The Art of Memoir:
Crafting Compelling,
Vivid, True Life Stories

Villa Maria del Mar, Santa Cruz, California

November 3 - 7, 2025

Come write your heart out with master teacher Laura Davis and a vibrant, supportive writing community on the beach overlooking the Pacific in Santa Cruz, California.

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Many of us hold a deep dream of writing the story of our lives. We want to tell our stories so we can understand ourselves more fully. We want to pass on our family stories. By giving our life experiences shape, texture, and beauty, we hope to create a lasting legacy that will inspire and inform.

The Art of Memoir will teach you how to take life stories and craft them into memoir. We will examine what transforms a personal story into something that has value and meaning for others, and in the process, we will be addressing the following questions:

  • What makes a memoir a memoir?
  • What is it about my life experience that makes it worth telling?
  • How can I move beyond the "simply personal" into writing with universal significance?
  • How can I write about the past with fresh immediacy?
  • What should I include and what should I leave out?
  • What about the voices that tell me I can't tell these stories because I'd be betraying the people in them?

This is an intimate retreat with a maximum of 15 participants.

You will leave the retreat with a substantial body of work as well as essential skills and exercises that will keep you focused and directed for months to come.

Evocative prompts will lead you deeply into the world of memoir and story. Learn how to “find the story beneath the story,” why writers need to “slow down where it hurts,” and the secret of telling true stories rooted in the immediacy and physicality of the moment.

As we alternate periods of writing with listening to each other from a place of deep acceptance, you’ll benefit from the strength of a supportive writing circle, witness the healing power of language, and experience the transformation that occurs when we tell true stories and are deeply heard.

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Photo of concentrated mature woman in eyeglasses making notes in diary while sitting at table in living room

Is This Retreat For Me?

To benefit from this retreat, you can be already deeply engaged in writing a memoir, interested in exploring the possibility, or simply looking for a concentrated period of time to explore new entry points for writing about your life experience.

Open to anyone willing to connect with their creativity in the context of a safe, confidential community. Both emerging and seasoned writers are welcome to attend.

I'm ready to learn how to transform personal stories into memoir.

Location

Villa Maria del Mar, Santa Cruz, California

Nature is a powerful teacher and a calming presence. Set against the natural beauty of the Santa Cruz, California coastline, Villa Maria del Mar provides offers a restful sanctuary.

Perched directly on the Pacific, Villa Maria Del Mar retreat center is owned and operated by the Sisters of the Holy Names. A place of serenity and renewal, the center was designed to foster introspection. Spacious grounds, comfortable accommodations, and quiet nooks offer the opportunity to unplug, recharge, and realign with what matters.

Housing: One of the reasons we chose Villa Maria Del Mar is the availability of single rooms, most with private bathrooms—we’ve found at our retreats that most participants really like their own space.

If you prefer shared accommodations or would like to bring a family member or a friend, doubles are also available. And if you’d like to stay in a double, but don’t have a roommate in mind, we’ll do our best to pair you with a compatible roommate. If a roommate cannot be found, you will be upgraded to a single room and charged accordingly.

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Yes, Laura, I want to meet you in Santa Cruz in November!

Frequently Asked Questions

In November, daily high temperatures for Santa Cruz are on average around 66°F, rarely falling below 44°F at night. It is likely to be mild with a mix of sun and clouds and a slight chance of rain. It’s great beach-walking weather.

Villa Maria del Mar features locally grown, healthy, fresh food, and a salad bar at lunch and dinner. There is always a vegetarian option. Snacks, including whole fruit and beverages, and a toast station, are available at any time. The kitchen is unable to accommodate additional specific dietary requests. A refrigerator and microwave are available in the dining room for personal use if you want to or need to supplement your meals.

One reason we’ve chosen this site is that there are many single rooms, most with their own private bathroom.

It is also possible to book a double with a friend or family member. We have four spots available for doubles; the rest of the spots at the retreat will be for those in singles.

