Unbound Writer Paris
May 3 - 6, 2027
Attendee Update #1
August 2026
Welcome to the first of our monthly retreat updates!
In this first update, you'll find:
A welcome to Unbound Writer
Introductions to your instructors and guest speakers
A first look at how the week is taking shape
An overview of what you can expect from the retreat experience
A preview of what's coming in future updates
We're thrilled you'll be part of this inaugural international retreat. We can't wait to welcome you to Paris.
Meet Unbound Writer
Unbound Writer was founded on a simple belief: writing is often a solitary pursuit, but becoming a better writer doesn't have to be.
What began as coaching and small workshops has grown into a community of writers from around the world who are committed to improving their craft while supporting one another. Today, Unbound Writer offers coaching, online classes, retreats, and live events designed to give writers practical tools, honest feedback, and meaningful connections.
Our Paris retreat is a natural extension of that mission. By keeping the group intentionally small, we're able to create an experience that's collaborative, interactive, and deeply personal. We hope you'll leave not only with new skills, but with lasting friendships and a renewed excitement for your writing.
Unbound Writer Principals
Carter Wilson, Founder
Jessica Bonosoro, Director of Operations
Meet Your Instructors
Three bestselling authors. Three distinct creative perspectives. One unforgettable week in Paris.
Every writing career is different. Some break out quickly. Others are built gradually over years of persistence, reinvention, and hard-earned experience.
Between them, Carter Wilson, Alex Finlay, and Clémence Michallon have navigated nearly every aspect of today's publishing world, including bestseller lists, career pivots, film and television development, international publishing, and the daily challenge of continuing to create meaningful work.
Throughout the retreat, you'll learn directly from each instructor through classroom sessions, discussions, panels, and one-on-one conversations about your work. Rather than simply hearing lectures, you'll have the opportunity to ask questions, share ideas, and engage with working authors who understand both the creative and professional realities of the writing life.
Carter Wilson
Carter Wilson is the USA Today and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of multiple psychological thrillers, including Tell Me What You Did, a Barnes & Noble national monthly pick. Known for emotionally charged suspense and psychologically layered storytelling, his novels explore fear, identity, obsession, and survival.
As founder of Unbound Writer, Carter has helped writers at every stage of their careers through workshops, coaching, retreats, and speaking engagements. During the retreat, he'll lead sessions on writing psychology, suspense craft, publishing, and building a sustainable creative career.
Visit CarterWilson.com →
Alex Finlay
Alex Finlay is the author of several bestselling thrillers including If Something Happens to Me, Parents Weekend, and the 2026 instant national bestseller The Anniversary. His novels are known for relentless pacing, unforgettable twists, and emotionally-charged stories.
Published in thirty languages, Alex's books have appeared on numerous best-of-the-year lists, with most optioned or in development for film and television. He is also a board member of the PEN/Faulkner foundation and the co-president elect of the International Thriller Writers. At the retreat, he'll share practical approaches to plotting, pacing, and writing commercially successful suspense fiction.
Visit AlexFinlayBooks.com →
Clémence Michallon
Clémence Michallon is the internationally bestselling author of The Quiet Tenant and Our Last Resort. Her work combines psychological suspense with literary depth, emotional realism, and richly developed characters.
Born and raised in France, Clémence previously worked as a journalist for The Independent before becoming a full-time novelist. She'll bring a unique international perspective to discussions of character, atmosphere, emotional tension, and psychological suspense.
Visit ClemenceMichallon.com →
Joining Us as Guest Speakers
In addition to our core instructional team, attendees will hear from industry professionals who bring valuable perspectives from across the publishing world.
Riley Sager
Riley Sager is the New York Times bestselling author of ten novels, including With a Vengeance, Middle of the Night, and The Only One Left. His books have sold more than five million copies worldwide and have been published in forty countries.
Riley will join us for an extended interview and audience Q&A, sharing insights into his writing process, career, and life as one of today's most successful thriller authors.
Visit RileySagerBooks.com →
Abby Dunn
Abby Dunn is the creator of Crime by the Book, one of the most influential online communities for mystery, thriller, and crime fiction readers, reaching more than 200,000 followers. She also serves as Associate Director of Publicity and Marketing Director for Sourcebooks/Poisoned Pen Press.
Abby will offer an insider's perspective on connecting with readers, building an author platform, and navigating today's publishing landscape, while also helping guide conversations throughout the retreat.
