7-Day Writing Masterclass in Athens: Write, Workshop, and Get Published in a Guaranteed Anthology
Athens, Attica Jan 5, 2026 (Issuewire.com) - This February, international writers will gather at the Acropolis Select in Athens, Greece, for an immersive 7-Day Writing Masterclass with Guaranteed Anthology Publication, hosted by Imagine Greece Retreats. Taking place from February 26 to March 4, 2026, the retreat is designed for aspiring and established authors ready to sharpen their craft and take a concrete step toward publication.
Held in Athens, the program blends focused writing time, in-depth masterclasses, and honest conversations about the publishing world. Participants will work closely with experienced instructors, receive feedback on their writing, and gain insight into what it takes to move from draft to published work.
What sets this retreat apart is its guaranteed outcome: all qualifying participants will have their short stories published in a professionally produced anthology, offering a rare and meaningful milestone for writers at any stage of their career.
Beyond the classroom, guests experience Greece through curated city walks, shared meals, and relaxed evenings that encourage connection and creative exchange. The atmosphere is supportive, focused, and intentionally small, allowing writers to build lasting relationships while making real progress on the page.
The retreat is organized by Imagine Greece Retreats, known for combining authentic Greek hospitality with thoughtfully designed creative experiences for writers from all over the world.
Acclaimed horror novelist and U.S. Army veteran Vanessa M. Chattman returns with a chilling new supernatural tale that promises to haunt readers long after the final page. Her latest novel, BENEATH THE OAK, delivers a gripping blend of psychological terror, hidden family secrets, and ghostly suspensecementing Vanessa M. Chattmans reputation as one of the most compelling voices in modern horror.
Set in the quiet isolation of rural America, BENEATH THE OAK follows Alyssa Ward, a grieving woman forced to confront the shadows of her past when she returns to her childhood home after her mothers sudden death. What she expects to be a simple homecoming becomes a descent into a generational nightmare. The massive oak tree looming behind the houseonce a symbol of comfortnow pulses with an eerie, oppressive presence. At night, whispers seep from its roots, and ghostly silhouettes gather beneath its branches, watching, waiting.
As Alyssa sorts through her mothers belongings, she discovers a series of journals revealing a dark family curse tied to the ancient tree. For generations, the Ward family has been tormented by a spirit bound to the oakone that selects a single family member to keep beneath its roots. When Alyssa begins experiencing visions of a young girl calling her name, begging for release, she realizes the curse is awakening once more.
The deeper Alyssa digs into her familys past, the more the veil between the living and the dead unravels. The spirit beneath the oak soon reveals its true identitysomeone Alyssa once knew, someone she unknowingly abandoned. To break the curse, Alyssa must confront buried memories, longforgotten guilt, and a supernatural force determined to claim her as its next offering. The battle becomes not only for her life, but for her soul.
Vanessa M. Chattmans signature styleatmospheric, emotionally charged, and rooted in psychological horrorshines throughout BENEATH THE OAK. Known for her ability to blend haunting imagery with human vulnerability, Chattman crafts a narrative that is both terrifying and profoundly intimate. Her exploration of grief, memory, and generational trauma elevates the novel beyond traditional horror, offering readers a story that is as thoughtprovoking as it is chilling.
With a growing body of acclaimed work spanning supernatural fiction, psychological thrillers, and cinematic screenplays, Vanessa M. Chattman continues to push the boundaries of the genre. BENEATH THE OAK stands as one of her most powerful works to datea haunting reminder that the past never truly stays buried, and some spirits refuse to be forgotten.
BENEATH THE OAK is now available through major retailers and online platforms. Readers seeking a gripping, atmospheric, and emotionally resonant supernatural horror experience will find themselves captivatedand hauntedby Vanessa M. Chattmans latest masterpiece.
