November 13–16, 2026
November Retreat
Three nights of books, connection, and harbor magic in Gig Harbor, WA.
Featured Author
Lindsey Wade
Lindsey Wade is the author of In my DNA: My Career Investigating Your Worst Nightmares. Lindsey served as a Tacoma Police Officer for twenty one years. During her fourteen years as a detective, she investigated sexual assaults, child abuse and missing persons cases, and homicides. Her expertise and dogged work on collecting DNA from convicted sexual predators in Washington state led to an arrest in the 1980 homicide of a teenaged girl. Lindsey, along with Tacoma Police detectives and the FBI, solved two 32 year-old cold case child homicides thanks to advances in DNA technology, Forensic Genetic Genealogy, and good old fashioned police work. After retiring from the TPD, Lindsey joined the Washington State Attorney General's Office as a Senior Investigator assigned to the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative to pursue her passion--using DNA to solve cold cases.
Guest Expert
Kimberly Lander
Forensic Scientist
Retired Forensic DNA Analyst Kimberly Lander will join us for the entire weekend. Her interest with true crime deepened after her family moved to San Antonio, TX in 1990 - a move marked by the tragic kidnapping and murder of the eleven year-old sister of a friend. Motivated by this formative experience, Kimberly began a twenty year career as a Forensic DNA Analyst with Bexar County Criminal Investigation Laboratory, analyzing biological evidence from sexual assaults, homicides, and other violent crimes. She served for sixteen years as a local CODIS administrator aiding law enforcement navigating the complexities of DNA database matches and evidence interpretation. Since retiring in 2023, she now provides attorneys and detectives forensic DNA training and expert case reviews in preparation for court and help in cold-case investigations.
What's Included
Included
- 3 nights lodging
- All meals (Friday dinner through Monday breakfast)
- Welcome goodie bag
- Bookish craft activities
- Author talk & book signing
- Waterfront exploration
Not Included
- Transportation to/from Gig Harbor
- Personal purchases & souvenirs
- Harbor cruise (but may be able to be purchased as an add-on)