From Idea to Publishing: A Guided Journey for Authors
A Bali retreat for women ready to turn their book idea into reality
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IDEA TO PUBLISHING
NIGHTS
7
MAX GROUP
12
ACCOMMODATION
ATTENDEES
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PHYSICAL RATING
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PRICE FROM
USD
$3,499
EXPERIENCE DATES
27 Sep - 4 Oct 26
Join publishing coach and author Crissie Leonard and accountability coach, publicist and writer Kacia Warren for an immersive week designed to help aspiring authors move past hesitation and into confident action. As co-founders of Humble Heartbeat Publishing, they bring a combined background in writing, coaching, ghostwriting and author development—guiding women to break through mindset barriers, strengthen their voice and take clear, achievable steps toward sharing their story. Set at a 5-star beachfront hotel, this retreat blends creative focus with practical insight to move your book forward with purpose.
Alongside the workshops and coaching, you’ll experience the cultural richness and natural beauty of Bali—temples, rice fields, ocean views and the island’s inspiring creative energy. Curated excursions, spacious writing time and restorative experiences, including a Balinese massage and snorkeling with turtles, create the ideal environment to reconnect with your voice and give your story the space it deserves.
Key retreat highlights
Clarify your book’s purpose, message and structure through expert-led workshops designed to take you from idea to actionable manuscript direction.
Receive personalized coaching and publishing insight from Humble Heartbeat Publishing co-founder and author-coach Crissie Leonard, and accountability coach and publicist Kacia Warren—helping you take your next steps with clarity and confidence.
Accelerate your creative momentum by working in an intimate female-only group of emerging authors who offer support, connection and accountability.
Experience Bali’s cultural and spiritual depth with curated excursions that spark creativity, including the Elephant Sanctuary, rice terraces and the Temple of the Sun.
Reignite your inspiration on a Nusa Lembongan day trip, snorkeling with turtles and soaking in the island’s energy.
Enjoy restorative downtime—including a Balinese massage and spacious writing moments—that help you integrate ideas and reconnect with your creative voice.
Stay at a 5-star beachfront hotel offering luxurious calming spaces and direct access to Seminyak’s vibrant coastline.
Included in your retreat
Step into a curated blend of creative growth, cultural exploration and restorative time designed to support your writing journey — including:
Stay 7 Nights in a 5-Star Beachfront Hotel Stay at Bali’s stylish beachfront Hotel Indigo Seminyak, featuring plush bedding, spa-inspired bathrooms and private terraces. A modern, relaxing base just steps from the beach and close to Seminyak’s vibrant cafes, boutiques and coastal energy.
Daily Breakfasts & Hosted Group Meals
Enjoy nourishing daily breakfasts, along with select group lunches that offer time to recharge and connect between sessions. Begin your retreat with a relaxed welcome dinner to meet fellow authors and set intentions for the week, and close with a memorable farewell gathering to celebrate your creative progress and shared experiences.
All Author Workshops with Kacia Warren & Crissie Leonard
Participate in a full program of expert-led sessions designed to guide you from idea to manuscript clarity, grounded in the same framework Crissie and Kacia use to support emerging authors on their publishing journey. With Crissie’s experience as a publishing coach and author, and Kacia’s accountability-focused approach to building momentum and confidence, you’ll refine your message, shape your book structure and gain practical insights that support real progress on your path to publishing.
Personalized Writing & Publishing Guidance
Alongside group learning, you’ll receive personalized support to help align your idea, strengthen your voice and define the next steps on your author journey. You’ll leave with practical direction and a roadmap to continue your progress with confidence.
Curated Cultural Experiences
Step beyond the workshop room and into the spirit of Bali. Highlights include a sunset visit to Tanah Lot Temple, plus a full-day Ubud immersion with the Elephant Sanctuary, sweeping rice terraces and a visit to the tranquil Temple of the Sun.
Water-Based Inspiration
Reconnect with creativity through a day trip to Nusa Lembongan, where you’ll snorkel alongside turtles and enjoy time on the water — an energizing, joy-filled experience that sparks new ideas and perspective.
Restorative Wellness Activities
Enjoy a rejuvenating 60-minute Balinese massage and take time for reflection throughout your stay—supporting your writing by keeping you grounded and refreshed.
