The Stories & Songs Vision

Carolyn Flynn and Karen Leslie’s long-cherished vision: To host a writing retreat offering generative workshops in the art of Storytelling and Songwriting, and where the setting is exceptional. Stories & Songs Writing Retreat materialized out of that vision with three tracks: Storyteller, Songwriter, and Hybrid, each aimed at producing new writing and new songs.

They wanted a writing retreat with workshops featuring individual feedback and cross-genre study that examines the shared elements between stories and songs: musicality, lyricism, rhyming action, compression, voice, recurring motifs, “flashbulb” images, co-writing, patterns, arc, and repetition. Together with Grammy-nominated hit songwriter Clay Mills (Songwriter Track), they mapped out a dive deep into creativity, craft, and process.

The last part of the puzzle fell into place when thinking about the actual time at the retreat. So, they designed the workshop schedule with dedicated writing blocks built in—all while living and eating in an inspiring place. Carolyn, Karen, and Clay believe the perfect setting brings stardust to the Stories & Songs Writing Retreat.

This year, we will retreat to Montana’s rolling hills at the convergence of two pools fed by natural geothermal hot springs!

Location. Location. Location. Retreat to Chico Hot Springs Resort in 2025!

We wanted to find another slice of heaven closer to home, like Spannocchia in Tuscany (2024), so we searched for somewhere that focused on locally sourced, healthy, delicious food with a history that deeply roots you in place. Through a friend of a friend, we found it in, of all places, Paradise Valley.

CHICO HOT SPRINGS RESORT, on the National Register of Historic Places, offers world-class dining, natural geothermal hot springs soaking, a spa, and opportunities to ride, fish, or relax in your free time. Like Spannocchia, Chico practices environmental sustainability and offers cuisine close to the land. In the Historic Dining Room, DAVE WELLS, a James Beard semifinalist, creates a “scratch-made” menu with “a strong sense of place.” We believe this location offers a quintessential, remote American West experience! And yet, it’s located 30 miles from the north entrance of Yellowstone National Park and 45 minutes from Bozeman, Montana.

In short, we chose this place for its magnificent scenery, generous, comfortable accommodations, world-class dining, and endless amenities. Oh yes, and for the stars! The infinite canopy of stars that fills the night sky. We chose it for that.