Upcoming gatherings
Nestled among olive trees and just a short drive from the Adriatic coast, Trulli Bouganville is more than a place to stay—it’s a place to slow down, reflect, create and connect. It is here that I host intimate gatherings for writers and anyone seeking the time and space to reconnect with their story, themselves, and one another.
Join a gathering
Upcoming dates
- 5-12 September 2026 – Work in Progress Writing with Jo Parfitt (SOLD OUT)
- 22-29 May 2027 – Work in Progress Writing with Jo Parfitt (4 spots left)
- 4-11 September 2027 – Write from Life with Jo Parfitt
Work in progress Writing
Designed for writers with a work in progress, this gathering offers the time, space, and support to immerse yourself in your writing and move your project forward.
Whether you’re working on a memoir, a collection of essays, a how-to book, a novel, an anthology, or a book of poetry, you’ll benefit from uninterrupted writing time in an inspiring setting, thoughtful feedback, and personal guidance from an experienced memoirist. Surrounded by a small community of fellow writers, you’ll have the opportunity to refine your ideas, strengthen your voice, and take your manuscript to the next stage—whether you’re writing a first draft, revising a second, or polishing your final pages.
Like all our retreats, the days are thoughtfully balanced between focused writing sessions, shared conversations, delicious local food, and carefully curated excursions that invite creativity, reflection, and connection. You’ll leave not only with meaningful progress on your manuscript, but with renewed confidence, fresh perspective, and the motivation to keep writing long after you return home.
What You’ll Experience
Throughout the 7-day gathering, you’ll enjoy:
- Daily writing workshops
- Two to four hours of uninterrupted writing time
- Individual editorial feedback
- Group sharing sessions
- Time to swim, rest and explore
- Guided visits to Monopoli and Polignano a Mare
- Shared meals beneath the stars
- A small group of just eight writers
A Typical Day
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 8.30 | Breakfast |
| 10.00 | Writing class with Jo |
| 11.00 | Writing time |
| 13.00 | Lunch |
| 14.00 | Writing / one-to-one sessions |
| 16.00 | Group feedback |
| Evening | Aperitivo and dinner |
Some days include excursions to Monopoli or Polignano a Mare.
Write From Life
Hone your craft while building a collection of compelling life stories to grow into an anthology or full-length memoir.
This gathering follows the same inspiring daily rhythm as our Work in Progress writing gatherings, combining dedicated writing time, guided workshops, meaningful conversation, and individual feedback in a supportive, intimate setting. You’ll also enjoy the same carefully curated excursions, farm-to-table experiences, and opportunities to immerse yourself in the beauty, culture, and slower pace of Puglia.
Whether you’re taking your first steps into life writing or already have a memoir in mind, you’ll leave with greater confidence in your voice, practical writing tools, and a body of stories that reflect the richness of your lived experience.
A Typical Day
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 8.30 | Breakfast |
| 10.00 | Writing class with Jo |
| 13.00 | Lunch |
| 14.00 | Time to rest, write or connect and prepare a short piece of homework |
| 17.30 | Group feedback |
| 19.00 | Aperitivo and dinner |
Some days include excursions to Monopoli or Polignano a Mare.
Succulent prickly pears at Trulli Bouganville
Landscaped garden at Trulli Bouganville
Ancient Olive trees at Trulli Bouganville
One of the oldest Churches in Monopoli historical centre
Writing under the olive tree
Porto Rosso, Monopoli (2)
Sunset through the olive trees at Trulli Bouganville
A birds eye view of the patio and the main house at Trulli Bouganville
Lido Verde, Monopoli
Adodinia palm trees at Trulli Bouganville
Monopoli historical fishing port
MEET THE TEAM
Your Host
Hosted by Sam Frearson-Tubito
As the author of Beneath A Borrowed Sky and someone who has spent a lifetime searching for the meaning of home, creating spaces where people feel welcome comes naturally to me. I’ll be your host throughout the gathering, taking care of every detail—from the warm welcome and delicious meals to excursions, conversations and creating an atmosphere where creativity can flourish.
My hope is that by the time you leave Trulli Bouganville, you’ll feel not only that your manuscript has grown, but that you have too.
Your Writing Mentor
Your Writing Mentor: Jo Parfitt
I’m delighted to welcome Jo Parfitt to Trulli Bouganville to lead the writing programme during each memoir gathering organised for September 2026, May 2027 and September 2027.
Jo is a versatile writer, editor, publisher, teacher and mentor with more than three decades of experience helping over 400 new writers bring their stories to life in print. She has authored more than 30 books and is the founder of Summertime Publishing, a publishing house renowned for championing the voices of expatriates, Third Culture Kids, globally mobile families and memoir writers from around the world.
