The Writers' Colony at Dairy Hollow

(FREE EVENT) Book Launch: Welcome to Eureka Springs: The I-Sh*t-You-Not History of America's Quirkiest Town by Jude Galliot
2026-09-10 17:30 - 19:30 (America/Chicago) | The Writers’ Colony at Dairy Hollow, The Writers' Colony at Dairy Hollow, Eureka Springs, AR, 72632, United States
About This FREE Event
Four years ago, Jude Gaillot set out to write what he figured would be a small project. It turned into hundreds of interviews, a mountain of research, and one wild book: Welcome to Eureka Springs: The I-Sh*t-You-Not History of America’s Quirkiest Town.
The book holds 60 true stories, each one stranger than the last, and together they capture the spirit of a town that has never done anything the ordinary way, including a motorcycle-riding mayor with an anarchist streak, and the mysterious “cure” that put Eureka Springs on the map in the first place, to name just a few. Gaillot weaves together the town’s colorful history into a hilarious, informative collection likely to become the go-to reference for all things Eureka Springs.
Come spend an evening with Jude as he reads a few of his favorite chapters out featuring three Eureka Springs women who changed the world: hatchet-wielding Prohibitionist Carry A. Nation, nurse-midwifery pioneer Mary Breckinridge, and Flapper icon Irene Castle.
The reading will be followed by a Q&A and interview hosted by Destaney Marie, WCDH Residency Coordinator, as well as a book signing.
Jude is a former journalist and open source software developer. He grew up in New Orleans and now calls Eureka Springs home. This is his first book, and since he also happens to be WCDH’s board president, we couldn’t be prouder to host the launch.
What to Expect:

Live Reading: Three Eureka Springs women who changed the world: hatchet-wielding Prohibitionist Carry A. Nation, nurse-midwifery pioneer Mary Breckinridge, and Flapper icon Irene Castle.
Author Conversation: A behind the scenes look at the four year journey behind the book
Q&A & Signing: Ask your questions, grab a copy, get it signed
Food: Refreshments (heavy appetizers) will be served

This is a FREE EVENT with limited capacity. Be sure to reserve your free tickets below.

Reserve your FREE tickets

Pour It Out: Writing Through Life's Turning Points
2026-09-27 14:00 - 16:30 | Virtual Event
Pour It Out: Writing Through Life’s Turning Points
A virtual reflective writing workshop with Jalissa Carter
There’s a moment in every wine’s life when it stops being grapes and starts being something worth pouring. Jalissa Carter thinks our stories work the same way. In this two hour virtual workshop, she’ll guide you through the turning points you’ve been carrying around, the ones that changed how you see yourself, and help you find the words for them.
Using a wine inspired framework (think vintages, notes, and what develops over time), you’ll move through guided writing prompts designed to meet you exactly where you are. No previous writing experience required. No pressure to share unless you want to. Just space to write honestly, and maybe a sentence or two you’re proud of by the end.
The Details

When: Sunday, September 27, 2026, 2:00–4:30 PM (CST)
Where: Virtual, live on Zoom
Cost: $40 per person
Who it’s for: Beginners through seasoned writers. All you need is something to write with and an open mind.
Group size: Limited to 20-25 participants for an intimate setting

What to Expect
We’ll open with a wine inspired warm up, naming a “vintage” from your own life. From there, two guided writing sessions dig into a meaningful chapter and the turning point at its center, with breaks built in to stretch and reset. We’ll close with a short integration exercise and a final line to carry with you. Sharing is always optional. Witnessing, not critiquing, is the rule of the room.
Meet Your Facilitator
Jalissa Carter is a Fort Smith, Arkansas based author, poetry workshop facilitator, and wellness practitioner who has spent over a decade helping women find their way back to their own voice through creative expression. She’s the author of six books, including Wedlope: Wine-Infused Poems for Weddings & Elopements, and founder of Wedlope, a creative brand built around storytelling and reflective writing. She’s led programming with the Fort Smith Regional Art Museum, facilitates virtual sessions through ShareWell, and is preparing to bring her workshop series internationally to London. She’s also a certified Master Life Coach and WSET Level 1 Wine Professional.
What Past Participants Have Said
“This was a very well thought out session. I enjoyed Jalissa’s teaching and hosting style.“
“I love being challenged to write about new things, thoughtful and deep things.”
“This was a great group based on the ideas of narrative therapy, and Jalissa did a great job leading us through a three prompt cycle.“
Ready to pour it out?

