If you’re longing to give voice to your life story and need time away and some expert, gentle guidance, join me at a weeklong memoir writing retreat.
I’m here to help you explore and craft a memoir you will love writing
and others will love reading.
Sign up for the newsletter below to read what’s coming up just for you.
Well phooey, this retreat is cancelled, BUT…
A new, just-as-fabulous retreat is being scheduled in the U.S., so stay tuned through my newsletter for upcoming memoir writing opportunities!
Imagine. . .
…sitting on the terrazzo sipping a smooth Italian espresso as you take in views of the Adriatic Sea over the mountains while your breath slows and your mind empties of everything but this moment.
…relaxing in your private room surrounded by rolling valleys and mountains of the countryside where you sense a newfound connection to your own story.
…becoming the author of your life with irrepressible joy straight from your heart to the page, all while surrounded by the joyful encouragement of like-minded people.
…exploring, writing, and sharing stories from deep in your personal history while cozily ensconced in this lovely Italian village built before the year 1500.
…relaxing your mind and body by the infinity pool as you sense an inner knowing emerge as the history of Montelparo itself inspires you.
…sitting on the patio laughing with new friends as you manifest your future through listening, sharing, and writing.
…composing your story as words flow freely from your pen, inspired by the tranquility of your surroundings and hearing the stories of your writing companions.
…sighing with contentedness at the end of an intoxicating day in which you break free from daily life. Your mind is free and you smile just because… while your body feels rested and renewed from your in-room massage.
My promise to you
By the end of this retreat you will learn how to give voice to your life story surrounded by expert guidance and encouraging support; where you’ll gain renewed purpose, relaxation, and a deep connection within so you can write a memoir that celebrates your extraordinary life from a new, lighthearted perspective.
Come and experience the memoir magic!
“I’m coming away with not only many new ideas, but with new friends. I am now on a journey that would not have begun without this memoir retreat.
~ Kathryn”
What YOU will take home. . .
Here’s what you will experience AND take home from this intimate retreat:
Gain awareness of how your life experiences have helped to shape who you are today so you can write yourself a new future.
Engage in light adventures throughout the week fashioned so you can see yourself from a new and encouraging perspective.
Write oodles of pages of your life story.
Feel renewed as you find respite from everyday obligations so you can clearly hear the stories in your heart that are longing to be told.
Garner clarity on the theme of your memoir.
Enjoy rest and rejuvenation to clear your mind and body.
Build motivation to continue writing while the encouragement and feedback from the retreat is fresh in your mind.
Practice creative and sensible techniques you’ve learned to integrate into your writing process.
Learn how to start writing with joy and abandon.
Forge new friendships as you are immersed in joy, creativity, and vulnerability that joins us together.
Call on Sam and your fellow memoir writers after the retreat to maintain your enthusiasm, focus, and keep writing.
Delight in the creation of new memories to treasure—maybe even write about!
Allow your heart to shine with self-compassion as you explore your stories and gain a new and wonderful perspective on your life.
No writing experience necessary
You are alive, so you already hold the qualifications needed to write about your life!
There is no word-count expectation or critical critique of your writing on this retreat. The goal is to start writing with effortless joy.
I’ll expertly guide you to explore the stories of your past, present, and write yourself into your future as you discover your writing voice.
Writing in a vacuum can be lonely and confusing—with my help you can uncover your story and write what is meaningful to you.
I can help you shift perspective around a particular experience that may be keeping you from the joy of writing.
The world needs you to love your life and express it in a way that only you can. Through memoir writing, we can become grateful for a life that allows us to make a positive impact on ourselves, our families, communities, and beyond.
You are not the sum of your experiences—deep disappointment, pain, and pure joy are emotions we all carry. You have lived a life of extraordinary, everyday experiences, lessons learned, and a desire for a fulfilling future. I’ll help you explore them with compassion.
As you begin writing your memoir, you will be overjoyed with gratitude that you really have lived a life worth sharing, whether for yourself or to share with others.
