TWO SPOTS LEFT!
Rejuvenate & Create in Greece!
A Transformational Women’s Writing Retreat
on the magical island of Amorgos
October 5-11, 2025
Nourish your creative soul in the birthplace of the Muses.
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Rejuvenate & Create?
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more info and answer any questions!
Join an intimate circle of creative women for the adventure of a lifetime!
Stretch your creative muscles and dive deep into your writing with authors Kelly Dwyer and Tanya Shaffer.
We’ll spend our mornings creating and our afternoons exploring the island and basking in the warm Mediterranean sun.
We’ll stay at the stunning blue and white Lakki Village Hotel, just steps from the crystal clear waters of the Aegean Sea and a short stroll to the picturesque town of Aegiali.
University of Iowa Summer
Writing Festival
Kelly Dwyer
Off-Leash Writing
Tanya Shaffer
About Amorgos
In the heart of the Cyclades, Amorgos is one of the most beautiful of the Greek islands. Known for its dazzling blue water, white sand beaches, ancient picturesque villages, and delicious local food, it's an ideal spot for travelers seeking a tranquil, inspiring, and authentic Greek experience.
About Your Writing Sessions
After a good night’s sleep and a delicious breakfast, we’ll begin our day with Off-Leash Writing with Tanya or Prompt Play with Kelly. These joyful, liberating practices are designed to awaken our senses and encourage a spirit of freedom and exploration. Inspired by the natural beauty of our surroundings and the rich mythology and history of the Greek archipelago, we’ll write fast and free, connecting with our authentic voices and coming home to ourselves on the page.
After a coffee and stretch break, we’ll delve into a different type of writing each day, including Travel Writing and Lyric Essay with Tanya, Flash Fiction and Novel Writing with Kelly, and Suspense Writing with guest teacher and best-selling author Jonas Saul. Each session will include both in-class writing and the chance to share your work in a supportive, stimulating environment.
About Your Accommodations
Wake to the gentle sound of waves on one of the most peaceful and stunning beaches in Greece. Our retreat center is situated directly on Aegiali Bay, steps from the soft sandy beach. Relax in the hotel’s lush gardens with shaded pergolas or stroll into town for cafes, restaurants, taverns, and shops.
The Lakki Village Hotel (run by the founding couple’s five daughters and their children and grandchildren!) features an outdoor pool, wifi, and air-conditioned rooms. We’ll eat traditional Greek meals seaside in the hotel’s Agia Kali Restaurant, which uses locally sourced ingredients, including vegetables from the hotel’s own gardens. The hotel has beach towels, umbrellas, and snorkeling equipment available for your use. You can choose to book massages through the hotel at an additional cost or rent a car or motorbike for farther-ranging solo exploration.
Your Retreat Schedule
Choose your own adventure! We’re here your delight and transformation. Feel free to participate in the activities that make your heart sing and to take as much time as your and your Muse need for contemplation, relaxation, exploration, and rejuvenation.
On October 5, you’ll arrive and settle into your room. Afterwards, we’ll meet at the Agia Kali Restaurant for a welcome dinner, followed by an opening circle under the stars.
The next morning you’ll awaken from a refreshing night’s sleep and make your way to the restaurant for an open-air breakfast by the sea. The restaurant serves delicious Greek food made from locally-sourced ingredients.
We’ll enjoy all our breakfasts and dinners on site. For lunch, you can eat at the hotel or head into town and explore the local cuisine, which is fresh and plentiful.
Morning Writing Sessions With Tanya and Kelly
MONDAY: Off-Leash Writing (Tanya), Fun with Flash Fiction (Kelly)
TUESDAY: Prompt Play (Kelly), Travel Writing that Takes You There (Tanya)
WEDNESDAY: Off-Leash Writing (Tanya), How to Start (or Transform) Your Novel (Kelly), Creating Suspense (Jonas)
THURSDAY: Prompt Play (Kelly), Exploring the Lyric Essay (Tanya)
FRIDAY: Off-Leash Writing (Tanya), solo writing/reflection time
Afternoon & Evening Activities
Swimming and relaxation by the beach and pool
Yoga
A gentle hike along the mountainside, between the ancient villages of Tholaria and Lagada, featuring spectacular panoramic views
A guided tour of the 11th-century Hozoviotissa Monastery and the medieval mountain village of Chora
A Greek cooking class with staff from the hotel’s Agia Kali Restaurant
Oceanside ecstatic dance
Time for writing and contemplation
Guest lecture on contemporary Greek writing by renowned Greek author Rania Stone
Conversation, camaraderie, and connection with a warm circle of kindred spirits!
