Tag: creative-writing

Pens, Pads and Pontelandolfo

by midgeguerrera, posted in Any Day in Pontelandolfo

2026 Writers’ Refuge in the Sannio Hills

Have you wondered where I’ve been? I’ve wondered too. But I’ve been thinking of you, the Sannio Hills and our sweet village, Pontelandolfo. My silence has been time for percolating and looked what popped out of the pot – a writer’s retreat. Read on. Grab your passport and join us.

June 1 to June 11, 2026. 

Limited to 8 writers 

Writers’ Refuge in the Sannio Hills takes its name from the rifugi, mountain huts that provided a haven for shepherds in Italy. Like those rifugi, the Writers’ Refugeoffers a sanctuary where writers of all genres can shepherd in your latest creative writing project. Whether you are a first-time writer or have had many publications, the 10 days you’ll spend amidst the gorgeous Sannio Hills in the lovely Italian village of Pontelandolfo will surely inspire and nurture your creative output.
Here, your time is your own. Write all day everyday if you like, read all those books you’ve wanted to read, spend time sharing your work with the other writers, or wander through town enjoying the new view. While all these nurtures your work, we also offer one-on-one creativity coaching sessions, daily writing prompts, nightly salons, and other creativity boosting activities brought to you by award-winning poet and small press editor Maria Williams 

Together with playwright and event facilitator, Midge Guerrera, the time together is sure to be fun and inspirational   

$2200 All Inclusive Fee Includes:

  • Participants will share large, double rooms with ensuite bathrooms in La Locanda della Presuntuosa, a unique villa built into a mountain on acres of land. The villa includes a swimming pool, tennis court, washing machine, and park-like grounds that are minutes from Pontelandolfo village life. (A price for a single room at a local apartment will be available upon request.)
  • Three meals a day cooked by an Italian chef using local ingredients. Vegetarians and those with allergies can be accommodated
  • Roundtrip Transportation from the Benevento Train Station
  • Welcoming “Bar Crawl”–drinks and local snacks included–where you can discover off-site places to write while absorbing local Italian culture.
  • Daily shuttles will bring you (and your computer) to the village center – Piazza Roma.
  • All workshops, one-on-one sessions, and salons
  • A morning of writing in neighboring Morcone’s Storico Bar and lunch at Biancamela
  • An unforgettable locally sourced Italian lunch at Agriturismo Borgo Cerquelle
  • Opportunity to meet and talk to Italian authors
  • Wine and artesian food tasting at a local vintner
  • Writing excursion to the Altilia Saepinum archeological site
  • Excursion to Traditions of Historical Pontelandolfo – Dance, Cheese Rolling, Crests
  • English-speaking translator for all Italian-centered events.

Add-ons

  • Optional sharing a meal with a local family in their home. (Additional fee of €30). 
  • Optional Excursion to Reggia di Caserta tickets are currently €15

Application fee is $150 to secure your spot. Deadline: April 5, 2026

As part of your registration please send no more than 10 pages of your work plus a paragraph or two describing your goals for the 10 days.

Your hosts
Maria Williams, is the author of White Doe, winner of the Verse Daily Prize (2023), and the chapbook A Love Letter To Say There Is No Love (FutureCycle Press, 2011). She is a Pushcart Prize nominee and has been awarded residencies and fellowships from Jentel, PEN America, the Vermont Studio Center, A Room of Ones Own, and the Summer Literary Seminars, among others. Her poems have been published in numerous journals, including Bellevue Literary Review, Pank,Quarterly West, Allium, and Bateau. Maria has provided consultation to writers of all genres for over ten years. Visit her website.

So, my creative friends, what do you think? Are you staring at your keyboard and thinking – hmmm, it is portable. Pack that bag and join us in Pontelandolfo.

