The Sayre Mansion
October 3 - 6, 2024, Bethlehem, PA
Eerie Elixir 2024
Ghosts, goblins, and ghouls! Oh my! Join us for a special spoooooooky Elixir Writing Retreat!
Co-hosted by professional ghost hunter turned literary agent, Stacey Graham, Eerie Elixir will surprise and inspire you. And maybe scare you just a bit!
Eerie Elixir 2024 features:
- • Daily dedicated writing time
- • Expert instruction on craft and the business of writing
- • A community of writers at all stages of their career
And if we’re lucky, we’ll enjoy a paranormal experience or two ourselves!
Faculty
Briana Morgan
Author
Briana Morgan
Briana Morgan is a horror writer, editor, and author of The Tricker-Treater and Other Stories, which won a Godless 666 Award for Best Audiobook. With more than a decade of experience scaring herself and others, Briana has a fresh voice that shines through in her latest book, The Reyes Incident, which has sold more than 16,000 copies to date. Her other books include Livingston Girls, Mouth Full of Ashes, Unboxed, and more.
Briana has a BA in English and Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University. She is also an active member of the Horror Writers Association. When not writing, Briana loves reading disturbing fiction, playing video games, and spending time with her husband.
Michelle Grajkowski
From the moment Michelle Grajkowski first opened the doors to the 3 Seas Literary Agency in August of 2000, she has been living her dream. (What could be better than surrounding yourself with amazing authors and their exciting and imaginative books?) Since then, her agency has sold more than 900 books to all the major publishing houses, and has grown from one agent to five!
Michelle’s client list includes New York Times Bestselling Authors Katie MacAlister, Cathy McDavid, Kerrelyn Sparks and C.L. Wilson. She primarily represents romance, women’s fiction, young adult and middle grade fiction along with select non-fiction projects with a terrific message. She is currently looking for fantastic writers with a voice of their own
When not curled up with a great manuscript, Michelle loves to spend time with her husband, children, and her crazy puppy who refuses to grow up.
Michelle Grajkowski
Literary Agent, Founder of 3 Seas Literary Agency
Stacey Graham
Literary Agent, Ghost Hunter, Co-host
Stacey Graham
Literary Agent, Ghost Hunter, Co-host
Stacey Graham has worked both sides of the literary door as a humor writer with the wickedly funny Zombie Tarot, screenwriter, ghostwriter, short story writer, and specializes in offbeat nonfiction. She loves working with writers at all stages of their careers, representing talented authors and illustrators from around the globe in picture books, middle grade, young adult, romance, graphic novels, and nonfiction. She is a member of the Association of American Literary Agents. Her clients include NYT bestselling author Abby Jimenez, April Snellings, Barb Curtis, and Natania Barron.
Daniel Waldman
Producer
Daniel Waldman
Retreat Producer
Daniel is a former marketing and PR executive turned expat and freelance writer/editor/event manager. He has more than 20 years of experience in marketing and public relations, including 7 years running his own boutique agency.
He got his start as an editor at a vanity press, and later went on to lead marketing and communications at a variety of marketing agencies before starting his own business.
He has a BA in English from Loyola College in Maryland and a MA in Communications from Georgetown University.
He’s also a published short fiction writer, with a short story published in Bewildering Stories. Daniel also loves painting, hiking, and seeing live music. He lives in Nantes, France with his family.
Where We're Staying
Ever wanted to stay in a haunted house? Here’s your chance! The Sayre Mansion, located in the heart of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, was built in 1858 by Robert Heysham Sayre, the founder of the Bethlehem Iron Works (which would later become Bethlehem Steel).
Read more about the Sayre Mansion’s history.
Some believe the mansion is home to some playful ghosts, with guests and hotel staff reporting strange tugs on their clothes and TVs turning themselves off. According to the Historic Hotels of America, a 2019 paranormal investigation detected supernatural activity in some parts of the hotel.
Of course, don’t let that scare you away! The Sayre Mansion offers a wide variety of comfort and luxury features that are sure to please!
Rooms & Amenities
Sitting on a beautifully maintained 2-acre plot, the Sayre Mansion offers all the amenities of a modern hotel with a blend of old-world elegance. With 19 classic mansion guestrooms and 3 spacious Carriage House suites, each beautifully restored room is unique in design and appearance. Each room has a private bath and WiFi is available throughout the mansion.
Unlike past Elixir Writing Retreats, the Sayre is nestled in downtown Bethlehem, with many city features within walking distance.
The Sayre Mansion is 90 minutes from Philadelphia and New York City, and about 2 1/2 hours from Baltimore.
What We'll Do
In addition to a haunted tour of the Sayre Mansion, we’re planning a few other fun and spooky activities.
Stay tuned for more details!
What’s Included in an Elixir Writing Retreat?
- • Your stay at the retreat location
- • Airport/train transfers
- • Breakfasts, lunches, and dinners at the retreat location
- • Lectures and panel discussions by guest lecturers
- • All evening activities
What’s Available as an Add-on?
- • Some room upgrades
- • Manuscript critiques
What’s Not Included
- • Transportation to and from the retreat city
- • Food at any off-site excursions
What to Expect
A typical day at Elixir will open with breakfast, followed by writing time, lectures, panel discussions, and an evening activity.
Read More about Elixir Writing Retreats HERE.
Important Information
APPLICATION DEADLINE: August 31, 2024
PAYMENT DEADLINE: September 30, 2024
Rooms
The Sayre offers a wide variety of rooms, each with unique decor and features. Please note that there are a limited number of rooms for each type. They will be assigned on a first-come-first-served basis. Shared rooms will have a maximum of one other person.
| Room Type | Price |
|---|---|
|
Queen Single |
$2,850 |
|
King Single |
$2,950 |
|
Queen Shared |
$2,750 |
|
Twin Shared |
$2,650 |
|
Jacuzzi Upgrade |
$3,250 |