Siyahi

Writers often come back from retreats with memories, with learning. We want to send them home with something more. Every writer who walks out of Chapter Four will leave with four things that Siyahi is uniquely placed to offer.

❇️ A sharper manuscript, shaped by a week of intensive work with Madhulika Liddle, one of the finest crime writers in India today.

❇️ A clear roadmap to traditional publishing, because Milee Ashwarya of Penguin Random House India, and our very own Mita Kapur will be in that room, and they will tell you exactly what the industry is looking for, and how to get there.

❇️ An understanding of what it takes to be an author in today's world, because Saksham Garg will lead a masterclass on building your platform, finding your audience, and owning your name as much as your work.

❇️ And their name in the right circles, because at Siyahi, we don’t just open doors for our authors. We walk through them together.

Your manuscript. Your roadmap. Your shot at making a spot on that shelf for your book.

That’s what we built Chapter Four for. That’s why these writers will come, ✍️📝👩‍💻

Before our writers arrive at the fort, we wanted to answer a question we​‘ve been asked constantly​: What exactly is crime fiction?

Because it isn’t just one thing. It never was.

Swipe through to see just how wide, how varied, and how rich this world really is.

Stay tuned, for the journey our writers are about to embark on as they .

Eight days. The language pair of your choice. One retreat that will change your translation journey.

Chapter Five - Siyahi’s Writers’ Retreats
A literary translation masterclass
1-8 August 2026 | Samode Haveli, Jaipur

Here’s what to expect:
❇️ Masterclasses with Poonam Saxena, one of India’s most distinguished literary translators
❇️ Workshop sessions with Deepa Bhasthi, an International Booker Prize-winning translator
❇️ A conversation with Ananth Padmanabhan, Publisher at HarperCollins India
❇️ A small, carefully selected group of translators who are as invested in this as you are.

Siyahi has spent nearly two decades working with writers, as literary agents, as curators, as people who believe the best thing you can do for a writer is challenge them. Our Writers’ Retreats are built on that belief. Four retreats in, we know how to build the right room. 

That room is Samode Haveli, a 225-year-old heritage property in Jaipur, frescoed, unhurried, and at its most beautiful during the August monsoon. Every meal, every session, every detail is taken care of.

You just have to write. Come, be a part of our 20-year legacy of bringing books to life!  , and let us find your book the right publisher.

DM, or head to the link in bio for more information.

.saxena.771

Big news for Chapter Five. The dates have moved, and honestly, we think it’s for the better.

Chapter Five | Translations is now from 1–8 August 2026 at Samode Haveli, Jaipur. That’s beautiful monsoon season in Rajasthan. Frescoed corridors, candlelit courtyards, the smell of rain on warm earth. The kind of setting that makes work feel like a privilege.

Everything else stays. Deepa Bhasthi. Poonam Saxena. Ananth Padmanabhan. The same intimate, extraordinary room.

If you’ve been on the fence, this is your sign.

Limited spots available.
DM or head to the link in bio. Come,

.saxena.771

On this day, exactly one year ago, we began the very first chapter of Siyahi’s Writers’ Retreats and what a wonderful journey it has been.

Since that first retreat, our community has thrived; our WhatsApp groups stay buzzing with constant conversation, and our inboxes regularly pop up with exciting new manuscripts from the retreat participants. The first book from one of our retreat alumni is almost ready to hit the shelves!

We are excited to be stepping into Chapter Four soon, with many more chapters already in the pipeline.

Chapter Four: The Plot Thickens
1-8 June 2026 | Alila Fort Bishangarh

Apply now and come,
DM or head to the link in bio.