Ron Heacock and I have been married for almost 30years. During that time we have home schooled three children , and have lived the artist’s life from every which way it can be done. Day job, no day job, living off the art, living off investments, writing full time with no hope of a paycheck, you name it.

We currently write under a pen name to protect our privacy and safe space. We also don't want to play the credential game; to us, it's not about what somebody else did. It's about what you can do here. However, we would like to say from another perspective that we do understand learning and support of the arts and firmly believe that the creative life of the individual is dependent upon freedom in a nurturing space. That space is Hill House Writers; a Grant Based Writers Sanctuary.

After 20 years of gathering miscellaneous credits, I finished my BA in creative writing in 1995 within the MFA writing program at Goddard College, Plainfield, VT. Much of what I've learned about nurturing writers comes from direct experiences I've had at the MFA writing residencies.

Yet the most significant contribution to our understanding is the years we spent home schooling our dynamic and creative children (now 14, 18, and 26). In a way, Hillhouse Writers is the natural offshoot of the environment we created for them throughout their growing lives. Our executive chef Justin Heacock and writer-animation-game design student, Morgan Heacock (see below) are our sons.

Each member of the family brings something to our lives we can pass on to your retreat experience: a wide a range of education, experience, imagination, and artistic skills. Ron and I have both spent more than seven years facilitating writing workshops throughout the United States and Canada.
Just some comments about some of those workshops include:

• “Very healing and uplifting thank you.”
• “…you give me permission to radiate, following your example of breaking the ice. What follows in the wake of your exuberance is happy women (and others) with new freedom in their dance of life.”
• “A seed was planted in my heart.”
• The exercises and discussions were excellent.”
• “You are dangerous, because you entice women like me to go to a whole new level.”
• “Very profound… it was more than I expected.”
• “What a gift to be able to give yourself time to be with yourself for yourself. Wow!”
• “It is good to be reminded sometimes that we need to nourish ourselves and our creativity.”
• “Doing this makes a world of difference.”

Karen Walasek

Morgan Heacock is an eighteen year old writer who has been home schooled all of his life. JOURNEYS: BOOK ONE is the working title of his first book in a series. The characters contained within this novel emerge from an uninterrupted connection to characters he has known since he was four years old; back before he could write we typed-in his dictations for his stories.

In a recommendation for his art school admission, 2003 Philip K. Dick Award Nominee, Mary Buckner (HYPERTHOUGHT, Ace Books) writes:

"What strikes me most about Morgan is his enthusiasm. He has put a great deal of time and energy into creating an inventive fantasy world populated with characters and creatures which he can describe and draw in detail. His passion is a joy to witness."

We hope that when you stay at Hill House you too will capture that kind of enthusiasm for your work.

PS. We hope you like pets. Hill house is not for you if you have allergies or distaste for dogs, cats, horses or Italian water buffalo.