Here’s an invitation to the writers (aspiring or otherwise) among you… an entire week, immersed in the craft of fiction, in the evocative surrounds of Edinburgh and the Borders villages of Scotland.

But first… thanks those of you who joined in my adventures in Alaska, San Francisco and Dubai through this blog. I’m now settled back at home on the rim of the extinct Mount Warning volcano, loving the powerful, immense landscape of northern New South Wales Bundjalung country and mindful of my good fortune in living here.

It’s not long until my next adventure and this is one you may like to share in person. From 28 June – 6 July 2015 I’m running a one-week intensive fiction writing retreat in another beloved part of the world – Edinburgh and the Borders District of Scotland. Billed as a journey through history, the course is suited to all fiction writers, no matter what period interests you.

I’ve done plenty of teaching before, but this immersion in creative writing for a whole week is new. It’s exciting – giving the chance to go really deeply into the creative journey. With a small group of writers, I’ll lead the way into the craft of writing dramatic, powerful fiction.

The course is for writers interested in taking their work to the next level, and wanting to deepen and extend their skills. Through tutorials and discussions we’ll explore the structures that underpin successful novels, and how to apply their principles to your own writing. I always use plenty of hands-on exercises to put ideas into practice, and these will help you find the best structure for your work, create memorable characters and vivid worlds, and polish your words and sentences until they glow.

We’ll share our writing, give each other constructive feedback, and set up ways of continuing creative practices back at home.

It’s a delicious mix of work and play. We will meet each morning from 9am till midday for instruction, discussion and hands on writing exercises. The rest of the day we will adventure – with optional guided walks, excursions, and some memorable dinners. I promise there’ll be plenty of fun.

I’ve worked with Carol Crennan from boutique travel company Bookshop Travel, and Dougie Stewart from Scotland’s Make Tracks, to create an itinerary that offers a week of intensive writing, plus plenty of chances to walk and explore the magical villages and rich history of the Borders district – including an exclusive visit to the ruins of Blackadder Castle (on private lands), the inspiration for my novel The Raven’s Heart.

I’d love you to join me – and also consider sharing this with friends who might be interested.

Click here for the brochure, or here to go straight to Bookshop Travel for further information. Don’t delay – bookings will close soon. Feel free to email me if you have any questions.