Register here

Melody & Muse: Songwriting Workshop with Melissa Carper & Bonnie Montgomery
2026-10-15 - 2026-10-18 | The Writers’ Colony at Dairy Hollow, The Writers' Colony at Dairy Hollow, Eureka Springs, AR, 72632, United States
Melody & Muse: Songwriting Workshop with Melissa Carper & Bonnie Montgomery
🎟️ Registration is open now — Get Your Tickets Only 22 spots available

Get Your Tickets

Follow your inner muse to the wooded hills of Eureka Springs, Arkansas, for an intimate songwriting retreat at The Writers’ Colony at Dairy Hollow. Led by acclaimed singer-songwriters Melissa Carper and Bonnie Montgomery, this workshop is designed to help you find, hone, and elevate your creative voice.
The Experience
Throughout the weekend, Melissa and Bonnie will share the secrets behind their own songwriting processes. Through open, conversational sessions, you’ll explore:

Melody & Phrasing: Discover how to marry rhythm and tune.
Form & Structure: Learn the architecture that transforms poetry into song.
Creative Voice: Find and sharpen your unique lyrical perspective.

Whether you are writing your very first song or looking to deepen a lifelong creative practice, Melody and Muse offers the dedicated space, expert guidance, and serene inspiration you need to grow.
Event Details

Dates: October 15–18, 2026
Location: The Writers’ Colony at Dairy Hollow | Eureka Springs, AR
Tuition: $400 + 3% credit card processing fee (Note: Lodging is not included)
Capacity: Strictly limited to 22 participants to ensure personalized attention

How to Register
How to Register
Tickets are sold securely online right here through our website.
🎟️ Get Your Tickets
Because space is strictly limited to just 22 songwriters, we highly recommend booking as soon as possible!

About Your Hosts
This workshop marks a truly unique, first-ever opportunity: the first-ever in-person songwriting workshop co-hosted by Melissa Carper and Bonnie Montgomery. Because this is an intimate, small-group experience capped at just 22 participants, you will have unprecedented, direct access to these acclaimed artists in a close-knit, collaborative setting.
Melissa Carper
Celebrated for her deeply observational lyrics and a voice that curls like a croon from an old gramophone, Melissa Carper plays old-school country music that resonates across time and place. Her sound weaves together old-time, bluegrass, western swing, jazz, and blues—the very threads that built American country music. Veteran Nashville musician Chris Scruggs perfectly summed up her timeless, genre-spanning artistry when he nicknamed her “HillBillie Holiday.”
Bonnie Montgomery
Raised in White County, Arkansas, Bonnie Montgomery is a fearless creative nomad whose work ranges from polished parlor songs to barn-burning country anthems. With a poet’s phrasing and a soprano’s crystalline timbre, her repertoire moves freely between high romantic ballads, fiery anthems of dissent, and cinematic, spaghetti-western vignettes. Her work has been praised by Paste and The New Yorker, and she has received multiple Arkansas Country Music Awards, including 2020 Entertainer of the Year.
About The Writers’ Colony at Dairy Hollow (WCDH)
Located in the wooded hills of historic Eureka Springs, Arkansas, The Writers’ Colony at Dairy Hollow has provided a peaceful, dedicated sanctuary for the creative spirit for over 25 years.
As a respected fixture in the regional and national literary arts nonprofit landscape, The Writers’ Colony has had the privilege of nurturing more than 1,400 writers, composers, and artists from all over the world. Our mission is to provide a supportive, distraction-free environment for creators of all genres and at every level of experience. Whether you are just beginning your creative journey or are deep into a lifelong practice, The Writers’ Colony offers the ideal space for your unique voice to flourish.

(FREE EVENT) Book Launch: The Nurse at Baker Hospital by Jocelyn Cullity
2026-10-23 18:00 - 20:00 | AR
About this FREE Event
Join us at The Writers’ Colony at Dairy Hollow for an evening celebrating long-time alumna Dr. Jocelyn Cullity and the launch of her new novel, The Nurse at Baker Hospital.
For over a decade, Dairy Hollow has been a home away from home for Cullity, who has written three books during her stays here. Her newest novel draws on the true story of Norman Baker, shaped by years of research in Eureka Springs and insights from local historians. Set at the historic Crescent Hotel — which Baker operated as a fraudulent cancer hospital in the late 1930s — the book brings her back to WCDH for a special homecoming launch.
Enjoy light hors d’oeuvres, connect with fellow literary lovers, and celebrate this incredible achievement!
A portion of proceeds from the sale of this book will benefit The Writers’ Colony at Dairy Hollow.
About the Author
Dr. Jocelyn Cullity is the Director of Creative Writing and Director of the Stokes Center for Creative Writing at the University of South Alabama. Cullity is a longtime alum of Dairy Hollow, and her work remains deeply tied to the history and community of Eureka Springs.
This event is made possible with support from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.
Seating is limited to 50 guests — reserve your free spot today.

Reserve your tickets
