Red Carnation Hotels

A weekend in the company of writers

Summer Lodge has some remarkable literary connections.  As well as being in the heart of Hardy’s Wessex the great writer was commissioned, in his capacity as an architect, to add a second floor to then Dower House, and to redesign the Drawing Room.  The nearby Acorn Inn also appears in his novel 'Tess of the d'Urbervilles' as 'The Sow & Acorn'.
We therefore thought it appropriate to host a special Writers Weekend that would give guests the opportunity to learn more about the craft from those who’ve made a career from it.

Four very different writers will talk about their work and how they approach it. 

Roger Collis is an actor, broadcaster, writer and master raconteur who has earned world-wide recognition as a business travel guru through his weekly column, 'The Frequent Traveler,' in the International Herald Tribune and as a contributing columnist for the New York Times.

Marcelle Bernstein is a much acclaimed novelist, non-fiction writer and journalist whose work has appeared in major publications in the UK and USA.  Several of her novels, such as “Body & Soul” and “Sacred & Profane”, have become best-sellers as well as being turned into successful feature films and television dramas.

Eric Clark is an respected investigative journalist who has delved into the seedier aspects of crime and drugs, as well as revealing the shadier practices of the marketing industry.  He loves using his research for writing gripping thrillers – “Black Gambit” and “Chinese Burn” have both proved particularly popular.

Jim O’Connor is an advertising copywriter practiced in the dark arts of persuasion featured in some of Eric’s books.  He has promoted everything from boutique hotels to fork lift trucks, Clover Low Fat Spread to Palmolive Soap, Cornish Pasties to Australian rum.  

The Writers Weekend package includes:

• Two night’s accommodation in a Classic Double Room
• Full English Breakfast daily
• Welcome Champagne and Canapés
• Attendance at three Writer Workshop sessions over two days
• Three-course dinner on the Saturday evening
• Teas and coffees during workshop sessions
• Complimentary signed copy of a book by Eric or Marcelle

Rates for this package are from £221 per person per night, inclusive of VAT and based on two adults sharing a Classic Room for a minimum of two nights, but may vary. This package is valid on selected dates only and is subject to availability. Terms and conditions apply.