Karen Maslowski on Rhys Bowen's Writing Retreat in Tuscany

DEBORAH CROMBIE: What a special treat we have on JRW today! For everyone who wished they could attend Rhys's writing retreat in Tuscany, now we get a first-hand account of all the fun!

Here's our Jungle Red special friend, Karen Maslowski (who comments as "Karen in Ohio"), on--well, I'll let Karen tell you!

 

Rhys Bowen Writing Retreat in Tuscany, or How I Justified Bumming Around Europe for Three Weeks

Karen (in Ohio) Maslowski:

When I first saw the announcement of Rhys’s nine-day mystery writing workshop in Tuscany, my inner travel diva got all excited. What a great combination: writing with other like-minded students in a lovely environment, all meals provided, and with one of my favorite writers. However, I couldn’t bring myself to commit to the time, and to the financial outlay. And while I was dithering, the class filled.

A couple weeks later, Rhys posted on her Facebook page that a spot had opened up, and I decided that was my sign, so I signed up for the open place.

I began making plans to wrap the Tuscan adventure in other travel. Solo international travel was one of my longtime “bucket list” items, and when better, right? (My husband already had commitments for that time period.)

A local travel agent helped me schedule flights, trains, boats, taxis, hotels, tours, and even concerts, so I would have a structure to what became a three-week trip. My youngest daughter decided to join me for the first three days in Venice, where neither of us had ever been. By the time I met the workshop group I'd been in Italy for four days, and I was fairly well adjusted to the time zone difference.

Before the workshop Minerva Education picked up all the participants in Florence;  afterward I chose to go back to Florence for one night. Because my maiden name is Brenner, I decided to take a train from Florence to Innsbruck through the spectacular Brenner Pass in the Alps. From there I would go to Munich for a couple of days, and then on to finish my journey with three days in beautiful Prague.

You can read more about that part of my trip here, with photos:  See the USA    Watch for more, as I am posting it in sections.

The six workshop participants came from all over: Florida, Tennessee, Michigan, California, Washington DC, and me from Cincinnati. We had a good mix of accomplishments, too. Some of us were published in non-fiction (one participant has a long career as an award-winning sports and real estate journalist), some had nearly finished novels, and some of us were in the beginning stage of fiction writing. Every one of them was an interesting person, too, and we had fascinating conversations over many meals and long walks. Rounding out the group was Rhys's charming husband, John, who added his own sparkle to every meal and gathering.

Rhys structured our sessions with one main topic a day: intro to mystery; plot, structure, POV; characters; dialogue; setting; creating mood; first line/paragraph/page; marketing, finding an agent. Each morning we met for an hour or two to discuss that day’s area of interest. Afterwards we broke for individual activities, including a daily writing assignment, and later in the afternoon we'd meet again. At the second meeting of the day everyone shared what they'd written. Rhys would give her opinion, constructive advice, and tips on how to tighten or expand or better the piece in some way. The group usually also had something to add, always insightful and helpful.

The best part of this readout each day was seeing how uniquely distinct each of our voices are, and watching as characters took shape, or plots emerged. We talked about the different stories, and by the end of the workshop we were all anxious to know the outcomes of each.

The owners of Minerva Education, Piero and Cajsa (pronounced Kī'-sza) Baldini, are excellent hosts, and they provided a rich cultural experience, as well as access to a teacher of Rhys's caliber. In addition to providing a lovely hotel for the workshop, they hosted every excellent meal with a flourish (and delicious wines), and provided many insights to life in Italy, past and present. Piero is a native of Florence, and a font of knowledge about all things Italian.

In addition to the workshop, Piero and Cajsa organized several other activities for us. We had a private wine tasting of Chianti and local cheeses, olive oils and balsamic vinegar in Castellina. We toured some local Etruscan tombs, and learned a bit of the history of the area. We spent nearly an entire day of visiting Siena (a nice break for Rhys, who opted to stay back and sketch. And do laundry). And we all trooped into town on the Sunday of Corpus Christi for Mass in the church of San Salvatore, and later that day, for the scheduled procession.

The procession was supposed to take place at 6 PM, but first the wedding party had to clear out. The bride and groom were both British (they'd driven there from London, we later discovered), but of East Indian background, so many of the guests wore lovely saris. This little town in Chianti was hopping with activity!

The hotel is charming and lovely, and in a peaceful spot, while still within easy walking distance of Castellina. We each had our own rooms with en suite baths (and bidets, can't forget those!). The pool is beautiful and surrounded by flowers, and the staff is attentive and efficient. I already want to go back. My smiling photo was taken during one of my best writing sessions, on our porch overlooking the vineyards and olive trees across the road. 

 DEBS: Oh, I am dripping with envy!! For the privilege of Rhys's knowledge and advice, for the camaraderie and companionship of a writer's group, and for beautiful Tuscany! (And olives, and wine, and cheeses, and herbs, and everything that goes with the above!)

Karen, I hope you'll tell us more about what you learned, and what parts were the most helpful to you.

And Rhys, please chime in and tell us your favorite parts of the Tuscan adventure!

REDS, I think we should plan a Tuscan retreat. READERS, would you enjoy a workshop like this?

