This year’s writing retreat in Italy was among the best we’ve ever had. A great group assembled from the U.S., Australia, and Canada for work-filled week at a 17th century villa near Lucca, complete with an olive grove, vineyard, salt-water pool, and plenty of open space to wander around the stunning grounds. In the afternoons, we took the group on local excursions to a private castle in a Medieval village, the marble caves at Carrara (whence sprang Michelangelo’s David), and dinner on sea in Viarregio. Thanks so much to everyone who came.