A Writing Retreat In The Woods
Welcome back to another day of our Spooktacular Halloween Party! Back in August, I went away to a cabin in the woods in Oklahoma for four days to work on edits of The Disappearance of Vanessa Shaw, and today, I’m sharing a full ONE-HOUR vlog of that trip with you!
My hope at the time was to completely finish edits, but I ended up getting a LOT done but not quite finishing the book. Come along with me for the journey. I’ll be live with you in the chat to give some behind-the-scenes of the event. It was epic and fun and scared me a bit, but in the end, it was the most productive retreat I’ve ever been on, and it sparked my joy for writing again!
TODAY’S GIVEAWAY: A KINDLE PAPERWHITE
Today’s giveaway is a big one!!! A Kindle Paperwhite ereader, clear case, and some stickers! I’ve had so much fun decorating my Kindle Oasis with fun stickers and accessories, so I’m giving away a free Kindle to spread the joy of reading! This giveaway will be open until the 12th, so be sure to come back and enter every day for a chance to win!
Kindle Paperwhite*While I’m happy to keep all giveaways open Internationally, you might want to research to make sure a Kindle from the US will be usable in your country. If not, if you are chosen as a winner, we can choose a different gift for you, if desired!
Here’s a look at my current Kindle stickers!
PARTY FAVOR FOR THE DAY: Easy Peanut Butter Fudge Recipe
tasty recipe
Oh, Yum. Thanks for the recipe Sarra.
Yay
both
I’m so excited for this book! Will be interesting to see the vlog.
So excited to watch the vlog! Thanks for the yummy recipe too!
That recipe is even easier than my own easy microwave fudge one. I’ll have to try it some time. And, wow, a Kindle? So cool and generous of you. Can’t wait for the premiere!
Looking forward to the Writing Retreat vlog. Thank you for the chance(s) to win a Kindle Paperwhite! ❤️
The recipe looks tasty
Eeeek. I’ve been waiting to see the writing retreat since you mentioned it ages ago. SO excited!
What a great giveaway!! I’ve been waiting to watch this writing vlog.
So excited to see your adventure with the cabin in the woods. Glad you got some inspiration out of it. Love everything about the Spooktacular.
I was so excited about the cover reveal yesterday. Unfortunately I won’t be able to attend the live today but cannot wait to watch the vlog on replay
I get spooky vibes just thinking about you alone in the woods working on your spooky book!
Sarra, thank you for everything you do for us fans! The giveaways, signed paperbacks, and great fun every day! I can’t wait for the release date to get here! (Im)Patiently waiting
omg can wait for October 25
TDOVS is going to be pure fire! I can feel it. Can’t wait for the release day!!
Looking forward to the premiere today.
It doesn’t matter to me whether I’m reading or listening. I do a lot of both. I use my phone, tablet, kindle, and physical books. I guess it just depends on the mood I’m in.
Incredible gift, goodness talk about sharing the joy, fantastic so generous.
Yay so excited for the vlog, i’ve been looking forward to it ever since you mentioned you were filming it! it would be so fun to go to a cabin alone and write.
Yumm, thanks for the recipe. I may make it for my hubby’s bday in a couple weeks. Can’t wait for the writing retreat premier!
This is such an amazing give. And peanut fudgel is amazing.
So excited for the vlog… only 98 minutes left..
Looks tasty 🙂
Even though I consider myself a spooky person I don’t know how you went to a cabin in the woods to finish DOVS. I don’t think I could have done that. I can’t wait to see how it all worked out!
That recipe looks yummy. Excited for this spooktacular. A kindle paper white would be so much fun.
*happy thoughts*
Oh I’m definitely trying that recipe with my boy!!
Looking forward to the blog & making fudge
Reading has been so fun rereading all your books at bedtime
I’m so excited to see your writing retreat. I have a saved list on Airbnb for my writing retreat
Recipe looks lovely
Super excited about Vanessa’s release! Been following since you started writing it ❤️❤️
We’ve started watching horror films in preparation for Halloween and watched the movie about La Llorona last night. I can’t believe you were in a cabin by yourself! In all of these movies the houses are so creepy. I would’ve chickened out and called my husband to come get me! Kudos to you for being so brave and, more importantly, making good headway on TDOVS!!!
