By Stephanie Bearce
I love Nonfiction Fest. A whole month of learning from the best authors in the business. What could be better?How about spending a whole weekend hanging out with some of those authors in person? That’s exactly what you can do if you join us
for the Ninja Total
Experience Retreat this May!
Every year, the Ninja team gathers for a retreat to
revise projects, brainstorm new ideas, and share insider information about
publishers and editors. We might also play silly games, eat chocolate-drizzled
popcorn, and watch Linda Skeers do interpretive dance moves. We’re not all
business all the time!
We’re inviting kidlit authors—of all genres—to
join us in Hiawatha, Iowa (home of the interpretive dance studio of Linda
Skeers). And yes, we mean all genres. You may know us as nonfiction
experts, but the truth is, we Ninjas write fiction, too—award-winning
fiction!
What You Can Expect
But that’s just the beginning. Throughout the weekend,
we’ll cover key topics to help you strengthen your craft, including:
- The
dreaded query letter—how to make yours stand out (in
a good way).
- Interpreting
feedback from editors and agents—because sometimes
it feels like a foreign language.
- Brainstorming
new ideas—for when your creative well needs a
refill.
And for those burning publishing questions, Storm Literary agent Lisa Amstutz (who also happens to be a Ninja) will lead an Ask-Me-Anything session, giving you the inside scoop on agents, editors, and the publishing world.
Learning, Laughter, and Yes—Prizes!
And here’s the biggest bonus—after the retreat,
all participants will have the opportunity to submit to Lisa Amstutz.
She’s officially closed to submissions, but she’s making an exception for
retreat attendees. That alone is worth the price of admission!
Affordable Pricing
- Option
1 – A shared room for $350 per person. Bring a
writing buddy or make a new best friend!
- Option
2 – A private room for $550 per person.
- Option
3 – Stay off-site but enjoy meals and programming
for $275.
That’s a deal that can’t be beat!
Ready to Join Us?
So what are you waiting for?
Still need more details? Check out all the
nitty-gritty at Ninja Retreat.
We hope to see you in May! But if you can’t make it, stay tuned to our blog. We’ll be sharing more great content throughout the year, and of course, we’ll see you next February for Nonfiction Fest 2026!