Throughout the week, Jo will guide you through the craft of memoir writing with her trademark warmth, honesty and practical expertise. Her workshops are designed to help you strengthen your writing, uncover the heart of your story, develop your unique voice and move your manuscript confidently towards publication. Whether you’re just beginning, halfway through a first draft, or refining a completed manuscript, Jo has an extraordinary ability to meet writers where they are and help them take the next step.
One of the most valuable aspects of the gathering is the opportunity to receive personal editorial feedback from Jo. Through one-to-one consultations, daily sharing sessions and constructive group discussions, she’ll help you identify what is working, what can be strengthened and how to shape your memoir into the very best version of itself. Her thoughtful, encouraging approach has helped countless writers not only improve their manuscripts but also find the confidence to call themselves authors.
Having worked with Jo on my own memoir, Beneath A Borrowed Sky, I know first-hand the insight, encouragement and expertise she brings to every writer she mentors. It is a privilege to have her join me in Puglia to help others discover, develop and share their stories.
accommodation
accommodation
Guests stay in beautiful traditional Trulli and stone houses surrounded by olive groves.
Choose from:
L’Aia di Cucumo
- Six ensuite rooms
- Private pool
- Transfers included
Trulli Magnolia
- Two ensuite rooms
- Walking distance from Trulli Bouganville
- Shared kitchen
food
A Taste of Puglia
Food is a huge part of the experience.
Expect long outdoor lunches and dinners featuring the very best of Puglian cuisine:
- Burrata
- Orecchiette
- Parmigiana
- Fresh vegetables
- Local wines
- Homemade desserts
- Seasonal breakfasts
Every meal is freshly prepared using local ingredients, and dietary requirements can happily be accommodated.
Food is a huge part of the experience.
Expect long outdoor lunches and dinners featuring the very best of Puglian cuisine:
- Burrata
- Orecchiette
- Parmigiana
- Fresh vegetables
- Local wines
- Homemade desserts
- Seasonal breakfasts
Every meal is freshly prepared using local ingredients, and dietary requirements can happily be accommodated.
Next steps
Investment
Full gathering: €2,200
Partner sharing (non-writing): €1,500
Partner participating in writing: €1,800
Includes:
Accommodation Tuition All meals Wine Excursions Airport transfers Writing workshops Editorial consultation Coursebook
There are no hidden extras.
Ready to Join Us?
Places are limited to just eight writers to ensure everyone receives individual attention.
If you’d like to spend a week writing in one of Italy’s most beautiful regions, I’d love to welcome you at my gathering.
Register your interest in attending
Frequently asked questions
What's included?
- Daily one-hour writing class with your writing mentor
- A 2-hour Zoom class held a month before the event to help you prepare for the most effective experience
- Two 30-minute face-to-face individual sessions with your writing mentor while at the event
- Daily reading and sharing 1000 words created that day with instant feedback
- 2-4 hours of free writing time every day
- Transport to and from airport at specified arrival and departure dates and times
- Accommodation
- Food and drinks provided by the caterer throughout the gathering
- Trip to Monopoli mercato, city tour and lunch out
- Trip to Polignano for ice cream
- Trip to Locorotondo for an evening meal
Are airport transfers included?
Yes, included at specific arrival and departure dates and times.
Cancellation policy
If the retreat does not go ahead, your deposit will be repaid in full.
If you are forced to cancel before the second payment is due, the deposit can be transferred to a later retreat or forfeited.
If you are forced to cancel during the period from the 2nd payment already made to the beginning of the retreat, the full amount would still be payable unless we are able to refill your place, in which case 50% would be refunded.
Deposits and balance payments
A 50% deposit is required at the time of registration in order to secure your place and allow you to secure your accommodation of choice. An invoice will be raised and sent to you.
The balance is to be paid eight weeks before the gathering on receipt of a second invoice.
How to book
To register your interest to attend an upcoming gathering, complete the registration form with the date of interest along with your accommodation preference and number of attendees.
If the date you are interested in attending is not available (sold out), please email samfrearsontubito@gmail.com if you want to be added to a waitlist.
Bringing a partner
If you want to bring a friend or partner who will not be writing, they will be free to take part in everything except the lessons. They are welcome to come and listen at the evening feedback sessions.
If they don’t want to be present at any mealtimes because they are on trips of their own, please let us know in advance.
Who are the gatherings for?
All gatherings are designed for writers who want to focus on their work in progress (WIP). Attendees will benefit from an inspirational location, dedicated writing time and a support group in addition to personal attention and feedback from a dedicated and experienced professional writer.
Whether you want to work on a memoir, a how-to book, a collection of essays, a work of fiction or an anthology of writing or poetry, a trip to Puglia will help you take your writing to the next level.
Do I need to have started writing?
It depends on which gathering you’ll be joining.
For the Work in Progress gatherings, it is expected that you will have an idea, a table of contents, and have written a few thousand words toward the project by the time you arrive.