Your Tutor

Una McCormack is a New York Times bestselling author of science fiction. She has written over a dozen SF novels, as well as numerous short stories and audio dramas. She has more than a decade’s experience of teaching creative writing, and in 2017 she was a judge for the prestigious Arthur C. Clarke Award for the Best SF Novel published in the UK.

Your Hosts

David and Michèle Lambert have run writing retreats for 14 years at their house Le Verger. David has a Masters in Creative Writing from UEA and was a lecturer in Creative Writing at Anglia Ruskin University. His novel The House in Bacolet is due out with Peepal Tree Press in 2025. We’re committed to making sure you eat well, sleep well, get inspired and and write lots during your retreat!

Your Retreat

This retreat is for writers of speculative fiction (science fiction and fantasy), giving you the time and space you need to write in conducive surroundings. 

Everyone writes to a different schedule, so we leave this to you. However, we recommend you to come to Le Verger with a firm idea of what you will be working on (e.g. a short story, a chapter of a novel, an outline), so that you can get to work immediately and have a productive stay. 

Feedback on your writing

Your tutor is on hand to read material and provide one-to-one sessions focusing on improving your technique and helping you clarify your goals for your writing. She can also help you determine your plans for the week in advance of coming to Le Verger.

When you are not writing

You are in Dordogne, a glorious part of South-West France! Feel free to sit in our gardens or take yourself off on well-signposted walks to Le Puy des Ages (2 km), the château-forge of Savignac-Lédrier (1.5 km)or stroll to the local village bar (1.5km).  

Accommodation

You’ll be accommodated in your own simple but comfortable room with a desk and lamp in the main house sharing a bathroom usually with one other writer. ‘The Piggery’, a separate gite in the grounds, is suitable for two (or more) writers: it has a large open mezzanine space upstairs (4m x 6m) with further accommodation below (5m x 6m) separated by curtains. There is wifi in all the accommodation. Two Writer’s Cabins (3 x 3.5m and 3 x 3 m) each provide simple but comfortable individual accommodation (occupant uses main house downstairs bathroom). There’s also a glamping option – a tent ( 3m x 3 m) you can stand up in with a single bed, a lamp, a chair, hanging space, (occupants use main house bathrooms). Subject to availability, writers may have their own room or share accommodation in the main house with another writer, or an accompanying non-writing partner (contact us for rates).

*While we do our best to satisfy your accommodation request, please note that in the event that this is not possible, you will be offered the alternative at the advertised price.

Meals

Breakfast is on a help yourself basis and can be from as early (or late) as you require it. A buffet lunch will be laid out in the kitchen from 12.30-1.30. Tea- and coffee-making facilities are available whenever you require. A sit-down dinner with wine is served from 7.30pm and we encourage all writers to join the group for this (let us know on the Booking Form of dietary needs or other intolerances). Retreaters take turns after one evening meal to help clear away.

Getting there

The course fee includes transfers between Limoges and Le Verger (80km). It is important you are all on the same outward and return Ryanair flight to Limoges to facilitate this. NB. Wait for us to let you know when you can go ahead and book your flight or train.

Travelers by train can be picked up / dropped off at Limoges-Benedictins at a time which coincides within an hour or so with airport collection/drop offs.

If you can’t make the group transfer, a local taxi to Le Verger will charge around 120-160 euros. We will do our best to pick up separate travelers and charge 80 euros.

In the unlikely event of a Ryanair flight rerouting to more distant Poitiers or Bergerac airport, an adjusted pick up /drop off charge will be applied.

What to bring

We recommend you travel light ( we provide a towel and a hair drier) as luggage space in the transfer cars is limited. A warm jumper is recommended in all seasons – at the highest point in the Dordogne (410 m), even hot days can have cool evenings.

Please ensure you bring the dietary essentials you need. We provide vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and soya alternatives.

The nearest pharmacie is 7 km away (and costly) and French supermarkets cannot sell even aspirin so please bring supplies of any personal medication you know you’ll need (travel sickness, hayfever). We recommend you bring an effective anti-tick preparation as there have been reports of ticks in the region. Rose Geranium (pelargonium graveolens) essential oil, or anything with 30% deet is effective. Recently there has been the odd mosquito at night so a repellant is recommended.

Please bring your own European plug adapter.