A Room of One's Own

RHYS BOWEN: When I first read the Virginia Woolf piece in college it didn't make much impression. After all, I had a serene and private room of my own in an ivy-clad college dorm. But I read it again when I was juggling writing with the demands of being a mother of four small children. And then it really resonated.I remember trying to finish a chapter when there were screams outside my door, someone had taken someone else's toy or made fun of someone else's hair. And the school called to ask me to bring two dozen brownies because "I was the only mother who didn't work!!!!!" I think that was when my thoughts turned to murder.  A haven, a perfect place to write where the inspiration will just flow and nobody will disturb us. Isn't that what we all want?

I've been thinking recently about my perfect place to write. I know that Julia has escaped to our agent's retreat on Nantucket to finish a book without interruptions. I know Susan has fled to a hotel (in Florida, wasn't it?). But I'm not sure it would work for me to go somewhere lovely. I'd be peeking out of the windows, watching the ocean and thinking I should go for a walk on the beach first, or what kind of sea-birds were those. At home I stare at a wall (it does have my Edgar nomination on it, a couple of NYT lists with my name on them AND a photo of a young Robert Redford to remind me of what is possible) But I try not to look out of the window.

So I'm wondering... who would jump at the chance to go and write somewhere lovely and serene? I'd certainly welcome no interruptions and someone else to cook and serve my meals. I think for me it would have to be snowed in in a snug cabin in the mountains with a roaring fire, lots of good soups and mulled wine. I'd get a lot done if I knew I couldn't leave!

So would you escape to write if you were offered the chance? Where would it be?

HALLIE EPHRON: Honestly I don't want to go anywhere. I'm much more productive at home. My tiny office IS my perfect place to write. The only thing that happens there is my work. Maybe it's the reason I didn't start writing until late -- it was once my children's play room. You really do need a place to write. I always remember the story (Woolf tells it in A Room of One's Own) about Jane Austen having only the family drawing room to write in and how she used to have to hide her manuscript.

SUSAN ELIA MACNEAL: I've really never had a room of my own for work. Before Kiddo was born, Hubby and I shared the guest room/office. Then Kiddo took that over. And then, when when Miss Edna moved in, she took Kiddo's bedroom and we made him a "nook" in our dining room. (It's a loft -- not quite as dire as it sounds....) But, with that, I lost my desk, so I would work sitting on the couch or in bed.... Now I have a desk back, but it's in our living/dining/kitchen area, so it's not exactly private. So, yes, for bouts of concentrated effort I like to travel. It really doesn't matter where to me, as long as it's private and I can walk places. Seriously, I would do (almost) anything for a room of my own.... Having a place to work where no one is walking through/bothering me an ongoing challenge... Ah, New York....

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: Yeah, if I went somewhere to write, then I'd have to PACK, right? And then i'd be all worried about what to take, and what would happen in my home while I was gone. I adore my study, the big sugar maple out the window, all my stuff and nice things, and access to everything. Yeah, I'm home. And when it's quiet, and I'm not on a crushing deadline, and the words are (crossing fingers) flowing. That's a journey right there--I'd rather go INTO the book than out somewhere to find it.
If I must, though, I adore writing on airplanes. It's so contained, and such a time bubble, I am incredibly productive when I am at 30,000 feet. Probably having no internet helps, right?.

DEBORAH CROMBIE: I love writing in my office, too. But, this is complete fantasy, right? So I would be in a stone cottage in the Cotwolds, in the autumn or winter, so there would be a fire inside and bare trees and fields outside. I'd write (having my total fantasy ergonomic desk and chair in said cottage) in front of the fire, with cups of tea, and when I needed to think I'd go for long walks with a borrowed dog (no feeding or cleaning up after.) Then in the evenings I'd walk to the local pub and read my pages over dinner and a glass of wine... Can you tell I've been looking at English home magazines?

Hank, so funny, I cannot write on a plane. Just cannot do it. At least not on the computer, although sometimes I manage notes by hand. I always think people are looking over my shoulder and it paralyzes me.

JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: Debs, can I have the cottage next to you? That sounds ideal. Hank, I can't write on a plane either, but it's usually because we're all so jammed together like herring in a barrel. Either I tuck my arms in and approach the keyboard v-e-r-y s-l-o-w-l-y or I type freely and constantly nudge the person next to me.

My and Rhys' agent's house in Nantucket was about as perfect as one could get. There was a fireplace, but I discovered that if I don't need a fire for heat, I'm happy to avoid the fuss and muss that goes with it. The reason I think it worked so well was that I was visiting in late January/early February; quite possible the only time of the year one has NO desire to walk the beaches of Nantucket. There were hardly any people around, and those with whom I socialized were also writers, and they understood my desire to be monkish.

I also like my own old farmhouse in the country. If I could only afford to send the rest of the family away for a two-week cruise, I could get loads of writing done right here!

RHYS: Debs and Julia, I love visiting my sister-in-law and staying at her lovely manor house. It's the closest I've come to shutting myself away from the world.

RHYS: I think we should all go on a Jungle Red retreat, don't you? Which reminds me of the reason I thought about this topic. I have been invited to be the writer-in-residence at a workshop/retreat in Tuscany next summer. Ten days at a lovely old hotel in a village in Chianti,with good food, wine and gelato tastings, in between intense writing sessions, many of them one-on-one with me. So if you know someone who wants to kick-start that novel, or finish a novel, please tell them about this. Visit www.minervaeducation.net for all the details. Who is going to join me?

I can't wait..