Learn how to write with an authentic, natural voice so that it sounds just like you.
I hear what you’re thinking…
I feel selfish and guilty for indulging in something just for me.
You know the saying, “You can’t give from an empty well?” This retreat will fill you to overflowing so you’re relaxed and centered when you return home.
It’s too overwhelming to think about planning to travel overseas.
I can recommend a travel agent to arrange your flight to Ancona, Italy. Your retreat investment covers all your food, your private hotel room, and all excursions and shuttle services. I’ve got you covered!
How can I focus on writing when I’m so exhausted?
Feel your energy return by rediscovering the world through rest and joy during this mountaintop experience. For eight days it will feel natural to indulge and savor every moment so you can enjoy health and peace, leaving space in your life to engage in the writing you so desire.
I’m afraid that what I’ll discover in my writing will be painful and bleak.
Through supportive story writing, sharing, and connecting with this intimate group, you’ll explore experiences that changed the course of your life, some of which may be holding you back from writing from a place of peace. You will learn that you are indeed living a deeply meaningful life that you can write about with great joy.
“The retreat was all I hoped for and more! I was surprised by the quick level of intimacy and comfortability in the group and I attribute that to Sam’s spiritual preparation to hold space for all of us and our stories.
~ Helen Joy”
The Venue
Boutique Hotel Leone
Your Haven of Rest & Writing for 8 days & 7 nights
From the moment you arrive at Hotel Leone, you’ll take your first deep breath of the tranquil Italian countryside and be swept away to the room that you’ll call home to sleep in luxury for the next week—and where you’ll nap whenever you need to pause and refresh during ample “me time.”
Hotel Leone sits high on a mountain, nestled in a medieval town with breathtaking views, AND just a two-minute walk to the center of the picture-postcard town of Montelparo, with its enchanting piazzas, winding streets, and panoramic views of the Adriatic Sea on one side and the majestic Sibillini Mountains on the other.
With a heritage dating back to pre-1500, today this sensitively restored and family-owned hotel offers an elusive combination of elegant accommodation, exquisite personal service, and delicious cuisine.
As the minibus climbs the hill you’ll take in the quintessential Italian landscape of mountains, vineyards, and swaths of fields that will reawaken your spirit of travel.
You’ll know you’ve arrived in a magical place when you brighten with cheer as colorful as the potted flowers that welcome you at the door on the street and at the door, looking as radiant and carefree as you are starting to feel.
Instantly, you’ll release the first sigh of pure joy, allowing stress and tension to disappear far away. You’ve arrived to a place that your heart has been longing to visit.
“Through this week of writing and sharing, I learned to listen better, both to the stories of others and the stories of my own heart.
~ Wendy”
Wake up every morning to the sunny, blue skies of Italy in a tranquil location with spectacular views to inspire your creative muse. You will reside for a restful week unlike any you’ve experienced in a generously proportioned and cozy room, sustainably and newly appointed with contemporary décor, modern essentials—including A/C, hospitality trays, and luxury toiletries.
Experience an authentic Italian way of life where the seasons guide the daily rhythms of life and where the seasons of your own life will blossom with memory, story, and newfound friendships.
There’s no place else to be but right here, right now.
Oh, The Food!
Gorgonzola, Rocket, Walnut, Sundried Tomato Salad
Tuna Steak with Brown Rice
Seafood Ravioli
Italian cuisine like you’ve never tasted it.
Each morning you receive a menu on your smart phone asking you to choose your meal for the evening. Then you enjoy your day as Chef Tim and his staff prepares an Italian meal that dreams are made of!
You’ll receive a menu with different options for all 4 courses every day. Each one contains an Antipasti, usually a delectable salad, followed by the Primi Piatti, usually a savory pasta dish, followed unhurriedly by the Second Piatti, from which you have a choice of two plates. Of course, you must save room for the dessert, made fresh daily in the restaurant. It’s a good idea to pack clothes that are a bit forgiving!
