PRESS RELEASE
April 2, 2019
LAUNCH OF LUXURY WRITERS’ RETREAT PROMISES CREATIVE
INSPIRATION UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN
Award-winning writer and co-founder of the London Short Story Festival Paul
McVeigh, along with bestselling novelist and ghost-writer Brian Finnegan, will help
aspiring writers free their words at a luxurious writers’ retreat in Tuscany from 7-14
September, 2019.
Brainchild of Brian Finnegan, the inaugural Free With Words Retreat involves a
week-long stay in the blissful Tuscan setting of a 17th-century villa on a Chianti hill
with panoramic views.
“The outstanding location provides the perfect backdrop for a time of creative
inspiration, serene relaxation, writing time, and dining with the best of fresh, local
Italian food,” says Finnegan. “Daily workshops with a world-renowned tutor, one-to-
one feedback, and inspirational after-dinner salons with like-minded creatives will
also form part of the experience.
“Time away from our day-to-day lives is often what most aspiring writers are lacking,
and both myself and Paul know from personal experience the creative strides that can
come from a week devoted to this creative pursuit in the right setting. Free With
Words, a boutique package tailored to individual needs, seeks to deliver just that.”
Says lead tutor Paul McVeigh:
“Because we know a relaxed writer is a better writer, at Free With Words we don’t
believe in pressure. Our passion and focus is to provide the perfect environment and
support to help writers do their very best writing and to move forward in their lives
with more confidence in their writing projects and abilities. Attendees can choose to
attend each part of the retreat, or they can use their time to simply write, relax by the
pool, or explore the stunning region.”
The retreat will also feature a workshop with a top industry professional on editing
your work, and how best to get that much sought after publishing deal.
About Lead Tutor, Paul McVeigh
The Good Son, Paul’s debut novel, won The Polari Prize and The McCrea Literary
Award. It was shortlisted for The Authors’ Club Best First Novel Award and the Prix
du Roman Cezam in France and was a finalist for The People’s Book Prize. The Good
Son was chosen as one of Brighton’s City Reads 2016 and was given out as part of
World Book Night 2017. Alongside The Good Son, Paul has written comedy, essays,
flash fiction, plays and short stories. His work has been performed on stage and radio.
Paul has taught creative writing and read his work in Australia, Austria, Germany,
Indonesia, Ireland, Malaysia, Mexico, Poland, Singapore, Switzerland and Turkey. In
the UK he’s taught at The Barbican Centre, The British Library, Hampstead Theatre,
Tricycle Theatre, Waterstones Piccadilly and at universities in Brighton, London and
Swansea. He judges international literary prizes including, in 2018, The Edge Hill
Short Story Prize, The Seán Ó Faoláin International Short Story Prize and The
International Dylan Thomas Prize. He reviews for The Irish Times where he also
interviews authors. These have included Garth Greenwell and George Saunders.
Paul co-founded The London Short Story Festival, of which he was Director and
Curator for 2014 and 2015. He is Associate Director at Word Factory, which
according to The Guardian is "the UK’s national organisation for excellence in the
short story." Paul’s blog for writers gets 40,000 hits a month and has had over two
million visitors.
About Facilitator, Brian Finnegan
Brian is a Dublin-based author, journalist, ghost-writer and editor. His debut novel,
The Forced Redundancy Film Club, was a published in 2012, while his follow-up,
Knowing Me Knowing You, was released to critical acclaim in 2014.
Brian is one of Ireland's foremost ghost-writers, the name behind some several
bestselling autobiographies for Irish and international celebrities. He has also has
taught ‘Writing Commercial Fiction’ workshops at the Big Smoke Writing Factory in
Dublin.
Brian has a passion for working with other writers to help free their creative flow and
has helped several authors to bring their books to publication. He combines a keen
understanding of structure, character and plot with know-how on keeping readers
turning those pages.
Whatever your experience, or whatever way you approach our retreat, we aim to help
you free your creative self. You’ll leave this uniquely nurturing experience renewed,
invigorated, and ready for the next part of your writing life.
To find out more, visit www.freewithwords.com, email info@freewithwords.com or
call Brian Finnegan at +353 86 835 3775
