2023 Winter Retreat in Greece
Tuesday, January 3 — Tuesday, January 10, 2023
with authors • Sybil Baker • Robin Hemley • Marshall Moore • Xu Xi
6 days / 7 nights at Mediterranean Palace Thessaloniki
Our group this summer had a wonderful time so we’re returning to Greece next winter! Come join our Authors at Large (AAL) international community in Thessaloniki, a port city on the Aegean rich in history that is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Our retreat takes place at the 5-star Mediterranean Palace Hotel, conveniently located in the city center. We include a private tour to the famed Pozar hot springs for a thermal bath plus a visit to the historic town of Edessa. Greek winters are generally quite mild and pleasant.
“I attribute the retreat in Iceland as being one of the formative turning points in my writing journey and just recently published the book I was working on there.”
Retreat Program Fee
US$1280 (or $1400)*
Register by: November 20 , 2022 (just extended!) Note: all former & current AAL clients get a 10% discount: $1,152 (or $1,272)
Mornings are reserved for private writing time and informal group interaction. We offer three late morning open workshops on work-in-progress and afternoons that include five prose workshop sessions, three salons and two readings by the authors as well as by participants (voluntary). Evenings are informal and unscheduled unless otherwise indicated on the schedule. The fee includes:
Welcome drinks reception with standing buffet of hot and cold canapés
Private tour to Pozar Hot Springs & Edessa inclusive of lunch and entry fees to all sites (optional)
Farewell dinner with wine included
Three work-in-progress (WIP) sessions led by Xu
Two readings sessions by all authors and participants
Three author-led salons
Marshall - on publishing
Sybil - prose poems & micro prose
Robin - travel writing
One prose workshop** limited to 10 participants each led by our authors. Submission for prose is no more than 5,000 words double spaced pages.
Robin - Memoir / Autofiction: Writing from Life
Sybil - Fiction / Nonfiction: Dust off that manuscript and REVISE — Intensive workshop + revision produced at the retreat
Marshall — Literary genre fiction: “Dark matter” that is speculative, ghostly, horror, mystery
* select all inclusive fee with tour if you wish to join: $1,400 (new to AAL) and $1,272 (AAL client)
** indicate workshop choice when you apply or register
“Robin and Xu Xi are veteran writers and educators and this is reflected in the selection and quality of the AAL instructors.”
Extras
For registered attendees only, AAL offers an additional manuscript reading and a scheduled private feedback conference at the retreat with any of our four authors for a special low price of $250. Prose manuscripts of up to 2,500 words double spaced. Limited availability per author so register early if you’re interested. You may register for more than one author and submit different manuscripts.
We understand you may wish to have a spouse, partner or friend accompany you. AAL accepts a limited number of non-participants for a fee of US$150 (or $270 with the tour) that includes all scheduled receptions, coffee breaks and meals as well as attendance at our salons and readings. Each participant may register no more than one non-participant for the retreat. First come first served.
Accommodation & Travel
Participants must make their own travel and accommodation arrangements. Please plan to arrive for check in by Tuesday afternoon January 3.
Once you’re registered for the retreat, please visit this link to book your 7-night stay at the Mediterranean Palace at our AAL group rate of approximately US$ 148/single occupancy (you can choose the currency you want to pay in). Rates include breakfast, WIFI, use of the mini gym and spa, as well as VAT and city tax. There is an additional accommodation tax per room of €4 per day payable at the hotel reception. One night’s stay will be charged to guarantee the reservation. This is refundable if cancelled prior to 5 days before arrival; all bookings are subject to the hotel’s cancellation policy. Do book early as rooms at this rate will be held for our group only until early December, and later reservations may not be available.
If you wish to arrive earlier or stay longer please contact Niki Keke at their reservations department at this email to make arrangements. Tel: +30 2311 240401.
“The Telunas retreat was a rare chance to step back from the rigours of every day and embrace the writing life.”
how to apply and register
If you’re new to AAL, please first apply to attend the retreat by answering this brief questionnaire. We will be in touch once we receive your application.
Former creative writing students of Robin or Xu, contact us at aalauthors@gmail.com to waive the application.
Current and former AAL clients do not need to apply and can register directly here (you can also register a non-participant accompanying you from this same link or by going directly to this link). To register for an additional manuscript reading & private session with any of the five authors at the retreat, go to this link. Email us at aalauthors@gmail.com once you’ve registered and tell us which workshop you want (first come first served).
NOTE: If the international travel situation requires us to cancel the retreat you will receive a full refund. Otherwise, any cancellations are subject to our normal terms & conditions.
Registration and pre-retreat schedule
Registration will close once the retreat is filled and workshop manuscripts will be due by no later than December 4. Additional manuscript submissions will be due by no later than December 11.
“The chance to get face to face, extensive feedback on your work in such an inspiring environment was just the ultimate!”