If you don’t have a roommate in mind, we will try to match you with a compatible roommate. If a roommate cannot be found, you will be placed in a single and will need to pay the single supplement.

The Villa Maria del Mar does have a few ADA rooms. Please let us know on your registration form if you need one.

To create the focused, intimate container essential to an intimate writing retreat, we’re asking everyone to stay on site.

Yes, there is Wi-Fi throughout the facility.

Bring clothing that you can layer, particularly for the mornings where it will be cooler, a hairdryer, and any toiletries that you need. If you like cold water and plan to go into the ocean in November, please bring your own beach towel; the Villa asks that you do not bring their towels onto the beach.

The Villa supplies bed linens and bath towels.

This will be an intimate workshop with a maximum of 15 participants.

Click here for a Google map to our location.

Yes, there is free parking on site.

There is not an EV charging station on the site, but there are many throughout Santa Cruz.

Yes! Click here to learn about the Santa Cruz Metro.

The closest airport is Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC). Monterey, Oakland, and San Francisco airports are also viable options.

Early Bird Airport Shuttle
Phone: (831) 462-3933
info@earlybirdshuttle.com
www.earlybirdairportshuttle.com

Santa Cruz Airport Flyer
Phone: (831) 423-5937
info@santacruzflyer.com

Airport Passenger Express
Phone: (831) 818-0558
airportpassengerexpress@gmail.com

We strongly recommend travel insurance that includes trip cancellation and medical coverage to protect your investment in this retreat. You can purchase travel insurance whether you drive or fly to the retreat. Once the dates of our graduated refund policy have passed, travel insurance will be your only option for a refund.

To cover preexisting conditions, insurance must be purchased within two weeks after you pay your initial deposit. We will send information about purchasing insurance after you register. Our travel agent can also assist you in finding and purchasing a travel insurance policy that meets your particular needs.

If you are buying your own insurance, be sure to read the fine print as policies can differ greatly. Confirm with your insurance provider what contagious disease-related issues are covered. Check your policy carefully and ensure you understand who will pay for additional costs if incurred.

You can also have our recommended travel agent find a policy for you. Linda can be contacted using the information below.

Linda Schwedock, CTC
Pacific Harbor Travel, Inc.
519 Seabright Ave., Suite 201
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
831.427.5000
Linda@PacificHarborTravel.com
https://pacificharbortravel.com/

Linda is available Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 10:00 am until 3 pm Pacific Time. If she is not in the office, one of her colleagues may be able to help you.

The full terms and conditions for The Art of Memoir can be found here: https://lauradavis.net/memoir-retreat/terms-and-conditions/

Absolutely! We love hearing from potential participants and answering any questions you might have. Feel free to contact us using the contact form at the bottom of this page.

Teacher

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Laura Davis

Laura Davis is the author of seven non-fiction books, including The Courage to Heal, Becoming the Parent You Want to Be and I Thought We'd Never Speak Again. Laura's groundbreaking books have sold more than 1.8 million copies around the world. Laura has also worked as a columnist, talk show host, radio reporter, radio producer, blogger, editor, and speaker.

She is a cancer survivor, the mother of three, the grandmother of three, and has buried both her parents. In other words, she is a well-seasoned human being.

Words have always been at the core of her work and her self-expression.

Laura has been mentoring and supporting writers for the past 20 years. It is truly the work of her heart:

"I love teaching. I love watching my students find their natural voice and their rhythm. I love it when they find their true stories and discover the courage to put them on the page. I feel like a midwife as my students birth their stories, and I feel honored to witness their bursts of creativity and pure life energy pouring out on the page. Our writing circles are safe places where skills are honed, tears and laughter are welcome, and each writer is seen, heard and deeply known."