I can’t wait to watch the replay tonight with a cup of tea ☕❤️
Im looking forward to watching! 😀 & thank you for the recipe!
Loved watching the vlog. The cabin was very nice.
Recipe sounds great!
So excited! Thanks for sharing it!
Can’t believe your retreat was in Oklahoma! That’s where I’m from! 🙂
This fudge recipe has been missing from my life! I can’t wait to try it and test it out on my husband!
Love reading your blogs! Recipe sounds yummy too!
You are a great person to ‘clean house with’. My house is small, so I can blast you on my computer and clean. But it also means I may watch a video twice in order to take notes on planner ideas, etc.
The vlog was so much fun to watch!
The vlog was awesome! And this recipe sounds so good!!
Loved your writing retreat walk-through. That peanut butter fudge recipe looks so good!
I love this. So cute!
So happy to have watched the writing vlog and actually made it to the live premiere! Yay!
Happyyy spooktacular!!!
Always inspiring to watch the journey
I’m watching the vlog right now! I have to know if you bought some beaver nuggets from Buc-ees… they’re my favorite lol
Fudge sounds so good!
Loved the vlog! The cabin was really pretty but at night it looked spooky. Just what you needed to finish the book️
Loved your writing retreat vlog! Can’t wait for Part 2!
So excited to watch the writing retreat vlog!
Loving all the spooktacular energy so far!
I’d love to win the Kindle Paperwhite. I have an older Fire, and it’s big and heavy. Something much smaller would be great!
That was a beautiful cabin. I would love a safe and peaceful cabin retreat to write.
Can’t wait to watch this when I do my chore Sunday.
Visioning a productive retreat is hard when you have other people to consider. I hope to have one sometime soon. It is not hard to take a day off, right? I guess I still have more planning to do. Hope everyone is enjoying October 2024.
Loved the vlog! It’s fun to see the journey! 🙂
Ooh yes! Have been waiting for this vlog! When you described it in a previous video it sounded both productive and terrifying! I don’t think I could have stayed there by myself!
This is so much fun!
Can’t wait for the vlog and TDOVS! It’s going to be such a fantastic read!
Sorry I missed the premiere, but I’m excited to watch it now. <3
Your vlogs are the best! I especially love your writing retreat vlogs, and this one is so fun to watch!
A great start to Spooktacular!
Looking forward to trying out this fudge recipe!
I love when people decorate their kindles with stickers! I haven’t done it with my current ancient kindle because I like the way the plain case looks, but whenever it gets replaced (going to have to be sometime soon; it’s giving me hints that it won’t be long) I’m going to do it with the next one.
Can’t wait to try the recipe!
That recipe looks yummy!
Oh my gosh when I was watching your video I was thinking I would be scared in the woods too lol.
I’m getting more and more excited for The Disappearance of Vanessa Shaw!
Loved today’s vlog! The cabin was beautiful, but I would have been 100% creeped out to stay there alone at night as well lol
I would be so scared as well! I really want to start working on my spooky novel!
Love hearing about writing retreats! I’m planning one for some friends next year.
Can’t wait to try the fudge.
Such fun giveaways can’t wait to hear all the winners!
Thank you for sharing your journey with us !
Ooo that recipe looks so good!
I love watching the replays, haven’t been able to watch live yet but hopefully I will get to at least once this month!
Can’t wait to watch this when I have a chance
About to watch the writing retreat, can’t wait!! :))
You explained anxiety so well!
Excited to try this fudge!
This was such an insightful roller coaster experience full of epiphanies despite the anxiety! Thank you for sharing it and congrats again for the ways you moved your writing forward during this trip!
Love the word search.
I loved your retreat vlog. You inspire me and I love the cover of Vanessa Shaw with the keys!
Absolutely loved the vlog! There are cabins in the woods and then there are CABINS in the woods – wow! Beautiful place. xxx
I love all of your vlog videos! This one was especially good!
So thankful for this opportunity to win a kindle! I look forward to decorating it and reading so many books! Starting with TDOVS!
So excited for spooktacular this year!
Sarra do you happen to have recommendations for turning words into chapters? I have written lots of stories that might one day be turned into books but I am not sure how to separate my words into chapters
Thank you for all you do. I loved watching the writing retreat vlog. That place looked amazing and scary at the same time.
