November Writing Residency
at a Private Château
Get away from everything, and just write for a month,
at a private château in France.
November is National Novel Writing Month - also known as NaNoWriMo.
Every story matters.
Let's start writing yours.
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Time to Write.
We'll take care of everything else.
Three meals a day prepared for you & maximum five other writers. We'll bring your coffee or tea (and maybe a little pastry, too) right to your desk in your private room, if you'd like.
Come and wander the French countryside to let the ideas percolate. Chat to other writers, relax in front of the fire over aperos in the evening, or keep on writing.
Ditch the distractions, leave the daily details to us.
Time to write.
If you’re seeking time and space to yourself to explore your creative writing, consider this your invitation!
How often do you get to stay at a private Château in quintessential France, and explore your dreams?
You deserve some space for yourself, to escape the daily distractions (let alone the stress of the daily news cycle). Your job, your family, the housework consume a lot of your day - maybe it's time for just you and your writing.
Live your French experience, find new inspiration, connect with your writing community, and tell your stories.
Your Private Château
The Château de Saint-Germain-des-Prés is our year-round, private home.
The tower, containing a stone spiral staircase, and parts of the Château date to the 16th century. The 'blazon' or crest of a noble family is carved over the tower door.
Enjoy the Château common rooms, your spacious private bedroom with seating area and writing desk, and 15 ha of private grounds during your stay. Wander the quaint little town of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, or the surrounding quiet roads.
Share meals prepared by your hosts & a professional chef, celebrating all that French cuisine offers, including delicacies from our renowned gastronomic Périgord region.
Start Your Writing Residency Today!
Private Room - €1250 for the week, all meals included.
Please check the terms & conditions.
What's Included
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En-suite or shared shower room; shared w.c.
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Breakfast & lunch prepared by your hosts
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Suppers prepared on-site by your hosts
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One evening's supper prepared by passionate local professional chef
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Non-alcoholic beverages, snacks
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House wines (locally sourced & selected by wine expert)
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Other premium wines available for purchase from our cave
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Transportation from Angouleme station at 2pm day of arrival
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Transportation from Thiviers station on demand
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Travel cancellation insurance recommended
What's Not Included
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Instruction on writing or publication
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Transportation from your hometown to the pickup point, including airfare, train connections, or car rental
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Baggage, accident, cancellation, nor travel insurance ('cancel for any reason' strongly recommended to protect your investment)
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Personal expenses, such as passport, visa, laundry, telephone calls
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Meals off-site should you choose to roam
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Excursions by negotiation
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and any other items not specifically noted as included
About Your Hosts
We are Sara & Stephen Cole, Canadians who dreamt of moving to Europe, and France in particular.
We created “Manor and Maker” to reflect the two sides of our adventure. One, to live as Château owners with all the ups and downs and two, to pursue our passions as makers, creating art in all its forms. We invite others to come together, united by their passions, to share in this adventure. We invite you to join us too, as we bring our dreams to life.
Welcome to Manor & Maker.
Testimonials
"I had a wonderful experience at Chateau de Saint-Germain-des-Prés, aka Manor & Maker. What Sara and Steve are doing is so very special. I felt so at ease there, so welcomed, and so supported, and it turned out, that was absolutely essential. Honestly, stress and starvation aren't the keys to artistic freedom -- encouragement, safety, and good food are. I needed time and space to let my creativity return and regrow and that's precisely what I found there. I'll be back as soon as I can!" -- Ella G.
"I couldn’t have asked for a better week—great company, great conversation, great food! Sara and Steve were so kind, providing a beautiful room where I could work on my writing. And one of their little dogs, Dexter, would check up on me. If he deemed it a productive day, he would then take me on a walk. The French countryside is beautiful, and the people are warm and friendly. A week well spent!." -- T. C.
Still trying to decide whether it was the warm sunshine streaming through my room, the wonderful period specific decor within your impressive French Chateau or your impeccable hosting skills and house wine that made my stay so wonderful. This setting, quiet moments by the fire and other guests all contributed to explore and hone my writing skills. -- A.L.
Sara and Steve and their chateau didn’t just welcome me. They embraced me. And nurtured me. And treated me like I was a great writer and even more important, a FRIEND. They gave us room to write. They took care of us in every way. They made wonderful French food with more bread than I could eat (and that’s saying something). The bed was comfy. The moon was full. The dog, Dexter, sat at our sides. The surroundings were gorgeous.
I began to write. And write and write. Like I haven’t in a long time.
Fast drafting had been my goal for the week. I was hoping for about 10,000 words. But I did more than that. I’m past 25,000 words into a new novel, and I am not stopping. I now to remember why I love to write. I have something to say and share. I confided in friends. And I kept going. A new picture book emerged. With no TV to distract me, I wrote more than I have written in a very long time. Those feelings that I don’t matter—that were beginning to infect my ever word—started to fade away, and were replaced by the feelings that suit me best: play. Curiosity. Creativity. Empowerment. Joy. Appreciation. Confidence.
