well- being

Some lovely photos by Kylie Burton (Totally Lit Carer’s Fellowship winner)

Is it the magic of the mountains or of writing itself that makes these retreats so special? Another beautiful group of writing folk, at our special feedback and revision retreat, all deep into works in progress.

The big trees and pademelons of TS Retreat Centre welcomed us as we formed small feedback groups to share work and provide helpful critiques. From old hands with published books under their belts to those attempting their first manuscripts, everyone had something unique to offer the group and the world through their stories.

The cold crept in as clouds blanketed the mountain, but luckily everyone had scarves in their party bags to keep them warm, and a roaring fire in the dining hall to sit beside as they wrote. I loved coming into the hall to find several writers all hard at it, working away on their stories, or sitting in cosy corner together sharing feedback or laughs.

The combination of yoga, writing workshops, healing bodywork treatments from our inhouse healer Monique, and delicious, warm, nurturing meals from our chief cookie Gay brought smiles to everyone’s faces. Epiphanies flew in from the heavens, story problems were solved, characters developed and plots revamped. All in the beauty of Springbrook.

On Saturday night, just as we sat down for our pranayama (yogic breathing) and deep relaxation session, the whole area lost power, plunging us into darkness. But this became one of my favourite moments on retreat – a group of us in the dark hall, breathing and softening, touching our creative hearts and the deep well of joy within. Then we strolled back in the moonlight to the dining room to find it lit by a hundred candles, flickering like fairyland.

Then, after the generator was started, came the real fun of readings nights with so many powerful stories shared, a play reading acted out and best of all a singalong, led by our youngest retreater, Eloise ,who’d brought along her guitar and cheeky grin. The fire and the songs kept us warm, and I was filled with happiness as I looked around at the group all singing and smiling. Ah. A very special retreat moment. Luckily the power was restored just in time for our electric blankets to make our beds cosy as we fell asleep in the silence of the forest.

On Sunday after a special movement session by Monique and our publishing pathways workshop, we finished with our traditional collages. Here’s our kindy photos holding up our finished pieces.

Here’s what some retreaters had to say about their retreat:

The relax and Write Retreat really got me back on track ready to complete my story. Making connections with other writers was terrific. So many laughs. Edwina is a great workshop host, with time for each participant.

Robyn Ede

Beginner or seasoned writer, there is something special about sharing time with like-minded people with a passion for writing. The location is amazing, the food superb and the take-away knowledge gained is unsurpassed.

Beverley Young

What a magical weekend – waking to the sound of whipbirds, doing yoga, eating delicious nutritious food, talking to other writers and above all having focused time on a creative project. Absolutely fantastic writing retreat.

Fiona Robertson

Edwina’s Relax and Write Retreat are an absolute gift. They provide space – [physical and mental – to explore our stories while teaching practical information on the structural demands of storytelling. The yoga sessions with Edwina and Monique were deeply restorative, restful and energising. The atmosphere was celebratory, welcoming, thoughtful, open and, a lot of the time, incredibly moving and inspirational. Highly recommend.

Carrolyn Stuart

This was such a wonderful supportive and safe environment for emerging writers to share their work and get honest ,constructive and extremely useful feedback. Thank you, Edwina and your beautiful helpers.

Jeanelle Sutton-Yeomans

If you’d like to come along and join the fun next time, bookings are now open for our Memoir/Life Writing Retreat April 10 – 12, 2026. BOOK HERE.

We’ll be back for another feedback retreat in August 2026. If you’re keen on that, just drop me a line and I’ll book you in!

And if a weekend isn’t long enough, then join me and the wonderful and talented, Kerstin Pilz, in Byron Bay September 19 – 24, 2026 for a very special writing fretreat.

Thank you to my treasured retreataholics – and a big warm welcome home to Jill our powerhouse helper, for making these local retreats feel like a happy family gathering, and my undying gratitude to chief cookie Gay Liddington whose compelling and powerful memoir is for sale here on my website – check it out!