This 4-course meal is served on “Italy time” at 7:00pm and is meant to be enjoyed by friends who aren’t in a hurry to be anywhere but right here around the table enjoying unlimited white and red wine (take care here because we want you fresh and rested for your morning sessions!), water, and coffee.
Depending on weather, we might eat on the covered outdoor patio or in the dining room which boasts vaulted ceilings built around 1500—and were beautifully and lovingly restored in 2011 by Tim.
At Hotel Leone, they know that by midweek, you might feel your clothes getting a little snug from all the fabulous food, but you still want to savor every bite, so they offer a 1/2 portion of any part of the meal. Grazie!
Here are a few photos to tickle your palate!
Dining Room with Vaulted Ceilings
(and quite a story!)
“It was a miraculous journey for me. I am came away with a document with a solid foundation, intentions, and a theme to begin writing in earnest.
~ Mary”
Pasta Pomodoro
Snack Platter of Fruit, Cheese, Meat, Crackers
Our VIP group enjoying the yummy results of our onsite Pizza Masterclass
Rib Eye Steak
We can accommodate many culinary requirements. Just ask!
Say “Yes” To Luxury R&R
There’s more to writing than the act of putting pen to paper or fingers to the keyboard. Your whole person needs space, health, and peace to enjoy this journey to Discover Your Extraordinary Self.
Empty your mind, relax your body, and fill your spirit with a restorative body or facial massage in your room.
Invest in yourself—you’re worth it!
What’s included
7 nights of luxury rest & restoration in eco-conscious private rooms.
Experiential activities to shift your perspective so you can see the possibilities for your writing and your life!
One, 60-minute private memoir consultation with Sam.
Exquisite Italian meals. Breakfast buffet & special each morning • Authentic, midday buffet lunches • Six different 4-course dinners made fresh daily.
Honesty Bars on each floor with local alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
Sip & Scribe daily writing experiences to learn to write fast and fun on sundry topics expanding your view on your life.
Luxury pampering including organic, Italian Milanese skincare toiletries, snuggly robes, pool towels, infinity pool surrounded by comfortable loungers, UV umbrellas, A/C, espresso makers on each floor, and more.
Gentle adventures to shift your perspective and have fun!
Guided walking tour of Montelparo.
Transportation to and from Ancona Airport on 6 and 13 September, 2024.
What’s not included
Your round-trip airfare from home & any overnight accommodations that may be necessary due to flight hiccups
Spa services & tips
Cocktails & tips
Insurance for personal, medical, and trip cancelation*
Extra one-to-one consultations with Sam
Travel insurance is required
“Your leadership, heartfelt prompts, and overall content helped me to process the ideas I had coming into the week. You made it possible to explore my story in ways I’d never considered.
~Mona”
This journey is not for you if…
You don’t want to engage in personal growth (and a little adventure) to explore your life story.
You prefer to blame external forces that get in the way of your joy and freedom.
You take more than you give.
You are unwilling to be vulnerably open to help discover the story inside you just waiting to be told.
You aren’t willing to laugh, cry, and embrace some messiness with the support of caring others.
You are attached to negativity, criticism, and defensiveness.
You feel you’re a great writer and don’t want to explore new ways to elicit the best of what you have to offer.
This journey is for you if…
You are willing to be vulnerable in the company of kind and supportive kindred spirits.
You are in the midst of a life transition and deeply desire to reignite the fire within you.
You care deeply about writing your memoir and mastering the art of slow travel to little-known locations.
You want to get clear, unstuck, or simply have time to focus on you and the stories of your life that are longing to be told.
You are excited about having an intimate group of memoir-writers-to-be to really listen to your stories and provide encouraging support.
You are a little anxious, but excited about your trip.
You aren’t a writer (or maybe you are!) and are willing to learn to enjoy the process.
“There was a lovely balance of “me time,” learning/activity time, and sharing time.
~ Barbara”
Bonuses!
Because you’re worth it.