Laura leads weekly online writing groups and in-person retreats in California, as well as retreats internationally. She has taken writers to Bali and Scotland, Tuscany, Greece, Vietnam, hiking the Camino de Santiago in Spain and to Laos and Cambodia. She documents these trips to the delight of many readers in her intermittent travel blog, The Virtual Vacation.

Laura's memoir, The Burning Light of Two Stars: A Mother-Daughter Story, winner of the BookLife Prize for best memoir/autobiography of 2021, tells the story of her dramatic and tumultuous relationship with her mother from the time of Laura's birth until her mother's death. You will receive a copy of The Burning Light of Two Stars as a bonus gift as part of your registration.

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Endorsements for Laura

"Laura Davis is a remarkable woman. She brings so much to her teaching sessions, all of which are individual and carefully planned to draw out the best writing from her students. New writers feel welcomed and seasoned writers enjoy the ease of writing in a warm, familiar setting."

—Nancy Hofmann

"Laura is a natural leader. She picks perfect pieces to read for inspiration and provides the perfect writing prompt. She sets the tone for a loving, inclusive group."

—Sherri Carver, Oklahoma City, OK

“As a teacher I find Laura to be an excellent coach. Her writing prompts are juicy and creative and through them, I am remembering my own life story.”

—Bryana Garcia

"I love working with Laura. I use her prompts to write memoir material that is healing and liberating. I find the opportunity to reveal my personal history in this way rare, powerful, and of great psychological and emotional benefit. Laura participates fully and I find her a profound role model."

—Cliff Haggerty

“Laura is a mentor I can trust.”

—Elaine Holliman, Berkeley, CA

“Working with Laura Davis, I found the perfect combination of direction, inspiration, permission, and community. With Laura’s guidance, I was able to discover and develop the writer inside of me who had been waiting in darkness my whole life for the support and safety to emerge.”

—Terresa Lauer

"I appreciate Laura for her brilliant, tailored instruction as a writing teacher, a woman and a human being. She has been the catalyst for some needed changes in my life. Not only is she gifted. She is a gift."

—Julie Sheehan, Livermore, CA

“Laura is a phenomenal, soul-based, sensitive, thoughtful, considerate teacher. She does a great job creating group safety and community.”

—Si Steinberg, Boise, ID

“Laura’s presence is calm, serious, gentle, but firm. Her ability to know when to speak, how to deliver a prompt or suggestion helped guide us without being overbearing or critical.”

—Jessica Bersi, Lodi, CA

Yes, sign me up for a creative, deeply restorative memoir retreat.

Endorsements for Laura's Workshops

“Laura Davis’ writing workshop will draw ideas and stories from you that you didn’t even know were there. Her well thought-out method encourages making connections and putting new order into familiar experiences.”

—Marianne Huber, Dixon, IL

“For years I’ve wanted to write to experience my own voice. One of the obstacles has been feeling isolated. In Laura’s workshops, I feel connected and privileged as a writer in community. Laura’s workshop has been a gift to dissolve the other obstacles—that of feeling exposed.”

—Emmah Smyth, Santa Clara, CA

"Laura has an ability to speak to all levels of writers--beginners and old pros. Her sense of timing is excellent; she knows how to pace the sessions. Her calm reminders help to keep the judgment away from our writing. Laura’s workshop was much more than a writing class--it was an opportunity to express ourselves from the heart."

—Susan Seaburg, Santa Cruz, CA

“Laura Davis provides an open, welcoming environment to explore your writing and your self. The class is both beautifully curated and is supportive of both creativity and personal journey. Laura’s workshop created a framework in which I could connect to vivid memories and build my practice of writing.”

—Sarah Van Aven, Philadelphia, PA

“Writing can be scary because it often takes you right to all the places that still need to be healed. Laura’s workshop was very helpful because she created a safe place to explore, tools to get out of my own way, and exercises that helped me go to places I couldn’t go my own. Laura offers just the right perspective and guidance—and the safe container a writer needs to develop or continue a writing practice.”