The Hozoviotissa Monastery
Our hotel from above
The village of Chora
What’s Included
Your retreat registration includes everything except transportation to and from Amorgos.
Six nights in a single or double room (your choice!) at the beautiful Lakki Village Hotel
All breakfasts and dinners at the onsite Agia Kali Restaurant
All writing workshops with Tanya, Kelly, and guest teacher Jonas Saul
All retreat activities and excursions, including the village hike, Monastery visit, Greek cooking class, one or two yoga sessions, oceanside ecstatic dance, and lecture by Greek author Rania Stone
Access to the Lakki Village Hotel pool, the Aegiali beach and the lush hotel gardens
Optional free tours of Athens from our partners, Imagine Greece Retreats, for those who choose to arrive in Athens a day or two early
Our partners at Imagine Greece Retreats will share detailed information on transportation to make your journey as seamless as possible. For those who choose to arrive early in Athens, our partners will suggest accommodations, and we can choose to travel together to Amorgos.
Bonus: Optional FREE Athens Tour October 3 & 4
For those who would like to arrive a day or two early in Athens to get acclimated, our hosts from Imagine Greece Retreats are offering a FREE two-day walking tour.
You are welcome to join for either or both days. For those who choose this option, we can all travel together by ferry to Amorgos on October 5 for the start of our retreat.
Sample itinerary for our pre-retreat Athens Adventure:
Friday, Oct. 3rd
Morning
Start the day with a group breakfast in Monastiraki, savoring traditional Greek dishes while taking in the lively atmosphere of this historic neighborhood.
Stroll along Ermou Street, Athens' vibrant shopping hub, and enjoy some leisurely browsing before making our way to the iconic Parliament Building.
Mid-Morning
Witness the Changing of the Guard at the Parliament Building—an unforgettable display of precision and tradition.
Take a relaxing walk through the lush National Gardens, where you can enjoy a refreshing beverage, admire the greenery, and spend a peaceful moment in nature.
Saturday, Oct. 4
Morning
Begin with a group breakfast in Monastiraki, soaking in the morning charm of the city.
10:00 a.m.
Embark on a guided tour of the Acropolis Museum, where history comes alive with its incredible artifacts and stories from ancient Athens.
Afternoon
Noon: Experience the grandeur of the Acropolis and Parthenon on a guided tour. Dive deep into the rich history and architecture of this iconic site.
3:00 p.m.: Enjoy free time to relax, explore, or shop in nearby Plaka or Monastiraki at your own pace.
Afternoon
Visit the Kallimarmaro Stadium, the world’s only stadium made entirely of white marble, and feel the history of the first modern Olympic Games.
Explore the grandeur of the Temple of Zeus, one of the most significant monuments of ancient Athens.
Stroll through the picturesque Zappeion Gardens and admire the elegant architecture of the Zappeion Hall.
We will end our tour in front of the Parliament Building, completing our circular route. From here, you can walk back along Ermou Street for more shopping or simply relax.
Evening
Wrap up the day with a group dinner at a fantastic Monastiraki restaurant, where we’ll indulge in delicious Greek cuisine and share stories from the day.
Evening
7:00 p.m.: Optional pre-dinner drinks at a chic location (details provided closer to the day).
8:00 p.m.: Gather for a delightful dinner at Hermion, a beloved restaurant known for its authentic Greek cuisine and warm atmosphere (and celebrate retreat leader Tanya Shaffer’s birthday!)
Get a good night’s rest to be ready to take the ferry to Amorgos at 10 am the next morning!
