and yes. it was indeed a Big Adventure for me!
i just returned from a week long writing retreat
in gorgeous San Miguel de Allende. the reason it
was a Big Adventure is twofold:
1. this was the first writing retreat i had ever attended.
2. this was the first time i’ve truly traveled abroad
for pleasure since my ten year anniversary trip to fiji
back in 2007.
i honestly didn’t know what to expect.
and i worried–as even tho i’ve been to many
countries and love traveling–i had never traveled
abroad alone. even if mexico is pretty close.
also, i’m just a worrier. it’s only become worse
since spawning the rabid monkeys. it is my new
superpower. haha!
well, i needn’t have worried. one of the reasons
i couldn’t say no to this retreat was because it had
authors attending whom i like that wrote books i love.
i had met delia sherman, sarah rees brennan, holly
black and cassandra clare before and had hung out
with all of them briefly–but never like this!
never in a bubble of non-stop books, craft and plot
talk. in the pool. over meals. while walking to restaurants
or going for ice cream. there was always someone to Talk
Story with. and it was amazing and wonderful. it truly felt
magical and like a trip of a lifetime.
now i want to go back!
but instead, i console myself by sharing fotos! =D
*the cathedral on the square.
*and this was the converging crowd in front of it on a
sunday afternoon. theo asked if i wanted to take a foto
with those giant puppet things in the back, but NO, i was
too afraid. *runs away screaming*
*the same cathedral lit up gloriously at night. the square
is especially filled with tourists and locals with families on weekends,
but also on weekdays, late into the evenings. the san miguel
folk definitely enjoyed their outdoor space and sense of community.
*walking down hilly cobblestoned paths for an
early dinner.
*this was our earliest dinner at 6.30pm on a roof deck
mexican restaurant. (delicious!) i think it was early because
we were meeting Franny Billingsley (who happened to be there
for a writing conference). she was lovely to meet and, of course,
we talked books! it was especially cool as both Franny and Delia
had just found out they had been short listed for the Norton for
Chime and The Freedom Maze.
*the restaurant was next to this cathedral? the architecture
and colors of the city were gorgeous.
*i wandered alone on the roof top a bit to snap
touristy fotos. how could i resist? it was a beautiful sunset.
*another view from the roof top deck.
*(this foto just fills me with joyful glee!)
for all you sarah rees brennan fans out there, you may
or may not know this, but sarah’s grace (as introduced
by kristin cashore) is “reenactment”. partly because she has
a boundless and astounding memory, and partly because she
can reenact with such enthusiastic conviction. we were very
much entertained! <3
*theo (who is an artist) proved to be an excellent
shopping companion with fantastic taste. (i would venture
that he is much more chic than i am and has more Exciting
Clothes than i do as well! 8) i did get some great shopping in
and am the owner of a gorgeous pair of boots thanks to theo’s
addiction to boot hunting. he stopped to buy a pinata. it was a hot
day and we were hauling four pairs of boots between us, i think.
*thanks to delia for taking a foto of me in my cool
new cowgirl boots. they are super pointy in the front which
is something i shy away from (never bought) but these
boots are super comfortable. amazingly comfortable! i bought
the typewriter tee at union square market when i was visiting
for BEA. it reads: Tap That on the bottom. *guffaws*
*on my last full day in our wonderful writing villa, i went
to our own rooftop garden to take some fotos.
*a view of probably one of the biggest hot
tubs in san miguel. it’s only meant to be a heated pool,
but let’s just say i wasn’t complaining when we prematurely
used up all the propane. ahem.
*i wasn’t able to get a complete group foto with
the lovely ladies of the retreat. so there are two!
(me, holly, sarah and delia.)
(me, holly, cassie and sarah.)
and now, i tackle revising novel 3 for the final time!
so close. =D
24 Comments
Cindy
The foot’s are lovely. It looks like you had a great time. Good wishes with the final revision.
WOW. that looks like PARADISE. i can’t wait to read what came out of it!!!
Oh, how beautiful!
Was this an informal get-together between writers? Or were there workshops and such?
It sounds like it was fabulous.
Can Aly and I tag along as your entourage next time? Looks like you had a wonderful time!!!
thank you cassidy, it was so wonderful!
juliet! <3
beth, i brain farted and thought you were on twitter. of course, you are not. i shall email you when birdie painting is mounted and let you have dibs. =D
the retreat was just a casual gathering of authors to write and talk shop! was most definitely fabulous!
alethea, aww! it’s just a small group of authors mostly writing writing writing but definitely would have been fun to have you and aly in the city as well!
stunning photos, cindy! so glad you had an incredible time. (can’t wait to see you rock those killer boots in person.)
Gorgeous photos — wish I could have been there! And jealous that you got to hang with Sarah AND buy boots! (One or the other, lady — not both!)
liz! ha! i was greedy, tis true. but i should be Forgiven All since i was the one who sort of introduced you to the awesomeness that is srb at our cambridge diversity stop! see! you never would have known demons could have been So Good! =DD
Oh man, Cindy, that looks like it was such a fantastic work-cation! I wanna be you guys when I grow up ;)
michi, it was so amazing! and *i* want to be ME again when i grow up. haha! #surreal
kirsten, i’ve been loving your travel fotos and tweets too! i didn’t know if you could visit post while abroad. we’ll have to chat travel at your signing! and i’ll try my best to wear these rad boots too, to it!! xo
This is really beautiful. I’ve never been on a writing retreat before, my creative writing professor told me about one that she visited, she said she got a lot of work done an her novel. Thank you for sharing this experience.
TOO MUCH FUN!!! Glad it was everything you’d hoped for and nothing that you’d worried about!
Glorious, Cindy. Thank you for taking us along. Now we expect you’ll have a lot to write about for a long time.
What a beautiful city. It looks like you had a fantastic time. :) Love the boots!
lisa, thank you! absolutely!
mirka, so happy to share. looking at these fotos brings it all back. glad i was a tourist and took them.
sonnie, it was amazing. thank you!
*sigh* great photos!
Oh, I’m so happy you posted pics! It looks like you had a fabulous time! I hope you got tons of writing done & I can’t wait to hear all about it. I also can’t wait to see how you style those cute boots!
vania, glad you enjoyed the fotos! =D
kirsten, i didn’t draft much there, but i got great feedback on novel as well as for the sequel. AND i got to eat well and get spoiled and shop. it was wonderful. maybe i can wear my rad cowgirl boots to janice’s reading! =DD
Wow – I had no idea who you were going on the retreat with! What a lovely, inspiring week that must have been. Thanks for sharing!
kiki, yes, i’m such a fan of all the authors that were at the retreat with me. it was an *amazing* time. thanks for reading!
Cool trip! I love your pink shirt – where did you get it?
thanks alicia! from anthro, of course. i really love it too. it’s very comfortable!