Storybook: Happily Ever After for Writers

Once upon a time in Bavaria… your fiction, nonfiction, or memoir begins.

August 30 – September 5, 2027 in Munich, Germany

Limited to 10 writers

In the land that gave the world Grimm's fairytales, surrounded by castles, beer gardens, and Alpine views, you'll spend a week writing, being mentored, and mapping the path to your own happily ever after. Whether you're shaping a novel, a memoir, or a nonfiction book, Storybook is where your story moves forward.

Why Storybook

Storybook is a mentorship retreat, not a lecture series. With only ten writers and two mentors, you get real time and attention on your book, your career, and your readership.

It's for writers of fiction, nonfiction, and memoir, at any stage, from a first draft to a book you're ready to launch.

Every fairytale ends with a happily ever after. Yours is leaving Munich with stronger pages, a clear publishing path, and a written plan to finish and share your book.

What You'll Explore

Each morning opens with a short session inspired by a Grimm fairytale, followed by mentorship and writing time.

  • The Grimm Fairytale Structure. The timeless shape behind the Brothers Grimm tales (a clear want, the rule of three, the dark forest, the helper, the transformation) and how it powers novels, memoirs, and nonfiction alike.

  • The Twelve Dancing Princesses: The Secret Readers Want to Uncover. Find the question that keeps readers turning pages, whether it's a mystery, a life-changing truth, or the answer to a problem your reader needs solved.

  • Hansel and Gretel: Leaving Breadcrumbs. Build a trail that leads readers to you through newsletters, social media, and reader magnets. And learn to avoid the witch's candy house: the shiny distractions that eat your writing time.

  • The Elves and the Shoemaker: The Work That Happens While You Sleep. Create sustainable habits, a growing backlist, and simple systems, and learn when to call in your own "elves" for help.

Evenings bring relaxed Q&A conversations on publishing paths (traditional, indie, and hybrid), publicity and audience building, and what your career happily ever after looks like.

Your Mentors, Your Plan

In every Grimm tale, the hero finds a helper at just the right moment. At Storybook, that's your mentor.

  • Pages reviewed before you arrive. Send in your pages ahead of the retreat, and your mentor comes prepared with thoughtful feedback.

  • One-on-one sessions every program day. Personal time with a mentor to go deeper on your story, your publishing options, and your next steps.

  • Your Happily Ever After Plan. On the final day, you'll build a personal plan for your story, your platform, and your writing habits, with clear goals for the next 30, 60, and 90 days.

  • Protected writing time. Afternoons are yours to write in our hosting suite, in your room, or anywhere around the hotel.

Why Join the Aurora Lights Retreat?

  • Renew Your Inspiration: Reignite your love for writing with creative exercises and thoughtful guidance.

  • Build Community: Surround yourself with supportive, like-minded writers who understand your journey.

  • Plan for Success: Walk away with a clear, personalized plan for achieving your writing goals in 2025.

  • Learn from Experts: Gain insights from publishing pros who’ve been where you are and know how to guide you forward.

  • Stay Flexible: All sessions are on Zoom and recorded so you can participate fully, no matter your schedule.

  • Find Your Momentum: Daily writing sessions give you the accountability, focus, and inspiration to make real progress.

Retreat Schedule

Tuesday, January 14: Welcome and Vision

  • 6:00–8:00 PM ET / 3:00–5:00 PM PT: Writing Sprints – Drop into our virtual Zoom cabin and let the creative energy flow.

  • 8:30 PM ET / 5:30 PM PT: Ignite 2025: Creating a Vision for Success – A guided session to set short- and long-term writing goals.

Wednesday, January 15: Mentorship and Strategy

  • 12:00–2:00 PM ET / 9:00–11:00 AM PT: Writing Sprints – Join our come-and-go session to focus and create.

  • 3:00 PM ET / 12:00 PM PT: Mentorship Panel – Industry experts share insights on balancing creativity and deadlines.

  • 4:15 PM ET / 1:15 PM PT: Idea Lab – Brainstorm, refine, and pitch your ideas with live feedback.

Thursday, January 16: Writing Sessions and Accountability

  • 7:00 PM ET / 4:00 PM PT: Mapping Your Path – Plan your writing year by quarters.

  • 7:30 PM ET / 4:30 PM PT: Schedule Success – Build daily habits that stick.

  • 8:00–10:00 PM ET / 6:00–8:00 PM PT: Writing Sprints – End the day with progress and accountability.

Friday, January 17: Wrap-Up and Inspiration

  • 12:00–2:00 PM ET / 9:00–11:00 AM PT: Writing Sprints – Celebrate the final day with focused energy.

  • 8:30 PM ET / 5:30 PM PT: Closing Circle – Craft your personalized 2025 writing blueprint and share your vision.

What You’ll Gain

Professional Benefits

  • Expert advice on elevating your writing craft and developing marketable ideas.

  • A personalized plan to organize your creative projects for the year.

  • Tools to create compelling, impactful stories.

Personal Benefits

  • A renewed sense of confidence and purpose in your writing.

  • A community of writers who will inspire and support you long after the retreat ends.