Attend a Meet & Greet with your fellow writers about a month before you travel so there are no strangers when you arrive in Italy.
You’ll have a personal welcome call with me before the retreat so I can learn how best to support your transformational writing experience.
Sign up for one, 60-minute private consultation with me during the retreat to address any questions you may have in the writing of your memoir.
To help you integrate your learnings into everyday life, I’ll host a post-retreat call shortly after we return home.
Each evening I will host a Sip & Scribe writing event in the studio to unwind from the day by writing a quick, one-page story from a fun prompt I’ll provide. This is how memories become memoirs!
Stay tuned for a new itinerary!
Day 1—Welcome to Italy!
Take in the breathtaking beauty of the Sibillini Mountains as you wind your way up the mountain to Boutique Hotel Leone on the minibus we’re sending to fetch you from the Ancona airport. Walk to your private room while the staff carries your bags, and open the door to freedom as you gaze out across the countryside and inhale the fresh air that will fuel the beginning of your writing journey.
Once we celebrate your arrival with a Prosecco “Salute,” you’ll take a pause to refresh, then join your fellow writers for a soul-satisfying, 4-course dinner prepared in the onsite restaurant.
The night is yours until you flop into a luxurious bed to hold your tired body. Say goodbye to jet lag and welcome sweet, peaceful dreams!
Day 2—Exploring History
Start the morning with a healthy breakfast at 8am as the sun warms your face on the patio. At 9am, we’ll meet in our private studio, as we will each day for 2 hours, which begins with a brief meditation to clear your mind and set your intention for the day’s learning and writing.
Next, you’ll take a leisurely local history walk to learn the deeply rooted experiences of the people and the place of Montelparo. This walk gives encourages you to look within your own history for the gems of story you may have overlooked.
At noon we’ll enjoy a leisurely lunch buffet on the patio feeling the gentle breezes from the coast while we build the bonds of friendship.
After lunch you’ll enjoy 3 hours of “me time” to write, swim, get a massage, nap, or take a walk to enliven your spirit and let your mind wander with no obligations in sight.
At 7pm we’ll head downstairs to the Hotel Leone restaurant to share a fabulous meal and marvel our first, full day of experiences.
After dinner we’ll gather together for a nightly experience called Sip & Scribe where you’ll write to a prompt I provide and share your stories as they bubble to the surface like a fine Prosecco!
Day 3—Making memories at the stunning Adriatic Sea
After breakfast at 8am, we’ll head to our studio at 9am to share stories from yesterday’s writing prompt and where you’ll continue building your writing muscles as you learn. You’ll gain unique insight on how to explore your life’s experiences by taking lessons from bees.
Then we’re off to the small seaside town of Pedaso which boasts a Blue Flag certified beach. We’ll first enjoy lunch at Chalet Il Faro overlooking the sea where you can nosh on local seafood and other scrumptious options.
Take in the stunning views and rest on your beach bed after we wade into the surreal blue waters of the Adriatic Sea to set your wish afloat.
Back to the hotel for precious “Me Time” to write, nap, get a massage, or walk around the village for inspiration.
During a languorous 4-course dinner, we’ll laugh, share, and inspire one another as we gently forge new bonds of friendship.
After dinner we’ll gather together for our fun and brief nightly Sip & Scribe where you’ll write to a prompt I provide and share your stories.
Then you are free to slip into conversation, writing, or sleep as your mind uncovers gems of stories long forgotten, to be discovered in the warm light of tomorrow’s Italian sunrise.
Day 4—Shift your perspective
After breakfast, we’ll meet in our studio where you will learn how the experiences of your life have helped to shape you into the amazing human you are today. You’ll discover how your values drive the content of your memoir and how to craft essays using the senses.
After lunch, you can bask in the warmth of the Italian sun, write in the shade of the pool or patio, all part of your daily hours of “me time” to write, nap, enjoy a massage, or schedule a 1:1 w Sam.
