2025 Norway Memoir Retreat
Accelerate your memoir writing journey when you join me, acclaimed memoir mentor Marnie Summerfield Smith, amid the breathtaking landscapes of Eigerøya.
From August 31 to September 6, 2025, escape to a serene Norwegian island for five extraordinary days of writing workshops, one-to-one sessions, personal writing time and Nordic luxury.
Hayley - memoir retreat attendee 2024
It's been part of my rebirth! Thank you for your fantastic wisdom and guidance, Marnie – forever grateful to you.
Becky - memoir retreat attendee 2023
Marnie, you continue to make me believe I can do this, that I am good at it, and that what I have to say is important.
Your Journey Begins Here
Limited to just 10 participants, this exclusive retreat offers the perfect blend of focused writing time and expert guidance, tailored to where you're at with your memoir project. Our hosts are Natalia, a writer, and her husband, Trond. Experienced retreat hosts, they'll feed us beautiful organic food - much of it grown in their garden, with dietary requirements heeded. They'll also take us on three wonderful excursions. After all, Eigerøya is known for its stunning landscapes and you wouldn't want to travel all that way and not bask in its beauty! We'll stay in private bedrooms on Natalia and Trond's coastal property and there will be gentle, restorative yoga sessions with a professional yoga instructor on offer. These are completely optional and are simply a way to unwind your writer's body with all props including mats and blankets provided, to save you packing them.
What's Included:
- Email conversation with me before the retreat, so that I know where you're at in your memoir writing journey
- The option to have me read 10,000 words of your material in advance
- Workshops on the craft of memoir writing. These are personalised as to who is attending and I am happy to hear workshop suggestions in advance
- At least one hour-long one-to-one session with me, so that we can dig deep into your memoir and the challenges you're facing
- Plenty of private writing time in various private or group locations on the property. You can even write on the nearby beach if you wish!
- A post-retreat Zoom call to ensure your motivation and progress continues
- Comfortable private accommodation in our luxurious retreat setting
- All meals and snacks, featuring local delicacies and fresh produce from our hosts' gardens. Dietary requirements catered for.
- Transfers from Stavanger airport
- Optional yoga sessions - no pressure!
- Three guided excursions to charming Egersund, full of narrow streets and traditional wooden houses, a six-course feast celebrating the region's finest local cuisine and a trip to the enchanting village of Sogndalstrand to see the fjords that have inspired artists for generations.
- A supportive community of fellow memoirists
- A session with Natalia, a multilingual poet published across Europe
Your retreat experience begins on Sunday, August 31st, with a warm welcome dinner where you'll meet your fellow memoirists and settle into the gentle rhythm of island life.
Over the next five days, you'll immerse yourself in your writing with personal writing time, workshops and one-to-one sessions. The week reaches a beautiful crescendo on Friday evening with an optional but intimate reading event at a local café, where those who wish to can share excerpts from their work in a supportive atmosphere that celebrates each writer's unique voice and journey.
After a final night, enjoy a farewell breakfast on Saturday, September 6th, before departing with your story further unfurled, new friendships formed, and your creative spirit rejuvenated by this extraordinary Norwegian
adventure.
Marian - memoir retreat attendee 2020
There were so many good things about this retreat! I loved the total isolation from the world where all the ordinary things of daily life were put on hold. No work, cooking, washing, school pick-ups or involvement in the dramas of others lives. This “away time” was such a gift and gave me space to order my thoughts and see where the writing was going. Marnie’s helpful talks and personal coaching was amazing. She seems to know what you’re going to think before you do yourself. Sharing with the other memoirists was invaluable too. Some were just beginning, others were near the end, but all had something to contribute and something to learn. A warm, encouraging experience that’ll stay with me. Marnie is truly a treasure.
Expert Guidance from a Master Mentor
With over 17 years of experience in memoir writing, Marnie Summerfield Smith brings her wealth of knowledge and passionate approach to this intimate retreat. Having mentored and edited more than 300 memoirists worldwide, Marnie's gentle and insightful guidance has helped countless writers bring their stories to life. Her approach combines technical expertise with deep empathy, creating a safe and encouraging environment.
Whether you're taking your first steps into memoir writing or have already filled countless pages with your story, this retreat offers a nurturing space for writers at every stage of their journey. Marnie's approach is beautifully adaptable: "Wherever you are on the memoir writing journey, I will meet you and guide you to where you want to be."
Your experience begins before you even arrive in Norway, with a personal email consultation that allows Marnie to tailor the retreat's content to participants' specific needs and aspirations. The support continues long after you leave the inspiring shores of Eigerøya too, with an included post-retreat individual Zoom session designed to maintain your writing momentum and ensure your story continues to flourish. For those seeking additional guidance, Marnie remains available for ongoing mentorship, creating a bridge between the transformative retreat experience and your continued growth as a memoirist.
Frances - memoir retreat attendee 2020
Those four days on the memoir writing retreat with Marnie were unforgettable, deeply enjoyable and like a ‘time out of time’. It was so valuable to meet and share with other memoirists in supportive and comfortable surroundings. Marnie ensured we all had personal time with her.
