More accurately, the writing retreat venture is back. Allison and I started this business back in 2016. We wanted to empower women, travel the world, share our hard-won writing secrets and love for teaching, and create a container in which to build community and creativity. It was so much work, and so rewarding. We built a friendship, led life-changing, sold-out retreats, and met some of the most kick-ass women this world has to offer.

But we were both also working full-time jobs on top of our own writing, and we burnt out. We chose to dissolve the business with love and gratitude this past summer. But then…I stumbled across a gorgeous, magical, Hogwarts-for-grownups residential library in Wales. I fell in love. I knew I had to lead a retreat there, and so I reached out to the library and figured out how to make it work.

I also reached out to a dear friend, Cindy Hager, to ask if she’d being willing to come aboard. She’s one of the wisest, most nurturing women I know. She’s a creative, a professor, a photographer, a small-business owner, an amazing cook, and she’s now running all the behind-the-scenes retreat support.

She won’t love that I’m posting this photo (the ones she takes are worlds better), but it’s one of my favorite. About seven years ago, she and I both went through a big life change at the same time—a bumpy, disruptive, painful change—and a random guy happened to take this Polaroid of us one evening we were out feeling sad but wearing brave faces. It’s one of the few photos I keep in my writing space. This picture is sacred to me because it reminds me that I’ve never gotten through the hard stuff alone, and I never have to. Also, Cindy and I look really good in black and white. ;)

As a few of you know, my writing career is also taking off, and in a big way (only took 18 books ;)). So, that’s three jobs and counting: writing professor, writer, and retreat leader. Something had to give, so I’ve decided to let go of my full-time teaching job, the one I’ve held for 22 years. Next year will be my last as a college professor. It was a wonderful run, and I’m grateful for all I learned and was able to teach. Cheers to a bright future of creativity, travel, writing, and community.