This is the day you’re likely to begin experiencing one aha moment after another as the story of your heart surfaces. You’ll be renewed and ready to write!
At 7pm we’ll saunter into town for dinner at Il Gufo e La Civetta Restaurant to share another fabulous Italian meal.
We’ll meet back in the studio for a quick Sip & Scribe writing and sharing experience, and then it’s off to another night of restful sleep.
Day 5—A sensory excursion
After a nourishing and leisurely breakfast, we’ll gather again in the studio for lessons on Wabi-Sabi love & the art of Kintsugi. These two Japanese philosophies teach us to shine light on the cracked or hidden pieces of ourselves and to shift how we view these stories that can feel impossible to write. During this light-hearted look into some cobwebbed corners of life, you will learn how to honor your whole life, finding self-acceptance, self-love, and discover your extraordinary self in a whole new way.
Then it’s time to enliven your senses as we slow down to listen, see, taste, smell, and touch the birthplace of the wines of Casale Vitali during our lunchtime wine tasting.
Once our senses are satiated, it’s back to the hotel for more well-deserved “me time” to write, a nap, get an in-room massage treatment, or enjoy a 1:1 consultation with Sam. I’ve curated this retreat to help calm your nervous system, allowing you write without distraction and engage fully in this life-affirming week.
After you enjoy another 4-course dinner, we’ll gather for our evening Sip & Scribe. This fun and fast true story writing from your life often results in new memoir material that you wouldn’t have thought of before.
Day 6—Fire up Your Writing
Savor another wholesome breakfast, gaze out across the hills of Italy and reflect on your extraordinary life story that now flows from your heart to the page with wondrous ease. As you sip a dark, steamy espresso on the Terrazzo, you become aware that you’ve found your writer’s voice.
Next, settle into our cozy studio to share your joy and embrace the optimism of life as you learn even more writing tips to take home. You’ll also take fresh inspiration from poems by David Whyte.
For lunch today, you’ll make your own pizza in an authentic Italian Pizza Masterclass! With fresh-from-the-market ingredients, you’ll watch your creation cook to perfection in the stone oven built right into the hotel. With laughter and friendship, wine and pizza, you’ll release any lingering obstacles to writing your story.
With a belly full of cheer and a heart filled with happiness, it’s hours of “me time” again where you can ask yourself what you need most right now in the quiet ambiance of this perfect day.
To allow your mindful moments to linger, we’ll enjoy a scrumptious Italian dinner at the hotel in the courtyard where you can use all of your senses to create yet another memory to cherish.
To wind up this day filled with new experiences, you’ll engage in the fun, quick writing practice of Sip & Scribe. Each time you put energy into your writing, you’ll build those writing muscles!
Day 7—Themes, intentions, and a writer’s salon
Celebration is in the air on this memoir writing trip of a lifetime!
Today you’ll learn what it takes to bottle the joy, energy, and lessons that have filled your mind and soul. You’ll learn how to keep sipping from all that goodness as you prepare to return home enriched by so many perspective-shifting experiences.
You’ll firm up your theme and intentions to keep writing, and develop a practical strategy that fits your writing style, timing needs, and desire for a completed book of extraordinary stories that celebrate your life!
You will get oodles of tips and techniques to protect your sacred writing time back home.
Pamper yourself on your last day of “me time.”
Finally, we’ll gather for a special writer’s salon to review the week, share lessons and plans and write one more Sip & Scribe essay.
Learn more about Montelparo!
Day 8—Ciao Bella!
Farewell breakfast
Reading our final stories as we say goodbye in our studio
Minibus to airport
We’ll meet again in a week or two to say hello and let me know what support and encouragement you need from me.
“Sam is attentive, supportive, and keeps us on track while allowing for helpful intuitive diversions.
~ Trish”
Registration
“It was a deeply wonderful and transformative experience.
~ Nancy”
What you’ll take home
Rest, relaxation, and rejuvenation for your mind and body.
Confidence in your newly-honed writing voice.
