This July, dream up your plot, take inspiration for your location and hone your characters on a new week-long creative writing retreat in Crete with Simpson Travel (www.simpsontravel.com  020 8003 6557), hosted by bestselling novelist Kate Mosse and creative writing guru Greg Mosse. 

With its extraordinary history, epic landscapes and unique culture, Crete has long been a source of inspiration for writers and artists and the location of this week-long course, the beautiful Arosmari Village Hotel, in the foothills of the White Mountains, is the ideal setting to liberate your imagination.  Taking place from 27 July – 3 August, the week provides the perfect antidote to lockdown and gives a chance to combine creativity with total relaxation for writers and non-writers alike.  The course costs £200 per person and is open to all abilities: both novice writers and those looking to complete or edit an established work-in-progress.  

Comprising creative workshops focusing on plots, characters, the importance of location, suspense and planning, the course runs over five morning sessions, with additional one-to-one tutorials to address specific concerns or interests.  There will be an introductory interview and drinks with Kate on the night before the first session, and on the final night, she will give a speech to close the week's activities, which will be followed by a classical music concert, dinner and farewell drinks. 

The peaceful Arosmari Village Hotel is set in the traditional village of Vamos in the foothills of the White Mountains. Ten beautifully refurbished 1 and 2-bedroom cottages make up the hotel; all ideal for couples, some suitable for those looking to travel with a writer friend or companion. Non-writing partners are encouraged to share the holiday experience and enjoy the idyllic location, relaxing in the hotel itself, with its lovely grounds or pool, or exploring the charming villages and golden beaches of western Crete and the cosmopolitan city of Chania, with its superb restaurants, colourful markets and spectacular Venetian harbour.

Prices for a week at Arosmari Village Hotel, departing 27th July, start from £1423 per person including flights, bed and breakfast accommodation and car hire. 

Course format:

Tues 27 July:      Welcome drinks, introductions and interview with Kate Mosse

Wed 28 July:       A creative workshop about crafting a convincing (and surprising) plot

Thurs 29 July:     Writing dynamic, evolving characters

Fri 30 July:          A varied, imaginative session about dramatic story locations

Sat 31 July:         A revealing workshop about suspense and why readers read on

Sun 1 August;      How to plan a novel, write a synopsis, a blurb and submission

Mon 2 August:     Closing speech with Kate Mosse, followed by a traditional music concert, dinner and farewell drinks.

For bookings, contact: Simpson Travel (www.simpsontravel.com  020 8003 6557) 

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For further media information, please contact:

Sarah Bolam on 07714 337756 or email sarahbolamcommunications@gmail.com or Anthea Yabsley – 0208 578 6777 or email anthea.yabsley@ideal-pr.co.uk

Notes to Editors

Simpson Travel:  Independently owned, Simpson Travel was established in 2002, yet its heritage predates this by many years. Founder Graham Simpson, a veteran of the travel industry, built up the highly successful Simply Travel in the 1970s with his Greek wife Yianna. From humble beginnings in a flat in Chiswick, it became one of the most respected independent travel companies of its time, renowned for offering authentic rather than 'packaged' holiday experiences, with carefully researched programmes, exceptional product knowledge and service. In Simpson Travel, he recreated the original ethos of Simply Travel, offering a very personal service, with individually-selected properties, exceptional local knowledge for each destination, a highly experienced team of staff and excellent representatives in resort. Clients booking with Simpson Travel can be safe in the knowledge that their holiday has been created with their needs in mind and each property matched to their individual tastes and requirements. They can also rest assured that they will be really well looked after by the excellent representatives on hand in each resort.

About Kate Mosse: Kate is the bestselling author of nine novels & short story collections, including Labyrinth, Sepulchre, Citadel, The Winter Ghosts, The Taxidermist's Daughter, The Burning Chambers and The City of Tears. Her books have been translated into 38 languages and published in more than 40 countries. She has also written three works of non-fiction, four plays and contributed essays and introductions to classic novels and collections.

 A champion of women's creativity, Kate is the Founder Director of the Women's Prize for Fiction, the Founder of the global Women in History campaign and in 2013 was awarded an OBE for her services to literature and women. She is a regular guest on arts shows for radio and television and interviews writers, directors, campaigners and actors at literary and theatre festivals in the UK and beyond. She is a Professor of Creative Writing & Contemporary Fiction at the University of Chichester and in 2019 was awarded a Fellowship at the Writer's House in Amsterdam. 

About Greg Mosse: Greg is a 'writer and encourager of writers', Founder of the Criterion New Writing script development program in London's West End. Previously, he ran the Southbank Centre Creative Writing School in London - an open access program of evening classes, delivering MA level workshops to all. He also created and taught the MA Creative Writing programme for the University of Sussex at West Dean College. He has delivered extremely successful workshops for Guardian Masterclasses, Edinburgh Book Festival, Cheltenham Festival, Chichester Festival Theatre and many others.

 Greg's extensive experience as a teacher of creative writing is matched by his understanding of the world of publishing, where he has worked as an editor and story development consultant for nearly two decades. He also works regularly on creative adaptations for screen and radio.