Creativity seems like such a mysterious thing, always coming and going--mostly going!--at will. But the real secret to creativity is that it never really goes anywhere--it lives within you! It just needs to be fed and nurtured.
Certain women, I call them Renegade Women, have lived their lives as an art form and it becomes a powerful source for their writing and creativity. George Sand walked the streets of 19th Century Paris in men's clothes so she would have access to areas of the city and certain experiences only open to men. Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette (pen name Colette) performed in the music halls including Moulin Rouge and later converted her husband's estate into a hospital for the wounded of World War I. Gertrude Stein, besides being totally devoted to her partner, Alice B. Toklas, hosted salons in Paris that included Picasso, Matisse, Sherwood Anderson and Ernest Hemingway. These women lived many experiences, many of which turned up in their writing of both fiction and non-fiction.
Do you want to write? Do you really want to get inspired? Then let's go to France on a 7-Day guided adventure through Paris and Provence where you'll walk in the footsteps of these Renegade Women. You'll follow their lead of using their amazing lives as the basis for groundbreaking writing so that we can do the same with your amazing life!
Who Should Come to the Retreat?
This adventure is for you if you:
- love the idea of writing (you don't have to be a writer or have a book in progress).
- are a woman seeking a delicious journey of self-discovery (but spouses and significant others are welcome too!).
- want to learn how to turn your life story into great writing, either fiction or non-fiction!
- want to learn how to see inspiration in your everyday world.
- want to enjoy the sights and sounds of a French city and countryside in an intimate setting.
Your Renegade Guides
Sophfronia Scott, “The Book Sistah”, has over fifteen years of experience as a professional writer. She honed her craft working with some of the best (and toughest) editors in the world during her career at “Time” and “People” magazines.
She published her first novel, “All I Need to Get By” with St. Martin’s Press and Sophfronia was hailed by no less than Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. as potentially “one of the best writers of her generation.”
Sophfronia holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Harvard. She is also a professional life coach, having graduated from Coach U. She has coached dozens of clients to satisfying life and career decisions through her company, Creative Coaching Plans. Sophfronia is a member of the Author’s Guild, the Women’s National Book Association, the International Coach Federation, and the Association of Writers and Writing Programs.
Anne Block is the founder of of Take My Mother* Please (*or any other V.I.P.) tours. Since 1992 Anne has created and escorted dozens of groups and individuals on eccentric cultural adventures to a variety of fascinating destinations throughout Europe and the U.S.A, including Writers Retreats in France, Italy, Spain and the UK. This will be Anne's 46th visit to Paris!
Beth Davis, "The Hand Analyst", works with writers dealing with creativity and confidence issues. She also helps entrepreneurs, small business owners and people experiencing major life transitions to discover the calling of their souls and create practical, pragmatic plans to make their unique life purposes both meaningful AND profitable. Your life purpose is in your hands – literally!
Our Fabulous Itinerary!
Day 1
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Paris welcomes you with the Summer Solstice and the Festival of Music
Check in for 3 nights at Hotel Pulitzer Opera 
Offering modern comfort on one of the oldest streets in Paris, rue Faubourg
Montmartre, this vibrant neighborhood has a wide array of places to eat, shop,
and stroll. You can sample foods from classic French brasseries, an Italian
wine bar, a Moroccan cous-cous restaurant, an organic honey and coffee emporium, and a fine chocolate confectionary established in 1761, all within steps of the hotel. Enjoy shopping in this area from contemporary shoe and clothing boutiques, to collectable books and toys, to a little place that specializes in antique canes and walking sticks - enter and you're transported to another time!
We'll gather in the late afternoon for a welcome drink at the hotel, then set
out on an introductory neighborhood walk, and enjoy dinner in the oldest
brasserie in The City of Light, where hungry Parisians have been dining since 1886.
After dinner we'll venture up to Montmartre in search of some of the musical
events that will be happening all over the city on this night. Since it's the
longest day of the year, the sun doesn't set until nearly 10:00pm, so we'll
have time to see some famous landmarks such as the Moulin Rouge, the Place du Tertre where the painters sell their work in the pretty square, and the Sacre Coeur church atop the tallest hill in the city. From the steps of the church as night falls, we'll have a panoramic view of glittering lights all over Paris.
Day 2 - Paris
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Breakfast in the hotel, followed by our first morning Creativity Workshop, "Mining the Gold of Life Experience" led by Sophfronia.
Lunch break
Afternoon/evening assortment of adventures led by Anne. You will discover three Paris neighborhoods: Ile de la Cite, Left Bank and Le Marais. The sights we'll see will include:
- Notre Dame Cathedral
- Latin Quarter
- Place de Vosges
Day 3 - Paris
Monday, June 23, 2008
Breakfast in the hotel, followed by our second morning Creativity Workshop, "Kiss & Tell: Writing Our Relationships" led by Sophfronia.
