Today we’d like to introduce you to Jonas Saul

Hi Jonas, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?

I was writing before I knew how to write, at the age of two or three. I’d take my sister’s textbook and copy out the letters so that I could write. Once I learned how to read and write, I was enamored with short stories. I wrote over fifty short stories before my twenties and soon realized I needed to write longer pieces.

So, in my twenties, I took on the task of writing full-length novels. Thirty years later, I’ve now written over fifty books.

How did I start? By sitting at the desk and putting in the time. How did I get to where I am today? I’m still at my desk.

But seriously–if an author wants a large readership, they have to write–a lot! To do that, the author must be disciplined enough to write several hours daily.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?

Smooth road? No, there have been roadblocks, speedbumps, and dead ends. I struggled to obtain a literary agent for over ten years. I struggled with learning the craft of writing (there’s a curve I couldn’t see, blinded by my ego).

I have an agent now, and my writing has progressed to the point where readers offer generous feedback, so I’m happy to continue growing and learning.

“The elevator to success is out of order. You’ll have to take the stairs, one step at a time.” – Joe Girard.

Knowing this, I was patient. I kept grinding the gears, writing/working toward my goal.

As you know, we’re big fans of Imagine Greece Retreats. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?

As an author, I began sharing my journey at writer’s conferences about ten years ago, including how I sold millions of books, landed an agent, and sold my Sarah Roberts series to a major Hollywood studio. I spoke at these conferences, sat on panels, and gave masterclasses on writing, self-editing, and making your books reader-friendly.

When the pandemic hit, the traveling stopped. When the pandemic ended, my wife (also an author) and I came up with an idea to host writing and reading retreats in Greece.

We are in our third year of conducting retreats and cherishing every moment of it. We manage eight retreats in Greece annually, with some attracting over 40 guests and a few having as few as a dozen attendees. Each retreat is designed to provide a personal and enriching experience for every participant.

The 2025 reading retreats will feature famous guest authors such as JD Barker, Liz Nugent, Robyn Harding, and Clare Mackintosh.

The 2025 writing retreats are like a masterclass on the beach. We discuss everything from writing the novel, how to set it up to be reader-friendly, and self-editing tips, and we end with how to market your books for little to no cost. Our writing retreats are unique in that when you’ve attended one of our retreats and used some of the tools we offer, we add exposure to our social media to help promote your books, totaling over 100,000 followers collectively.

What does success mean to you?

Success is defined in a myriad of ways. Finding readers is a success, as is amassing reviews for my novels. Obtaining an agent, signing a deal in Hollywood, and selling millions of books have been wonderful successes.

Trust me. I’ve celebrated them all along the way.

Ultimately, success is financial freedom—never having to be concerned about money, never thinking about where the money will come from, or whether I can make this or that bill.

To be utterly free of financial constraints would be a solid definition of success.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://imaginegreeceretreats.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonassaul/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jonassaul/
• Other: https://www.wetravel.com/users/imagine

Image Credits

Jonas Saul