2026-08-24T18:41:22.075Z

The Pyrenean Women's Writing Retreat nourished me, body and soul, as a woman and as a writer. It was seamlessly organized. Diana's teaching and individual coaching sessions, Laura's food, the farmhouse accommodations, outings, and beautiful, unspoiled scenery combined to foster our community of writers. I wrote long and well and came away with a renewed sense of vigor and purpose as a writer. In the course of nine days I was able to finish three pieces I was working on and develop a sense of direction for a fourth. The retreat was both relaxing and exciting. I left eager to return. Annette Leavy

2026-08-24T11:54:12.092Z

I participated in the Pyrenean Writing Retreat August 2026 led by Diana. The overall experience was amazing and insitghtful atmosphere fostering creativity as well as well planned instruction with plenty of examples and prompts. The private session with Diana was highly informative and encouraging for my work giving me a clear vision to continue with my writing projects. The group of writers from different backgrounds representing multiple genres created a non judgemental environment conducive to opportunities to share our work and start new friendships.The location, a Basque farm on the Pyrenees foothills provided a safe peaceful place to think and write away from everyday life.The meals mainly vegetarian as well as the local wines and cheeses enchanted my palate.I'm recommending highly this retreat and personally will connect later with Diana when my writing project is ready to be reviewed.

2026-08-14T18:44:13.964Z

Pyrenean Creative Writing Women's Retreat July 31-Aug 9My 10-day experience at the retreat was first-rate.I had attended 3 prior US retreats with Diana. To me, she was worth going to Spain for! Consistent with those previous experiences and by her own example, she established an atmosphere conducive to creativity. Her patience and acceptance set the tone for the overall experience.I arrived with the objective of grunt-work editing two drafts. I didn’t even look at the drafts. Instead – surprise - I wrote completely new material! Not in the original plan, but better than my stated objectives.Attendance at the craft sessions was completely voluntary. In addition to presenting well-planned instruction with handouts and examples, Diana also made herself available to review and give feedback on pieces we were working on. I came away better-informed and eager to keep writing.The location itself fostered creativity. A centuries old farmhouse in the Basque region – complete with all manner of barnyard animals – was a peaceful, distraction-free, environment. The rooms, each with its own bathroom, were clean and comfortable. There were plenty of places to sit and think and write.The food was delicious. We liked the chef and felt like she was part of the group. She crafted dishes to both please our palates and accommodate dietary restrictions. She presented the dinner meals by telling us the names of the dishes and the ingredients. The food was locally-sourced and we enjoyed many fresh fruits and vegetables. There were also cheeses made by the owner of the farm and local wines. All very tasty.And, of course, the writing companions. On the first day, one of the attendees ruled “no judgment,” and that became the guiding spirit for all 10 days. There were eight of us from various regions in the US representing multiple genres – drama, novels, short stories, memoir, personal essay and so forth. We formed friendships and created voluntary opportunities to share our work with one another.Would I do it again? You bet!Marsha Kessler

2026-06-27T18:26:06.671Z

I write in praise of Kind Write. Both Diana and Val live up to the title: they are kind and they know good writing when they see it. I have attended one magical Zigbone writing retreat, where Diana offered group and one-on-one time. I have read an essay I created while at Zigbone at a city bookshop event instigated by Diana. And I am now working with Val on editing several pieces that I will submit to online literary journals. Well organized, tech savvy and with a welcome sense of humor, Val not only helps with edits (she is skillful, sharp and her turnaround time is quick) but she also provides names of journals likely to be interested. I am enjoying the collaboration very much. I’m sure she has bad days, but so far I’ve only experienced upbeat and positive!

2026-05-23T23:34:54.560Z

Attending the Motherlode Retreat in the spring of 2026 was a fantastic jump-start to my writing and creativity. Diana and Val provided an encouraging environment, offering valuable tools and unique prompts to help writers of all experience levels put pen to paper. This was my first writing retreat, and it offered a good mix of instruction, relevant readings, writing time, and opportunities for relaxation and fellowship. My only regret is that it didn't last a bit longer!

2026-05-07T22:57:04.212Z

Very insightful workshops on craft and small writing groups with supportive feedback. Really pushed my writing forward! Would go back and recommend to everyone.

2026-05-07T12:41:49.312Z

I had the distinct pleasure of working with Valerie Berton on a pitch to literary agents for my next book. She helped me improve my presentation markedly, weeding out unneeded words, creating better agent-facing text, and better emphasizing the strongest selling points. She was responsive, smart, and encouraging. And kind: her writing studio is so aptly named "KindWrite"!

2026-05-04T12:21:15.017Z

The Motherlode Retreat was excellent; the perfect blend of craft education, thought provoking prompts and exercises, & conversations to process it all. Diana and Val have a wonderful style that encouraged clarifying questions and can make complex concepts easy to understand. Diana incorporated many examples of great writing that illustrate the concepts, along with a highly relevant reading list. The location was the perfect place to unplug and allow my mind to expand and creativity to flow.