That's why retreats are so important. We not only get the opportunity to mingle with other crazy people who spend hours in front of computers, creating stories out of thin air, we have peace and quiet to devote to our craft.
I had the pleasure of spending this past weekend at a retreat at Thistle Dew in upstate New York. Several friends from the Central New York Romance Writers chapter joined me. Our incomparable hostess was author ALee Drake.
Thistle Dew is an old stone building with a long history--it used to be a stagecoach stop and inn back (way back) in the day. Today it houses ALee and her family, and other writers when she is generous enough to open it to us.
Since it was the weekend before Halloween, ALee gave us all a scary surprise by decorating Thistle Dew in holiday style. I stayed in the "Redrum" room. (Remember that from The Shining?) Every bedroom got a similar creepy name and decor to match!
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| Three bedrooms and the bathroom! Scary, huh? |
Friday night ALee took us outside to sit around the campfire, look at the stars and eat s'mores. The next day and a half was devoted to chatting, eating (oh so much eating) and of course *writing*! A wonderful time was had by all.
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| More scary surprises in the Pennywise room, the Annabelle room and the Eastwick room!
Thistle Dew existed in ALee's imagination before she came to live there. How it became her home is a romance story in itself! When ALee was away attending RWA, the building (which she'd admired in the past) suddenly went up for sale. Imagine her surprise when her husband called and told her over the phone that he'd bought her a house! The rest is history.
Alee's sweet romance Thistle Dew features a single mom who makes ends meet by transforming her country home into a bed and breakfast. Add a hunky writer hero, a dash of mystery and a benevolent ghost for a wonderful read! 
Sage Winters is the owner of an Adirondack bed and breakfast aptly named Thistle Dew by her late husband, Eric. She is a strong woman, not only successful in her business but as a mother. Although she tries to be loyal to her love for Eric, frequent guest and author Hawke is so irresistible that he catches her eye and eventually her heart. Sage is an overprotective mother who reluctantly learns to rely on others at a time of crisis.
Hawke, a shy, reclusive best selling author, steps up to the plate as hero when Sage's daughter, Pia is missing and any clues to her whereabouts have been buried during a blizzard. He learns to trust his intuitive voice and finds Pia via dreams and eerie signs.
And it is Eric, in spirit, who is not always angelic, but intercedes and intervenes to keep his ‘girls’ safe. He not only shows Hawke where to find Pia but encourages Sage to open her heart and love again.
184 Pages, Sensual
Print ISBN: 1-60154-643-2
Thistle Dew is available at
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Have a wonderful weekend, all! (And Happy Halloween!)
Nona Raines
Thank you, Nona for your post. I certainly had a good time decorating and getting Thistle Dew ready for the authors. Halloween is a wonderful time to absorb creative energy .. there seems to be extra floating around this old house during the month of October.
ReplyDeleteI hope you got some writing done. I look forward to reading Read to Me.
Nona, I enjoyed spending the weekend with you and the other CNY Romance Writers. You've done a wonderful job of capturing the feel of the retreat in your blog. Alee's home is a bastion of peace and creativity! I can't wait for our next Thistle Dew experience.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you had a blast - wish I could've made it this year!
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