Elixir: Cancun
February 6 - 13, 2024, Cancun, Mexico
Make Magic in Mexico
Join us for the most amazing Elixir yet! Our next retreat takes place deep in the Yucatan jungle (but only 20 minutes from the airport) on a monkey sanctuary. Connect with nature and fellow writers and let the beauty of the Yucatan fill your senses.
Grab your pen, paper, laptop and book idea and join Newbery Medalist Donna Barba Higuera and agent Allison Remcheck for an extraordinary week of writing, community, and exploration. With daily workshops, lectures and plenty of space to write, you’ll leave this retreat inspired and equipped to tackle your next writing project and take the next steps in your writing career.
Experience Yucatan culture first hand with freshly cooked local cuisine, trips to the beach, cultural excursions, and more!
Our Faculty
Donna Barba Higuera
Author, Featured Lecturer
Donna is an award-winning middle grade and picture book author. Her books include Lupe Wong Won’t Dance, El Cucuy Is Scared, Too!, and The Last Cuentista, and have won awards including: the Newbery medal, both Pura Belpré medal and honor, PNBA best book of the year award, and the Sid Fleischman award for best children’s humor book of the year.
Allison Remcheck
Agent, Featured Lecturer
Allison is so lucky to say that she has only ever worked with books–a journey that has taken her from a library, to a bookstore, to a publishing house, and finally to the Studio–and books, particularly those for children, have been her lifelong passion. Her clients include Lamda-nominee Zack Smedley, Newbery Medalist and Pura Belpre Medalist Donna Barba Higuera, and she is co-agent for #1 New York Times bestselling author, Karen M. McManus, among others.
Meet Your Co-Host
Rocky Callen
Host, Author
Rocky Callen is the author of the YA novel A Breath Too Late, which was named a Kirkus Reviews Best Young Adult Book of the Year and a Chicago Public Library Best Book and was featured in The Mujerista’s 2020 list of the Ten Best Young Adult Books by Latinx authors. She co-edited the forthcoming teen mental health anthology Ab(solutely) Normal: Sixteen Short Stories that Smash Mental Health Stereotypes. Her next YA novel, Crashing Into You, is set to release in 2024. She has spoken at national and international conferences about book writing, mental health, and the arts. She received her MFA from the Vermont College of Fine Arts.
Our Staff
Daniel Waldman
Retreat Producer
Daniel is a former marketing and PR executive turned expat and freelance writer/editor/event producer. He has more than 20 years of experience in marketing and public relations, including 7 years running his own boutique agency. He has a BA in English from Loyola College in Maryland and a MA in Communications from Georgetown University. Daniel also loves painting, hiking, and seeing live music. He lives in Nantes, France with his family.
What We'll Do
At Elixir: Cancun, you’ll find the space and time to develop deep connections and indulge in conversations about the nuances of the craft. Leave your burdens behind and step into the Mexican jungle for a deep dive into the writing process.
Eat authentic regional cuisine at the hotel restaurant. Explore the area’s treasures and partake in cultural experiences. Find yourself in a vibrant writing community that will cheer you on as you write every day.
Elixir: Cancun includes two day trips:
1) A day trip to the famous Chichen Itza Maya ruin
2) A half-day trip to the beach!
What's Included
- Elixir Writing Retreats are unique writing experiences, combining inspiring locations, award-winning faculty, and engaging discussions with like-minding writers.
The Elixir: Cancun retreat includes:
- * Your stay at the resort.
- * Transportation to and from the Cancun airport.
- * All meals at the retreat venue (meals at cultural excursions not included).
- * Access to daily lectures.
- * Any cultural excursions and evening events we plan (RSVP required).
TRANSPORTATION TO CANCUN IS NOT INCLUDED.
Important Information
APPLICATION DEADLINE: December 1, 2023
PAYMENT DEADLINE: January 1, 2024
Cost: $3,550, based on double-occupancy
Single Room: $600 (ONLY 2 AVAILABLE!)
3, 4, and 6 month payment plans available.