Led by Julianne Wonser. Featuring Dove-award nominee Skye Peterson.
Confidently craft the you-est songs.
Ready to launch together?
the inside scoop
Wake up to the chirping of birds in the stillness of the mountains. Enjoy a fresh cup of coffee surrounded by a few souls who love songs as much as you do. Explore the strength of your voice through prompt work. Understand the connection between your story, songs, and vision through guided discussion. Participate in a co-write after a delicious home-cooked lunch. Embark upon an afternoon stroll through the woods. Enjoy a relaxed evening with Skye Peterson. Get the chance to ask her your burning songwriting questions. Sound good?
Have you been feeling:
- a need for consistent songwriting community and collaboration?
- stuck in a rut with songwriting?
- a desire to write more?
- inferior to other songwriters?
- a lack of direction or vision in your songwriting?
- confusion over the next step to take in your songwriting journey?
- all of the above?
I've been there.
I'm a songwriter myself and need you as much as you need me. Safe artistic community paves the way for the most authentic songs to flow from your soul. Come expectant, leave empowered. Your voice matters.
Take a peek:
As a retreat guest, you can expect to leave with:
– A better grasp on your unique songwriting voice
– Integration of your who/what/where/when/why/how
– Heightened confidence as a songwriter and collaborator
– Clarified mission with a measurable goal
– A network of songwriters for you to collaborate with in the future
– Concrete feedback on your songs from other writers
– New dear friends
– Practical wisdom from Singer/Songwriter Skye Peterson
– A refreshed hopefulness for the future as an artist and songwriter
– A song-incubator launch pad experience for the Fall!
Testimonials
“ I can’t recommend it highly enough. ” - Carly, Retreat Attendee
“So well organized and curated; valuable relationships formed that will continue; inspired to continue to write a little every day; learned to believe in my own songwriting voice. God met me there. It was truly a life giving, life-changing experience. ” - Anonymous 2024 Retreat Attendee
"Such a beautiful weekend, profoundly inspiring. I’ll be unpacking the goodness of this for a long time!!" Anonymous Attendee
what
– Guided writing/songwriting prompts
– Sharing songs and receiving feedback from others
– Group discussions centered around developing your voice
– Co-writing
– Lecture, Q&A, mini-show, and dinner with Skye Peterson
NEW: Share a freshly written co-write with Skye in the room
– Delicious, home-cooked food
– Relaxed time to enjoy the wooded mountainous glory of Tennessee
– Refreshment, inspiration, and connection within a small, intimate group
featuring skye peterson
SKYE PETERSON
Featured Artist
Skye Peterson is a singer-songwriter from Nashville, TN who loves Jesus and daffodils. As much as she likes answers, her music is a journal entry full of questions, stories, and doubts. Even as she wrestles and wonders, she feels an urge to sing about spring in December, light on darker days, and love during lonely weeks. Raised among a close-knit community of singer-songwriters who don’t fit the standard mold of Christian music, she has been long in sharpening her unique gift for truth-telling to an edge that cuts to the heart of it all: who is God, and why does it matter?
She released her first album Where The Winter Was in 2023 after studying theology in England and Kentucky. Splitting her time between touring and writing hymns for Getty Music, Skye also finished recording her second album All The Difference, which was voted “Best Christian Album” by The Gospel Coalition. During that time, Skye’s hymn “I Am Not My Own” was nominated for a Dove award, and she released many other songs for the local church while continuing to tour her solo album.
In late 2024, Skye and Addison Agen launched a new band called Fielder, an alternative-folk duo with songs that are spirited, heartfelt, and thoughtful. The full album was released in August 2025, and they spent the rest of the year touring the country opening for The Arcadian Wild. In the margins of Fielder’s first tour, Skye finished recording her fourth album, Through Line, and she plans to release it in May 2026.
who
-songwriters between 18 - 108 years old
-no performance/instrumental expertise required
-please fill out the brief application below so that we can get to know you
-once your application has been reviewed, you will be contacted via email
when
Friday, August 28th, 2026 at 4:30 pm through Sunday, August 30th, 2026 at 10 am
where
Eden Ridge Missionary Retreat Center, located on the Cumberland Plateau in East TN (2 hrs East of Nashville)
4866 Hebbertsburg Rd, Crab Orchard, TN 37723
Eden Ridge boasts of natural wooded splendor, wildlife, and beautiful mountain views. We will be slumbering in lovely luxury cabins and gathering together for group times in the largest cabin.
Lodging options are outlined below.
Read about past songwriting retreats at Eden Ridge HERE.
Meals
All meals/snacks/drinks/coffee are provided in the cost of the retreat.
The most excellent Mad Smith will be cooking up delectable meals for us all weekend!
lodging
Below prices include ALL lodging, food, retreat content, and guest artist costs per retreat guest.