So excited for what’s to come!
I love the fudge idea! I’ll make that this week! It’ll be fun! Thank you so much!
I loved the cabin in the woods video. The cabin was so beautiful and that back patio was awesome!!!
Loved the vlog!
It’s been a while since I last made peanut butter fudge so I’m definitely going to be trying out that recipe.
My Nana used to make the best fudge! I can’t wait to try this recipe!
I’m excited to try to win an e-reader. My last one was a nook and that’s been years ago but I loved having it.
I will be watching this retreat video over and over. You are a brave one, Sarra! Love it!
That cabin looked gorgeous!
The recipe looks delicious.
I loved seeing that amazing cabin! What a cool place to go (not sure if I’d brave it alone, but maybe).
The writing in the woods vlog was fun to watch! I didn’t like the front door not having any covering though. I like to shut things up when it’s dark outside.
I loved your vlog! Brave soul! I mentioned this in my comment on YouTube, but it bears repeating. I write horror and I don’t think I would be brave enough to do what you did….especially after watching “Hush” again the other night. lol
That fudge recipe…yum! I will definitely be making that!
Oooh that fudge sounds good
Was dealing with a family emergency when it went live but finally got to watch it today… Loved it!!
I’ve never had peanut butter fudge. I love regular fudge, though!
Can’t wait to watch the vlog! Happy Spooktacular!
Sounds yumm…
Really cool watching your process come together and how much time you take to get set up and prepared. I always feel like it help me to have all my “things” to be successful at work and it makes me feel like I’m being difficult but I think it’s pretty standard to have the things that make you successful nice to see someone else who needs/wants all their “things” to be able to work.
I hate that I missed the live but I loved the replay.
I can’t wait to try this recipe! Has anyone else made it? If so, how did it turn out?
That was such a fun vlog. Thanks for taking us with you on the journey!
Has anyone made the fudge recipe yet? I think (if we have power) I’m going to mix up some cookie dough batches this weekend. Maybe I will mix this up as well. Yum!
Amazing Vlog! If The Disappearance Of Vanessa Shaw is half as suspenseful as this video, it is going to be so good! I’m so excited!!!
I never would have had the nerve to stay in a cabin in the woods alone. Good on ya, Sarra!
Every time I come to this post I leave wanting something sweet…
Hope all are ready for tonight’s fun!
Thank you for this opportunity! xx
The Kindle Paperwhite e-reader is so cute. I have been wanting to get a new one
Cannot wait to read TDOVS.
Ready to be scared!
Thank You for the recipe I can’t wait to try it out
This was one of my fave writing vlogs of yours.
I love spooktacular. Thanks for doing it.
OMG. Peanut butter fudge is my favorite! Definitely going to try this.
I’m definitely going to try this recipe!
I would have freaked myself out, too. I’m gearing myself up to write a horror novel knowing full well that I’ll be hiding under the covers every night.
I am going to get the ingredients for the fudge tomorrow. It sounds yummy and easy to make
Thank you for the recipe.
Nice recipe. Will give it a try!
I loved watching about your spooky writing retreat!!
Yummy!
Looks great
Always ready for signed paperbacks.
I always love your vlogs ❤️ that house was gorgeous!!!
You did have fun decorating.
Would love to see how you wove 2 timelines together as that is what I am trying to do.
I can’t wait for The Disappearance of Vanessa Shaw!
Thanks for the recipe
How do people like their Paperwhites? I looove my Oasis but it’s giving hints that it wants to give up the ghost and they don’t sell the US version of the Oasis anymore.
Peanut butter fudge is one of my favorites, thank you!
Thanks! Happy Friday!
Happy FriYAY!
I loved watching your vlog it cabin looked amazing you, I don’t know how you did it, staying there by yourself but it was great!!!
Peanut butter fudge and a Kindle–two of my favorite things!!
Love the fudge recipe!
Love all the stickers on your kindle. Mi e is pretty small but may need to add some bling!
Love the recipes!
I usually read on an e-reader but I love to collect my favorite series in actual books!
I finally figured out how to post on the particular blog lol
Thanks for the spooktacular fun
I like my e-reader, but also love hard copies.
I love how simple this recipe is.