Fall 2025 Horror Writers Retreat
The Black Monarch Hotel | Victor, CO
SEPTEMBER 2-9, 2025
Join us in the historic and remote mountain town of Victor, Colorado for a six-night, all-inclusive writing retreat. You and a handful of other writers will stay at the darkly beautiful (and haunted?) historic hotel, The Black Monarch. Daily activities will include yoga and meditation sessions, writing warm-up challenges, inspiring guest speakers, nightly readings and 5 to 6-hour daily, uninterrupted writing time to devote to your project.
We’ll also spend some time exploring the old mining town of Victor - see an antique letterpress in action, make some art with the local artist co-op, get some inspiration on a ghost tour and more!
Retreat Lodging
Double Queen | Room Share
Spend your retreat in one of three luxurious double-queen rooms: the H.H. Holmes, the Nikola Tesla, and the Jack the Ripper. Each is a spacious and decadently adorned room with lush bedding and antique furnishings.
You’ll share the space with one other writer. Have a like-minded friend? Let us know when you book and we’ll do our best to assign you to the same room.
Your booking includes lodging, meals and access to all scheduled events and activities.
Private King Room
Looking for more of a fortress of solitude kind of vibe? Book your stay in one of three available king bedrooms: the Elizabeth Bathory, the Lizzie Borden, and Bela Lugosi’s Dracula room. Enjoy the moody decor and dramatic themes of these luxurious rooms.
These are also available as a room-share; see the Single King | Room Share option if you have another writer you’d like to bunk with!
Your booking includes lodging, meals and access to all scheduled events and activities.
Single King | Room Share
Our best value for the dynamic writing duo! Share any of our luxe, spacious single-king rooms with a writing pal.
Indicate your room preference when you book (either individually or in one cart) and make sure to put both occupants’ names on your booking form. We will do our best to accommodate.
Your booking includes lodging, meals and access to all scheduled events and activities.
Special Guests
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Catriona Ward
AUTHOR/GUEST SPEAKER
Born in Washington, DC, and growing up in the United States, Kenya, Madagascar, Yemen, and Morocco, Catriona studied English at the University of Oxford and later earned her master’s degree in creative writing at the University of East Anglia. Ward is a three-time winner of the August Derleth Award for Best Horror Novel: for The Girl from Rawblood, her debut; Little Eve; and The Last House on Needless Street. Little Eve also won the Shirley Jackson Award for Best Novel. Ward is the international bestselling author of The Last House on Needless Street and Sundial.
Catriona’s newest novel, Nowhere Burning, Is set to hit shelves in February 2026.
