KAA Writers Retreat in Tuscany
“Powerful Storytelling”
May 31-June 6, 2026 (Fiction and Memoir)
Get 1-on-1 mentorship from literary agents & industry leaders.
Learn More
May 31-June 6, 2026 (Fiction and Memoir)
Retreat Mentors
The following is a preview of the topics and workshops covered during this retreat.
From inciting incidents to resolution, learn how to shape a narrative arc that captivates readers. Break down the essential beats that drive momentum and keep tension alive from start to finish.
Master the techniques that bring characters – in both fiction and memoir – to life. Explore motivation, voice, and transformation arcs so your protagonists feel authentic and unforgettable.
Learn the art of ruthless self-editing from professional editors. Discover how to trim, refine, and reshape your manuscript to achieve clarity, pacing, and emotional impact — without losing your unique voice.
Discover the secrets to pacing, stakes, and suspense that keep readers hooked. Learn from bestselling authors and editors how to turn your manuscript into one agents can’t put down.
Writing a great book is a marathon, not a sprint. Learn how to manage your energy, avoid creative burnout, and make strategic decisions that carry you — and your story — across the finish line.
A great novel or memoir can be overlooked without the right query. In this session, leading agents reveal what grabs them in the opening pages — and what makes them stop reading. Learn to craft a query that gets immediate attention and results.
Meet Your Mentors
SENIOR EDITOR, KAA
#1 New York Times-bestselling, former Big 5 acquisitions editor at PRH & S&S
A former literary agent with more than 15 years of experience in the publishing industry, Amanda worked previously at Random House and as an acquisitions editor at Simon and Schuster. Her list includes over a dozen New York Times bestsellers, as well as many other notable and award-winning books. Her vast experience has exposed her to a wide array of genres, allowing her to provide authors with a high level of guidance throughout the writing and editing process.
Her most notable authors include Stephen King, Angelina Jolie, Shirley MacLaine, Lorna Luft, Sean Ferrer, Art Bell, Mary Higgins Clark, and Ann Rule. As Senior Editor, Amanda reviews materials and oversees the ghostwriting process to help authors create dynamic, well-constructed, and compelling books.
You can learn more about Amanda on LinkedIn.
EXEC EDITOR, KAA
#1 New York Times– and Sunday Times-bestselling editor, former literary agent at Glam, and former commissioning editor at Hachette UK
Adam Strange has been an editor, publisher and agent in the UK for 17 years, working with multiple #1 Sunday Times- and New York Times-bestselling authors, including Rafa Nadal, Seth Godin, JK Rowling, and Gwyneth Paltrow – among many others.
Previously, Adam was a publisher at commercial nonfiction imprint Sphere at Little, Brown (Hachette), before heading up the literary arm of talent management agency Gleam Futures. Adam has worked closely with dozens of writers of all experience and abilities to ensure that the publishing projects they undertake are as creatively and commercially rewarding as possible, and has published multiple bestsellers during nearly two decades in the industry. He has worked with a large number of high-profile authors across the celebrity, sporting, and business landscapes, along with lesser-known expert authors in a wide variety of fields.
AUTHOR
#1 New York Times– and Sunday Times-bestselling author with 18 bestselling titles and over 2 million copies sold
Wendy is an experienced writer retreat leader, master storyteller, and #1 New York Times-bestselling biographer and author who writes novels and historical books, as well as the memoirs of people like Cher (#1 in the US and the UK), Goldie Hawn, Barbara Sinatra, and many others.
A Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and former war correspondent for the London Daily Telegraph, Wendy Holden is the author of more than 40 non-fiction books. Her acclaimed WWII books include The Teacher of Auschwitz, Born Survivors (published in 24 countries), and the UK #1 bestseller Tomorrow Will Be A Good Day, which won a Nielsen award for exceptional sales. Several of her works have been adapted or optioned for film, including One Hundred Miracles and Tomorrow to Be Brave.
A public speaker, podcaster, and book doctor, Wendy teaches creative writing around the world and represents herself as an agent. Her novels include The Sense of Paper (Random House) and The Cruelty of Beauty, soon to be a European film. She is currently writing the first authorized biography of Audrey Hepburn with the star’s son.
Wendy lives on a small farm in Suffolk, England, where she combines her writing with swimming, gardening, and cooking.
Retreat Rooms and Pricing
Room-Sharing Options