Pages and pages of your life story written.
Clarity on the theme and direction of your memoir.
A love for Italy and appreciation for the people and their culture.
Newfound friendships that will remain close for years to come.
The creation of new memories to cherish—and maybe even write about!
A deep connection within yourself that will shine on as you write your extraordinary stories.
Discovery that travel and writing are a perfect combination for personal growth.
Incredible memories and pictures of your Italian adventure and your new friends!
Your Investment
This trip has been cancelled. Stay tuned for more ways to write your memoir in partnership with me. Retreats in North America, immersive weekend writing, and coaching.
What’s Included
7 nights of writing and relaxing in luxury, eco-conscious accommodations with private rooms. Includes hairdryer, under floor heating, air conditioning, and ceiling fans.
Elemental experiences to shift your perspective so you can see the possibilities for your writing and your life!
One, 60-minute private memoir consultation with Sam.
Exquisite Italian meals. Breakfast each morning • Authentic, daily midday meals • Six, 4-course dinners made fresh daily • Honesty Bars.
Sip & Scribe daily writing experiences to learn to write on any topic and build relationships with fellow writers.
Luxury pampering including organic, Italian Milanese skincare toiletries, snuggly robes, pool towels, infinity pool surrounded by comfortable loungers, UV umbrellas, and more.
Guided excursions to alchemic experiences.
Guided walking tour of Montelparo.
Transportation to and from Ancona Airport on September 6 and 13 (designated times only!)
What’s not included
Your round-trip airfare from home
Spa services & tips
Alcohol beyond the house wine with dinner
Insurance for personal, medical, or trip cancelation
Souvenirs, phone calls, spa services, taxis, laundry, etc.
Extra one-to-one consultations with Sam
Meet Sam, your retreat leader
My greatest joy is to elicit the stories of your life to honor your life’s journey so far and to help you reimagine yourself with a renewed perspective to create and live your future story with joy and intention.
From birth, I was destined for a path of listening to and preserving stories. For as far back as I can remember, I sat at the feet of wise and witty elders. My parents revealed my path to me in different ways. My mother often took me to the nursing home where she worked, and I’d toddle into the rooms and wait for people to tell me stories. I heard some doozies! My father taught me by example that showing genuine curiosity in others got them talking about the things that mattered most to them. Dad understood our universal need to be heard and accepted. Everyone adored him for his genuine friendship.
I love to see the light go on inside people when they share their stories out loud, or hold the printed memoir in their hands for the first time. One of my students dubbed this experience memoir magic and I am privileged that so many have entrusted some of their most deeply moving experiences with me.
Not everyone needs the same kind of support through their writing journey, and it’s likely I’ve got just the right touch to help draw out and care for any kind of story hiding in the depths of your soul that are longing to be told. I'm not a therapist but many writers I’ve worked with find this light-hearted and exploratory writing to be healing, and my clients find working with me to be meaningful and curative.
I look forward to meeting you right where you are as you begin your memoir writing experience with The Cheerful Word!
Choose Your Room
Each room at Hotel Leone is uniquely decorated with quintessential Italian comfort and charm. There are 10 rooms in the hotel, and our group of writers has them all to ourselves! Register early to ensure your choice.
Cancellation Policy
Any cancellation will result in the loss of your $500 USD deposit. Cancellations made between March 15 and May 1 will result in a loss of 50% of the trip price. Any cancellation made between May 2 and the trip departure will result in a total loss of funds. We reserve the right to cancel the trip if it does not meet the trip minimum. If I cancel, you will be refunded in full.
If the exchange rate varies by more than 5%, the price will be subject to change. Trip cancellation insurance is mandatory for this international travel retreat. I recommend Travel Guard Insurance online where you can choose from several policy options.
If at any point prior to trip departure I find that the trip is not a good fit for you, I reserve the right to cancel your reservation and fully refund your payments.
“It’s almost magical the way Sam pulls from the deep and helps turn thoughts into words.
~ Ben”
