We are offering another weekend of uninterrupted writing time at Villa Madonna, 115 Villa Madonna Road in Rothesay, on February 23-25. Arrive Friday afternoon, and write until Sunday at lunchtime. No distractions, no responsibilities...and no excuses!
We must have a minimum of 15 registrants, and a maximum of 25. Villa Madonna offers a very reasonable price for two nights accommodations and all meals.*
FRIDAY February 23, 2024
Arrival: 3 pm.
Dinner 5 pm.
SATURDAY February 24,2024
Breakfast 8 am,
Snack 10 am,
Lunch 12 pm,
Snack 2 pm,
Dinner 5 pm.
SUNDAY February 25, 2024
Breakfast 8 am
Breakfast 8 am
Snack 10 am
Wrap-up/Open Mic 11 am
Lunch 12 pm
CANCELLATION DEADLINE: Friday, February 16, 2024
Arrive on Friday after three pm, settle in, and write until Sunday after lunch. All meals are provided on site. There will be an informal gathering to read your work and receive feedback (totally voluntary), nature trails to wander, and common rooms to gather with other writers. Book your reservation to join us and enjoy this time of writing together, alone.**
You may cancel your reservation up to one week prior to the event, which is Friday, February 16.
This year, as an added bonus, Terry Armstrong will join us as our writing mentor. There are several slots available of 25 minutes each for you to discuss your writing projects: Friday afternoon/evening beginning at 3:00 pm, Saturday morning beginning at 9:30 am, and Sunday morning from 9:30 to 11 am. The sign-up sheet will be posted on arrival, and it is first come, first served.
This event is made possible by Tourism Heritage Culture NB, and The Canada Council for the Arts #bringing the arts to life
Terry's bio: Terry Armstrong is a full-time writer, editor, and writing coach. He is the author of the global best-selling science fiction romance series The Girls from Alcyone, which rose to #3 on Amazon, and a winner of the Jacob Zilber Award for screenwriting. On top of his novels, Terry is also a veteran musician and songwriter. His songs have been featured in countless TV series and movies, from Dawson's Creek to The L Word. In 2014, Terry discovered a new love as a developmental editor, coaching other writers. "Editing gave me that amazing feeling of collaborating with other artists again—something I'd been missing seriously since leaving music." Terry studied at Concordia University in Montreal as well as at the University of British Columbia, earning a BA and MFA in creative writing.
*Villa Madonna Retreat House engages Childs Catering from Saint John as their caterer for this event. They can accommodate gluten-free dietary needs at no extra charge, but there might be an extra charge for more singular dietary considerations. Contact us for more details. Please contact us at least two weeks before the date if you require gluten-free meals, or if you have other requests. We will consult the caterer. Additionally, feel free to bring your own private stash of snacks like chocolate, potato chips, a sip of wine, or whatever else makes you the most productive!
** A WORD ABOUT THE RETREAT CENTRE: Not all the rooms have an ensuite bathroom--groups of rooms share a washroom and shower facility in each section of the building. This is not a problem for most people, but if you require your own washroom for health reasons, let us know and we'll try to slot you in an available ensuite room. First come, first served!
ALSO: Villa Madonna was built in the 1930s, so wifi is spotty most places, except for the main floor, close to the offices. If you need wifi to do your work, we recommend using the sitting room on the main floor (which is very comfortable.)
