Southern France · May 2027
A week of writing together in southern France with Kathy Fish.
Read all about the retreat →Jump to Application
Southern France · May 2027
Ma Maison is a restored 1879 bakery in Rabastens-de-Bigorre, a quiet village in the foothills of the Pyrenees in southwest France. The original bread oven, terracotta tiles, and bakery doors are still there; so are church bells, a weekly market, vineyards down the road, and mountains on the horizon. The townhouse is ours alone for the week: six bedrooms, a fully equipped kitchen, and comfortable spaces for writing, reading, and conversation.
Week one
Sunday, May 9 – Saturday, May 15, 2027 (2 rooms available)
Week two
Sunday, May 23 – Saturday, May 29, 2027 (1 room available. Single, or you can share it with another writer)
Our days blend dedicated writing time with group connection, structured feedback, and quiet reflection — whether you're deep in a work-in-progress or generating fresh drafts, there's room for both. Each participant also receives a private, one-hour consultation with Kathy during the week. Evenings we gather around one table for dinner, and on the last night we'll celebrate with a salon reading. Wednesday is the excursion day.
Private bedroom and bath — Sold out $2,995. One available.
Bedroom with a shared bath — $2,695.
Two writers sharing one room (available May 23 week only) — $2,095 per person. One available, with two beds and a shared bath. Both writers apply, and each names the other on the application.
Prices are in US dollars. If you are selected, a $500 non-refundable deposit is due by the deadline in your invitation.
Your destination hub will be Tarbes, just 20 minutes from the townhouse. Tarbes is easily reachable via direct trains from Paris (including an overnight option), regional trains from Toulouse, or regional flights from Paris Orly and Rome into Tarbes-Lourdes Airport. We will collect you at the station or airport on arrival day and return you on departure day.
Before you apply
Nothing is charged when you apply. Kathy reviews applications as they arrive and fills the remaining places in each group. Selected writers receive a private invitation to confirm by its deadline with a $500 non-refundable deposit. Half of the remaining balance is due by January 4, 2027, and the rest by March 1, 2027. Everyone else is considered for the waitlist, and we'll tell you either way.
If accepted, a $500 non-refundable deposit is due by the deadline in your invitation to reserve your place. 50% of the remaining balance will be due on or before January 4, 2027. The remaining balance will be due on or before March 1, 2027.
Please note: After March 1, 2027 no refunds can be made unless we are able to find a replacement for your spot. Then a full refund (minus deposit).
Refunds follow the schedule above, and the $500 deposit is non-refundable. The full retreat terms also cover missed payments, transferring your place, shared rooms, and what happens if we cancel. Travel insurance covering trip cancellation and medical care abroad is required; please send proof with your final balance payment, by March 1, 2027.
Tell us on the application and we'll work with our chef.
Paying your deposit confirms that you agree to the retreat terms. For anything not covered here, write to registration@kathy-fish.com.
Questions? registration@kathy-fish.com