Personalized Writing Retreat
in Southern France
Solitude supported by a team who know how to nurture the creative process.
… Hand-made food delivered to your desk.
… Blank walls for your projects.
… Fields, forests, mountains, and stars for contemplation.
… Precious little distraction beyond the village farmers market.
… Expert consultation to get unstuck, reorganized, or witnessed.
We take care of you so you can get the writing done.
Hosts Amory + Daniel have created a warm, welcoming and joyous atmosphere. The flexibility of the retreat allowed me to follow my own creative rhythms.
Shared meals were a highlight, featuring insanely delicious local cuisine and lively conversations. They could also cater to my gluten-free diet, and still, everything was divine!
Despite the retreat being self-directed, there was no shortage of support and resources. There were optional activities like yoga, meditation, and going to a local farmers’ market, etc… The choose-your-own-adventure style was ideal.
I left feeling rejuvenated and deeply inspired. I highly recommend it to any writer seeking a tranquil and supportive environment. It truly was a magical experience, surpassing all my expectations.
The setting, combined with the warmth and care of the hosts, made it an unforgettable journey into creativity and connection.
This retreat was a tremendous value for what I paid. The countryside is exquisite, and most days I took walks to clear my head and think. You are really out in the country - lots of birdsong, everything blooming, and fresh foods at the markets. Amory is a great companion, smart, warm-hearted, and friendly. There are so many great results from this retreat. Amory was just the perfect mix of having knowledge and interest in my project, and knowing when to push me just a little, when to leave me along, and when to ask what I needed.
Amory is an insanely talented cook, and I can not describe how healthy and delicious the food was. I am not used to being "taken care of," but she did it gracefully. She cooked the kind of food I wanted, she served it whenever I wanted, and in the evenings, I had the choice of eating by myself, with her, or with her and the French friends who also live in the house. I ended up eating dinners with everyone most nights, and I got to learn more French and have a fun evening. All in all, this was the perfect retreat for me.
Amory is dedicated to ensuring your ability to accomplish your goals - from changing out my desk to one that was more suitable to my needs to ensuring I got the afternoon treats I needed to stay motivated!
She is an incredible cook and prepares delicious meals with so much love! When you are deep in writing it's a grounding experience to step out to a fabulous meal in a lovely setting.
She is willing to engage with you whatever your needs are - I enjoyed discussing the day's accomplishments over dinner and she provided astute feedback and helpful suggestions.
This is a retreat like none other - suited for the independent-minded who want to formulate a retreat for their specific needs.
I really needed to get far away from my daily list of responsibilities.
Wow. Where do I start?
First, I completed in seven days what I had been struggling to get through for seven months. My book is nearly ready to submit now. On the eighth day, I contemplated my next book.
I ate a ton of excellent cheeses. Plus, crepes, local breads and jams, and a lot of other wonderful food/dishes from local farmers. As a farmer myself, I LOVED visiting markets with Amory. Her cooking (and Daniel's) is also fabulous.
Amory's feedback, when I asked her to read three of the essays from the book, had insight, depth and clarity--and came from a different perspective than some of my previous readers, which was great.
Amory was a perfect host, cook, and insightful confidante, truly interested and capable of assisting me with my needs. I especially loved the scenery and great walks, Amory's care, and the great food experience (highly recommended).
The house was charming and perfect.
Amory’s approach to coaching works well. As I’m at an early phase of my project, I asked for and received some invaluable, expert tips to improve both the structure and creativity of my work.
I can only echo the positive reviews regarding the creature comforts of the Domaine Valent. The beautiful, clean air countryside location and grounds are as peaceful as it gets, yet without feeling remote. I stayed in the ground floor Salon Noir which is attractively furnished with a good desk, excellent chair and comfy large bed.
Amory’s devotion to preparing only locally sourced delicious meat, cheeses, bread, fruit and vegetables is infectious. After spending a morning’s welcome break, shopping with her at a wonderful farmers market, I am converted to her food philosophy! If only I were young enough to join her and Roberto in learning Argentinian Tango – who knows, maybe next year? THANK YOU, Amory and the Domaine Valent team.
The grand villa has a faded elegance and the minimalist décor throughout was delightfully worn and homely – beautiful to look at, but not so perfect you don’t want to use it! Ask Amory what she enjoys cooking and allow yourself a culinary adventure, I tried many new dishes, and they were all delicious.
The white walls in my room offered unrestricted spatial arrangement of sticky notes as my ideas unfolded. Inspiration came easily by wandering around the grounds to view the distant mountains of the Pyrenees, it’s a spectacular location.
Amory has created a winning formula for helping others to initiate and follow their flow state of creativity. She does this through a mixture of encouragement, taking care of any practical needs, responding seamlessly to guest’s varying rhythms for socialising or solitude, she listens intently and offers thoughtful provocations, always in service of you and with non-judgement.
My whole experience was life-enriching in ways I did not anticipate, and I have left feeling more connected to my true nature and excited about my renewed creativity. Don’t hesitate, book your stay and experience it for yourself.
Lilhac
25m2 East View-
No charge for arrival
and departure days -
Additional Days €155
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Double Occupancy +€550
Mondilhan
17m2 South View-
No charge for arrival
and departure days -
Additional days €141
Salon Noir
20m2 East View Ground Floor-
No charge for arrival
and departure days -
Additional Days €155
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Room and bathroom on ground floor
for writers who can't use the stairs
Aurignac
25m2 East/South View-
No charge for arrival
and departure days -
Additional Days €170
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Double Occupancy +€550
- a 7 day retreat is 7 full days with no charge for arrival or departure days.