  • Clarity and focus to tackle your writing goals with intention and heart.

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What’s included:

  • 6 nights at the Maritim Hotel München, August 30 – September 5, 2027, with a traditional Bavarian breakfast in the beautiful Rôtisserie restaurant

  • Welcome Evening with dessert and tea

  • Four morning sessions: Grimm Fairytale Structure, The Twelve Dancing Princesses, Hansel and Gretel, and The Elves and the Shoemaker

  • One-on-one mentorship sessions, with feedback on pages submitted before the retreat

  • Three evening Q&As on publishing paths, audience building, and your career happily ever after

  • A personalized Happily Ever After Plan

  • The Spinning Straw into Gold celebration night

  • A retreat magnet and welcome packet

  • Not included: flights, lunches and dinners, the optional castle day, and travel insurance

Retreat Schedule:

Storybook: Happily Ever After for Writers

Maritim Hotel München · August 30 – September 5, 2027

Monday, August 30: Once Upon a Time

  • Afternoon: arrivals and check-in, from 3 pm

  • 7:00 pm: Welcome Evening, with dessert and tea

    • Each writer shares their “once upon a time”: who they are, what they’re writing, and what their happily ever after looks like

    • Hand out welcome packets with the schedule, a notebook, and their mentor pairing

Tuesday, August 31: Story

  • 9:00–11:00: The Grimm Fairytale Structure, then The Twelve Dancing Princesses: The Secret Readers Want to Uncover

  • 11:15–1:00: Mentor sessions, reviewing the pages guests sent before the trip

  • Afternoon: lunch, then open writing time

  • 7:30 pm: Evening Q&A, “Which Path Through the Forest?” Exploring publishing options: traditional, indie, hybrid

Wednesday, September 1: Platform

  • 9:30–11:00: Hansel and Gretel: Leaving Breadcrumbs

  • 11:15–1:00: Mentor sessions

  • Afternoon: lunch, then open writing time

  • 7:30 pm: Evening Q&A, “Lessons from the Kingdom.” Publicity, audience building, and what strong-selling indie and traditionally published authors are doing well

Thursday, September 2: Sustainability

  • 9:30–11:00: The Elves and the Shoemaker: The Work That Happens While You Sleep

  • 11:15–1:00: Mentor sessions

  • Afternoon: lunch, then open writing time

  • 7:30 pm: Evening Q&A, “Your Career Happily Ever After.” What does success mean for you?

Friday, September 3: The Castle

  • 9:15 am: meet in the lobby and walk 5 minutes together to Sonnenstraße 3

  • 9:30 am: Gray Line coach departs for Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau

  • About 7:30 pm: return to Munich, then a casual dinner on your own or as a group

Saturday, September 4: Happily Ever After

  • 9:30–11:00: Creating Your Happily Ever After Plan, with goals for story, platform and habits at 30, 60 and 90 days

  • 11:15–1:00: Mentor sessions, finalizing each writer’s plan

  • Afternoon: lunch, then open writing time

  • 7:00 pm: Spinning Straw into Gold, the closing celebration

Sunday, September 5: The End… or the Beginning

  • Breakfast, goodbyes, check-out by noon

Previous Retreat Magnets!

  • Savannah, Georgia

  • Inverness, Scotland

  • Myrtle Beach

  • Cambria, California

  • Smoky Mountains

  • Hollywood, California

~Ani’a Dutton, fantasy author

“The Writer’s Sanctuary is a rare gift. Mary & C.J. have cultivated a caring community that eradicates what can be a very lonely career. With humor and kindness they share their vast experience, guide you in the grittier aspects of publishing, and approach everything with 100% authenticity. After every conference and online workshop, I have walked away with new knowledge and friends. Mary & C.J. hold up candles to light the way for the rest of us, and I am so grateful for everything they have poured into the lives of those involved in the TWS group!”

~Becky Gaines, author of The Soul Crier

“What I love most about TWS is how much information Mary and C.J. pack into their events. Even as an author who is no longer interested in pursuing a traditional publishing career, there's still great info I can apply to my indie path when it comes to writing, editing, and marketing a book. I also appreciate how they take a longterm view of things. They really want you to build a successful writing career.”

“TWS events are amazing, and I always learn something new. I love that they teach things many conferences do not and that the presenters are open and honest in their teachings and discussions. There’s plenty of humor and everyone is accepting and friendly. Ten out of ten. Will attend events again!”

~Joan Stradling, writer of magical things

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Code of Conduct

The Writer’s Sanctuary is dedicated to an experience that is free from discrimination and harassment for every person. We have a zero-tolerance policy regarding discrimination and harassment in any form toward any of our participants, at our retreats and in the online and in-person forums. This includes unwelcome and inappropriate sexual, racist, bigoted, or threatening comments or attention, touching, stalking, photographs, intimidation, or coercion – or discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, political affiliation, sex, gender, sexual orientation, nation of origin, disability, or age. Any retreat participants who violate this code may be sanctioned or expelled immediately without refund. If you are the victim of harassment or should a complaint arise at this event, please contact our staff here .