Scholarships available. Please contact Julianne HERE if you are in need of scholarship.
Cabin placement is by gender. Co-writes will take place in common spaces of each cabin. Please bring your own instrument!
SOLD OUT $870 $945 Your OWN Private studio cabin (Murphy Bed) with Private Bathroom (1 available)
SOLD OUT $820 $895 Private Master Suite With Jacuzzi Tub/Shower and Private Balcony (1 available)
SOLD OUT $715 $790 King Sized Master bedroom with Private Bathroom (1 available)
$760 Private Bedroom with King or Queen bed, shared Bathroom (1 available, male only)
$710 Twin bed in shared room (3 still available, female only)
$615 Couch/air mattress for an adventurous soul! (1 available, male only)
It's an investment, but maybe you're worth HUGE growth in a short time. We're better together.
are you ready?
We can’t wait! Save a spot while there’s still room!
Click on the green button below to fill out the application and submit a non-refundable $100 deposit via Venmo to @julianne-wonser.
(The $100 will be credited towards your balance once you are accepted. If you are not accepted, you will be refunded the $100.)
Upon acceptance into the retreat, you must pay 25% of the remainder of your balance within two weeks of acceptance to fully confirm your spot. After that point, you may choose to pay the rest of your balance upfront or in two equal installments if you prefer (May 29th and July 17th).
Frequently asked questions
What is the schedule like?
The weekend is structured around three interactive sessions entitled My Story, My Voice, and My Song. These sessions include a variety of writing/songwriting/verbal prompts, group discussion, short lectures, and sharing songs. Skye will join us on Saturday late afternoon to listen to your freshly written cowrites, enjoy dinner together, and share a lecture, mini-show, and Q & A with us. There will also be a pocket of free time in which you can hike, rest, or jam with a new friend. There is MORE to the weekend than this! But you must come to see for yourself.
What if I don't sing or play an instrument?
Singing and musicianship are not a requirement! If you're a lyricist or musician only, we'll be sure to pair you with the opposite for co-writing. No need to worry. If you're hungry to grow in songwriting, you are welcome to apply.
Does it matter what genre?
All genres are welcome! The more varied the more fun.
How many people will be at this retreat?
The retreat has a maximum capacity of thirteen guests.
Should I prepare for glamping or camping?
Glamping. We will be staying in luxury cabins with kitchens and living rooms, and all sheets/towels are provided. All you need to bring is your instrument and your clothes!
Check out the lodging situation here.
How much walking is required?
Most of the cabins are around 0.3 miles of each other, and the street is gravel. One of the larger cabins is located down a hill from the others, approximately 0.5 miles from the home base cabin. If this will be an issue for you, please contact Julianne. There may be a handicap accessible option that could work for you. Please contact Julianne at juliannewonser@gmail.com to discuss.
Is it a guarantee that I will get one of my top two preferences for lodging?
Julianne will do her best to ensure that you are placed in one of your top two lodging preferences. However, depending on how many people are already signed up, cabin setup, and gender placement, there is a chance that you may not get one of your top two options. If Julianne is unable to give you one of your top two choices, she will reach out to see if another option could work!
I have severe food allergies. Will you be able to accommodate me?
Our cook, Mad Smith, is able to accommodate gluten free diets. If you have additional allergies, there will likely be an extra fee required. Due to site restraints, we are unable to guarantee the absence of allergens and are unable to completely avoid cross-contamination. Mad Smith and Julianne Wonser will not be held liable for cross-contamination. If you have severe food allergies, you will be asked to provide food for safety reasons. Please be in touch with Julianne about your specific needs to see if we can make a good plan for everyone!
Is this a Christian retreat?
No, not officially, though there will be Christians present. Songwriters gather from different walks of life, different parts of the country, different values, and different styles of faith. Please be curious and open-hearted towards those around you. We are always able to find a lot of common ground, working together to support and love each other where each of us is at in life. I hope that each individual can honestly bring his/her whole self, background, current, everything to the retreat. There is no need to hide who you are, just know that others will differ from you, and be kind to them. We can be unified amidst diversity, I have known this to be true!
What is the cancellation policy?
If you withdraw from the retreat between now and 4/28/2026, you will receive a full refund minus the $100 application fee.
If you withdraw from the retreat between 4/28/2026 and 7/28/2026, you will receive a 50% refund. If you OR Julianne are able to find a replacement for your spot, you will be refunded the remaining 50% from the replacement. If you and Julianne are unable to replace your spot, you will not be refunded the additional 50%.
If you withdraw from the retreat between 7/28/2026 and 8/28/2026, there is no refund available. However, if you are able to replace your spot with another songwriter of the same gender, you may do so, provided his/her application is accepted.
Further Questions?
Email juliannewonser@gmail.com.
No more questions? What are you waiting for?
