The Writers' Retreat

Welcome to our home, HillHouse Farm. Proprietors Ron Heacock and Karen Walasek are full-time writers living on a thirty-four acre farm 1½ hours south of Nashville, outside the sleepy town of Lynnville, Tennessee. We offer a full service writing support service that includes a private room with fireplace and a four-poster canopied queen-sized bed and bathroom with a shower and a claw-foot tub. You will have access to the trails and grounds and we provide three custom made gourmet meals daily - crafted from local and organic ingredients when possible. We welcome special dietary requirements and will work with potential guests to develop menus for all diets.

We welcome artists and writers of all mediums and genres. We provide mentoring sessions and word-shops (group readings and discussion). Everyone comes to Hillhouse for their own reasons. Some come to paint, some to work on their dissertations, some come to get away from the world so that they can clear their thoughts before they face the blank page of a brand new novel.

Whatever your reason, when you come here, expect to be nurtured. Expect to be invited into your own quiet world of creativity, and be among friends who understand. We give you the space you need, or the company of fellow artists. Your momentary needs define your stay. You can stay up late in the darkness to drink in the light of the stars, (it is dark here) or you can sleep in late to catch the meaning of a fleeting dream. Whichever the case, we honor that.

When was the last time you drank a glass of fresh squeezed orange juice with your breakfast? Savor it. We allow people to savor the details of their lives, by providing detailed nurturing. This may have been a lesson you have already learned, but just need a mere reminder. The mere service and permission to absorb all that you need. You deserve it, you do great work.

No matter if you are a fledgling painter, or a master craftsman with literary honors to line your walls, we believe that by creating art, you are making the world a better place, for yourself, your loved ones, and those who are lucky enough to share your creation. We are honored to play a small part in midwifing your creation. It's what we do best.

We are RURAL - It is dark here. The nearest supermarket (a Wal-Mart) is 15 miles, there is no TV at HillHouse. Currently the lower level of the retreat is under construction - so there is no DVD player or entertainment center available. However, the roads are private and safe. We encourage long walks.

HillHouse Farm provides a part of the foods served from our stock and land including farm fresh eggs, raw milk and cream, homemade cheeses, pork, chicken and beef.

Ron Heacock is a writer, artist, musician, singer-songwriter, father, IT wizard, chef, mechanic, college student, sailor, teacher, thinker and recording engineer. He is currently working on his second novel, a young adult story about pirates and magic. For more: http://ronheacock.com

Karen Walasek is a writer, painter, sculptor, organic farmer, Cheese maker, cow milker, pig whisperer, midwife, mother, daughter, grant writer, advocate for the underprivileged, humanitarian, AmeriCorps Vista, MFA candidate, woman of Polish decent. She is the author of three fiction novels and several non-fiction essays and animal stories. Her work has appeared in books, magazines and newspapers throughout the US and Canada. She has done writing workshops such as “how to write a love letter” at seminars and writers conferences for the last 20 years. She is currently attending Goddard College for her MFA in creative writing.
For more: http://karenwalasek.com

Karen and Ron have been married for 35 years; they have 3 adult children and no grandchildren yet...

Residents receive a complimentary critique of their work from on-site mentor: We would be glad to make suggestions and comments on your work upon request.

Region: The area and weather: Giles County Tennessee is a farming area near the border with Alabama. The rolling hills and forests and cut out hillside pastures always remind me of Ireland- indeed most of the original settlers and the oldest families here are of Irish decent. The weather in this area of Tennessee is generally warm with moderate humidity in both the Spring (April – June) and Fall (October – December). The winters are mild with only a couple of weeks of freezing temperatures and sporadic snowfall that usually melts within one to two days. Summer days are hot. Late summer (August and September) can also include high humidity. The sun can be very strong. Summer evenings are usually 20 degrees cooler. There is very little rain in the summer. HillHouse Farm is situated on top of a hill and as such has constant breezes year round. There are several historic sites and towns in this area of the South including Pulaski, Lynnville, and Franklin (locations of civil war battles), a large Amish/Mennonite community and The Farm in Summertown (45 minutes away). The farms in the area boast a wide variety of fruits and vegetables in season and local animal producers sell an ample supply of grass fed, naturally raised meats.

Location: Hillhouse farm is located 75 miles south of Nashville off Interstate 65 (at exit 22). We are equidistant from Huntsville, AL, so both airports are serviceable from the retreat (prices into and out of Nashville will be cheaper due to high volume)

Studio Name

Description

Weekly Rates

Blue Room

Private room with fireplace and 4-poster queen-sized bed with canopy, desk, WIFI. $200/night if less than 3 days. Pickup from and return to Nashville International. Airport is included in the rate of a stay of three days or more.

$1,400.00

Green room - being renovated

Private room with queen-sized bed, desk and WIFI, shared bathroom, access to private kitchen. Pickup from and return to Nashville International Airport is included in the rate of a stay of three days or more.

$1,225.00

Payment terms: 50% non refundable Payment is required to reserve, remainder due upon arrival. Re schedules are possible, no refunds.

Cancellation policy: Due to the custom nature of our product and the limited space (currently one room) HillHouse fees are 100% non-refundable. In case of emergency we can sometimes reschedule. Prepaid fees can be transferred within 4 months of original booking slot. Call as soon as possible with requests.

M. Adkerson I have Karen Walasek and Ron Heacock and the beautiful farm up on a hill in Pulaski to thank. Hillhouse Writers Retreat was every bit that, a room of my own, away from all the projects and responsibilities that kept me from working. For a few days, I was welcomed into the easy comfort of their family—son Justin, daughter Galen, and new son-in-law Steve were at home to help with the meals and conversations, but I was also let alone, to work and to wander. It was marvelous, Karen and Ron. Your home is filled with art and words and wonderful food, and I had a blue room beneath the sugar maples where Persephone found herself. Thank you.

J. McCarroll With Karen mentoring me, I found a wonderful anecdote to all the numerous distractions and pressures of the world that work against the creative spirit. I came to HillHouse from Manhattan where I live and where a million things are at work to pull me away from my writing. Karen quickly helped make HillHouse my protective bubble. See the whole thing: http://hillhousewriters.com/Templates/testimonial.htm