A strategic retreat
Six writers recall the experience of the first WritersMosaic retreat at Villa Lugara, in partnership with the Hawthornden Foundation
Edited by: Colin Grant
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Fail Better
Colin Grant
“You’re a writer? You will fail but you have to go on. There is no choice. ‘Fail better.”
Colin Grant introduces the first WritersMosaic retreat in Italy in 2024 at Villa Lugara and the work of the writers who were selected to attend.
Rookie at the Villa
Amanda Vilanova
“The first moments in Villa Lugara unravel and I realise the absolute wonder of it.”
Amanda Vilanova remembers the first WritersMosaic retreat at Villa Lugara, Italy, with an extract from her story Lorena: The Curve.
Reading Audre Lorde at Villa Lugara, Italy
Clementine Ewokolo Burnley
“On Day Seven I call to the peacock, and he calls back. Some rhythms are beginning to repeat. The bees throng the trees.”
Diary entries by Clementine E. Burnley at Villa Lugara as she reflects on Audre Lorde and the exotic, visitors to the Villa and memories of her life in Cameroon.
Country road
Ishy Din
“I’d never been able to shake off feeling that my writing career had been a fluke. My apprehension at being in illustrious company was likely to be well founded.“
Playwright Ishy Din comes to the WritersMosaic retreat at Villa Lugara after a difficult 11 months.
Here
Katy Massey
“It felt like a moral decision to come, just as it felt like a moral decision to become an author.”
Katy Massey on why coming to the WritersMosaic retreat at Villa Lugara in 2024 was so important to her.
I barely had time to pack
Peter Kalu
“A deaf person living with nine hearing people. How will we communicate? My inner voice said, ‘just go…finish your autofiction mashup’.”
Peter Kalu appreciates the kindness of his fellow writers on a retreat he didn't think he'd manage to get to.
A love letter to the writers who will come after me
Saima Mir
“[The experience] will transform you into a teller of stories, a weaver of tales, a world-changer. This writer’s retreat will change you.“ (audio read by Jo Alderson)
Saima Mir is grateful what the WritersMosaic retreat to Italy in 2024 gifted to her.