writing in the shadows

9th - 15th May 2027 | Naxos, Greece
With Bestselling Author  M. L. Rio
Reserve your place

A Tragedy Worth Reading Twice

If We Were Villains built its following on a simple, dangerous idea: a company of Shakespeare-obsessed acting students, and a tragedy that plays out on stage and off it. M. L. Rio is joining us for a week shaped around that book and its follow-up, Hot Wax — a rock-and-roll reinvention that proved the first one wasn't a fluke.

Come to Naxos in May — before the crowds, before the heat gets serious –  you can read for hours by the sea and not be interrupted by anything other than church bells, or the odd turtle.

Your Sanctuary

Stella Apartments

A charming, family-run hotel that sits right on the water's edge.

  • The Rooms:  Spacious, cool, and private — every room opens onto a balcony with a sea view.

  • The Vibe:  This isn't a stiff hotel; it's a home. Homemade breakfast, reading by the pool, swimming in the sea, sunset from your balcony.

  • The Luxury:  We handle every detail, so all you have to do is turn up and relax.

The Experience

What happens:

What Happens Here

  • M’s Week: a morning talk and Q&A, a book signing, and dinners with the group.

  • Book Swap:  The White Elephant exchange — bring a book you love, leave with a new favourite.

  • Genre Book Clubs:  Deep-dive discussions with fellow readers.

The Good Life

  • Welcome Reception:  Drinks and mezés under the vines.

  • Fabulous Dining:  Long, lazy group dinners at the best local tavernas, wine included.

  • Total Disconnection:  No alarms. No emails. Wake to the sound of the Aegean.

The Culture (Optional)

  • Wander among the ancient Kouros statues.

  • Tour a traditional Kitron distillery.

  • Get lost in the winding streets of Chora, then find your way to cocktails and dinner.

  • Sample olive oils at a local press.

Guest Authors

M. L. Rio

M. L. Rio has been an actor, a bookseller, an academic, and a music writer. An avid road-tripper and record collector, when she's not on the hunt for her next big score, she lives in South Philadelphia with the world's best road dog, Marlowe. She holds an MA in Shakespeare studies from King's College London and Shakespeare's Globe and a PhD in English from the University of Maryland, College Park. Her bestselling first novel, If We Were Villains, has been published in 22 countries. Her first novella, Graveyard Shift, was a USA Today and Sunday Times bestseller. Her second novel, Hot Wax, was published by Simon & Schuster in September 2025, and was a USA Today and Indie bestseller.

Secure Your Spot

Solo Occupancy
£1,750

Secure your place with a non-refundable deposit.
Pay the balance 30 days before your retreat begins.

At checkout, pay by card or use Klarna to split the cost into instalments at no extra charge.

Read our full terms and conditions

Writing in the Shadows - Solo Occupancy Writing in the Shadows - Solo Occupancy Writing in the Shadows - Solo Occupancy
Writing in the Shadows - Solo Occupancy
from £300.00

Partners in Crime

9–15 May 2027 | Naxos, Greece

Shared Occupancy
£2,800 for two people (£1,400 pp)

Reserve your place with a non-refundable deposit.
Final payment due 30 days before your retreat.

Pay by card at checkout, or use Klarna to spread the cost interest-free.

Full terms and conditions

Writing in the Shadows - Shared Occupancy Writing in the Shadows - Shared Occupancy Writing in the Shadows - Shared Occupancy
Writing in the Shadows - Shared Occupancy
from £300.00