- all meals and snacks
- personalized schedule, space, and services
- infinite coaching/feedback on demand
- visits to local farmers markets
- yoga and meditation on request
- swimming pool (May-September)
Every writer has different needs. Our retreat is personalized to support maximum focus and creativity for your writing. We assemble your optimal workspace. We are available for structured and/or spontaneous coaching and feedback.
We serve hand-made local food from farms, personalized to your preferences, when you are hungry.
Each day, you tell us when you’re hungry and where you want to eat: at your desk, in the dining room, in the sun on the terrace, or chatting in the kitchen.
Recent feedback on Amory’s coaching: “depth and clarity”, “poignant and profound”.
We speak English and French.
Effective writers have regular home practices. The retreat amplifies your capacities :
- Removal of distractions, tasks, obligations, allowing you to reach depth and focus and stay there. We cook for you, bring the food to you, and do your laundry.
- Team, space, service, and practices devoted to the creative process.
- An environment designed for contemplation, to have time and space to explore the points that are stuck or complex.
- Coaching when you want to talk through an argument or structure.
Every room has an antique desk with a comfortable office chair, as well as a reading chair. The walls are blank to receive your ideas and maps. There are other indoor and outdoor spaces available to guests for writing.
We have fibre internet and wifi, but you don’t have to connect to it.
The Villa is a spacious 1859 house. The guest rooms are large with hardwood floors, comfortable beds, and minimalist antique decor.
The Domaine is 5 acres of forest, orchard, meadows, gardens, and swimming pool.
We can host a maximum of 7 writers at a time, but usually just two or three are here.
Guests share attractive bathrooms. We have walk-in showers and a bathtub.
Domaine Valent is located in the countryside of the Occitanie, one hour west of Toulouse Blagnac Airport in Southern France.
The district is composed of small farms and villages. The landscape is tranquil. We are 10 minutes from village that offer weekly farmers markets, supermarkets, wine shops, pharmacies, post office, and tobacco stores. There are many other beautiful villages to visit.
Amory Violet is currently writing her eighth non-fiction book.
As a professor, she published three academic books. Since her retirement she has continued to research and write non-fiction in a more accessible and poetic style. She also writes several blogs.
She is now an artist and entrepreneur, so she continues to study creativity, productivity, and marketing, and provides coaching on all of these.
Here are her books, with excerpts.
Here’s a selection of blog posts:
- Vocation
- Publishing in the 2020s…
- Suffering is not the price of Cooking
Daniel Adrenaline is an extreme actor, stuntman and performer.
He is one of the pioneers of the discipline of Parkour which he helped to develop and make known throughout the world with his Team Adrenaline. Daniel also practices gymnastics, acrobatics, stunts, break-dancing, karate, wing chung, French boxing and capoeira.
In the cinema, he performed with Morgan Freeman, Liam Neeson, Leonardo DiCaprio, Ellen Page, Vincent Cassel, Marion Cotillard, Emmanuelle Beart, Vincent Perez… He also worked as a first assistant director and production assistant. In his own productions, he is director, fight choreographer and stunt coordinator.
His live performances include acrobatic fights and stunts for parties, award ceremonies, festivals…as well as choreography and stage management.
He brings commitment, agility, humor and a high level of professionalism and athleticism to all his work.
Many people dream to perform an action scene like their film heros. Daniel teaches amateurs the techniques of professional stuntmen. While you are here, he can film an action scene for you to take home and share.
Daniel provides coaching for our screenwriters and fiction writers in the genres of horror, thriller, or action.
We buy almost everything direct from local farmers and French organic food shops. We do not use any industrial ingredients.
We love cheese and will introduce you to the local and regional cheese culture.
Our cooking style is Nouvelle Cuisine, interpreted through California and returned home to France. This means a focus on seasonal and regional ingredients prepared simply.
We prepare your meals personally for you and by hand, so we can accommodate dietary regimes and preferences
The region has wonderful farmers markets which we would love to show to you.
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Yoga free
Daily class at a time to suit your schedule.
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Meditation free
on request
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Gym Workouts € 35 / session
with licensed Fitness Coach
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Private Argentine Tango lessons € 75 / hour
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You as an action hero in a film clip € 125
training and production by a professional stuntman
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Massage by mobile masseuse, Richard Vente € 70
https://www.viedia2020.com/
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Equestrianism variable
To commit to your project, choose one of the booking options above. If you want fewer days or other changes, you’ll have a chance to note this on the registration details form after paying. We will make a custom invoice later reflecting any changes you make.
If your plans change
You may cancel 3 weeks before your arrival for 90% refund.
You may cancel up to 3 days before your arrival for 50% refund.
In the case of cancellations, 50% of the amount not refunded may be applied to a future booking.
Arrival
The nearest large city is Toulouse. We are located 1 hour west of airport TLS Blagnac.
Taxis to/from the airport cost €120. We have drivers who provide this service for €70. There are surchanges for latenight or early morning trips and for delays that cause the driver to wait.
How to come to us by public transportation
From the airport TLS, take a taxi or the €9 shuttle to the main train station. The shuttle runs every 20 minutes and takes 22 minutes. Adjoining Matabiau train station is the bus station, Gare Routière, where you will find Bus 365 that brings you for €2 to the stop Montbernard-La Vierge, just 1 km from the Villa. We pick you up from there.
If you are travelling by train you may be able to book all the way to Boussens. There is a small fee for pickup at Boussens.
Changes
We offer a custom program and as much coaching as you want. We are flexible about the time you eat, what you want to eat, where you work, and when you want to talk. Constant adjustment to all of this is included in the price.
Changes to arrival and departure days involve a cascade of logistics. You may change your arrival or departure date one time for free. After that, changes will incur a fee of €50.
Feel Free to ask any Question
