Bernadette’s Lineage

A writing, activation, and restoration portal for Black women

Transform Your Professional Journey

If there's a book that you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it

— Toni Morrison

Within you, this dream won’t quiet itself.

You have a dozen things pulling on your time. Maybe it’s a full-time, high pressure job. Maybe it’s caregiving for your children, parents, or community. Maybe it's the business you’re launching on the side. And when the day is done, there simply isn’t another minute to give to your creative dream.

Still, the book that only you can write won’t stop calling your name. Let 2026 be the year you answer.

Bernadette’s Lineage is a writing activation and restoration portal that will teach you how to say yes to yourself, say yes to the book that can only be written by you, and to do so in a way that invites *more* rest and wellness into your life. This experience offers an intentional, tested design that weaves individual and group coaching, tactical strategies, writing industry panels, and somatic, visualization, and restorative practices rooted in ancestral ways of knowing.

Our journey together...

Grounded in ceremony, ritual, community, and care

Explore the shadows, barriers, and narratives that might be in the way of your creative activation, then finding the flow that works for YOU

Utilize somatic coaching, visualization, life visioning, and movement

Bernadette’s Lineage is for you if

  • You’re tired of putting you’re creative dream on the backburner because of the day to day demands on your time
  • You want to learn how to commit to your writing in a sustainable, non-extractive, non judgemental way that keeps you whole, healthy, and rested
  • You want to learn what works for you (not a one-size-fits-all approach)
  • You are committed to healing for the past, present, and future of your lineage
  • You are ready to break all bonds with fear, procrastination, shame, and “not-enoughness”
  • The dream has become louder than the denial.
  • You don’t just want to write a book (you want to feel good and whole while doing it)
  • You are seeking a community of fellow travelers navigating similar challenges and questions in their writing lives
  • You are ready for concrete strategies and approaches

Schedule

Apr 9 to Apr 12 2026

Foundation

  • Opening circle and activation portal at the beautiful Mansion at Noble Lane in The Poconos. We will build our community, establish our rhythm, and prepare for our journey
  • On-site meals
  • Ground transportation from/to local airports provided

May to Nov 2026

Growth

  • Virtual Sessions: Saturdays from 8am - 10am PT/11am - 1pm ET.
    Mar 21 May 16 Jun 20 Jul 18 Aug 15 Sep 26 Oct 24 Oct 24
  • All sessions will be recorded
  • Small group coaching on barriers (internal and external) to one’s writing life
  • Visioning sessions on literary foremothers — writing greats with full time jobs and demands on their time just like ours, who stand as some of the greatest literary giants in history. We’ll learn from their processes through visualization, video clips, writing excerpts, etc.
  • Writing workshops where we’ll go deep with one another’s work in a supportive container
  • Strategy sessions to get clear on the flows that will work for us individually, with no one size fits all approach

May to Nov 2026

TBD

Practice

  • Three industry labs — talks and Q&A with an agent, an editor, and a published author on the business side of writing
  • Industry labs will take place on week day evenings during the arc of the program

May to Nov 2026

Optional

Connection

  • Two 50 min 1:1 coaching sessions. To be scheduled with each participant
  • Scribe Circles — accountability groups of 2 or 3 that will support one another’s creative fire
  • Optional co-writing cafes. Private zoom link for participants to gather weekly for virtual writing cafes
  • Private community group for resource sharing and connection over the full programmatic arc

Nov 12 - Nov 16 2026

Homecoming

  • Celebration at the historic Dew Drop Inn in New Orleans. We will celebrate and acknowledge our progress and activate next steps.
  • On-site meals
  • Ground transportation from/to local airports provided

Registration

The true cost of this offering is $25,000. We are offering a special introductory rate of $10,497 for registration by January 15, 2026. Registration from January 16 - March 1 will be $11,997.

Space is limited to 11 participants. Our team will be in touch with you within 24 hours of receiving your application.

Meet Our Team

Idrissa Simmonds-Nastili

Idrissa Simmonds-Nastili

Founder, Coach, and Novelist

Idrissa is a mother, community weaver, non-profit executive, sought-after certified professional coach, and writer.
Shirley Johnson

Shirley Johnson

Soulistic Wellness – In-person retreat wellness offerings

Shirley Johnson, LMFT, is a Sensual Wild Woman Reclamation Guide, licensed psychotherapist, yoga teacher, sound healer, and budding herbalist devoted to supporting women in reclaiming their wildness, sensuality, and creative power.
Olivia Brayan

Olivia (Liv) Brayan

Operations

Liv is an intuitive facilitator, detail-driven project manager, and operations strategist. Their passion is building people-centered cultures where teams and businesses thrive.

Trusted By

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