Your Creative Guides
Kelly Dwyer is the author of three novels, most recently Ghost Mother, published by Union Square & Co. in 2024, and numerous plays that have been produced nationally and internationally. A native Californian, Kelly was educated at Oberlin College (where she met Tanya!) and the Iowa Writers' Workshop, and now divides her time between Wisconsin and Los Angeles. She has taught at the University of Iowa Summer Writing Festival and in the University of Wisconsin system for many years, and also works as a developmental editor who loves to help her students and clients achieve success.
As a young adult, Kelly enjoyed visiting Greece, where she spent time in Athens and on the islands, and traced the Peloponnesian War in a rental car. She is very excited to be returning after many years for the Rejuvenate & Create Transformational Women's Writing Retreat!
“Kelly Dwyer’s weekend workshop was one of the most transformative creative experiences I’ve ever had. I’d been struggling with a writing project all year and this workshop gave me the tools and the encouragement to embrace it in a way that I never had.”
- Katilin Behan
Tanya Shaffer is an award-winning playwright and author of the travel memoir, Somebody’s Heart is Burning: A Woman Wanderer in Africa. Her plays have been produced Off-Broadway and by major regional theatres, and have toured to over forty cities in the US and Canada. Her work has appeared on Salon and in more than a dozen anthologies. She publishes the Substack Tanya Shaffer’s Off-Leash Chronicles, in which she writes on topics ranging from creativity to parenting to travel to spirituality.
For the past seven years, Tanya has worked with hundreds of writers through her Off-Leash Writing Workshops and Memoir & Fiction Workshops, and through private coaching and editing. Last year she realized her long-held dream of leading creative retreats in magical places by co-hosting her first Women’s Creativity Retreat on the Big Island of Hawaii. She can’t wait to join forces with Kelly to create an unforgettable retreat in Greece!
“Tanya is a wildly creative, deeply compassionate writer and human being. She is bold and courageous on the page and off, and is a solid guide for anyone wanting to go deeper into their own writing. I'm thrilled for anyone who gets to work with her.”
- Laurie Wagner
Our Partners
Jonas Saul and Rania Stone of Imagine Greece Retreats
What better partners for our writing retreat in Greece than a couple of writers—one Canadian, one Greek— who live in Greece and run a retreat business? For over a decade, authors Jonas Saul and Rania Stone have hosted writing retreats in Greece and helped others to create unforgettable retreat experiences.
Imagine Greece Retreats: Mission and Vision
Imagine Greece Retreats exists to bring people closer to Greece’s soul, offering immersive experiences that capture the beauty, warmth, and depth of Greek culture. We design retreats that blend creativity, relaxation, and wellness in breathtaking settings, especially Amorgos, with the aim of inspiring our guests to connect deeply with themselves and the world around them. By hosting events with renowned guest leaders and offering personalized planning for others, we create a gateway to transformative travel and unforgettable moments in Greece.
Jonas Saul has been writing professionally for over thirty years. The bestselling author of the Sarah Roberts Series, Jonas' nearly sixty books have sold over two million copies, some of which are currently in film development. A sought-after speaker, Jonas attends writing conferences, retreats, and film festivals as a guest speaker, teacher, and workshop presenter. At Imagine Greece Retreats, Jonas leads captivating tours, directs guest services, and ensures that each retreat exceeds expectations. Join Jonas and Imagine Greece Retreats, where every page and path tell a story of unparalleled excellence.
Rania Stone (Synodinou), Greek liaison and retreat coordinator for Imagine Greece Retreats, ensures a seamless experience for all retreat participants. A seasoned author with a passion for crafting thrillers packed with twists and deep psychgological elements, Rania is the author of six thrillers and twelve children's books. As the Greece Coordinator at Imagine Greece Retreats, Rania curates unforgettable literary experiences on the beautiful island of Amorgos.
“I just came back from a week on Amorgos... What a place, what a time! My partner and I were made so welcome by the Lakki Village staff, nothing was too much trouble. The location was excellent, the beach beautiful, and the meals superb. The organizers, Jonas Saul and Rania Stone, could not have been more generous...Can’t wait to return!”
