Winter (at home) Writing Retreat.

And one in Sicily, too. Also, help me rename this newsletter.

Hi friends,

A quick update because there is a lot going on and I could talk forever about it all. But really what I want to do right now is just practice being in a very rooted, grounded place to listen. I keep telling my friends: I am here. I am resourced emotionally and psychically for whatever reason— next week maybe not. But this week. Come to me if you need a solid land to fall apart on.

Because I am feeling resourced I am scheduling community calls left and right.

Winter Writing Retreat — at home and cozy, together.

And I wanted to let you all know that on:

2/23/25 — from noon-2pm eastern time.

I will be holding a writing retreat container for all my paid subscribers. This is going to be a simple space to write with support. I am not going to be teaching anything. There will be conversation, sharing, and writing. There is no theme unless ya’ll want some. There is nothing besides the company of being together with other writers, some inspiring conversation and maybe some prompts— I love prompts. Maybe someone needs a tarot card pull to help out with something. It’s a space for us to be, and create. Together. If you are interested — and feeling like you need some community writing support — mark it on your calendars and also and get yourself on my paid subscription list.

A few days before 2/23 I will send out a post to you all with all you need — link, etc.

It’s amazing what can happen with the energy of a bunch of writers just hanging out getting the words down together.

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NEXT thing:

I am about to do a convo/podcast series with just me, myself and I. Someone recently emailed me and asked me a whole bunch of questions about how I got started with my “work” in the world, particularly how I began bringing myself back to Sicily to do reconnection work. So I am going to answer those questions - but not just to him. Because I think the journey is pretty amazing and also may be useful and inspirational for anyone out there. So stay tuned for that. Not sure if it will be behind a paywall or not. So… if you have any questions about my reconnection work, writing in Sicily, or anything about how I got to be in this place in my life — put them in the comments below and I will tend to them.

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And THEN:

Just by chance if you want to write with me in Sicily — I am co-holding a writing immersion with the incredible writer/poet Lisa Marie Basile.

We will be holding 6 days of a writing deep dive within the city of Palermo, Sicily. You can read more about it here, but wow, it’s going to be fucking incredible. The city is so layered, and so are we, it’s a perfect places to write the stories under the stories— of life, death and pleasure. And we got you with support— food, drink, simple somatic rituals and all the things we need to stay in the body in such a super stimulating (and sensual) place to be. We are calling it a poetic immersion — but I don’t write poetry and you don’t have to either. It’s being the poetics of life — and writing however we all want, desire, lust for, must do. Come to the sexiest, briniest, most delicious city layered with stories, if you want to make art, it’s an incredible place to be and we (Lisa and myself) know the city like it’s imprinted with our marrow. For lifetimes, actually.

(paid subscribers who want to go will indeed get a discount)

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And FINALLY:

I want to change the name of this newsletter. Help.

Since I just moved into a home that used to be a home for 9 nuns devoted to Saint Anne, I want to maybe get creative with that. For any of you that have been following me for a while and have and thoughts — please put them in the comments!

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I LOVE YOU ALL.

MaryBeth

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