Seamless Airport Transfers
Return airport transfers are included, ensuring a smooth and effortless transition into and out of Bali.
Use of Resort Amenities
Enjoy access to Hotel Indigo’s premium facilities, perfect for unwinding, writing or finding a quiet moment, including:
Swimming pools
24-hour fitness centre
Lush landscaped gardens
SugarSand Beach Club
Gallery
Retreat Itinerary
Day 1: Welcome to Bali
Arrive in Bali and be greeted at the airport for your included transfer to Hotel Indigo Seminyak, your stylish beachfront base for the week. Check in from 3:00pm and settle into your room—perhaps with a swim, a beach walk, or time unwinding on your private terrace.
At 6:00pm, meet your retreat hosts, accountability coach and writer Kacia Warren and publishing coach and author Crissie Leonard, and connect with your fellow aspiring authors. They’ll introduce the flow of the week and the supportive creative space they’ve designed through years of guiding women toward clarity, confidence and meaningful progress in their writing.
We’ll then share a relaxed welcome dinner together, enjoying fresh Balinese flavours and the opportunity to begin meaningful conversations that will carry through the retreat.
Accommodation: Hotel Indigo Seminyak
Meals Included
Welcome dinner
Included Activities
Airport transfers
Day 2: Clarifying Your Book’s Direction
Begin your morning with a nourishing breakfast featuring tropical fruits, pastries and locally inspired hot dishes. Then ease into your first author development workshop of the week—guided by Crissie and Kacia, who will help you clarify your book’s purpose, message and direction using the same tools they’ve used to support emerging authors in shaping manuscripts with confidence.
After an included casual lunch, we’ll set out for a sunset visit to Tanah Lot Temple, one of Bali’s most iconic sacred sites. The dramatic ocean backdrop and golden light offer an inspiring moment of reflection as you begin shaping your story.
Return to the hotel in the evening to unwind and enjoy dinner at your leisure, whether that’s exploring Seminyak’s restaurants or relaxing by the beach.
Accommodation: Hotel Indigo Seminyak
Meals Included
Breakfast
Lunch
Included Activities
Author Workshop
Group excursion to Tanah Lot Temple at sunset
Transfers to and from scheduled activities
Day 3: Finding Your Voice as an Author
After breakfast, you’ll join your next workshop—focused on personal positioning, voice and audience. With Crissie’s experience helping writers uncover the heart of their message, and Kacia’s guidance in building clarity and momentum, this session supports you in understanding how your unique perspective shapes your book.
Enjoy an included group lunch, followed by spacious free time in the afternoon. Write poolside, unwind by the beach, journal in a quiet corner of the resort, or explore nearby boutiques and cafés. This is your time to integrate ideas and let creativity breathe.
Spend the evening however you choose—dining locally, relaxing at the hotel or connecting informally with your fellow attendees.
Accommodation: Hotel Indigo Seminyak
Meals Included
Breakfast
Lunch
Included Activities
Author Workshop
Day 4: Ubud Cultural Immersion
Today you’ll journey into the cultural heart of Bali. After breakfast, we’ll travel north to Ubud for a full-day immersion in the island’s art, nature and spiritual heritage. Our first stop is the Elephant Sanctuary, where you’ll experience a meaningful encounter with these gentle animals in a peaceful jungle setting—an experience that naturally invites reflection and appreciation for the island’s deep-rooted traditions.
From there, we’ll continue to the Bali Swing, suspended high above terraced rice fields and lush jungle valleys. The exhilaration and open horizon often create the perfect conditions for creative breakthroughs—something Crissie and Kacia frequently see in authors they support.
In the afternoon, we’ll visit the tranquil Temple of the Sun, a serene and lesser-known sacred site. It’s the ideal place to reconnect with your intentions and draw inspiration from Bali’s spiritual landscape.
After a day of discovery, return to peaceful luxury — a place to rest, reflect, and write from your awakened.
Accommodation: Hotel Indigo Seminyak
Meals Included
Breakfast
Included Activities
Elephant Sanctuary visit
Bali Swing experience
Temple of the Sun visit
Transfers to and from scheduled activities
Day 5: Shaping Your Manuscript
After breakfast, join an in-depth workshop focused on structuring your book—turning ideas into chapters and chapters into a compelling manuscript plan. Drawing on Crissie’s publishing experience and Kacia’s momentum-building coaching, you’ll begin mapping your book in a way that feels grounded and achievable.
