Amanda A. Barnett
SENIOR EDITOR, KAA
#1 New York Times-bestselling, former Big 5 acquisitions editor at PRH & S&S
Adam Strange
EXEC EDITOR, KAA
#1 New York Times– and Sunday Times-bestselling editor, former literary agent at Glam, and former commissioning editor at Hachette UK
Wendy Holden
AUTHOR
#1 New York Times– and Sunday Times-bestselling author with 18 bestselling titles and over 2 million copies sold
Retreat Workshops
Below are some of the topics and workshops covered during this retreat
Amanda A. Barnett
SENIOR EDITOR, KAA
#1 New York Times-bestselling, former Big 5 acquisitions editor at PRH & S&S
A former literary agent with more than 15 years of experience in the publishing industry, Amanda worked previously at Random House and as an acquisitions editor at Simon and Schuster. Her list includes over a dozen New York Times bestsellers, as well as many other notable and award-winning books. Her vast experience has exposed her to a wide array of genres, allowing her to provide authors with a high level of guidance throughout the writing and editing process.
Her most notable authors include Stephen King, Angelina Jolie, Shirley MacLaine, Lorna Luft, Sean Ferrer, Art Bell, Mary Higgins Clark, and Ann Rule. As Senior Editor, Amanda reviews materials and oversees the ghostwriting process to help authors create dynamic, well-constructed, and compelling books.
You can learn more about Amanda on LinkedIn.
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Adam Strange
EXEC EDITOR, KAA
#1 New York Times– and Sunday Times-bestselling editor, former literary agent at Glam, and former commissioning editor at Hachette UK
Adam Strange has been an editor, publisher and agent in the UK for 17 years, working with multiple #1 Sunday Times- and New York Times-bestselling authors, including Rafa Nadal, Seth Godin, JK Rowling, and Gwyneth Paltrow – among many others.
Previously, Adam was a publisher at commercial nonfiction imprint Sphere at Little, Brown (Hachette), before heading up the literary arm of talent management agency Gleam Futures. Adam has worked closely with dozens of writers of all experience and abilities to ensure that the publishing projects they undertake are as creatively and commercially rewarding as possible, and has published multiple bestsellers during nearly two decades in the industry. He has worked with a large number of high-profile authors across the celebrity, sporting, and business landscapes, along with lesser-known expert authors in a wide variety of fields.
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Wendy Holden
AUTHOR
#1 New York Times– and Sunday Times-bestselling author with 18 bestselling titles and over 2 million copies sold
Wendy is an experienced writer retreat leader, master storyteller, and #1 New York Times-bestselling biographer and author who writes novels and historical books, as well as the memoirs of people like Cher (#1 in the US and the UK), Goldie Hawn, Barbara Sinatra, and many others.
A Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and former war correspondent for the London Daily Telegraph, Wendy Holden is the author of more than 40 non-fiction books. Her acclaimed WWII books include The Teacher of Auschwitz, Born Survivors (published in 24 countries), and the UK #1 bestseller Tomorrow Will Be A Good Day, which won a Nielsen award for exceptional sales. Several of her works have been adapted or optioned for film, including One Hundred Miracles and Tomorrow to Be Brave.
A public speaker, podcaster, and book doctor, Wendy teaches creative writing around the world and represents herself as an agent. Her novels include The Sense of Paper (Random House) and The Cruelty of Beauty, soon to be a European film. She is currently writing the first authorized biography of Audrey Hepburn with the star’s son.
Wendy lives on a small farm in Suffolk, England, where she combines her writing with swimming, gardening, and cooking.
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Your Host on Site
Anna Burtt
Retreat Coordinator
Your on-site host throughout the retreat
Our Retreat Coordinator, Anna, will be in touch as soon as you’ve secured your place to answer any questions you have, assist with booking transport and to get to know you and your work to make sure that you get the most from your experience in Tuscany. She will make sure that mentors know about your projects and receive material ahead of the retreat in order to tailor their teaching accordingly.
Anna has a background in both publishing and hospitality and is always happy to share insight and ideas as well as make you your favourite coffee and cocktail. Anna will be on site during the retreat overseeing teaching, organising airport transfers, serving meals and excursions and making sure that you have everything you need during the week, so you can switch off from your responsibilities and lock in to your learning.
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