Three Wonderful Weeks in May: Books, Authors and a Little Greek Sunshine
May 2027 is shaping up to be a rather special month for Naxos Creative. We have three wonderful reading retreats lined up, five extraordinary writers and storytellers, and the beautiful island of Naxos waiting to welcome everyone. And after the success of our 2026 retreats, we really can't wait to do it all again. One of the things we love most about Naxos in May is that the island is just waking up for the summer. The beaches are still quiet, the tavernas are opening their doors, the countryside is green and full of flowers, and the weather is usually warm enough for long afternoons by the sea. It's a lovely time to be here, especially if you want to escape the British spring and spend a week doing something entirely for yourself.
We've chosen three very different retreats, each with its own character, but all with the things that make Naxos Creative special. Wonderful authors, interesting conversations, plenty of laughter, delicious Greek food, a little adventure and, perhaps most importantly, time to sit and read a book without feeling you ought to be doing something else.
In the Shadows with M. L. Rio
9–15 May 2027
https://www.naxoscreative.com/intheshadows
We start May with the brilliant M. L. Rio, whose bestselling novel If We Were Villains has become something of a cult favourite. Set in the intense, rather dangerous world of Shakespearean acting students, it's a novel about friendship, obsession, ambition and the sometimes very blurred line between performance and reality.
As someone who has spent much of my life working in theatre, I find this particularly exciting. There is so much to explore about Shakespeare, the characters we play, the stories we tell ourselves and the way fiction can become uncomfortably close to real life. And with Hot Wax, Rio has taken readers into another fascinating world, this time with rock and roll at its heart. This week will be a treat for anyone who loves literary fiction, dark academia, Shakespeare or simply a really good story. We'll have the chance to talk to M. L. about her books, her characters and her writing life, but also to enjoy those wonderful, unexpected conversations that happen when readers and writers spend time together away from the usual formal book-event setting.
And you certainly don't have to be a Shakespeare expert to come. Just bring your curiosity and a love of reading.
FEARLESS with Louise Minchin
16–22 May 2027
https://www.naxoscreative.com/fearless
Our second retreat is something a little different, and one we're particularly excited about. We're welcoming journalist, broadcaster, adventurer and author Louise Minchin to Naxos for a week of books, fascinating stories and conversations about life, courage and the things that challenge us. Many people know Louise from BBC Breakfast, but there is so much more to her story. She's an accomplished endurance athlete, an adventurer and a writer who has spent years meeting extraordinary people and telling their stories.
What I love about this retreat is that it opens up so many possibilities for conversation. What makes us brave? Why do we sometimes surprise ourselves with what we're capable of? What happens when we decide to do something that frightens us a little? And how do we find the confidence to take on new adventures, whether that's a physical challenge, a change in direction or simply travelling somewhere on our own for the first time? Of course, nobody will be expected to run a marathon or swim around Naxos! This is still very much a reading retreat, with books, sunshine, wonderful company and plenty of time to relax. But I suspect we'll all come away with some new ideas about what being fearless might mean to us.
Partners in Crime with Jill Dawson and Louise Doughty
23–30 May 2027
https://www.naxoscreative.com/all-retreats
To finish the month, we have two fabulous novelists joining us, Jill Dawson and Louise Doughty. Both are exceptional writers, and both have a wonderful ability to get beneath the surface of human behaviour. Their novels explore relationships, secrets, moral dilemmas and the decisions people make, sometimes with devastating consequences.
Louise Doughty is perhaps best known for Apple Tree Yard, which became such a successful television drama, while Jill Dawson has written an extraordinary range of novels, including The Language of Birds and The Crime Writer.
I think having two authors together brings something particularly special to a retreat. Not only do our guests get to spend time with two fascinating writers, but the authors also have the opportunity to question each other, compare experiences and explore the very different ways they approach their work. Some of our best discussions on previous retreats have come from these exchanges, and they often continue long after the formal sessions have finished. This promises to be a wonderful week for readers who enjoy complex characters, psychological tension, beautifully written fiction and a good debate over dinner.
But what actually happens on a Naxos Creative retreat?
It's a question we're often asked, particularly by people who haven't been on a retreat before. The answer is that we try to create the sort of week we'd love to go on ourselves. There are author conversations, book discussions, opportunities to ask all those questions you've always wanted to ask, and time to discover new books and new writers. But we also want you to enjoy Naxos. We take you to some of our favourite places, introduce you to wonderful local food and wine, and make sure there is plenty of time to swim, explore, wander through little villages or simply settle down somewhere comfortable with a book.
We also have our rather lovely White Elephant book swap. Everyone brings a book they love, wraps it up and writes three words on the outside to describe it. It's always enormous fun and a great way to discover something you might never have chosen for yourself. Then there are the evenings. Long tables, Greek food, glasses of wine, stories, laughter and conversations that can go in all sorts of unexpected directions. We often find that these are the moments people remember most.
Neil, Nola and I decided very early on that we didn't want to run enormous, impersonal retreats where guests barely got to speak to the authors. We wanted small groups where everyone felt included, where the authors were part of the week rather than appearing for an hour and disappearing again, and where people could relax and be themselves. It's been lovely to discover how much our guests appreciate that.
One of our 2026 retreats, participants told us:
"The week surpassed all my expectations."
"Such an amazing week."
And one of my favourites:
"I learnt so many things I didn't know I needed to know."
That last comment rather sums up what we hope to achieve. You arrive expecting a lovely holiday with some books and authors, and perhaps go home with a little more than you anticipated.
Coming on your own? Please do!
One thing we really want to emphasise is that you absolutely don't need to bring someone with you. In fact, most of our guests travel alone. We know it can feel a little daunting to book a holiday with a group of people you've never met, which is why we arrange an online get-together before the retreat. You can meet some of the other guests, ask questions and start putting faces to names. By the time you arrive on Naxos, you'll already know a few people.
We'll be waiting for you at the port or airport, ready to take you to your accommodation and introduce you to everyone else. You don't need to be particularly well read, have studied English literature or know everything about our guest authors. You just need to enjoy books and be open to meeting new people. Some guests love joining every discussion and excursion, while others prefer a little more quiet time. Both are absolutely fine.
Why May? Why Naxos?
We've spent a great deal of time on this island, and I still find new things to love about it. There are beautiful beaches, mountain villages, ancient ruins, tiny churches, wonderful walks and some of the best food I've ever eaten. But there's also something about the pace of life here that makes it easier to slow down. In May, before the summer crowds arrive, Naxos feels particularly special. You can walk along the beach without meeting many people, spend an afternoon in a village taverna and watch the sun set over the sea without feeling you need to be anywhere else. We want our guests to experience some of that, too. Not just the beautiful photographs of Greece, but the real pleasure of spending time here.
We have three wonderful weeks planned, and we'd love you to be part of one of them.
Love,
Ros
Ros, Neil and Nola
Naxos Creative
Explore all our May 2027 retreats at www.naxoscreative.com