Unbound Writer Paris

May 3-6, 2027

A Boutique Paris Literary Experience for Mystery & Thriller Writers

A small group of mystery and thriller writers. Four days in Paris. Conversations about storytelling inside a vaulted former convent in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Prés.

The Unbound Writer Paris Retreat is a boutique literary experience for writers who are serious about craft, creativity, and building a lasting writing life. Led by bestselling authors Carter Wilson, Alex Finlay, and Clémence Michallon, the retreat is intentionally designed around direct access, honest conversation, and meaningful connection rather than traditional conference-style programming.

Across four days, attendees will gather for immersive half-day sessions focused on suspense, emotional tension, publishing, visibility, creative longevity, and the realities of sustaining a writing career over time. The experience is designed for commercially minded storytellers who care deeply about both the work itself and the life surrounding it.

Evenings unfold across Paris through an opening-night cocktail reception, literary exploration, and conversations that continue long after the formal sessions end. Guest speakers include bestselling author Riley Sager, Abby Dunn (@CrimebytheBook), and a literary agent offering insight into today’s publishing landscape.

Capacity is intentionally limited to preserve the personal, collaborative atmosphere at the center of the retreat.

APPLY TODAY

“The retreat inspired me in ways I didn’t expect—the focus on being a writer and finishing the book was what I needed.”

—Shaun McKinnon, Unbound Writer retreat student

Who Is Unbound Writer Paris For?

This retreat is designed for mystery, thriller, and suspense writers who want meaningful interaction with bestselling authors in an intimate and immersive setting. With a deliberately small group size, the experience emphasizes conversation, accessibility, and genuine creative exchange rather than distance between instructors and attendees.

Participants will spend four days alongside working authors discussing storytelling, publishing, visibility, career longevity, and the emotional realities of writing commercially successful fiction. The atmosphere is thoughtful, collaborative, and highly interactive, creating space for mentorship, creative momentum, and lasting professional relationships.

Whether you are actively drafting a manuscript, preparing to query, navigating publication, or reconnecting with the creative side of the work, the retreat is designed for writers who take storytelling and the writing life seriously.

Four immersive half-day sessions designed around craft, creativity, and the writing life

Clear, targeted writing instruction on pacing, style, editing, structure, & more

Practical strategies for fitting meaningful writing into an already packed life

Real-world insights directly from bestselling novelists and seasoned agents

Meet Your Instructors

Three bestselling authors. Three distinct creative perspectives.

Writing careers are built over years of uncertainty, persistence, reinvention, and creative risk. Between them, Carter Wilson, Alex Finlay, and Clémence Michallon have experienced the evolving realities of publishing from multiple angles, including breakthrough success, career momentum, visibility, rejection, longevity, and the challenge of continuing to create meaningful work over time.

The retreat is intentionally designed around direct access and honest conversation, giving attendees the opportunity to engage closely 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 intense suspense and psychologically layered storytelling, Carter’s work explores fear, identity, obsession, and the emotional consequences of survival.

Beyond publishing, Carter is the founder of Unbound Writer and teaches workshops focused on storytelling, visibility, public speaking, and building a sustainable creative career. His perspective blends commercial storytelling with honest conversations about creativity, connection, and the realities of the writing life.

Visit CarterWilson.com →

ALEX FINLAY

Alex Finlay is the bestselling author of several acclaimed novels, including the 2026 instant national bestseller, The Anniversary. His work regularly appears on best-of-the-year lists and has been translated into twenty-seven languages and sold around the world.

Alex’s books have been optioned or in development for film and television, including Parents Weekend, which was recently acquired for adaptation to the screen. Alex is a director of the thriller/mystery section of the Leopardi Writing Conference in Italy, and a board member of the PEN/Faulkner Foundation. He lives in Washington, D.C.

Visit AlexFinlayBooks.com→

CLEMÉNCE MICHALLON

Clémence Michallon is the author of The Quiet Tenant, a USA Today and international bestseller and nominee for the Hammett Prize, and Our Last Resort, a USA Today bestseller. Her work has been published in more than 30 territories. Both of her books have been optioned by Blumhouse TV.

She was a staff writer at The Independent for five years and is now a freelance journalist. Her work has appeared in The New York Times Book Review, Time Magazine, Cosmopolitan UK, and more.

Born and raised near Paris, Clémence moved to New York in 2014 and is a dual citizen of France and the US.

Visit ClemenceMichallon.com→

JOINING US AS GUEST SPEAKERS

RILEY SAGER

Riley Sager is the New York Times bestselling author of ten novels, most recently With a Vengeance, Middle of the Night and The Only One Left.

His novels have been published in 40 countries, with more than 5 million copies sold worldwide.

Visit RileySagerBooks.com →

ABBY DUNN

Abby Dunn is the creator of Crime by the Book, a crime fiction review website and digital community of over 200,000 mystery, thriller, and crime readers. By day, she works as an associate director of publicity and marketing director at Sourcebooks/ Poisoned Pen Press.

