TRUTH THRU ROSÉ-COLORED GLASSES
A Writing Retreat with Jamie Ford
Sept 17-23, 2027 • Chamonix, France
Fiction and memoir may live on different shelves, but they draw from the same well of memory, imagination, conflict, and emotional truth. In this generative workshop, we’ll explore the fertile ground between the two forms, using the tools of fiction to bring memoir to life and the honesty of memoir to give fiction greater depth.
Join Jamie Ford—who has also just sold his hybrid memoir, for a week of guided exercises, craft salons, and supportive group critiques. Together, we’ll discover how lived experience can be transformed into story without becoming trapped by fact, and how invented characters can carry deeply personal truths.
Whether you’re working on a novel, memoir, short stories, personal essays, or simply exploring what you want to write next, this workshop is designed to help you peel back the layers and reveal the emotional center of your work.
Meet Jamie
JAMIE FORD is the acclaimed author of Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, which spent two-and-a-half years on the New York Times bestseller list and won the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature. This multi-cultural tale has been optioned for film and stage, and is now read widely in hundreds of schools.
His other bestselling novels include Songs of Willow Frost, and more recently, The Many Daughters of Afong Moy, which was a Today Show Read with Jenna Selection.
His work has been translated into 35 languages.
On arrival, you'll be whisked away to this luxurious chalet in the heart of the French Alps
Delight in freshly prepared meals that capture the joie de vivre of the Haute-Savoie
To maximize your writing time, breakfasts and our chef-prepared lunches are grab and go. In the evening, our chef prepares exquisite sit-down dinners.
Activities during your retreat include a train ride to the Mer de Glace and optional walk to the ice cave (steep stairs). We’ll also enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.
In your spare time, enjoy a dip in the jacuzzi, hone your writing with breathtaking views of the Mont Blanc, or walk into Chamonix just a few minutes away on foot.
Accommodations
The chalet feature a total of ten bedrooms, most with a private, full bathroom. Two rooms can be shared with someone you know at a reduced rate.
Amenities include toiletries, blow dryer, washer/dryer, scent-free detergent, robe and plenty of towels.
YOUR RETREAT INCLUDES:
6 nights in an ensuite private room
freshly prepared French meals
15 hours of workshop instruction
one-hour private critique
scheduled dining out & activities
local transportation
on-site concierge services
Please note that alcohol is not included
$5950 enjoy a shared room with someone you know
$4500 bring a guest
“What a lovely experience from start to finish.
Everything was so well done for us with such consideration for each of us.”
– Mercilee Jenkins