Following an included lunch, enjoy a rejuvenating 60-minute Balinese massage to reset your energy and support your creative flow. The remainder of the afternoon is free for writing, rest or quiet reflection.
Dine at your leisure in the evening, choosing from Seminyak’s vibrant coastal dining options or the comfort of the hotel.
Accommodation: Hotel Indigo Seminyak
Meals Included
Breakfast
Lunch
Included Activities
Author Workshop
60-minute Balinese Massage
Day 6: Integration, Clarity & Reflection
Begin your day with breakfast before heading into your final workshop of the retreat—an integration session that brings together everything you’ve explored so far. With guidance from Kacia and Crissie, you’ll refine your book’s direction, strengthen your message and outline the next steps in your writing and publishing journey.
After a group lunch, enjoy a spacious afternoon to write, rest or explore Seminyak. This is your chance to let ideas settle, revisit inspiration or simply enjoy the island at your own pace.
In the evening, we’ll gather for a special farewell dinner—a warm, celebratory moment to reflect on your progress, honour your growth and acknowledge the creative journey you’ve taken together.
Accommodation: Hotel Indigo Seminyak
Meals Included
Breakfast
Lunch
Farewell Dinner
Included Activities
Author Workshop
Day 7 & 8: Visibility in Action & Farewell
After breakfast, we’ll set off for a full-day adventure to Nusa Lembongan—a beautiful island known for its turquoise water, vibrant marine life and quiet charm. The shift in pace and open landscape often help writers access new clarity—something your hosts will encourage you to capture during this inspiring day.
Once on the island, you’ll enjoy an unforgettable snorkelling experience, swimming alongside turtles and exploring colourful coral reefs. Whether you’re gliding through the water or relaxing between snorkel stops, this day reconnects you with joy, spaciousness and perspective—key ingredients of the creative process.
We’ll return to Seminyak in the afternoon, giving you time to unwind, write or soak up your final evening in Bali. It’s a gentle space to reflect on everything you’ve learned—your ideas, confidence and strengthened author voice.
The next morning, enjoy a final breakfast before check-out at midday. Your included airport transfer will take you to the airport for your onward journey, leaving Bali with clarity on your book and a renewed sense of direction.
Accommodation: Hotel Indigo Seminyak
Meals Included
Breakfast
Included Activities
Nusa Lembongan snorkelling excursion
Transfers to and from snorkelling excursion
Return airport transfer on departure day
Customer Reviews
See what the Woman Explore community are saying
The Perfect Base for a Transformative Week
“Staying at Hotel Indigo Seminyak was an experience I’ll never forget. The moment I arrived, the mix of lush tropical gardens, warm Balinese hospitality and beautifully designed spaces made it feel like a true sanctuary. The rooms were spacious and calming, with thoughtful details that made it easy to unwind after exploring the vibrant streets of Seminyak. The beachfront location meant sunrise walks, incredible sunsets and effortless access to cafés, boutiques and beach bars, while the hotel’s pools and quiet corners offered the perfect balance of energy and tranquillity. Every part of my stay felt intentional and uplifting — Seminyak has a magic to it, and Hotel Indigo captures that magic in the most welcoming way.”
Emma | Australia
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I Need to Have a Draft or Writing Experience to Attend?
Not at all. This retreat is designed for women at every stage of the author journey—from those with a spark of an idea to those holding early chapters. You’ll be guided step-by-step with workshops, coaching and support that meet you exactly where you are.
Do I Need to Organize Airport Transfers?
No. As part of your retreat we have organized return airport transfers to and from the airport in Bali and your hotel. Ensuring you have a relaxing start to your retreat with us.
Is This a Writing Retreat or a Coaching Experience?
It’s both. While there is dedicated writing time and creative space, the heart of the retreat is expert coaching, hot-seat sessions and practical publishing insight. You’ll experience creative inspiration and structured guidance to move your project forward with confidence.
Do I Need to Bring Local Currency With Me?
It’s helpful to bring some local currency with you if possible, but if not, you can easily withdraw Indonesian Rupiah (IDR) from local ATMs once you arrive at the airport or your guide will help you locate one.
