 rooms gathered around a lovely stone-tiled garden.

Breakfast under the bougainvillea, herbs and flowers all around, and Chora and the beach are just a wander away. It feels intimate, relaxed and very Naxos — exactly the kind of place we love.

Secure Your Spot

Solo Occupancy
£2200

Reserve your place with a non-refundable deposit of £300.
Final payment due 30 days before your retreat.

Pay by card at checkout, or use Klarna to spread the cost interest-free.

Full terms and conditions

The Writer's Edit - Shared Occupancy The Writer's Edit - Shared Occupancy The Writer's Edit - Shared Occupancy
The Writer's Edit - Shared Occupancy
from £300.00 
26th September - 2nd October  2027 | Naxos, Greece 

With Sophie Hannah, Emily Winslow, Jon Appleton, Jenny Savill - details coming soon.

Shared Occupancy
£1900 pp

Reserve your place with a non-refundable deposit.
Final payment due 30 days before your retreat. (Beds can be seperated)

Pay by card at checkout, or use Klarna to spread the cost interest-free.

Full terms and conditions

The Writer's Edit - Shared Occupancy The Writer's Edit - Shared Occupancy The Writer's Edit - Shared Occupancy
The Writer's Edit - Shared Occupancy
from £300.00 
26th September - 2nd October  2027 | Naxos, Greece 

With Sophie Hannah, Emily Winslow, Jon Appleton, Jenny Savill - 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.

  • Bring warm clothing as the evenings can become chilly

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.

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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.