Join us for the experience of a lifetime. Outside of Florence, sits a working winery and olive farm, recipient of the tourism industry's Certificate of Excellence, and one of the top-rated villas in Tuscany.
A gentle breeze wafts through your open window. As you complete a satisfying writing session, your senses are awakened by the rich scent of grilled vegetables and Linguine alle Vongole emanating from the kitchen. You pass through the dining room where the table is being set for supper. A fire crackles. Your fellow writers sit lounging and enjoying a glass of Brunello. You join them, with the characters from your story still thrumming inside you. You're in that state of half-listening, half-absorbing, gradually returning to the world outside your imagination. You nibble a slice of pecorino on warm bread from the charcuterie plate and emit a deep sigh.
You're here.
And tonight, after supper, you will read a section from your work-in-progress to a rapt audience of fellow writers who are here to support you and share their encouragement.
Take a siesta, go for a swim in the pool, or just stroll through the property of olive trees and ancient vineyards. Quiet your mind, and listen to the story that lives fully and completely within you.
Laugh. Cry. Surrender to the truth of your story, and reconnect to the wider perspective that always leads you back to love.
Then fall asleep to the sounds of silence.
Morning
6 - 10 morning writing time
8 - 10 breakfast
10 - 11:30 workshop
Afternoon
12 - 1 lunch
1 - 4 personal writing time
4 - 4:40 group writing
4:40 - 5 snacks (happy hour)
Evening
5 - 6 workshop/discussion
6:15 - 7:30 supper
7:30 nightly salon
8:30 after dinner group stroll
Joy is your birthright—it is not a fleeting emotion, but a deep, steady current that lies beneath the surface of your everyday life. Joy is a state of creative presence. A way of being.
This retreat is an invitation to reconnect with that joy—to rediscover your creative self and make space for the kinds of stories that come from within.
Join us in the green hills of Tuscany for a once-in-a-lifetime experience dedicated to nurturing your joy and deepening your relationship to your creative self.
Creative joy is something you can cultivate. It’s not about chasing inspiration or summoning a temporary peak state, but connecting to your inner wisdom by discovering that you are the one you've been seeking. It’s about learning to show up fully. To listen. To create with honesty, even when the path ahead feels rocky and uncertain.
During our time together, you’ll experience 8 days of creative immersion: daily writing, guided reflection, and quiet time to let ideas rise and settle. You’ll discover that joy is not a transient feeling like happiness or glee, but an internal practice that will guide your art and your life long after the retreat ends.
THE TUSCANY RETREAT INCLUDES:
For years, my students had been asking me when I was going to take them on a retreat. Frankly, I'd been on creative retreats, and while I enjoyed the camaraderie, I was never a big fan of communal bathrooms.
But then I started to imagine the retreat I would love to go on.
I wanted beautiful surroundings, and a small enough group that we could all connect and share our work. I wanted amazing food and wine. I wanted classy private ensuites. (Why does being an artist have to mean roughing it?) And I wanted it to be as affordable as possible.
I started to think, This could be fun.
The first retreat was in the spring of 2016 at the Ojai retreat center, a magical spot. There were six of us – a very special group of writers. The workshops went deep, and each night we went out and visited one of their top restaurants.
It was unlike any retreat any of them had been on. I consulted Bob at Point de Chêne, a terrific boutique wine store, and he hooked us up with some really great regional wines that we popped open at some of the restaurants.
I returned home and started doing research. My mother is Italian, and her favorite city in the world is Florence. She’d taken us there as children. I had fond memories of the surrounding region of Tuscany, the rolling hills and stunning architecture.
I knew what I was looking for. And so, I trolled all of the sites, and probably looked at a hundred villas before I found it. The rooms were tasteful and lovely, but more than that, they offered the necessary prerequisite: I wanted every writer to have their own private room with their own personal ensuite bathroom.
I began speaking with the owner, Nicola. And to my delight, he was both charming and very accommodating, and has since become a dear friend. He not only runs the villa, but has become our 24-7 concierge, meeting our guests every need, from door-to-door laundry service, to spontaneous drives into town for an afternoon cappuccino.
From the moment you arrive, I want you to feel safe and supported so that you're free to do the work you came here to do. We all spend so much time doing and giving. Tuscany is about taking a pause and allowing yourself to receive.
I believe that our sole purpose as artists is to build a body of work. I believe that life is short and that we're here to make memories. Come join us in Tuscany and celebrate the wonder of your creative imagination.
Single Room $5700 (early reg $4995)
Shared Room (1 writer + guest) $8300 (early reg $7600)
Shared Room (2 writers) $9200 (early reg $8200)
Payment Schedule:
$2500 deposit per attendee
Remainder due Feb. 15th, 2025
The total cost (separate room and meals) for non-writer guests is $4,000, but they must be accompanied by a writer guest.
Alan Watt, Writing Teacher
When I was seven my mother took me to Florence, her favorite city, near where her ancestors lived. I have been drawn to this part of Italy my whole life - the food, the people, the land and the architecture. This is a place to slow down and go deep. This is a place where magic happens.
Nicola Carafa, Villa Owner/Concierge
Podere le Rondini has been in our family for generations. I am an olive farmer and a wine-maker. We opened the villa sixteen years ago as a place for people from around the world to enjoy the countryside and experience the beauty and serenity of this special place.
Alessandro Muratore, Chef
My desire is to tell the story of a territory through an ingredient, a wine, a dish. I aim to convey respect for our land, Tuscany, expressing ourselves with the art of good food and tailor-made services, creating a narrative that enhances conviviality and sharing.
Valeria Notaro, Pastry Chef
I was born in a small town in Calabria. At nineteen I left to study in Florence. I have always loved art in all its forms and I have always had the need to create with dance, painting, photography and now also with cooking. I believe that all this is my place in the world.
Carolina Stavro, Sous Chef
After working in fashion for 15 years, I felt compelled to discover my true passions and purpose beyond societal expectations. Two years ago, I left fashion to start a private chef business with my partner Alessandro in the Tuscan countryside. This career change allowed me to reconnect with nature, slow down, and focus on meditation and self-reflection, leading me to find genuine happiness within myself.
Ilaria Solibella, Massage Therapist
Through contact, I try to convey to the people who trust in my hands the possibility of listening to each other with love and kindness to support that part that needs to be seen and recognized in order to express itself. I believe in the infinite possibilities and in the essence of things as a return to ourselves, to our profound nature that guides us on the path of life.
Katharine Chezum, Tuscany Coordinator
I'll be your stateside contact to help get things organized and answer any questions you may have.
Creativity is your birthright. Your sole purpose is to build a body of work.