Surrounded by the breathtaking beauty of the serene desert landscape, through the lenses of literature and writing we will honor what Covid has taken from us while examining what we have learned from this unexpected teacher.
With the intention of moving away from isolation, desolation and distancing, we will rediscover life's abundance while reconnecting to ourselves and each other. Through hiking and yoga we will reawaken our bodies; through journaling and meditation we will nourish spirit and psyche; through meaningful, guided conversations, we will reflect on what we've collectively survived.
PARTICIPATING AUTHORS
Joining us will be bestselling authors Elizabeth Rosner and Lisa See. Liz is returning to our Literary Escape experience to share her most recent book Survivor Cafe: The Legacy of Trauma and the Labyrinth of Memory. Her book, addressing those that have survived great tragedy and their descendants, helps us shape our collective responsibility and learn from tragedy, while keeping the ever-changing conversations alive between past and present. Liz will share her work with us and help us address our own tragedies and heal through writing workshops.
Lisa is also graciously returning to our Literary Escape experience and will discuss her body of work, starting with her book club favorite, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan and ending with her most recent novel The Island of Sea Women. All of Lisa’s novels represent the importance of female relationships, the role of women in the survival of families and societies, and the resilience of the human spirit.
ABOUT YOUR GUIDES
With you throughout your journey will be your experienced guides Julie Robinson, founder of Literary Affairs, and Regina Tingle founder of Duende Retreats. Regina and Julie felt an instant kinship when they themselves met on a writing retreat in Italy. For years Julie has been taking readers on unique Literary Escapes around the globe and Regina has been doing the same for writers. After a year of isolation - Julie in LA and Regina in the UK - they decided to blend together the intertwined experiences of being both a reader of others stories and the writer of one's own.
Together, in a spirit of community, we will find our way toward joy again.
Regina has spent the last twenty years curating transformational experiences. She has led thousands of American students on their experiences abroad around Italy, Australia and the UK. In 2014, she co-founded Wide Open Writing and in 2018, she founded Duende Retreats. She's held retreats in the darkness of January in the Arctic Circle, on farflung islands in Mexico and the Mediterranean, in a lush riad in Morocco and a family run farmhouse in Tuscany. Her retreats have been featured in Yoga Magazine, The Write Life, Writing Magazine and Project Calm Magazine. She has an MFA in Creative Writing from Goddard College, and has taught creative writing for the last decade. One of her students just won the 'short' prize at Sundance and has been nominated for a Bafta. Her writing can be found on ScaryMommy, HelloGiggles, ManifestStation and The Writer in the World.
Julie Robinson is, above all, a lover of literature. As the founder of and creative force behind Literary Affairs, Julie’s passion has influenced thousands of readers across Los Angeles. Through her company’s work facilitating over 50 monthly book clubs all over the city, and via an ongoing series of high caliber cultural and educational experiences, author events and interviews, Julie’s specialty has been taking her clients “beyond the book.” Now, two decades into this dream career, Julie has also taken Literary Affairs to a new level. Her humble, one-woman operation is now a successful, women-run and operated business with a social justice bent. Her team of highly qualified women brings book clubs into even more homes, and she produces “Beyond the Book,” a monthly podcast of in-depth interviews with acclaimed and best-selling authors. To inspire a new generation of readers and writers, Julie created a nonprofit, the Literary Affairs Medici Foundation. The organization partners with The National Book Foundation to offer BookUp, an after-school reading program for middle school kids in South Central LA. It also presents an annual $5000 Medici Book Club Prize for the Best Book Club Book of the year, recognizing the role literature plays in creating empathy. The award is part of her prestigious yearly writers festival, The Beverly Hills Literary Escape. Julie serves on the advisory board of The Council of the Library Foundation. Her most recent passion has been to use her platform to raise awareness for another cause that’s incredibly close to her: mental health awareness. She amplifies the voices of authors writing on the subject, and hosts events that allow both authors and community members to discuss the stigma of mental health issues.
ACCOMMODATION
For four luxurious days you will be pampered in sunny, warm Tucson, Arizona at internationally renowned destination resort Canyon Ranch. The Ranch's newly renovated accommodations are more beautiful than ever, with a modern, airy feel and thoughtful amenities to make your stay a constant pleasure.