For more information and registration materials contact info@midgeguerrera.com

Writers’ Refuge in the Sannio Hills

by midgeguerrera, posted in Nonna's Trips & Events

I can’t believe our first playwright’s retreat has just ended and I am about to blab on about 2025. How could I not?! The playwrights who just left after their ten day writing adventure were effusive in their praise. (When I get their video done, I will write about their catalysts for creativity – like my falling in a deep hole during their ruzzolo, cheese rolling game.) Back to 2025!

Literally Italy (that’s my new moniker) and Scott Editorial put their heads together and came up with a writer’s retreat with a few twists.  2025 Writers’ Refuge in the Sannio Hills takes its name from the rifugi, mountain huts that provided a haven for shepherds.  Dear writers, imagine a nurturing sanctuary that provides the time and place to work on your creative projects. In addition to time for your own daily writing, workshops, group feedback, and one-on-one critique sessions will support your work. The best part is, you are able to write in a villa, in a bar, outdoors and wherever your muse takes you. The June 21 to June 28 retreat is only open to eight writers.

The “Write Where Your Are” 2024 Playwrights enjoyed writing through out two villages.

Participants in the 2025 Writers’ Refuge in Sannio Hills will share large, double rooms with ensuite bathrooms in La Locanda della Presuntuosa, a unique villa built into a mountain on acres of land. The villa includes a swimming pool, tennis court, washing machine, and park like grounds that are minutes from Pontelandolfo and Morcone village life. Savory meals are cooked by an Italian chef using local produce.  Our chef spoiled the playwrights with homemade pasta, interesting sides and succulent roasted meats. The Tiramisu was incredible! Nothing came in a box or wrapped in plastic. This is Southern Italian farm to table home cooking. She will spoil those who come to the Refuge too.

The Italian landscape and village life are inspirational.  For additional character studies, shuttles will bring you and your computer to Pontelandolfo’s Piazza Roma caffès or the bars a bit further out of town. Imagine sitting in a sunny piazza, sipping Prosecco and finishing that novel, short story or memoir. Or imagine wending your way up the hill to Morcone’s historic center and sharing work in this cool bar.

Amy Scott, the founder of Scott Editorial, will lead the writers’ retreat. Amy is a PhD candidate with a Master’s in Creative & Critical Writing and a BA in English Literature. With 20 years’ experience editing fiction and non-fiction, she has gained extensive knowledge of both the self-publishing and traditional sectors of the industry. For the last four years, she has been running writers’ retreats in Italy and the UK and is a guest lecturer on undergraduate and postgraduate courses, teaching the importance of editing. This year, Scott Editorial has joined forces with the University of Gloucestershire, where, along with a selection of creative writing professors, Amy is delivering workshops to help new authors develop their craft.

Literally Italy is the American company founded by Midge Guerrera – that’s me.  You all know that I’m a published author of numerous books and plays. The retreat gives me time to work on that next epic. Our team knows how to produce a retreat. Remember along with Rossella and Annarita Mancini, I’m the founder of the award-winning program, Cooking in the Kitchens of Pontelandolfo.  That local team will be the on-site organizers for the retreat.

Here is what you get for one fee:

  • Round Trip Transportation from the Benevento Train Station.
  • 7 nights in shared, large double rooms with unique, architecturally-appointed ensuite bathrooms in La Locanda della Presuntuosa. Enjoy the swimming pool, tennis court and trails. (There is also an optional 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom village apartment for 2 to 3 participants in the historic village center.)
  • All meals cooked by an Italian chef. Vegetarians can be accommodated.
  • Four morning workshop sessions, including “Location as a Character” that will be held at the Altilia Saepinum Archeological site.
  • Daily group critique sessions
  • 1-to-1 personal critique sessions – on your schedule.
  • Welcoming “Bar Crawl” –  Drinks and local snacks included. Discover off-site places to write while absorbing local Italian culture. Transportation to bars provided daily.

We are organizing cultural add ons too. I can tell the interested writers all about those. For now, shoot me an email at info@nonnasmulberrytree.com for more information. Remember this is limited to only EIGHT WRITERS.

Ci Vediamo.

Midge