France

"I believe that this great peaceful region of France will be a sacred spot for man and when the cities have killed off the poets this will be the refuge and the cradle of poets to come. France will someday exist no more but the Dordogne will live on just as dreams live on and nourish the souls of Men". Henry Miller, "The Colossus Meroussi"

Abroad Writers' Conference is proud to announce that in June 2008 we will have our conference in the French Provence in the Pay de Fayence. We will be be having our conference in the hilltop village,Seillans. This lovely medieval village is a small "ville perché" (perched hill-top village) that overlook the plain between the southern Alps and the Esterel, which borders the sea between Cannes and Saint Raphael. it has been recognized as "one of the prettiest villages of France”. It is in the pays de Fayence in the Var department in SE France.

Seillans is an ancient village dating to 500 B.C. It lies nestled back against the base of a forested mountain, looking out to the south across lower valleys. The village stretches up through narrow, cobblestone streets that pass between ancient buildings and other lovely squares to eventually reach the 12th century Saint Léger church at the top. In between are small, shaded squares and fountains. The village and area has always been popular particularly with artists (painter-sculptor Max Ernst lived his last ten years in this village). Princess Diana and Fergy vacationed here in July 1996. David and Victoria Beckham own a villa in the neighbouring village of Bargemon.

Seillans is a village of artists, and it was the home of artists Max Ernst, Dorothea Manning, Robert Doisneau and many others. The foundations are Roman and there is still evidence of building from the beginning of the second millennium. The chateau and church are in the centre of the village, which harbours an exquisite square under a natural dome of plane trees. At the top of the village there is an extensive open 'place' which is the local arena for the national sport of 'boules', and where there are frequent art markets in summer. Picturesque narrow cobbled paths lead down through the village past artists' shops and galleries. The village is also a destination for gastronomes.

Fayence is one of a series of "perched villages" overlooking the plain between the southern Alps and the Esterel massif, which borders the sea between Cannes and Saint-Raphaël. Fayence is a charming old Provençal village. Fayence was a fortified town and, in spite of its size, it has kept the charm of its medieval origins.

The lovely village of Montauroux is small and charming, with narrow streets. The village center has numerous shops and terrace cafés, and the main square (Place du Clos) is a good place for some local shopping and relaxing. The village "lavoir" is nicely refurbished, located directly beneath the Place du Clos. The road into the village passes directly in front of the lavoir before the final hairpin into the center. The ancient village church is located at the top of this hilltop village and sometimes in the evenings concerts are performed.

Montauroux claims 300 sunny days a year. When the sun is shining, even in winter, the sidewalk cafes, are warm enough for midday lunch outside. However, the nighttime temperatures may drop and some warm clothing is necessary

National Book Award finalist--DAN CHAON* Booker Finalist--MICHELLE ROBERTS, Booker Judge: RUSSELL CELYN JONES*, Nebula and Hugo Award Winner: MICHAEL BISHOP*, Best selling authors: ANNE LECLAIR*, GARY FERGUSON, SUSAN VREELAND, REBECCA WALKER*. Editors: KRISTA MADSEN & STEPHANIE STAAL. Additional authors to be announced shortly. *Workshop instructors. We will have two daily workshops, one with an award winning author and the second with a group instructor. Workshop: Fiction, Non-Fiction, Memoir, Science Fiction, Screenwriting, Poetry and a beginning writing class Our group instructors are University instructors with MFA's in Creative Writing, with well-received published books and strong teaching backgrounds: Sheila Bender, Marcy Dermansky, Edan Lepucki, Krista Madsen and Stephanie Staal. (authors and instructors may change due to unforeseen events).
DAILY SCHEDULE

City plan of Montauroux.

If there is one region that can truly be said to be privileged, without exaggerating, it is the Provence-Côte d'Azur region. Situated approximately one hour by plane from most of the major European metropolises, it is both at the heart of the world and... the end of the world. Cannes, Nice, Saint-Raphaël and the entire Riviera, with its beaches, casinos, museums, luxury goods shops and top restaurants, which combine to make The Côte d'Azur one of the most vibrant and elegant places in the world, are all less than an hour's drive away, yet as if by magic, its hinterland has managed to remain an unspoilt secret, where exuberant nature is in full bloom. The pine forests give way to forests of oak trees; the crimson and white rockroses adorning the garrigue give way to scented, buzzing fields of lavender.

The painters' route, recalls Matisse, Cézanne and so many others who so memorably captured the unique light of these landscapes. The craftsmen's route, for its part, will introduce you to earthenware from Moustier, glassware from Biot, perfumes from Grasse and pottery from Vallauris. Other tours to enjoy include visiting the numerous "perched villages" dotted around the Fayence district: Montauroux, which towers over the entire valley, Seillans, with its paved alleyways and fountains, Mons, perched on a rocky outcrop, and many more.

Transportation

The closest airport is Nice. From Nice, if you're interested, we will try to arrange a taxi or mini bus to take you to Siellans for an added fee. We highly recommend you rent a car because transportation is not always available. Please make your arrangements to rent a car in the States because it's a lot cheaper. Also, we'll try to find others who will be interested in sharing a car with you.

Sports

If you like sport, there's no shortage of activities, starting with walks along the thousand or so kilometres of local footpaths. The region has around twenty golf courses, notably the two magnificent courses at Tourrettes, just down the road from Fayence. Less than ten kilometres away, the lake of Saint Cassien, rich in pike, is a paradise for fly-fishermen. The coast is not far away either, with its golden sandy beaches and over forty marinas. There's sport too, with the international gliding centre at Fayence....

Price includes:

Lectures and Readings which will begin on June 15th, 2 (six day workshops), 3 private consultations--2 with your instructors and 1 with an agent, 14 days of lodging, 10 dinners. We will also supply your house with breakfast supplies for the first morning.