Monday October 6

2:00 pm Welcome in Castle Oriel Hall – meet the retreat leaders

3:00 pm SESSION 1: The Business of Writing – Castle Great Hall. The business of books transcends authorship. It’s time we all stop calling ourselves authors and the things that we create books. Designed to reframe your thinking, the session explores Christian stewardship, cultural engagement, and earning credibility.

4:15 pm check in to hotel rooms; gather for transportation or directions to dinner

6:00 pm Dinner offsite at Four by Brother Luck restaurant in downtown Colorado Springs. 

SESSION 2: The Business of Self – Brother Luck. It is time to stop the noise. Too many voices are telling us who we must be: “Build your brand!” “Become and influencer!” We need to stop staring at the mirror, stuck in the mire of who we are, and look ahead to the journey of who we are becoming. Our tribes will notice.

Travel back to Glen Eyrie

Tuesday October 7

7:30-8:30 am Breakfast in Castle Dining Room

8:30 am SESSION 3: The Business of Publishing. Too much of the book publishing world is filled with vanity and unfulfilled promises. With the advent of new technology and services, there’s never been a better time to utilize your content in book form to accomplish your purpose and mission.

9:30 am Break

10:00 am SESSION 4: The Business of Content and Culture. Story is how we Christians can bring good news to a world that is desperate for hope. It is our duty to go wherever we must to bring it to them; yes, even Hollywood, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok. And books. Especially books.

12:00 pm Lunch in Castle Dining Room

1:30-2:30 pm SESSION 5:  The Business of Traditional Publishing with a Literary Agent Panel. The publishing industry has changed and is changing. Publishers are expanding beyond books, seeking strategic business partners who have built-in audiences, and yes, they are still searching for great writers. Learn everything you need to know from our panel of experts.

3:00-5:10 pm SESSION 6: The Business of Marketing. If you thought writing was the hard part, wait till you get to sales and marketing. Our line-up of business and marketing coaches will guide you toward marketing that works and developing a business plan to help you sell your books and serve the people you care about.

6:00 pm Dinner in Castle Dining Room

7:30 pm SESSION 7: The Business of Retail and Distribution. There is no greater challenge than getting your books in front of potential buyers. Traditional publishers sometimes succeed. Amazon does it well, if you pay them. But the job is really yours. Learn how the industry works and how you can get your books to readers that matter.

Wednesday October 8

7:30-8:30 am Breakfast in Castle Dining Room

8:30 am SESSION 8: The Business of the Book Business. It is not enough to be an author. You need to be a pseudo-expert in a variety of fields, or at least work with an expert who is. Our publishing-minded presenters will coach you through various legal, finance, and AI topics that matter to authors who are becoming small business owners.

11:30 am Break

12:00 pm Lunch in Castle Dining Room

1:00 – 2:00 pm SESSION 9: The Business of Speaking. Books are one of the most important avenues for delivering your message. Speaking engagements are the other. In a world of podcasts, platforms, and presentations, how are you going to earn the right to get on stage? We’ll let you know.

2:30-3:30 pm SESSION 10: Wrap up Session –  Book Selling is a Business. If a tree falls in the woods and there is no one there to hear it, does it make a sound? If you write a book and no one reads it, are you really an author? It is time to put it all together. It is time to sell who you are and what you wrote to the people who need your counsel.

4:00 pm Retreat concludes