La Poterie: Writing Retreat in France

Writing Retreat in the French Countryside with pie (avec tarte americaine)

Ignite your writing life as you spend 8 days/7 nights luxuriating in writing, discussion, personal mentoring, and camaraderie in the lush French countryside with 

APRIL EBERHARDT & AMY WALLEN 

A perfect retreat for those who are writing a novel, memoir, essays, or stories, and seeking to learn about or reinvigorate a writing life through rigorous discussion, supportive feedback, intimate conversations in a gorgeous and delicious environment.

June 27 to July 4, 2025

Limited to 6 participants.

Daily Schedule:

Writing is hard, so why not make the writing life delectable? Biking, strolling, shopping at the local market—these are all part of the writing life, whether to stir up memories, or to mull a scene. But to have a writing life, first we must write.

Your days will start with breakfast—takeaway or with your co-participants in the dining room, your choice—then quiet/free time to write, read, or prepare for class. Each morning will include a class on elements of the writing life from craft to perseverance, free writing from sensory prompts, and time on your own to write, as well as group and individual meetings with the instructors to review your writing. Then you’ll be free until lunch or your scheduled one-on-one conference with Amy & April.

We will lunch together, then again have free time to write, wander, or prepare for workshop. In the afternoon we’ll meet together for workshop where we will critique each other’s manuscripts in-depth offering guided and constructive feedback.

One afternoon we will venture into a nearby village, perhaps visit a cave à vin for a tasting; one evening we will dine out. A visit to the Sunday morning outdoor market is also a possibility. One day, in the kitchen with Amy we will make our own pie and learn how to let go and eat our mistakes! Over pie, we may share our dreams and how they can be reality. What does pie have to do with writing? Everything! Comfort food stirs up memories, taste buds trigger happiness, and best of all, pie is a reward for perseverance.

In the evenings we’ll enjoy a relaxing cocktail hour where we may discuss publishing (with wine, how else?), writing goals, how to persevere at the writing life back home, and celebrate our successes. Then a gourmet dinner prepared lovingly by the talented Cynthia Cooke, owner/host of La Poterie. We will have post dinner drinks and quiet conversation, or you may choose to retire early and read or write.

Whether writing creative nonfiction or fiction, at the end of the week you’ll take home the utensils to keep your pen moving. In 8 days/7 nights, we will show you how to live the writing life, and how to savor it when you leave.

The Place

La Poterie was the home of Felix de Bourqueney, mayor of the local village, and his wife Elise Colonna Waleswka, granddaughter of Napoleon Bonaparte. Upon the death of her husband and their four children, Elise adopted her nephew François, Aimery deMoucheron’s grandfather. Aimery and his wife Cynthia purchased the home from family members in 2012 and have restored it to a family retreat set on 22 hectares of woodland.

Le Pays Vallée du Loir, set in the Sarthe region of France about two hours by train southwest of Paris, is a lovely well-kept secret despite its proximity to the better-known Loire Valley. The region, which enjoys a mild climate, is characterized by the orchards and vines that shape the hilly landscape, and is dotted with castles, mansions and churches in the area’s native limestone, which gives the Loir architecture its distinctive color and rich ornamentation.

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTORS

APRIL EBERHARDT is a self-described "literary change agent" and author advocate passionate about helping authors be published in the most satisfying way. After 25 years as a corporate strategist and management consultant, April joined the literary world, where she saw strategic opportunity to play a role in the changing world of publishing. She advises and assists authors as they choose the best pathway to publication, and serves as a consultant to publishing startups serving indie authors. She represents a diverse group of clients in the U.S. and abroad, and speaks at conferences worldwide.

April serves on the Advisory Council for The American Library in Paris, and is a reader for The Best American Short Stories series published annually by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. She divides her time between San Francisco, New York and Paris.

Amy Wallen, MFA is the author of the Los Angeles Times bestselling novel Moon Pies and Movie Stars and the memoir When We Were Ghouls: A Memoir of Ghost Stories. Her recently released book How to Write a Novel in 20 Pies: Sweet and Savory Secrets of the Writing Life provides tips on how to celebrate the journey of writing. She facilitates and co-teaches (with past Los Angeles Times book critic David Ulin) a manuscript workshop in San Diego (at which she serves pie). She has taught creative writing at UCSD and UCLA Extension and other venues. She is also the creator of Savory Salons, literary salons with pie—a day of discourse with successful authors on the writing life. She’s also the founder of DimeStories—Three-minute stories told by the author, and featured on NPR. In her twenty years at the New York State Summer Writers Institute she served as associate director, student advocate, and novel writing mentor.

THE HOSTS

Aimery deMoucheron, the descendant of a prominent French family, met and married Cynthia Cooke, originally from Hawaii, while both were students in Paris.

Aimery currently heads his own advertising agency, Mister Brown, and Cynthia is a painter whose work is regularly exhibited in Paris and abroad.

They are the parents of four adult children.

QUESTIONS YOU MAY BE ASKING

Who is the Retreat for? This retreat is ideal for those who want to take the next steps in their writing endeavors. You may want to be inspired, get a new perspective, reinvigorate your process or your writing.

What is included? Rigorous group discussion of your manuscript; workshops on the elements of craft, perseverance, and publishing; ample solitude, one-on-one conferences, local excursions, pie crust lessons, and gourmet meals.

What is the cost? $4800 per person.

What is not included? Travel expenses: flights to/from France and transportation to/from the airport to the retreat site. Travel insurance is highly recommended.

What is your Covid policy? Compliance requires proof of vaccination upon registration.

What are the accommodations like? Each participant will have a private room, furnished beautifully and comfortably, and each room has a desk. Most have private bathrooms.

We will hold our group sessions around the large table in the dining room, on comfortable couches in the living room, or outdoors—weather permitting.

Will I have time to explore the area? Yes! There will be opportunities for local excursions as a group or on your own to the local town and nearby wineries. Also, the chateau is situated on a beautiful rolling countryside for daily walks and quiet solitude. Although, we encourage you to add time onto your trip to fully explore the neighboring Loire Valley and other parts of France.

Will I need to rent a car? No, we will provide transportation for the local group excursions. You are also welcome to use the bikes on site to get to town.

How much material can I submit for feedback and discussion? Each participant will submit up to 20 pages to April Eberhardt one month prior to the retreat. Both instructors will provide feedback in the group and one-on-one conferences. You will also receive feedback on these pages from your fellow participants in the workshop.

How much time will be allotted my manuscript in the workshop? Each participant will have “your day” when the one-hour workshop will be fully devoted to discussion of your pages. The discussion will be guided and facilitated by the instructors, and will be constructive and supportive. Amy creates at least 5 bespoke craft workshops focused especially on the needs of the group participants. You will also have a one-on-one conference with the instructors to discuss any pending items or questions you may have about the writing life. And, of course, passing in the hallways, and riding bikes, we can always chat.

I am interested! Sign me up! Please email April Eberhardt who will share the process for registration. Since space is limited to six participants, we encourage you to submit as soon as possible.

If you want to discuss any other details with me, whether it’s the right fit, or maybe I’ve forgotten to tell you something, reach out and let’s chat. Email me!