Local Retreats in Sonoma County: Forestville, California:
A Return to Mexico
Saturday, February 25, 2012

Since 2009, Sharon Smith and I have collaborated on local writing retreats at her home in Forestville, California. Sharon and her husband David call this place Birdland, because of the wonderful variety of birds on their property. This beautiful spot is serene, spacious and comfortable: perfect for a writing retreat.

The property has two structures: a comfortable log cabin with a gourmet kitchen, and a modern studio with plenty of chairs and pillows, a wood burning stove, and lots of natural light. We write in the studio.

Please join us for a daylong writing retreat in Forestville on Saturday February 25, 2012, from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, celebrating my return from the Laguna Writers Puerto Vallarta Retreat (Come with us next year: January 6-13, 2013!). We had a successful Mexican theme at a Birdland retreat last year, so we're doing it again. We’ll have the wood stove blazing, so you will have a cozy, comfortable place to write.

This retreat will have the same format as our previous retreats: we'll write all morning, take several short breaks, and one longer break at lunchtime. We’ll create a feast for you to enjoy, and the theme will be Mexican Fiesta, including a soft taco bar, with fresh tortillas from La Palma Mexicatessan,special meat and vegetable fillings, a choice of whole or refried beans, rice, delicious huaraches, home made salsas, and a classic Mexican dessert (I'm still deciding between Tres Leches Cake and Spicy Chocolate Cupcakes). We will end the day with an evening sparkling toast and light, savory snacks.

The Forestville Retreats are offered on a sliding scale of $150-$200. We encourage you to pay what you can afford to pay. The fee for the retreat includes the all-day workshop, as well as the morning treat, snacks, lunch, dessert, and all beverages.

These retreats tend to fill fast, and many participants return to write with us again, so if you are interested, please make a non-refundable $75 deposit to hold your place. You may do this by arranging to send Chris a check; you can also sign up on the "Fees and Deposits" page, using the Paypal drop-down menu. The balance is due on the day of the retreat.

For more information, please click on the "Contact" tab on your left, or call Laguna Writers at 415-206-9771.

To contact Sharon about accommodations or restaurants, or see more photos of Birdland, check out Sharon's web site at http://www.savorsmith.comor contact her directly at SavoringSF@aol.com or 415-378-8005

Accommodations in the Area

The Sonoma Orchid Inn

The Radford Inn

The Sebastopol Inn

And for a cool day spa, see Osmosis

To learn more about my international retreats, click on the International Writing Retreats link in the column on your left.