Writing in the Shadows

9–15 May 2027 | Naxos, Greece

A seaside resort with a swimming pool and hot tub, surrounded by lounge chairs and umbrellas, overlooking the ocean with a clear blue sky.
Aerial view of a hotel pool area with lounge chairs and umbrellas, overlooking a beach and ocean in the background.
Aerial view of a Mediterranean-style resort with white buildings, palm trees, and lush landscaping near a beachside in Greece.
A patio with a small wooden table set with a wine bottle and two wine glasses, surrounded by lush greenery and palm trees, overlooking a bright, sunny landscape.
Bright living room with large glass doors, white walls, tiled floor, wooden furniture, greenery outside, and modern decor.
Stack of pancakes with syrup and berry jam, on a white plate, with jars of jam in the background.
Assorted tea bags and coffee sachets in a basket and container on a wooden table, with a white shelf labeled 'Tea' in the background.
A white rectangular plate filled with cinnamon rolls topped with powdered sugar, placed on a wooden table. In the background, a blurred view of a kitchen with a plant and baked goods can be seen.
Three jars filled with orange-colored preserved food on a wooden surface in front of a glass display case with bowls and a small blackboard sign labeled "Yogurt". A green potted plant is partially visible on the left.
Living room with a white bookshelf filled with books, a desk with a computer and printer, and a white sofa, featuring white walls and marble flooring.
A bookshelf with various books, some titles in German and others in English, including 'Der Überläufer' and 'Der Ritt nach Wladiwostok.'
Breakfast table on a porch with orange juice, coffee mug, bowl of fruit, and plate of food, outside with green trees in background.
An outdoor patio with white wooden chairs and tables, surrounded by lush green plants and trees, under a white sloped roof.
Outdoor patio with white chairs and tables, breakfast food, lush greenery, trees, and a view of the ocean in the background.
Breakfast table with plates of bacon, scrambled eggs, pancakes, a bowl of yogurt, a glass of orange juice, and a jar of jam, set outdoors on a sunny day.
View of a lush garden with palm trees, flowering bushes, and a playground, overlooking the ocean in the background, seen from a shaded patio area.
A lush backyard garden with stone pathways, green grass, potted plants, and tropical plants. There is a wooden playhouse with a slide and a swing set, shaded seating with beach umbrellas, and vibrant flowers under a clear blue sky.
A sunny outdoor scene with palm trees, green bushes, a grassy lawn, and a blue sky.
A sunny day at a Mediterranean-style resort with white buildings, tall palm trees, green lawns, and colorful flower bushes.
A wooden outdoor table with a slice of watermelon and a red rose on it, overlooking a beach with palm trees and the ocean in the background.
Outdoor patio area with a hanging egg-shaped wicker chair with a white cushion, a round metal table, black metal chairs, a stone pillar, and a garden with palm trees and thatched umbrellas under a clear blue sky.
A landscaped garden with stone pathways, colorful flowers, green shrubs, two thatched umbrellas, and a bright blue sky.
Outdoor seating area with straw umbrellas, stone walls, lush green plants, and colorful flowers on a sunny day.
Outdoor seating area with benches and a straw umbrella in front of white buildings with blue accents, palm trees, and flowering plants under a clear blue sky.
Outdoor patio with wooden benches and a table shaded by a thatched umbrella, surrounded by greenery and tall palm trees, with white buildings in the background under a clear blue sky.
Covered patio overlooking a swimming pool, with lounge chairs, a round dining table, and tropical style chairs, in a sunny Mediterranean or coastal setting.
Swimming pool with sun loungers, umbrellas, and white buildings with blue accents under a clear blue sky.
View of a poolside bar and seating area with blue swimming pool in the foreground, outdoor seating with umbrellas, and a modern open-air bar structure under a blue sky.
Hotel room with white walls, a bed with white sheets, a bedside table with a vase of flowers, paintings on the wall, a wooden chair, a white wardrobe, a safe on the wall, an air conditioner, and a door leading outside.
Outdoor balcony with a wooden table holding a tray with two red mugs and a vase with mixed flowers, overlooking a body of water and mountains in the distance under a clear blue sky.
A small kitchenette in a compact living space with a sink, microwave, and refrigerator, decorated with a vase of red flowers, with a door leading to a bathroom shower area with a window.
A bright hotel room with two double beds, white linens, and pillows. There are towels on the beds. The room has a blue door, a window with a view outside, and a wall-mounted TV. The decor includes white walls and a stone accent wall.
A bright hotel room with two single beds, white bedding, and towels, featuring a stone accent wall, a wall-mounted TV, a window with blue curtains, and a door opening to an outdoor area with greenery.
A bathroom with two white vessel sinks on a white countertop, a wooden framed mirror, a wall-mounted TV, a blue door, and a small wooden table with sunglasses and a hat.
Bathroom with double vessel sinks, wall-mounted faucets, large wooden framed mirror, small wooden cabinet with hat and sunglasses on top, TV mounted on the wall, and warm overhead lighting.
A table with sliced watermelon and two glasses of juice on an outdoor patio, with a blurred view of trees, bushes, and a blue sky in the background.
Bright hotel room with a large bed, open balcony doors overlooking a sunny outdoor seating area and greenery, with a view of the sea in the distance.
View of a coastal resort with palm trees, swimming pool, lounge chairs, umbrellas, and the ocean in the background on a sunny day.

Details

    • A pre-retreat online meeting for all participants — last-minute questions welcome!

    • A goody bag full of Naxos delights.

    • Six nights at Stella Apartments.

    • Daily homemade breakfast.

    • Group meals with wine and soft drinks.

    • All literary workshops, excursions and events.

    • Airport and ferry transfers on Naxos.

    • Visas, flights and ferry tickets — we can help you plan this!

    • Travel insurance (essential).

    • Extra drinks outside of scheduled meals.

  • Fly to Athens, Mykonos, or Santorini, then take a scenic ferry to Naxos. We'll be waiting at the port or airport to pick you up.

A tabletop with a clear glass tumbler, a white paper napkin with blue printed text and illustrations, a metal bucket, and a six-sided die showing the number five.
A group of people sitting around a dinner table outdoors, raising glasses for a toast, with a woman standing and smiling.
People sitting at a wooden table outdoors under a large tree with green leaves, engaged in conversation and dining, with some wearing casual summer clothing, in what appears to be a garden or outdoor patio setting.
People enjoying a meal outdoors under shaded canopies on a sunny day, with trees, plants, and buildings in the background
A person with curly red hair and a blue shirt reaching for a book on a bookshelf filled with various books. A large decorative vase with flowers and shells is on top of the bookshelf.
White buildings with flat roofs on a hillside along the coast, with rocks and waves crashing in the foreground, under a partly cloudy sky.
Woman with red hair and sunglasses on her head sniffs a small bottle held by another person, who is also holding a smartphone.
White building with blue window shutters, outdoor stairs, and vibrant pink and green plants climbing along the stairs and walls.
A table with a glass vase of pink flowers, a white cup, and a plate with a slice of cake inside a room with bookshelves.
A woman with long red hair, wearing a purple and orange checkered dress, is holding a small wrapped gift with a red ribbon, in a restaurant with a sunset view of water and trees outside.
A small round black table with a potted plant, a bowl of pink flowers, two books titled 'ARJADNE' and 'ELEKTRA', and a glass of water in front of a sheer curtain with sunlight and shadows of leaves outside.
A woman with red curly hair wearing a blue sleeveless top and pants, sitting outdoors with her arms crossed and a serious expression.

FAQs

  • Absolutely. Most guests arrive alone and leave with new friends.

  • No. These retreats are for readers and writers at all levels.

  • Yes — deposit now, balance 30 days before, Klarna available.

  • Accommodation, all meals, author sessions, group activities, and cultural outings. Flights are not included.

Hesitating?

Come.

Read the books.

Meet the authors.

Join us.

Book your escape now

Arrive curious. Leave inspired.