Lunch break
Afternoon/evening assortment of adventures led by Anne:
- Promenade on the Champs-Elysees
- Visit to the Tuileries Gardens beside the River Seine
- Visit to the Eiffel Tower
Dinner TBA.
Day 4 - Paris to Provence
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Breakfast in hotel and check-out. Luggage will be collected and held at front
desk during our morning adventure. We're off to experience the runway fashion show at Paris' Art Nouveau classic landmark store, Printemps!
We'll return to the hotel for our bags, then go to the Gare de Lyon station
where we will board the TGV, France's superfast "bullet" train. In just about
two hours we'll go from Paris to Avignon, a journey that takes nearly eight
hours by car! In Avignon we will be met and driven in about 30 minutes' time to our destination in Provence, the village of Fontvielle. If Paris was bustling
Fontvielle is just the opposite, calm and quiet. It is the perfect spot to slow
down and relax.
Check In at L'Auberge la Regalido.
For the next three nights we will stay in this lovely hotel, owned and run by
chef Jean-Pierre Michel and his family.
After settling in our rooms we will meet in the pretty garden of the hotel
for an early evening Creativity session with Sophfronia. Then we'll have dinner together in the hotel, cooked by our host, Jean-Pierre, a Michelin-star chef!
Day 5 - Fontvielle
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Breakfast in the hotel
This morning we'll leave early for an adventure in world-famous Arles, with its Roman ruins, ancient fortified walled "old town." Wednesday is market day and what a fabulous market it is, the epitome of Provence. We'll have time to stroll and shop for treasures to take home.
Lunch break in Arles.
Return to Fontivielle for Creativity Workshop, "Finding Your Life Purpose in Your Hands" with Beth Davis.
Afterwards we'll visit a local olive oil press, then have free time to further explore the town, journal, work on projects or nap!
Day 6 - Fontvielle
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Breakfast in hotel, followed by morning Creativity Workshop "Your Writing, Your New Beginning" with Sophfronia
Lunch break
Cooking class with chef Jean-Pierre in the hotel kitchen. Here, in his professional kitchen, J-P will teach us some of the secrets of French cuisine...then we'll eat what we've learned!
Day 7 - Fontvielle to Paris
Friday, June 27, 2008
Breakfast and check out.
Return to the TGV station in Avignon for our train back to Paris.
We'll be back in Paris in the early afternoon, checking in again at the Hotel Pulitzer Opera for our last night.
Late afternoon/evening adventures led by Anne include:
--a stroll through the Palais Royal with its exquisite shopping arcades.
--an evening visit to the Louvre Museum which is open late on Friday nights.
Our farewell dinner will be a special surprise in a place where we'll create
wonderful memories of our week together.
Day 8 - Depart
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Breakfast in hotel.
Au revoir!
Pricing:
$4,250 per person, double occupancy
$4,975, single occupancy
Includes 7 nights' hotel accommodation, daily breakfast and dinner, 5 Creativity Workshops led by Sophfronia Scott, daily guided cultural adventures in Paris and Provence led by Anne Block, Paris Metro pass, entrance fees, round-trip TGV train tickets Paris/Avignon, transfers to-and-from train stations in Paris and Avignon.
Payment:
Full payment is due by April 20, 2008. We accept payment by Visa/Mastercard and American Express. Please be advised that all credit card payments incur a 3% processing fee.
Click Here for Complete TERMS AND CONDITIONS.
"Pay Before You Play!"
You may pay in one single payment or affordable monthly payments (which include a $25 processing fee):
9 Month Plan (First Payment due AUGUST 31): Single Occupancy: 9 Payments of $555.56 for a total of $5,000.04. Double Occupancy: 9 Payments of $475 for a total of $4,275.
International Airfare and hotel transfers not included.
If for any reason you cancel, you would forfeit $750 which represents the non-refundable deposit.
Only 12 Spots available. We want to keep the group small and intimate.
Sounds Amazing, Right?! Come With Us!
Here's How to Register
Yes, Sophfronia, TAKE ME WITH YOU! I’ll
Take You Up on Your Wonderful Offer and Purchase My Place as a Renegade Woman So I Can Explore My Creativity in Beautiful Paris and Provence!
If you'd like to make a deposit now and make the rest of your payment at a later date, please contact Anne Block directly at takemymom@aol.com. Anne will also have more registration details posted on her site at www.takemymotherplease.com.
As you can see, The Renegade Women Writers Retreat will be a very special trip. Anne and I are totally devoting ourselves to making this an event to remember and I would love to have you with us! It will be a lifetime experience that will inspire you for years to come!
See you on the Seine!
Please
email me
directly
at
sscott@thebooksistah.com
with any
questions,
concerns
or
comments
related
to this retreat.
Best,
|
Sophfronia
Scott
"The Book
Sistah"
|
|
Click
here
to
return
to
the
Home
page.
The Book Sistah
261 South Main Street
Suite 319
Newtown, CT 06470-2745
Phone: 866-834-3942
email:
info@thebooksistah.com
© 2007
TheBookSistah.com
|
