A look inside Rachael John’s exclusive book retreat

AN exclusive three-day book retreat hosted by bestselling Australian author Rachael Johns opened on Friday 19 June with a lively cocktail event, drawing readers and writers from across the country.

Guests flocked to Novotel Geelong and embraced the “madams and miners” dress theme with period-inspired costumes adding a sense of fun to the evening.

The retreat continues to build a strong following, with several attendees returning annually, reflecting its popularity within Australia’s romance reading community.

This year’s event has also attracted a number of Geelong locals, many of whom welcomed the opportunity to attend closer to home.

Johns and her co-host Anthea Hodgson said the retreat is designed to foster creativity, connection and a shared love of storytelling.

The opening night cocktail party marked the beginning of a weekend focused on writing, workshops and community.