Focused Writing
A Villa In The Tuscan Hill
February 2027
Immersion and Momentum
WelcomeThe Winter months can be the best time to step away from the distractions of everyday life to let your writing breathe and give yourself the freedom to truly immerse yourself in your story. This Retreat offers you a week of uniterupted writing, no distractions, no obligations, nothing demanding your attention, just you, your story and a beautiful view. You’ll leave us with a clear plan of how to move forward with your story, some new contacts and revived confidence.
This Retreat is for you if you want…
Protected Time and Space
At the foot of the Zano Mountain in the Stunning Tuscan Country Side. This luxury villa offers peace and a gentle rythmn to life encouraging you to slow down, to catch your breath and listen to your thoughts AND In those those moments where you need distance from your manuscript, to contemplate or find inspiration, you’ll find country pathways to wander and find inspiration.
Professional Feedback on Your Work
Time with your Mentor this is your opportunity to get some constructive feedback and advice on your work from someone who has the knowledge and experience to share with you, your booked one to one is part of the retreat fees, however if you would like one to one sessions with Caroline Lea outisde the retreat or before you arrive on the reatreat her fee are €40.00 per hour.
Find Clarity and Confidence in your Story
Leave with a focused mind, a clearer plan, and renewed confidence in the path ahead for your manuscript.
Evening conversations over dinner and wine or on a walk with fellow writers who understand the challenges and joys of the writing life.
Support from a Community of Writers
The Workshops
The Workshops are from 10:00 - 13:00 each day. We’ll come together with Caroline Lea your Retreat Mentor to explore the craft of storytelling and the creative process behind bringing a story to life. We’ll talk about the elements that can help to strengthen your writing, from character and voice, to structure, setting and the techniques that make a story memorable. Most importantly, the mornings are about connection, encouragement and inspiration — creating a supportive space where you can explore your own story and make the most of your time with us.
What you’ll be learning
Srategies to keep you moving - through the hard middle of the draft, through the doubt, through the hard middle of a draft, through the days the words don’t come easily
Sustaining Momentum
Deepening Character & Theme
The quiet to hear your own voice — to strip away what you think you should sound like and discover what you actually sound like.
Time and space to sit with your characters, to find the emotional truth beneath the plot, and to let your themes emerge organically.
Finding Your Voice
Your Mentor
Caroline Lea
Caroline Lea, who also writes as Caroline Finch, began her career as a teacher of English and Drama before becoming an internationally published author of five historical novels. Her work has appeared in the UK, US, Germany, Spain, Poland, Russia and Australia. The Glass Woman was shortlisted for the HWA Debut Crown, The Metal Heart was a Scottish Waterstones Book of the Month, and Prize Women was featured on BBC Woman’s Hour. Her novels have received praise from The Sunday Times, The New York Times, The Washington Post and other major publications.
A Gentle Rhythm To Your Day
Wake up and feel the beauty around you. A wintry morning walk will be hard to resist in this landscape and perfect for awakening your senses and readying your thoughts for the day ahead. The Retreat offers many walking trails to enjoy on your own or share with fellow writers.
Your Day at a Glance
On Arrival …
We’ll be there to meet you, find you a cup of tea, coffee, a glass of wine and something to eat. Once you have found your room, rested and unpacked then feel free to look around the property and find your bearings. Dinner is at 7pm where you’ll meet the other writers, no formal introductions just dinner and chat.
Your days with us will have a natural daily rhythm focused around quiet time for writing, for discussions as well as downtime.
Morning Workshops
After breakfast we start the morning workshops. These sessions are relaxed and conversational, with plenty of opportunity to share ideas and ask questions. The aim is to spark ideas, open up new possibilities and give you something to take with you into your writing time each day.
2. Lunch
Lunch is relaxed and convivial — the perfect pause between writing sessions — homemade focaccia, soups and simple, satisfying dishes to enjoy on a wintry afternoon.
3. Afternoons
Find yourself a secluded spot, somewhere with a view of the winter landscape or curl up in a corner with your writing. Try out some of the techniques we discussed in the morning or simply continue to connect with your story.
One of the greatest gifts of a winter retreat is the silence the time and the space to hear your voice, to strip away what you think you should sound like and discover what you actually do sound like.
4. Dinner
As evening falls, dinner becomes a chance to gather around the table and enjoy creative discussions about the days works while enjoying some the Italian classic dishes. Think beautifully prepared vegetables, homemade pasta, local cheeses, herbs from the garden and delicious little surprises, accompanied by carefully chosen Tuscan wines. It’s food made to be savoured slowly, shared generously and enjoyed in good company.
Excursions
The Villa is Located 30mins on public transport from Lucca, and Lucca Train Station from here you can take a train to Pisa or Florence, both are in easy travelling distance.
A Private cars are also available to hire.
The Villa Michaela
Elegant rooms renovated in keeping with the original Villa this is where old meets new, each room has its own character with high beamed ceilings, and private bathrooms you’ll find your room comfortable and luxurious.
Villa Michaela is a magnificent frescoed villa nestled in the tranquil Tuscan hills of Vorno, at the foot of the Zano mountain, only a short distance from the “pieve” of Vorno and the cultural and historic centro of Lucca. Perfectly situated, we're just a short drive from the airports of Florence and Pisa and a local bus can take you into the walled city of Lucca or to train station, where you take the train and be Florence in 1 hour 30 minutes. Villa Michaela is the perfect retreat to find peace and tranquility without feeling isolated.
Cost and Booking