Your Story Matters:
Palm Springs

Women-Only Retreat: February 24 - March 1, 2026
*Sold out for 2025*

Sun, Spa, and Story

Your story matters. You’ve heard it before—but now, you’re starting to believe it. And that belief? It’s your invitation to act!

Write for YOU—because your words will bring healing and wisdom to your own soul.

Write for OTHERS—because your stories will offer hope, comfort, and courage to those walking through their own struggles.

Write for your FAMILY—because these are the stories that will become your history, your legacy, a gift to generations to come.

This powerful work will be deepened by our small, intimate group (just 12 of us), our women-only circle, and the restorative beauty of our setting—held in the warmth and serenity of a lush desert oasis.

What to Expect

The Experience

Each morning, we’ll gather in a beautiful home overlooking the San Jacinto mountains. Here, Leslie will guide you through a powerful writing process she has used for decades around the world as both a writer and a teacher. Get ready for innovative exercises, small group work, and dynamic instruction. No matter your starting point, Leslie will joyfully guide you in discovering the heart of your story and your voice on the page.

The Excursions

Our writing adventures each day will be followed by activities each afternoon. You can be as active or restful as you desire. Lounge poolside or in the hot tubs each day or take advantage of the tennis/pickleball courts and workout gym steps from your lodging. Mix it up with hiking on spectacular trails through canyons and palm oases. Visit the Living Desert, one of Southern California’s most treasured animal preserves. Ride the spectacular Palm Springs Aerial Tramway (admission cost covered in tuition.)

The Evenings

Evenings we'll gather again for gourmet food, drink and readings, movies and discussion, sharing our best work with one another and cheering each other on!

Meet Your Host

Leslie is the multi-award-winning author of 14 books including Your Story Matters and Forgiving Our Fathers and Mothers. Other books include Crossing the Waters, which won Christianity Today's 2017 Book Award in Christian Living. Her books have been translated into eleven languages. Her essays have appeared in Christianity Today, Belief.net, The Atlantic, Orion, Best Essays and many others earning her a number of Evangelical Press Awards, Pushcart nominations and a Genesis Award.

With three graduate degrees (in English, Journalism and an MFA in Creative Nonfiction) she has taught extensively in undergraduate and graduate programs both as faculty member and guest lecturer. Her Memoir Masterclass program has over a thousand students around the world, and many of her students have gone on to publish their manuscripts, (which makes her incredibly proud!)

What Will You Learn?

→ Learn why your story is so important and how writing it can bring healing and peace

→ Discover writing techniques and exercises to help your memories flow to the page

→ Take control of the narrative of your life and leave a legacy behind you

Topics We’ll Cover

Discovering and Mapping Your Story
Practicing the Three Building-Blocks of Story-Making
Writing as Prayer, Discovery and Response
Excavating Memory: Freeing the Creator; Educating the Editor
Telling the Truth of Hard Places and Difficult People
Launching Your Work into the World

Apply

Accommodation & Pricing

This retreat is an all-inclusive experience that includes lodging, all excursions, all meals, and airport pickup. You will be responsible for airfare to and from Palm Springs. Lodging is located 25 minutes from the Palm Springs airport, in nearby Desert Hot Springs.