2022 Retreat in Greece
Monday, May 23 — Sunday, May 29, 2022
with authors • Sybil Baker • Robin Hemley • Stephen O’Connor • Xu Xi
“Robin and Xu Xi are veteran writers and educators and this is reflected in the selection and quality of the AAL instructors.”
6 days / 7 nights at Mediterranean Palace Thessaloniki
We’re heading to Greece in early summer! 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.
Early summers are mild and generally sunny; the average temperature in May ranges from a high of 76°F / 24°C to a low of 55°F / 13°C.
Retreat and Workshop Program US$1,200: deadline to register extended to April 15
Current and former AAL clients 10% discount: US$1,080
Mornings are reserved for private writing time and informal group interaction. We offer five days of workshops and salons each afternoon and hold a session of short readings (voluntary) by participants. 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
Four author-led salons + readings* by each author open to everyone
Farewell dinner with wine included
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
Stephen - Fiction: Fact and Fable — Finding inspiration in the Past
Sybil - Fiction / Nonfiction: Dust off that manuscript and REVISE — Intensive workshop + revision produced at the retreat
* we regret that the poetry workshop offered by Richard Blanco had to be cancelled due to an unforeseen situation; Xu Xi will offer a generative session in fiction & nonfiction; the schedule will be updated soon
**please indicate your workshop choice when you apply or register
“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.”
“The Telunas retreat was a rare chance to step back from the rigours of every day and embrace the writing life.”
Extras
For registered attendees only, AAL offers an additional manuscript reading and a scheduled private feedback conference at the retreat with any of our five authors for a special low price of $250. Prose manuscripts of up to 2,500 words double spaced; Poetry manuscript of up to 2 pages with no more than one poem (or part of a poem) per page single spaced. Limited availability per author so register early if you’re interested. You may register for more than one author and submit different manuscripts.
Optional day tour to Mount Olympus on Thursday with Xu and Robin.
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 that includes all scheduled receptions, coffee breaks and meals as well as attendance at our salons. 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 Monday afternoon May 23.
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 €115 (the charge will be in Euros). 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. Bookings are subject to the hotel’s cancellation policy.
If you wish to arrive earlier or stay longer please contact their reservations department at this email to make arrangements.
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 at the same link). Email us at aalauthors@gmail.com once you’ve registered and tell us which workshop you want (first come first served). To register for an additional manuscript reading & private session with any of the five authors at the retreat, go to this link.
NOTE: If the health situation requires us to cancel the retreat you will receive a full refund.
Registration and pre-retreat schedule
Registration will close once the retreat is filled and workshop manuscripts will be due by no later than April 23. Additional manuscript submissions will be due by no later than April 30.
“The chance to get face to face, extensive feedback on your work in such an inspiring environment was just the ultimate!”