Plot Twist Writer’s Retreat – Scotland, September 2025

Some of you may recall that last year I got to attend the amazing Decency Be Damned Writer’s Retreat in the Yorkshires of England, thanks to the amazing organizer Kirsten Koza. Well, she’s doing it AGAIN and this year – in fact in a mere WEEK – I’m headed to Scotland for another of her fabulous Writer’s Retreats! This one will be all about writing mysteries, crime stories, and thrillers and will feature the fabulous British Crime Writer, David Mark. (If you haven’t read any of his stuff, you SOOOOO should!) David did a day-long character workshop for us at last year’s retreat, but this time he’s along for the WHOLE ride and I couldn’t be more psyched!

Because while I write romantic suspense – the suspense part of that label means there always has to be a mystery to be solved before our lovers can get to their happily-ever-after. And I have to tell you, that is far and away the HARDEST part of the manuscript for me. Dissecting crimes where the evidence is already there (which I did a lot of as a criminal defense lawyer) I found way easier than CREATING that evidence from scratch and making it all sync up to (1) lead to the right conclusion, but (2) only after taking the reader on a winding road where it’s not at all clear what that conclusion will be. So definitely psyched to for the chance to get some guidance from one of the gurus in the field. And nothing wrong with enjoying some amazing sights and scenery along the way, right? Woot!! Stay tuned for updates along the way!