Most of all a huge thank you to the wonderful people who come along on these retreats. I am so very grateful for your loving kindness to me, and to each other. I’m astounded by the wealth of talent on show at every retreat and for the joy we find in community with each other.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again; it’s the people who come to these retreats that make them so special. Love you guys!

Lots of love to you too,

Edwina xx

Will I Ever Be Who I Am - A memoir by Gay Liddington

I first met Gay Liddington when she attended one of my Relax and Write Retreats at Burleigh Heads back in 2019. From the first time I heard about her story of courage and resilience in overcoming a troubled childhood of family violence and abuse, I knew it was a story that HAD to be told. I’m always banging on about the importance of getting those stories that won’t leave us alone out of our heads and onto the page, because, to paraphrase Salman Rushdie, we need to take control of the stories we tell ourselves about the past, or otherwise let them forever shape our futures.

When we claim our stories and start writing them, magic begins.

Suddenly the stories are not who we are, but what we make of them. We begin to believe that we can change and shape futures different from the darkness of the past. We learn we have power over the stories, that we can shape them into the story that we WANT to tell, not just what we NEED to let go of. We write and rewrite and polish until we realise we’ve done it! We’ve created something beautiful from the pain that used to define us. Now it is the beauty that defines us. Beauty of our own making.

This is what Gay has done with her brave and compelling new memoir Will I Ever Be Who I Am.

Not long after we first met, I was looking for someone to do catering for a new retreat centre where I was hoping to run writing retreats. Gay put her hand up and we’ve been great retreat buddies ever since. She cooked, I edited and gave advice and slowly over a number of years Gay’s book took shape. I also took shape, my belly growing bigger with each one of Gay’s delicious sweet treats I couldn’t resist. There’s a reason her partner Phil is known as “Tummy Big”.

Gay, her daughter Kylie and friend June with the book launch table laden with goodies!!

Gay was already a writer, a journalist writing feature articles for The Hinterland Times. Now they’re writing stories about her! Here’s the feature article (pages 4 and 5)they published recently about Gay’s book.

Gay had been writing and performing poetry, stories and comedy for decades, but this was her first concerted attempt at writing her memoir. She wanted justice, she said. And to not go to her grave with secrets weighing heavy on her soul.

Writing our stories frees us and is a safe way to right the wrongs done to us, especially when we were children and had no voice, no power.

Gay and Leah Dodds, owner of Rosetta Books at Gay’s launch.

Gay has always been a “Do It Yourself” kind of person, so she didn’t want to pursue traditional publishing. Instead, she bought a design template from Book Design Templates and figured out how to do the layout herself. She then worked with Paradigm Print Media to develop a cover and have copies printed. Her cover image is her own concept, taken from a photo of her at 17 when she’d first escaped to the army. A photo her abusive step-father had torn to pieces, and her loving mother had glued back together again.

Recently we launched Gay’s powerful memoir at the Maleny Neighbourhood Centre, where, true to character, Gay donated a dollar from every book to support the programs run at the centre to support women, children and others affected by family violence. What a day it was! After months of rainy weekends, the sun shone brightly all afternoon as we sat in the outdoor covered area, close to the Serenity Grief Garden. Gay had made enough cakes and biscuits to feed an army, allocating five pieces per person!

A crowd of friends, loved ones, retreaters and book lovers cheered Gay on as we talked about what it took to transform her memories into a compelling and empowering story. As Gay read excerpts from her book, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. I was already teary from the introductions, so very proud of Gay and all she’s achieved.

We were honoured to have Judith Munday OAM, who was a young officer when Gay first joined the army in 1969, officially launch the book. Judith was there to pick up the pieces and help this broken young woman take her first steps into selfhood. It was only fitting she was also there to celebrate the strong, fearless, creative woman Gay’s become.

Gay’s army memorabilia and the original torn photo.

Gay’s memoir is available for sale HERE on my website, and at Rosetta Books Maleny and Annie’s Books at Peregian. Also coming to Amazon soon for international readers.

There are many paths to publication. Gay’s path was perfect for her, the angels she has such faith in lighting the way before her step by step all the way to her magical day of celebration. Which path will you take?

Here to help you find your way!

Lots of love

Edwina xx