KAA Writers Retreat in Tuscany
“Powerful Storytelling”
October 4-10, 2026 (Fiction and Memoir)
Get 1-on-1 mentorship from literary agents & industry leaders.
Learn More
October 4-10, 2026 (Fiction and Memoir)
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
EXEC EDITOR, KAA
New York Times– and Sunday Times-bestselling editor, former publisher at Piatkus Fiction (Hachette)
Anna has worked as an Editor and Publisher in the UK for over seventeen years, publishing and acquiring bestselling fiction. Authors she has worked with include Julia Quinn (author of the Bridgerton books), Rebecca Yarros (Fourth Wing), Abby Jimenez, Ana Huang, JR Ward, Lauren Asher, Christina Lauren and MW Craven.
As Fiction Publisher of the Piatkus Fiction and Constable imprints at Little, Brown, Anna built a superbly talented team and presided over an extraordinary seven-year run of success, ranging from the explosion of Bridgerton fever, to the growth of bestselling crime authors MW Craven and Kate Ellis, the publication of a multitude of bestselling romance and women’s fiction authors including Sally Thorne, Abby Jimenez, Eleanor Ray, Christina Lauren, Suzanne Wright, Ana Huang, Elsie Silver, Lauren Asher and Chloe Walsh, and the acquisition of worldwide bestseller Fourth Wing. In 2024, Piatkus Fiction won the prestigious Imprint of the Year title at the UK publishing industry’s annual book trade awards, the Nibbies. Prior to her eleven years at Hachette, Anna was an editor at Harlequin Mills & Boon, where she published several bestselling authors including Tiffany Reisz and Fiona Harper.
Anna is a hugely experienced and passionate editor, who is very excited at the opportunity to return to her editorial roots with her new role at KAA. She loves working on fiction and narrative non-fiction across all genres, and has extensive experience in everything from navigating fantasy lands with ghost-ridden ships to poetic and sharply-constructed Irish literary fiction. Anna has also run writing workshops on genres ranging from erotica to crime fiction, has attended and spoken at multiple festivals (most recently she was one of the VIP guests at the Romance Writers of Australia) and was one of the first publishers in the UK to acquire self-published authors.
Even after almost two decades of editing books, Anna remains endlessly fascinated by the extraordinary creativity and range of ideas authors bring to her; in every single project there is something truly special and Anna delights in working with an author to deliver their unique vision.
LITERARY AGENT & PARTNER, WME
#1 New York Times-bestselling literary agent
Margaret Riley King is a partner in the global books division of William Morris Endeavor, where she has built a distinguished career representing bestselling and award-winning authors across fiction and narrative nonfiction. With a foundation in storytelling and an editorial sensibility sharpened by nearly two decades in publishing, she brings to authors a rare combination of creative insight and marketplace expertise.
After graduating from Princeton University, Margaret joined WME and quickly rose to represent many of today’s most influential literary voices. Her philosophy is simple: the greatest books make readers feel deeply and think differently—they do more than entertain; they endure.
Her roster includes an extraordinary range of talent, among them:
Margaret has shaped stories that have sold millions of copies and sparked global conversations. Her deep understanding of both storytelling and the business of publishing makes her an exceptional mentor for authors seeking to bridge artistic ambition with commercial success.
Announcing soon!
Retreat Coordinator
Our Retreat Coordinator, Anna, will be in touch as soon as you’ve secured your place to answer any questions you have, assist with booking transport and to get to know you and your work to make sure that you get the most from your experience in Tuscany. She will make sure that mentors know about your projects and receive material ahead of the retreat in order to tailor their teaching accordingly.
Anna has a background in both publishing and hospitality and is always happy to share insight and ideas as well as make you your favourite coffee and cocktail. Anna will be on site during the retreat overseeing teaching, organising airport transfers, serving meals and excursions and making sure that you have everything you need during the week, so you can switch off from your responsibilities and lock in to your learning.