—Delana Gardner, Big Sur, CA

“I’d absolutely recommend Laura’s workshop. It’s a gift to give yourself the opportunity to hear your own voice reflected back to you, things you didn’t even realize you knew.”

—Saralynn Masselink, Los Angeles, CA

“Laura’s strong collaborative leadership skills, combined with respectful communication abilities, makes her workshop a safe place to be.”

—Gail Webber, Mountain View, CA

“I would definitely recommend this workshop to anyone, even if they don’t consider themselves writers—or are new to the process. Laura Davis is a wonderful teacher and it was an honor to be with her.”

—Alissa Ferranto, San Rafael, CA

“Laura has such an open heart and gives particular care to each person in the workshop. The manner and comfort with which she teaches encourages me to write—and not be afraid of sharing.  Attending her workshops has provided me with a balance I didn’t know I needed until I began to attend.”

—Rosemary Christian

“My hope was that I could keep my pen moving and be courageous enough to tell the hard stories clearly and well. In Laura’s workshop, I got all of that and more. I treasure this experience. It was perfect for me.”

—Jessica Bersi, Lodi, CA

Inclusions & Travel

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What's included:

  • Room and board, three meals a day.
  • All writing instruction for a life-changing retreat.
  • The services of your capable, compassionate leader.
  • Incredible vistas of the Pacific coast.
  • An amazing community that will lead to deep connections and new friends.
  • A copy of Laura's memoir, The Burning Light of Two Stars.

What's not included:

  • Transportation to and from the Villa Maria del Mar.
  • Personal, medical, and travel insurance to protect your investment in the retreat.
  • Tips for the kitchen and the cleaning staff.

TRAVEL TO THE RETREAT

Arrival and Departure: 
We will start at 5:00 P.M. on Monday, November 3rd for dinner. You can arrive to register as early as 3:00 PM. We will end after lunch on Friday, November 7th.

Flying in?
Villa Maria del Mar is approximately one hour from San Jose Airport (SJC) or one hour and 45 minutes from either San Francisco International Airport (SFO) or Oakland International Airport (OAK).

You will need to arrange your travel so you can be at the retreat for the entire time. If you are flying into San Jose Airport, that means your plane should arrive no later than 1:30 pm Monday afternoon and leave no earlier than 5:00 pm on Friday afternoon. For the Bay Area airports, your pane should arrive no later than 12:45 pm on the 3rd and 5:45 pm on the 7th.

Santa Cruz Beach

Yes, I want to learn to tell powerful, vivid true stories!

Registration

The Art of Memoir: Crafting Compelling, Vivid, True Life Stories

Villa Maria del Mar, Santa Cruz, California

November 3 - 7, 2025

Villa Maria Garden 4

Your Investment

Cost: $1,600 for a spot in a double-occupancy room; $2,450 for a standard single occupancy room.

Payment Schedule: A non-refundable deposit of half the total tuition is due with your registration. The remaining balance will be due on September 1, 2025.

Retreat Tuition Cancellations and Refunds Policy: The initial deposit amount of $800 for a double occupancy room spot or $1,225 for a single occupancy room spot is nonrefundable and will be forfeited in all cases. After September 1, 2025, there will be no refunds. Exceptions to this cancellation policy cannot be made for any reason, including personal emergencies. Travel protection insurance will provide your only option for recouping your full tuition investment.

Villa Maria del Mar Double Bedroom

Choose Your Rooms

1. DOUBLE ROOMS
Shared Double-Occupancy Room - $1,600 per bed
Room contains two twin beds. Pricing per person.

NOTE: If you sign up for a double occupancy room without having a roommate in mind, we will do our best to pair you with an appropriate roommate. If a roommate cannot be found for you, you will be upgraded to a single and need to pay the difference.

2. SINGLE ROOMS
Standard Single Room - $2,450
Private room and bathroom. Pricing per person.

Double Occupancy Room Spot

Single Occupancy Room

Need to Contact Laura?

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