Experience the places you write about in books. Dive deep into the topics that are currently affecting the publishing industry. Next Chapter Retreats are created and hosted by event specialist, Janet Hudson Hagan. With more than a decade of experience in book and publishing events, she curates bespoke, immersive retreats around the world for writers—and those in the publishing industry—who want to
expand their careers and craft. Space is intentionally limited in these intimate, high-end retreats to leave room for deep dives with experts on hot industry topics in their respective fields, as well as to encourage collaboration, creativity and comfort among attendees. All Next Chapter Retreats but one have sold out since its inception in 2015. Each retreat has a theme or specific area of focus, includes cultural and educational group activities, time to write or explore, and so much more.**
2023 - Tokyo + Kyoto, Japan
2021 - Scotland
2020 - [the year that shall not be named]
2019 - Oregon Wine Country in luxury RVs
2018 - London, UK -> Orient Express -> Venice, IT
2017 - New York, NY**
2016 - Paris, France**
2015 - Palm Springs, CA
**Book signings are included with some, but not all, NCR. They depend on location, timing, Covid regulations, and other conditions. Areas of Focus to Date + Special Guest Experts:
2015 - From Book to Screen - with WGA Award winner, author, co-executive producer and writer of Little Fires Everywhere and Malibu Rising book adaptations
2016 - Personal + Book Branding and Visibility - with Regina Wamba, Regina Wamba: an award winning book cover designer and photographer, and Cat Espinosa, a former fashion director who graduated from FIT and worked with Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren and Vera Wang, who currently lives in Paris and has been featured in Marie Claire Ideés.
2017 - Marketing + Social Media with Jenna Menking from Gotham Grp whose clients include Jennifer Beales, Ariana Grande, and Calvin Klien; and Dan Charnas, the New York Times bestselling author of DILLA TIME. He also wrote The Big Payback: The History of the Business of Hip Hop, which was a non-fiction book turned into a fictional series on VH1 called "The Breaks."
2018 - History + Mystery - with Charlaine Harris, past president and current member the Mystery Writers of America. She is best known for her book series The Southern Vampire Mysteries, which was adapted as the successful HBO TV series True Blood, as well for her Aurora Teagarden series, which still sees adaptations on screen today.
2019 - Hollywood & Vine - with Lindsey Ramey, Director, Content Development and Production at Wattpad Studios
2020 - [the year that shall not be named]
2021 - Magic + History - with Scottish historian Niall McOwan
2022 - Wicca, Witches + Wisdom
2023 - The MainStreaming and Cultural Influence of J-pop, Manga, Anime on Western Writers and Entertainment