Visit @crimebythebook →
Industry Professional(s)
Stay tuned for future updates when we’ll announce one or more industry professionals who will join the retreat for special guest lectures.
More Than Just a Writing Retreat
While we're excited about everything you'll learn in the classroom, we hope what you'll remember most are the people.
With just twenty-five attendees, you'll spend the week getting to know writers from around the world who share the same passion for storytelling. Whether it's conversations over coffee before class, exploring Paris together in the afternoon, or lingering after the evening cocktail reception, our hope is that you'll leave with not only new skills, but lasting friendships and a writing community that extends well beyond the retreat itself.
A First Look at the Week
Every day will feature a variety of learning experiences designed to keep the retreat engaging, practical, and interactive.
Classroom Sessions
Craft, writing psychology, publishing, and career development taught by our instructors and guest speakers.
Conversations & Panels
Interactive interviews, Q&A sessions, and discussions where you'll be encouraged to ask questions and participate.
Personalized Feedback
Every attendee will receive an individual one-on-one meeting with an instructor during the retreat. These sessions are designed to focus on whatever will be most valuable to you, whether that's manuscript pages, publishing questions, career strategy, or specific craft challenges. Our goal is to ensure everyone leaves with personalized guidance tailored to where they are in their writing journey.
Time to Think
Some of the best breakthroughs happen after class ends. Free afternoons are intentionally built into the schedule so you have time to write, reflect, explore Paris, or continue conversations with fellow attendees.
Preliminary Schedule
While we're still refining the final schedule, the following is a topline overview of the anticipated programming and schedule.
Our goal has always been to create a retreat that balances meaningful instruction with the opportunity to experience one of the world's great literary cities. Rather than filling every hour of every day, we've intentionally designed the retreat around four half-days of programming.
Monday, May 3, 2027, 1P - 4PM
Afternoon kickoff session—Check in, meet your instructors, meet one another led by Abby.
Three one-hour courses led by Carter, Clémence, and Alex
Welcome cocktail reception from 6:30pm to 8:30pm (information below)
Tuesday, May 4, 2027 through Thursday, May 6, 2027, 9am to 1pm Classroom Sessions
Craft, writing psychology, publishing, and career development taught by our instructors and guest speakers.
Conversations & Panels
Interactive interviews, Q&A sessions, and discussions where you'll be encouraged to ask questions and participate.
Personalized Feedback
Every attendee will receive an individual one-on-one meeting with an instructor during the retreat. These sessions will likely occur after the main sessions with time slots from 2:30pm-4pm. These will be designed to focus on whatever will be most valuable to you, whether that's manuscript pages, publishing questions, career strategy, or specific craft challenges. Our goal is to ensure everyone leaves with personalized guidance tailored to where they are in their writing journey.
The Opening Cocktail Reception
As noted, on Monday, after our first afternoon of instruction, there will be a cocktail reception walking distance from the conference’s main locale.
It will be in a speakeasy in the back of Fitzgerald’s from 6:30pm to 8:30pm, allowing time afterwards to explore the neighborhood, which includes popular hotspots in the 7th arrondissement, including spots for some of the best photos with the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
Paris Literary Walking Tour
Outside of classroom hours, we'll offer an optional guided walking tour exploring some of the literary landmarks that have inspired generations of writers. Along the way, you'll have the chance to experience another side of Paris while spending time with fellow attendees in a relaxed, informal setting.
This structure gives you the best of both worlds: an immersive educational experience while still leaving plenty of time to experience the city that has inspired generations of writers.
The retreat will be held at Salons d’Arthur in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, one of Paris’s most historic and literary neighborhoods. Tucked inside a former Benedictine convent in the 7th arrondissement, the space feels removed from the noise of the city while still surrounded by the cafés, bookstores, winding streets, and late-night energy that have inspired writers for generations.
The classroom offers a bright, comfortable environment that's perfectly suited for an intimate group of twenty-five writers. We'll be sharing additional photos as we continue preparing the space, but we're confident it's the perfect setting for a week of learning, creativity, and conversation.
Our Classroom
Here's a preview of what we'll cover in next month's update:
Updates on our guest industry professional
Recommended neighborhoods to stay
Hotel suggestions for a variety of budgets
Transportation tips
Airport information
Favorite cafés and restaurants near the venue
Frequently asked travel questions
As always, if you have questions before then, don't hesitate to reach out. We're happy to help however we can.
Thank you again for joining us. We know many of you are traveling a long way to be part of this experience, and we're committed to making it one you'll never forget.
We'll see you next month with another update!