Last week was pretty, interesting, since I got to meet and interview half a dozen fantastic writers/writing teachers, all based in the North of England, to figure out who might be the best person to lead the ‘writing retreat’ portion of the international tour. All the writers were amazing, since they were recommended to us by the Arvon Foundation, who ran last year’s retreat for us. In the end we chose the fabulous Rommi Smith! Rommi is an all-round fascinating person… a poet and performer who often works alongside musicians to create exciting multi-media pieces. Music inspires her poetry. She also writes short stories and plays, and has just finished a series of short monologues which were performed on BBC Radio 4. Rommi is Nigerian-British, and the first writer ever to be nominated ‘Parliamentary Writer in Residence’. She has worked extensively with school groups, teaches creative writing at Leeds University and runs retreats for the Arvon Foundation.

Rommi has so many thrilling ideas for our retreat that I can hardly wait! She says: “I like to view writing as an adventure, rather than something you sit down and do.” As well as incorporating music, props and performance into our work, she hopes to make the most of our spectacular location in the atmospheric Robin Hood’s Bay. She mentioned possible writing sessions on the beach, and by moonlight!

If you’d like to find out more about Rommi and read some of her work, you can go to: www.rommi-smith.co.uk . Two spaces still remain on the International Tour. There are THREE group leaders now… Aaron Alviano will be joining us for the tour, as well!

Julie