Join us in Spain and Italy, 2025-26
Join Weeping Willow Books Publisher Marcia Meier and watercolorist Helena Hill when they host writing and water coloring workshops in Spain in 2025 and Italy in 2026.
Travel to the south of Spain and beautiful Casa Ana for a week of writing and painting, Oct. 4-10, 2025. Nestled in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, Casa Ana (above) is an hour from the Andalusian city of Granada. We’ll spend most mornings writing individually, then play with water coloring in the afternoons. Bring your memoir, novel, or nonfiction work of any kind. We’ll generate new work and also focus on your work in progress. There will also be plenty of time to explore the village of Ferreirola, where Casa Ana is located, and we’ll hike the beautiful surrounding Sierra Nevada and explore Granada with a local guide. Casa Ana is a warm and inviting villa with private en suite rooms, enticing meals, and every amenity you can imagine. Lodging, instruction, meals and transportation to and from Granada are included in the cost. The only additional expense you are responsible for is your travel to and from Spain. Limited to ten students.
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If Italy has more appeal, join Marcia and Helena at a beautiful villa just outside the town of Lucca in Tuscany, from Sept. 26-Oct. 3, 2026. We’ll have six days of writing in the mornings and painting in the afternoons. Marcia’s writing classes will include generative prompts using various art modalities and sharing of work. Individual consultations with Marcia are included. And of course, Helena will offer her wonderful painting classes in the afternoons.
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We have room for up to ten people. To see images from our Tuscany retreat in 2019, visit Marcia's website.
Have questions? Want to go with us? Send us an email!
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Our bios:
Marcia Meier, MFA, is author of seven books, including her award-winning memoir, Face. (See her bio here.) Marcia is also an editor and writing coach who has taught writing for more than twenty years. She is also the publisher of Weeping Willow Books. She is an adventurous spirit who loves to travel and inspire and encourage other writers.
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Helena Hill is a writer, watercolorist, and world traveler who lived with her family in Peru during her childhood. (See her bio here.) She has returned to Peru four times to rediscover her childhood home while writing her memoir. As a Spanish teacher, she led groups of students to Mexico, and most recently has led groups to Peru and Italy for watercolor and writing retreats. She has traveled extensively in Italy, and has studied and painted the landscapes of Tuscany and Umbria. Helena's passion is teaching and inspiring beginning watercolorists. She speaks fluent Spanish, is a student of Italian, and is an exceptional guide and teacher.