- Chris (“CC”) Humphreys
Your Investment
Each room at the Hotel Lakki Village is air-conditioned, comfortable, and beautifully appointed.
(When you click through to the payment page, the prices will be in Euros, so the amount will be 200 less than what you see here. This adjustment was made to cover the conversion cost to dollars.)
Double Room
€2299
€2199
with code MAYMAGIC, available until May 23
Private Room
€2699
€2599
with code MAYMAGIC, available until May 23
FAQ
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This retreat is for all woman-identifying individuals who want to join us for a transformational week on Amorgos!
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Nope! This retreat is designed to be accessible for all experience levels. All you need is an open heart and mind and a willingness to go deep.
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Amorgos does not have an airport. Most people fly into Athens and take a ferry directly from there to Amorgos, a journey of approximately eight hours. This is a large ferry with restaurants, cafés, and observation decks, and even cabins with beds, so you can be very comfortable on the trip! Prices range from around $55 (general) to $125 (a private cabin all to yourself), depending on your preferences!
Our partners from Imagine Greece Retreats will give us detailed information on this, and we can opt to take the morning ferry together if desired.
Other options for getting to Amorgos include flying to Santorini or Naxos and taking a much shorter ferry ride from one of those places. It’s possible to fly directly to those islands from some U.S. cities, or to catch a connecting flight in Athens.
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Our hosts at Imagine Greece Retreats recommend arriving in Athens 2-3 days before the retreat begins. Not only will they recommend hotels and restaurants to us, they will give us FREE walking tours of Athens during those two days, including a visit to the Acropolis! (Please note that though the tours are free, there is a 30€ (about $30) fee to enter the Acropolis.
You can see the details of the Athens journey on our WeTravel retreat page here by scrolling down to “Pre-Retreat Tours.”
You’d also get to celebrate retreat co-leader Tanya’s birthday with her in Athens on Oct. 4!
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Yes! We offer two levels of add-ons if your spouse, partner or friend would like to accompany you, but would not like to participate in the retreat.
Male partners may share your room for an added cost of €949. This would include breakfasts and dinners. However, as this is a women’s retreat, they would not be included as part of our group table at meals and would not accompany us on excursions. You would of course be welcome to sit with your partner/spouse at any time.
Female companions can pay a rate of €1399, which would include the excursions as well as well as hotel room and meals.
To access either of these options, you would select a double room at registration, put in your contact information and click through until you see the add-ons page.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions!
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Your retreat fee covers your accommodations, all the organized retreat activities, and your breakfasts and dinners. You will also receive free transportation from the port in Amorgos to your hotel.
Aside from that, you can anticipate these costs:
There is a 10€ (approximately $10) per night hotel room tax that Greek law requires you to pay directly to the hotel. (A total of $60 for your stay).
Your transportation to Amorgos.
Your lunches.
Any additional gifts and souvenirs you wish to purchase.
Your hotel room and meals in Athens if you decide to arrive early.
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Yes! When you select your room type on the Imagine Greece WeTravel page here, a payment plan consisting of six installments (after the initial $200 deposit) pops up. You may also choose to pay in one lump sum if you prefer.
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Aside from the $200 deposit, your retreat cost is completely refundable until July 1. After July 1, we cannot guarantee any refund. If you learn after that date that you cannot attend, you are welcome to sell or give your spot to someone else. If we have a waiting list for the retreat, we will be happy to let the folks on the list know of the availability. If we are able to fill the spot, we can refund your money minus transaction fees.
Again, we cannot guarantee any refund after July 1. If you are concerned about your ability to attend, we recommend travel insurance.
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We recommend purchasing travel insurance in case of emergency - both for your retreat package and your airfare. You can find several travel insurance companies by searching “travel insurance.”
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Balmy! October is a perfect time to visit Greece. Our days will be sunny, with highs in the low to mid-seventies (Fahrenheit) and lows in the mid-sixties. The ocean will hold lingering warmth from the hot summer days, making it a great time for swimming as well.