Devote a weekend to reinvigorating your creativity and revising your manuscript on the beautiful shores of Long Island Sound. Tune out distractions from the outside world as you spend time brainstorming, critiquing, revising and setting goals with other talented, committed crime fiction writers. Authors Hallie Ephron, S.W. Hubbard and Roberta Isleib will guide you in assessing and improving three essential components of your writing.

This is not a conventional lecture-style conference. Each participant will submit in advance three short sections (2-10 pages) from a work-in-progress. In the course of the weekend, you will rotate through three focus groups, each of which will examine a different sample of your work-in-progress:

Here’s a preliminary outline of activities:

S.W. Hubbard is the author of TAKE THE BAIT, which earned an Agatha Award nomination for best first mystery, and its sequels, SWALLOW THE HOOK, and BLOOD KNOT, all published by Pocket Books. Her short stories have appeared in Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine and ADIRONDACK NOIR. She has ghostwritten a thriller that will be published by Knopf in 2009.

Clinical psychologist Dr. Roberta Isleib is the author of eight mysteries published by Berkley Prime Crime, including ASKING FOR MURDER, DEADLY ADVICE, and PREACHING TO THE CORPSE. Her books and stories have been short-listed for Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity awards. She is the past president of Sisters in Crime International.

SeaScape is a retreat center located on 33 acres belonging to the Sisters of Mercy in Madison, CT. The grounds include a private beach on the Long Island Sound. The building was originally the home of Marlo Thomas and Phil Donahue. Rooms are pleasant, comfortable and most have a water view. While there is no TV or phone service, the center does provide WIFI access. Meals are taken in the dining hall of the Mercy Center and provide a wide range of food options.

You will have an opportunity to work on 3 writing samples, 2-10 pages in length, double-spaced, in doc or rtf files.

These must be submitted in advance (by July 15, sent to ), and will be sent to other workshop participants by September 1. You will receive the writing samples of other participants. Read them before the workshop, come prepared to offer constructive feedback.

Please email Roberta Isleib at to check on availability. Once an opening is confirmed, mail your deposit of $200 to S.W. Hubbard, 2 Windward Drive, Morristown, NJ 07960. Make checks payable to: S.W. Hubbard. Include your name, address, phone number and email.

The remaining portion of your fee, along with writing samples, must be received by July 15, 2010.

Cancellation Policy. Cancellations received before July 15 will be fully refunded. After July 15, your money will be refunded only if your spot is filled. No refunds after August 15.

"Roberta, Susan, and Hallie: What can I say? Seascape was perfect. That everything went so smoothly and efficiently, and so much learning was packed into one weekend while still feeling fun and exhilarating and inspiring--well, it's a huge tribute to the enormous amount of hard work and planning I know that went into making it feel effortless. After only two days, I feel like I've taken a huge bound forward with my WIP, and my writing in general. Thank you for giving us that opportunity (and in such a gorgeous setting, to boot!)" Tracy Hurley, Seascape '09

"Thank you, Hallie, Roberta and Susan for a great Writers Retreat. The location was gorgeous, the accomodations and food were great. As a result of the workshops, critiques and discussions, I feel that my own abilities have been bumped up to a new level." JM Reinbold, Seascape '09

PRAISE FROM SEASCAPE 2008 STUDENTS

"I can't begin to tell you how much this weekend helped me as a writer. I learned so much. It seems as if ideas that were locked in my head are now able to get out. As a result, I am really working. Thank you so much. I hope we can meet again some day."

"Talking about other people's writing cemented what needs to be done with my own. The Mercy Center is a wonderful setting for the retreat. There's something about the water that does good things for me. All in all, it was an intense and fruitful period of time for me."

"I wish to thank you all for not only the well crafted weekend but more importantly, for the careful and deliberate thought each of you gave to our work."