If you are serious about writing your memoir, I recommend taking an enjoyable break and a fresh look at your work on a retreat with Marnie.
Special Guest: Professor Natalia Kucirkova/Eleni Cay
Enhance your creative journey with insights from our accomplished host Natalia, who writes poetry as Eleni Cay. A multilingual poet published across Europe, Eleni brings a unique perspective on creative expression through her expertise in video poetry and multimedia storytelling. Widely published in academia, and writing in English, Slovak, French, Norwegian and Spanish. Her award-winning first collection ‘A Butterfly's Trembling in the Digital Age’ was published by Cakanka in Slovakia, Parthian Books in the UK and Hein Verlag in Germany. Her poems appeared in many journals, including Acumen, Atticus Review, The Cardiff Review, Glasgow Review of Books, Envoi or Poetry Ireland Review. Eleni is known for her filmpoems, dancepoems and multimedia poetry, which have been screened at international festivals and featured on Button Poetry. Eleni’s debut novel ‘The Love Virus’ was published in spring 2020. In 2021, Poetry Space published Eleni’s chapbook ‘Celestial Heteroglossia’ and Black Spring Press her second collection ‘Love Algorithm’. Eleni is currently working on a sequel to her first novel.
Her presence adds another layer of artistic inspiration to your retreat experience.
Michelle
I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with Marnie at the memoir writing retreat in 2021. She’s so easy to talk to, non-judgemental, has a sharp sense of humour, and so much empathy; all qualities that make her perfect for coaching memoir writing.
A Retreat that Nourishes Body, Mind, and Creativity
Your days will flow naturally between focused writing sessions, one-to-one mentoring, and group sessions, all designed to help you make significant progress with your memoir. Start your mornings with gentle yoga, if you wish, spend your afternoons in deep creative work, and end your days sharing stories over exquisite locally-sourced meals.
Beyond the Writing Desk
Your memoir writing journey is enriched by three carefully curated excursions that showcase the best of Norway's southwestern coast. Begin with a leisurely exploration of charming Egersund, where narrow streets and traditional wooden houses tell their own stories, culminating in an extraordinary six-course feast celebrating the region's finest local cuisine. Next, venture to the enchanting village of Sogndalsstrand, where dramatic fjords meet rugged coastal rocks in a landscape that has inspired artists for generations. Here, ancient boathouses and preserved merchant buildings stand as silent witnesses to Norway's maritime heritage. Your
final expedition takes you to vibrant Stavanger, where contemporary culture meets historical charm in one of Norway's most dynamic coastal cities. Each excursion is timed to allow for both discovery and reflection, ensuring these experiences can weave their way into your creative practice while providing welcome intervals of inspiration between writing sessions.
What's Included in Your £2,440 Investment
- Email conversation with me before the retreat, so that I know where you're at in your memoir writing journey
- The option to have me read 10,000 words of your material in advance
- Workshops on the craft of memoir writing. These are personalised as to who is attending and I am happy to hear workshop suggestions in advance
- At least one hour-long one-to-one session with me, so that we can dig deep into your memoir and the challenges you're facing
- Plenty of private writing time in various private or group locations on the property. You can even write on the nearby beach if you wish!
- A post-retreat Zoom call to ensure your motivation and progress continues
- Comfortable private accommodation in our luxurious retreat setting
- All meals and snacks, featuring local delicacies and fresh produce from our hosts' gardens. Dietary requirements catered for.
- Transfers from Stavanger airport
- Optional yoga sessions - no pressure!
- Three guided excursions to charming Egersund, full of narrow streets and traditional wooden houses, a six-course feast celebrating the region's finest local cuisine and a trip to the enchanting village of Sogndalstrand to see the fjords that have inspired artists for generations.
- A supportive community of fellow memoirists
- A session with Natalia, a multilingual poet published across Europe
Wendy Hooton, author of Big People Don't Pee in the Park: A Mother and Son's Journey with Down Syndrome
Natalia and Trond, thank you for this life-changing experience, I hope to come back
Your Investment in Your Story
The retreat price of £2,440 reflects the exclusive nature of this intimate gathering, the luxury accommodation and dining, and the intensive personal guidance you'll receive. While flights to Norway are not included, we'll take care of everything else from the moment you land at Stavanger airport.
Ready to Begin Your Journey?
With only 10 spaces available, this retreat offers an exclusive opportunity to transform your memoir writing in one of the world's most inspiring settings. Join us for what promises to be an unforgettable creative adventure that will nurture your story and rejuvenate your spirit.
Contact us today to secure your place in this life-changing memoir writing retreat. To reserve your place, you need to pay a 50% deposit by June 16th.
Please note that during the retreat, sharing the details of your story and your writing is entirely optional. Everything that is shared at the retreat remains confidential. In sessions where memoirists do want to share their writing, Marnie will facilitate these with firm guidelines that ensure everyone feels heard and appreciated.
