Reading Retreat at The Perch
September 19 - 21, 2025
Join us for a cozy weekend of books, trails, and conversation.
Spend the weekend reading, hiking scenic trails, and connecting with fellow book lovers. Come unwind at our Reading Retreat featuring the gripping thriller A Murder in Zion with author Nicole Maggi.
Where and When:
September 19 -21, 2025
The Perch at Twin Peaks - 90 min from LA near Lake Arrowhead
Weekend Highlights:
Accommodations at The Perch at Twin Peaks
Morning Hike & Author Talk with Nicole Maggi
Creative Journaling with Nicole Maggi
Pop-Up Book Fair by Paper & Clay Bookshop
Evening Conversation with Nicole Maggi
All meals included
Limited spots available! Book today!
RETREAT COST: $660 + your preferred lodging
-
Friday:
3:00 PM – Check-In & Settle In
Welcome to your mountain retreat. Arrive anytime this afternoon, get cozy in your cabin, and begin to unwind. Explore the grounds, take a deep breath, and ease into the weekend.7:00 PM – Welcome Cocktail Hour at The Barn
Gather for a festive kickoff with wine, beer, mocktails, and hearty appetizers. A chance to connect with fellow readers and raise a glass to the weekend ahead.8:30 PM – Fireside S’mores & Conversation
Head to the barn fire pit for toasted s’mores and evening chatter under the stars. Cozy, casual, and a perfect end to day oneSaturday:
8:30–10:00 AM – Continental Breakfast at The Barn
Ease into the day with coffee, tea, and light breakfast fare—served casual-style so you can come and go as you please.10:30 AM – Morning Hike with Author Nicole Maggi
Meet up for a gentle group hike led by Nicole.Midday – Free Time & Boxed Lunches
Spend your afternoon your way: stroll through Crestline, browse the local bookstore, hike a new trail, or curl up with your book back at your cabin. Boxed lunches will be available to take along with you.3:00–4:00 PM – Journaling at Cabin 13 with Author Nicole Maggi
Gather for an hour of low-pressure creative prompts and reflection, led by Nicole.5:00–7:00 PM – Book Fair at The Barn
Discover a curated selection of titles just for you in this nostalgic Scholastic-style book fair hosted by Paper & Clay Bookshop. Browse, shop, and chat with fellow bibliophiles.7:00 PM – Supper Club Dinner at The Barn
Share a beautifully prepared meal, served long-table style. Come hungry and ready for good food and better conversation.8:30 PM – In Conversation with Nicole Maggi
An intimate author talk about writing, creativity, and story—moderated and open-hearted. Bring your questions and curiosity.Sunday:
8:30–10:00 AM – Continental Breakfast at The Barn
Sleep in or start the morning slow with a final breakfast in good company.Morning–Afternoon – Free Time
Spend your last few hours however you like—another stroll, one more chapter, or a final chat on the porch.4:00 PM – Check-Out
We’ll miss you already. Safe travels and see you next time… -
Tier 1: Private Cabins
Cabin 3 & Cabin 4: Queen w/ Soaking Tub (no kitchen) — $500
Cabin 7 & Cabin 8: Studio King with kitchens — $575
Cabin 9 & Cabin 10: Queen + Kitchenette — $550
Tier 2: Premium Shared Cabins
Cabin 1: Queen Room — $350; Double Room — $325; Twin Room — $300; Daybed — $225; Daybed Trundle — $225
Cabin 2: King Room — $375; Bunk Beds (Top & Bottom) — $150 each
Cabin 5: Queen Room — $350; Full Room — $325
Cabin 6: Queen Room — $350; Twin Room — $150
-
Copy of A Murder in Zion & Anecdote Journal: Mailed to you before the retreat so you have time to dive in.
Friday & Saturday Night Accommodations
Access to all weekend activities
Meals included: Friday Night Cocktail Hour, All Meals Saturday, and Sunday breakfast
$50 towards the Book Fair & Book Concierge Service: Send us your top reads of the past few years and Paper & Clay Bookshop will curate titles to bring to Saturday’s scholastic-inspired Book Fair.
-
$180
Want to join just for the day? Our Saturday Day Pass gives you full access to the heart of the retreat—perfect for locals or those short on time.
Included with your pass:
Morning hike with A Murder in Zion author Nicole Maggi
Boxed lunch delivered to you mid-day
Creative journaling & collage hour at Cabin 13
Access to the curated book fair
Seasonal Supper Club–style dinner
Intimate author conversation with author Nicole Maggi
Time to read, wander, or explore the mountain property
Spaces are limited and day passes are available on a first-come basis.
Use this form to book your spot!
An email will be sent to you to complete & confirm your booking!
What we’re reading
A Murder in Zion by Nicole Maggi
Beautiful views, deadly encounters
Grief-stricken over her mother’s death and bruised by her failure on her most recent case, Emmeline Helliwell returns to her Utah hometown to heal, regroup, and reconnect with her estranged sister. A special agent with the National Park Service, Emme is determined to turn in her badge and take over her mother’s bakery for a much quieter life . . . until the body of a childhood friend turns up in the Narrows of Zion National Park.
Emme is called in to investigate the death, and the case is too personal for her to turn down. Once the death is ruled a murder, the seemingly simple investigation turns treacherous as clues leading to a dangerous religious cult grow too glaring to ignore.
The pressure intensifies when bodies start to pile up. Emme has to track down the killer before they take more lives, all while juggling a rocky relationship with her sister as they sort through their late mother’s estate.
The beauty of Zion National Park is breathtaking, but it may hide sordid secrets in its depths.
Meet author Nicole Maggi
Nicole was born in the suburbs of upstate New York and began writing poems about unicorns and rainbows at a very early age. She detoured into acting, earned a BFA from Emerson College, and moved to NYC where she performed in lots of off-off-off-Broadway Shakespeare. After a decade of schlepping groceries on the subway, she and her husband hightailed it to sunny Los Angeles, where they now reside, surrounded by fruit trees, with their daughter and two oddball cats.