Visit CrimeByTheBook.com →

LITERARY AGENT

A literary agent specializing in mystery, thriller, and suspense fiction will join the retreat for a candid industry conversation focused on publishing, career development, and the realities of today’s commercial fiction landscape. Additional details will be announced closer to the retreat.

Retreat Overview, May 3 - 6, 2027

The Unbound Writer Paris Retreat is built around four immersive half-day gatherings designed to balance meaningful instruction with time to experience Paris itself.

Attendees are encouraged to arrive over the weekend and settle into the rhythm of the city before the retreat officially begins Monday afternoon. Each day includes a combination of instruction, dedicated writing time, discussion, and conversations with guest speakers appearing either in person or virtually. Sessions are intentionally interactive and conversational, with an emphasis on direct engagement between attendees, instructors, and guests.

Monday | Opening Session & Welcome Reception

The retreat begins Monday with the first gathering from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Following the opening session, attendees and instructors will continue the evening with a private welcome cocktail reception in Paris.

Tuesday through Thursday | Instruction, Conversation & Exploration

Remaining sessions will take place either from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. or from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., leaving space throughout the week for independent writing, long lunches, exploration of the city, and informal conversation outside the retreat environment.

Discussions throughout the retreat will focus on suspense, storytelling, emotional tension, publishing, visibility, creative longevity, and the realities of sustaining a writing career over time. Guest speakers will include bestselling author Riley Sager, Abby Dunn (@CrimebytheBook), and a literary agent offering insight into today’s publishing landscape.

The retreat also includes a literary walking tour through Paris as part of the overall experience.

The Setting

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.

Inside, vaulted ceilings, stone architecture, warm light, and centuries-old details create an atmosphere that feels intimate, cinematic, and distinctly Parisian. Rather than a traditional conference setting, the retreat is designed to feel immersive and personal, with conversations unfolding naturally throughout the day between attendees, instructors, and guest speakers.

The schedule intentionally leaves space to experience the city itself. Writing in cafés. Evening walks through Saint-Germain. Conversations over wine after sessions end. Paris becomes part of the creative rhythm of the retreat rather than simply the backdrop.

What’s Included

  • Four immersive half-day retreat sessions with bestselling mystery and thriller authors

  • Direct access to instructors throughout the retreat experience

  • Discussions focused on suspense, storytelling, publishing, visibility, and sustaining a writing career

  • Dedicated writing and reflection time built into each day

  • Guest speaker conversations with Riley Sager, Abby Dunn (@CrimebytheBook), and a literary agent

  • Opening-night cocktail reception with attendees and instructors (plus-ones are welcome for an additional cost)

  • Literary walking tour through Paris

  • Small-group atmosphere intentionally limited in size to encourage meaningful interaction and conversation

  • Retreat materials and curated recommendations for exploring Paris throughout the week

Please note that lodging, airfare, meals outside of the cocktail reception, and transportation are not included. Attendees are encouraged to experience Paris in the way that feels most meaningful to them throughout the week.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • A 50% deposit is due at registration to secure your place. The remaining balance is due 30 days prior to the retreat.

    Cancellation Policy

    • More than 90 days prior: Deposit fully refundable, less processing fees.

    • 90–45 days prior: $500 cancellation fee.

    • 45–30 days prior: $750 cancellation fee.

    • Within 30 days: No refunds or credits.

    If you’re unable to attend within 30 days of the retreat, you may transfer your spot to another writer or choose to donate your place.

  • Yes. A limited number of scholarships are available for each retreat, offering 50% off the registration fee. Please complete the scholarship application form to be considered.

    Scholarship deadlines are typically 90 days prior to the retreat. Specific details and eligibility requirements vary by event, so please review the individual retreat page for current information.

  • We provide recommended lodging options near the retreat venue. In select locations, accommodations may be included. Please review the specific retreat page for details.

    For additional questions, contact Jessica at jessica@unboundwriter.com

  • Can I join a waitlist?

    Yes. If a retreat is fully booked, contact us to be added to the waitlist.

    Additional retreat dates are announced throughout the year. Join the newsletter to stay informed.

  • Unbound Writer retreats are designed for committed writers at any stage of the novel process. Whether you’re drafting your first manuscript or refining your fifth, this retreat is for those ready to engage deeply, receive honest feedback, and make meaningful progress.

    You don’t need a perfect draft. You do need a serious commitment to the work.

  • Locations vary by retreat and are chosen intentionally for inspiration and focus. Past retreats have been held in Boulder, Colorado. Upcoming retreats include Paris, France.

    Each location is selected to support immersive work while offering a memorable setting.

  • This varies by retreat, but registration generally includes the complete multi-day curriculum, guided writing sessions, structured instruction, daily refreshments, and lunch on the final day. You’ll also receive a 30-minute personal instruction session during the retreat and a 60-minute session post-retreat.

    Be sure to check the FAQ of the specific retreat for detailed inclusions.

  • Accommodations are not typically included in the retreat tuition. Details vary by location and will be clearly outlined for each specific event.