Julia Bartz: The Writing Retreat on Thursday, March 2, 2023 - 6:30pm
Please join Barrett Bookstore as we celebrate debut novelist Julia Bartz and her THRILLING new novel, The Writing Retreat. Take it from us: we could not. put. this. book. down. Perfect for lovers of the mystery/thriller genre with a good dose of twisted romance for good measure. Wine and light bites will be served alongside a conversation and Q and A with the author. Julia will be joined in conversation by Kat Rosenfield. Signed copies will be available for purchase.
The Plot meets Please Join Us in this psychological suspense debut about a young author at an exclusive writer’s retreat that descends into a nightmare.
Alex has all but given up on her dreams of becoming a published author when she receives a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: attend an exclusive, month-long writing retreat at the estate of feminist horror writer Roza Vallo. Even the knowledge that Wren, her former best friend and current rival, is attending doesn’t dampen her excitement.
But when the attendees arrive, Roza drops a bombshell—they must all complete an entire novel from scratch during the next month, and the author of the best one will receive a life-changing seven-figure publishing deal. Determined to win this seemingly impossible contest, Alex buckles down and tries to ignore the strange happenings at the estate, including Roza’s erratic behavior, Wren’s cruel mind games, and the alleged haunting of the mansion itself. But when one of the writers vanishes during a snowstorm, Alex realizes that something very sinister is afoot. With the clock running out, she’s desperate to discover the truth and save herself.
A claustrophobic and propulsive thriller exploring the dark side of female friendships and fame, The Writing Retreat is the unputdownable debut novel from a compelling new talent.
Julia Bartz is a Brooklyn-based writer and practicing therapist. Her fiction writing has appeared in The South Dakota Review, InDigest Magazine, and more. The Writing Retreat is her first novel. Follow her on Twitter @JuliaBartz and Instagram at @JuliaBartz.
ABOUT KAT ROSENFIELD
Kat Rosenfield is a freelance pop culture and political writer, and the author of five books, including You Must Remember This, and the Edgar Award-nominated No One Will Miss Her.